What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol). Cholesterol is a lipid found in the cell membranes of all tissues, and it is transported in the blood plasma of all animals. Because cholesterol is synthesized by all eukaryotes, trace amounts of cholesterol are also found in membranes of plants and fungi.The name originates from the Greek chole- (bile) and stereos (solid), and the chemical suffix -ol for an alcohol, as researchers first identified cholesterol in solid form in gallstones by Francois Poulletier de la Salle in 1769. However, it is only in 1815 that chemist Eugene Chevreul named the compound "cholesterine".[2]Most of the cholesterol is synthesized by the body and some has dietary origin. Cholesterol is more abundant in tissues which either synthesize more or have more abundant densely-packed membranes, for example, the liver, spinal cord and brain. It plays a central role in many biochemical processes, such as the composition of cell membranes and the synthesis of steroid hormones. Cholesterol is insoluble in blood, but is transported in the circulatory system bound to one of the varieties of lipoprotein, spherical particles which have an exterior composed mainly of water-soluble proteins. The main types, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) carry cholesterol from and to the liver.According to the lipid hypothesis, abnormally high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia) and abnormal proportions of LDL and HDL are associated with cardiovascular disease by promoting atheroma development in arteries (atherosclerosis). This disease process leads to myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke and peripheral vascular disease. As high LDL contributes to this process, it is termed "bad cholesterol", while high levels of HDL ("good cholesterol") offer a degree of protection. The balance can be redressed with exercise, a healthy diet, and sometimes medication.

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What Causes High Blood Pressure?
In 90 to 95 percent of people with high blood pressure, doctors do not know what causes it. High blood pressure with an unknown cause is called essential,

Hypertension - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
There are some anecdotal or transient causes of high blood pressure. These are not to be confused with the disease called hypertension in which there is an

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Information on High Blood Pressure, Complete guide to causes, symptoms, diet and home remedies for High Blood Pressure.

High Blood Pressure: Heart and Blood Vessel Disorders: Merck
Many kidney disorders can cause high blood pressure, because the kidneys are important in In most people, high blood pressure causes no symptoms,

High blood pressure - hypertension symptoms, cause, treatment and risk
BUPA health factsheet - high blood pressure (hypertension) and its symptoms, the cause, available treatment and the risk related to the condition.

Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure
High blood pressure usually doesn't cause any symptoms in the early stages. Symptoms associated with high blood pressure can include:

Step 3: What causes high blood pressure?
Although the exact cause of high blood pressure is almost always unknown, many different things can influence it. For example, your blood pressure is

High blood pressure (hypertension)
For more than 90 per cent of people with high blood pressure, the cause is unknown. This is called 'primary' or 'essential hypertension'.

What Causes High Blood Pressure? Your Guide to Lowering HBP
doctor taking blood pressure The causes of high blood pressure vary. Causes may include narrowing of the arteries, a greater than normal volume of blood,

High Blood Pressure - Causes
It is by far the most common type of high blood pressure. The causes of this type are unknown but are likely to be a complex combination of genetic,

What Causes High Blood Pressure?
In many people with high blood pressure, a single specific cause is not known. This is called essential or primary high blood pressure.

High Blood Pressure Causes
In most cases, scientists don't know what causes high blood pressure, but they've developed ways to treat it effectively and identified factors that tend to

What Causes High Blood Pressure?
In 90 to 95 percent of high blood pressure cases, the cause is unknown.

High Blood Pressure: Things You Can Do to Help Lower Yours
What problems does high blood pressure cause? Does it have any symptoms? How is it treated? How do tobacco products affect blood pressure?

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis
Consumer health resource center providing an overview of hypertension and its causes, symptoms and treatment.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension) - Symptoms, Causes, Diagnosis
Even if high blood pressure does cause symptoms, the symptoms are usually mild and nonspecific (vague, or suggesting many different disorders).

Secondary high blood pressure: When another condition causes
Various conditions can cause secondary high blood pressure. Treating these underlying conditions can control â” or cure â” your high blood pressure.

Anxiety: A cause of high blood pressure? - MayoClinic.com
Anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary increases in blood pressure.

High blood pressure (hypertension) - causes, treatments and
Isolated systolic high blood pressure; White coat high blood pressure; Borderline high blood pressure. What causes high blood pressure?


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