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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Daily News Central- Health News provides news geared toward health consumers, along with links to informative sites. Coverage includes conditions/diseases,

Harvard Gazette: Coffee gets cleared of blood pressure risk
Sugared or diet, the soft drinks increased their risk of high blood pressure by as much as 44 percent, compared with those who drank very little soda.

NIHSeniorHealth: High Blood Pressure - Risk Factors and Prevention
High Blood Pressure. Risk Factors and Prevention. Photo of a man reading a newspaper. - Click to enlarge in new window. Click image to enlarge

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Lack Of Sleep Creates High Blood Pressure Risk For Women. Women especially should try to get enough sleep. The University of Warwick led research team

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The likelihood of having to start drug treatment to control high blood pressure, or hypertension, seems to be increased among coffee drinkers.

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High blood pressure appears to be associated with an increased risk for mild cognitive impairment, a condition that involves difficulties with thinking and

Airplane noise tied to high blood pressure risk | Health | Reuters
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - People who live near airports may have an elevated risk of high blood pressure due to noise pollution, a Swedish study suggests.

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An important step in understanding and evaluating your risk of developing high blood pressure is to know what elements contribute to this risk.

Blood pressure risk to children from high salt diets | Science
Higher salt diets in children lead to raised blood pressure which increases the risk of heart disease and stroke in later life, according to a study based

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Painkiller Risk: High Blood Pressure
The most widely used medicines in the world -- over-the-counter pain drugs -- raise a person's risk of high blood pressure, a study shows.

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High blood pressure: Are you at risk? Learn the common risk factors.

Who Is At Risk for High Blood Pressure?
Who Is At Risk for High Blood Pressure? About 65 million American adultsâ”nearly 1 in 3â”have high blood pressure. In the United States, high blood pressure

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

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Enter your blood pressure numbers to understand your health risks and more.

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Having high blood pressure is one of several 'risk factors' that can increase High blood pressure is a 'risk factor' for developing a cardiovascular

High Blood Pressure
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