What are LDL and HDL?

LDL( Low density lipoprotein) and HDL( High density lipoprotein) are both lipoproteins that attach to Cholesterol and are carried through the bloodstream. They are both are produced in the liver and can be found in many different foods. LDL is considered bad cholesterol because having too much of it causes the development of plaque in the arteries, which can result in high blood  pressure, heart disease, a heart attack,or a stroke. HDL on the other hand is considered the good cholesterol because it helps remove LDL from the arteries. Experts believe that HDL carries  LDL back to the liver from the arteries, and when it gets there it is broken down and removed from the body.

References: Good vs. Bad Cholesterol. N.p., n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.

How do LDL and HDL differ structurally and functionally?

The thing that separates HDL from LDL functionally is how they react with the body. LDL is perceived as the bad or villain cholesterol because having a lot of it in your body can lead to plaque build-up in your body that can result in health problems such as heart disease. HDL is perceived as the good or hero cholesterol because it absorbs cholesterol and returns it to the liver which the liver will then take care of it to rid it from the body. On the structural side of things, HDL is different from LDL because its composition because HDL has more proteins than LDL and LDL has more fat. Which is where their names derive from, High Density and Low Density lipoprotein. The excess of protein in the HDL is what makes it high density and the excess of fat in the LDL makes it lower density.

sources for this section: CDC. "LDL and HDL: “Bad” and “Good” Cholesterol." Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 16 Mar. 2015. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.

Why do doctors monitor the concentrations of LDL and HDL in a patients blood?

Doctors might want to monitor the concentrations of LDL and HDL because if you have too much LDL and low HDL then you can get plaque in your arteries, which can lead to getting cardiovascular disease. Cardiovascular disease is a serious heart condition that can cause a patient to be at a high risk of getting a heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure. On the other hand having your HDL higher than your LDL is better because it helps prevent the development of Plaque in your arteries and decreases the risk of getting heart disease and cardiovascular disease. Since there is no symptoms or warning signs to having a high cholesterol  it is important for doctors to monitor the concentrations of LDL and HDL in a patient's blood often to make sure that their overall health is not at risk of any life threatening conditions.

References: "High Cholesterol." Mayo Clinic. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 09 Feb. 2016. Web. 21 Apr. 2017.

How are the concentrations of LDL and HDL associated with the risk for heart disease and associated disorders?

The concentrations of HDL and LDL in a person are vital to know because it can be the difference between life and death for some people. This especially is the case for cardiovascular diseases as the ratio between them can tell you how healthy the insides of your body are. If someone has a high concentration of LDL with lower concentrations of HDL they can be cognizant of the fact that they need to get on top of their eating habits. Because if they do nothing, their LDL’s can create plaque but the HDL won’t be able to keep up with the rate the LDL is going. The excess of plaque in the body can lead to many health problems, coronary heart disease being one.

What other molecules in a patient's blood are monitored along with LDL and HDL?

In addition to HDL and LDL, Triglycerides are also monitored in a blood test as a precursor for coronary heart disease. Glucose levels can and will be monitored for the purpose of monitoring type 2 diabetes. Iron levels will almost always be checked as well because low iron levels can lead to anemia. And finally, red and white blood cells will also be checked for various causes, white blood cells could be checked as an indicator of viral infection. And red blood cells could be checked for anemia.

"What Do Blood Tests Show?" National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 6 Jan. 2012. Web. 21 Apr. 2017. <https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/bdt/show>.

What do the results of a cholesterol test mean? How do patients interpret each value?

The results of a cholesterol test show the level of cholesterol in your body. The cholesterol level will be measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood(mg/dL). The higher the patient's total cholesterol is the higher they are at risk of getting coronary heart disease.For LDL the lower the patient's result levels then they at a lower risk of having a heart attack or stroke. For HDL the lower the levels are the higher the patient is at risk for getting cardiovascular disease. Patients should interpret each value in each category differently because the results all have different meanings.

Total cholesterol	What they mean	LDL levels	What they mean	HDL levels	What they mean
Below 200 mg/dL	desirable	Less than 100 mg/dL	optimal	60 mg/dL and above	desirable
200-239 mg/dL	Borderline high	130-159 mg/dL	Borderline high	Less than 50 mg/dL	Very high (for women)
240 mg/dL and above	High cholesterol	190 mg/dL and above	Very high	Less than 40 mg/dL	Very high (for men)

References: "What Do the Results Of A Cholesterol Test Mean? How Do Patients Interpret Each Value? - What Is Cholesterol?" Google Sites. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017.

What Can Patients do to change the levels of LDL and HDL in their blood?

To alter the levels of HDL and LDL in your blood, the main thing you want to do is change up your diet. That means limiting your meat intake. It does not have to be that extreme where you never eat meat, you just have to watch what your eating. If you're eating hamburgers for lunch, try some unsaturated fat foods like nuts, seeds, or fish. It's these little changes that will slowly but surely make your HDL levels rise and LDL levels lower. Although it is important to know although one fat is better than the other, that does not mean you should have super high levels of HDL in your blood. Everything is better in moderation.

How does intake of unsaturated, saturated, and trans fats affect cholesterol levels and overall health?

The intake of saturated fats can cause your body to produce even more LDL cholesterol than it already does. Trans fats also increase your LDL levels but it also lowers your HDL levels in your body. These two fats can  increase your cholesterol and put you in a high risk of getting a heart attack or stroke. While unsaturated fat helps lower your cholesterol levels and reduce the buildup of plaque in the artery walls when eaten instead of saturated or trans fats. Eating unsaturated fats can help your overall health by decreasing the risk of getting a heart attack or stroke and reduce the risk of developing heart disease, and high blood pressure.

References: The Skinny on Fats. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Apr. 2017.