LDL and heart risks

1
LDL and heart risks

• Natalie Waid
• Courtney Hayes
• Alicia ODell

2
What are LDLs?

• LDL Low Density Lipoproteins
• Circulate through body in the blood
• Transport cholesterol

3
Cholesterol. . . .

• Important in maintaining cell structure
• Production of steroids (i.e. estrogen,testosterone
  )
• Must have a carrier protein because it is
  non-polar and insoluble.

4
LDL good and bad?

• LDLs bind to receptor taken into cells by
  endocytosis (bringing the cells needed
  cholesterol)
• BUT high amounts leads to accumulation in blood
  plasma gtattach to artery walls
• LDLs when oxidized can cause inflammatory
  response. White blood cells and other factors
  gather and form the fatty substance called plaque

5
Causes of high LDLs

• Physiological
• Decreases LDLs on membrane no transport
• LDL cholesterol remains in plasma, slowing blood
  flow
• Atherosclerosis (hardening of arteries)

6
Causes of high LDLs

• Environmental
• High fat diet
• Smoking
• Lack of exercise

7
What is your risk?

• Despite lifestyle changes both of your parents
  still have high levels of LDLs . . .
• Genetics play a major role in determining a
  person's blood cholesterol levels. Genes may
  influence whether one has low HDL levels, high
  LDL levels, high triglycerides, or high levels of
  other lipoproteins.

8
What is your risk?

• Men are at 3-4 times higher risk for Coronary
  Heart Disease (CAD) than women
• Womens risk increases after the age of 55

9
Risks of high LDLs

• Heart attack
• Plaque build up decreases blood flow to the
  heart, making the heart exert more energy
• Stroke
• Plaque build up decreases blood flow to the
  brain, making the brain unable to receive blood

10
Prevention. . .

• Get cholesterol checked
• Eat healthy (low fat/ low sodium)
• Exercise (aerobic)
• Dont Smoke
• Maintain healthy body weight
• Stress management

11
Drug Treatments

• Nicotinic Acid (Niacin)
• It raises HDL levels higher than any other
  anti-cholesterol drug
• It lowers LDL-cholesterol and lipoprotein
• Statins (E.g. Crestor) inhibit the liver enzyme
  hMG-CoA reductase, (used to make cholesterol)

Heart Center Online - Hyperlipidemia Animation
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Analogy. . .

• Milkshake