[Swordmaker]

There's HDL and LDL Cholesterol. LDL is the "good" cholesterol, HDL is the "bad." I have high HDL and low LDL. Low LDL is often (but not always) due to a sedentary lifestyle like too much sitting at a desk doing a job vs. getting at least 30 minutes of exercise a day.

LDL (Bad) v. HDL (Good) Cholesterol

LDL cholesterol is considered the “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result. Another condition called peripheral artery disease can develop when plaque buildup narrows an artery supplying blood to the legs.

HDL cholesterol is considered “good” cholesterol because it helps remove LDL cholesterol from the arteries. Experts believe HDL acts as a scavenger, carrying LDL cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it is broken down and passed from the body. One-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by HDL. A healthy level of HDL cholesterol may also protect against heart attack and stroke, while low levels of HDL cholesterol have been shown to increase the risk of heart disease.

[SE Mom]

Thanks for your time and information. Just went and bkmkd your original post from 2011. Wow!

Last year I had symptoms of a heart attack, which it wasn’t, thankfully, but the ER doc said something that struck me as odd at the time. He said, one thing I could do to keep my heart healthy is brush with baking soda. I thought he was ....goofy! Maybe not, eh?

[varina davis]

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