Cholesterol: The Good Guy vs. The Bad Guy

Joan Strayham, MSN, RN • December 26, 2022

Cholesterol: The Good Guy VS the Bad Guy

Cholesterol is our natural friend. There is an abundance of information to know and understand about cholesterol, such as why we need it, how it helps us, how it harms us, what healthy ranges to strive for, and how we can manage our levels. For this article, we will focus on healthy blood levels of cholesterol, and how abnormal levels can impact our health.

Cholesterol: The Good Guy

Cholesterol is essential to our health. It assists in the production of hormones, such as sex hormones, as well as Vitamin D. It helps our body make cell membranes which produce healthy tissue. Cholesterol assists in providing us with healthy skin and hair. Normal levels of cholesterol also assist the liver in producing bile, which is needed for food digestion.

Cholesterol: The Bad Guy

Having too much cholesterol in our bodies can be very harmful to our health. When too much cholesterol circulates through our body, it builds up in our arteries, clogging them, and making them thick and inflexible. The buildup of cholesterol causes our arteries to harden (plaque); this hardening of the arteries is called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis makes our heart and blood vessels work extra hard when providing circulation of blood through the body. Keeping too much of this guy around for too long can damage our arteries, increasing our risk of heart disease and stroke.

So, who is this Cholesterol guy exactly?

“Cholesterol is naturally produced by our bodies. It is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver, and found in our blood and all the cells of the body.” (National Cancer Institute) Cholesterol is also found in many of the foods we eat, primarily from animals, such as milk/dairy products, eggs, and meats, including some kinds of seafood.

What makes Cholesterol good or bad?

For this cholesterol guy to move through our bodies it must bind with proteins for proper travel. These proteins and cholesterols together are called lipoproteins. There are several types in our body, but for health management purposes, we will discuss the two main cholesterols here.

LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is also known as the “bad cholesterol” because it carries the cholesterol TO your bloodstream, where it goes to work to clog your arteries.

HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is also known as the “good cholesterol” because it carries the cholesterol back TO your liver where it can break down. That’s a good thing!

How can I make these two guys more memorable?

HDL -the H represents healthy cholesterol

LDL- the L represents lousy cholesterol

How do I know what a good level of cholesterol is for me?

The best way to measure the level of lipoproteins in our bodies is through blood work called a Lipid Panel (sometimes referred to as Lipid Profile or a Lipoprotein panel). A lipid panel measures:

Total cholesterol
LDL ("bad") cholesterol
HDL ("good") cholesterol
Triglycerides, another type of fat that causes hardening of the arteries

John Hopkins Medicine provides these ranges for the Lipid Panel.

Here are the ranges for total cholesterol in adults:

Normal: Less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline high: 200 to 239 mg/dL
High: At or above 240 mg/dL

These are the adult ranges for LDL cholesterol:

Optimal: Less than 100 mg/dL (This is the goal for people with diabetes or heart disease.)
Near optimal: 100 to 129 mg/dL
Borderline high: 130 to 159 mg/dL
High: 160 to 189 mg/dL
Very high: 190 mg/dL and higher

The above numbers are general guidelines because actual goals depend on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease.

Your HDL cholesterol levels should be above 40 mg/dL. This fat type is good for you because it lowers your risk of heart disease. The higher the number, the lower your risk. Sixty mg/dL or above is considered the level to protect you against heart disease. Remember, this is the “good guy.”

High levels of triglycerides are linked with a higher heart disease risk. Here are the adult ranges:

Normal: Less than 150 mg/dL
Borderline high: 150 to 199 mg/dL
High: 200 to 499 mg/dL
Very high: Above 500 mg/dL

Conclusion

In conclusion, cholesterol can be our friend. But too much of this guy can be detrimental to our health. Sometimes, hereditary factors can cause our cholesterol to be elevated. But often it can be corrected, and we can lead a healthy life. Correcting it sooner rather than later is a good goal.

How can it be controlled? Here are a few things we can do to manage it:

Eat a healthy diet that includes lots of fruit, vegetables, and whole grains.
Limit drinks and foods that have a lot of fat or sugar
Get plenty of exercise, at least 30 minutes every day.
Maintain your weight in a healthy range.
Manage your stress. (Research has shown that chronic stress can raise your HDL)
Stop smoking, or don’t start smoking.
Occasionally, your healthcare provider may recommend medications, called statins, to manage your cholesterol levels. (MedlinePlus)

Sources

https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/treatment-tests-and-therapies/lipid-panel

https://medlineplus.gov

https://www.cancer.gov

Joan Strayham, MSN, RN is a freelance Nurse Writer (MS Writer) with more than 40 years of healthcare experience. She also provides public healthcare education through her blog: Just So You Know: Navigating Healthcare Like A Pro

https://www.linkedin.com/in/nursewriter

nursewriter1@gmail.com

Thank you for reading Patient Education Essentials, the Write Shift RN blog.

Disclaimer: This article was written as a guest post for Write Shift RN LLC's blog. The information in it may not be wholly fact-checked or edited, allowing the reader to see the writer's work and skills firsthand. This information is not intended as medical advice. It is for informational and educational purposes only. Always talk to your doctor or other qualified healthcare providers about any questions or concerns you may have regarding medical conditions.

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Steroid Injections vs. PRP

By Kristina Van Winkle • October 7, 2024

A Comparative Overview for Pain Management Steroid injections and Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) injections are two commonly used pain management treatments. While both aim to alleviate pain and promote healing, they have different mechanisms of action and long-term effects . What Are Steroid Injections ? Corticosteroids are potent drugs used extensively across various medical fields to manage a broad spectrum of conditions, making them one of the most widely prescribed drug classes in the world. They can be administered via nearly every route, including direct injection into painful or inflamed joints. "Corticosteroids" typically refers to the class of drugs that produce glucocorticoid effects. Glucocorticoids are stress hormones that regulate numerous physiologic processes within the body. They have vasoconstrictive, immunosuppressive, and anti-inflammatory effects and play a role in metabolism. What do steroid injections treat? Corticosteroids function by suppressing the immune system and reducing inflammation within the body. They inhibit the production of the body's pro-inflammatory chemicals, leading to decreased inflammation and, consequently, pain. They are prescribed for hundreds of medical conditions, including: Allergic and autoimmune disorders Adrenocortical secretion disorders Infections and inflammation Pathologic hypoglycemia Organ and graft rejections Neurological disorders Hypercalcemia Blood disorders Skin disorders Shock What are the side effects of steroid injections? Although steroids are known to some as “wonder drugs,” they impact various bodily systems, including metabolism, water and electrolyte balance, the central nervous system, and blood cells. As a result, they are associated with many adverse side effects, especially when administered in large doses or over extended periods. Adverse effects may occur in up to 90% of individuals who take them for longer than sixty days. These side effects may include: Suppression of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis Gastrointestinal disturbances Osteoporosis and fractures Psychiatric disturbances Carpal tunnel syndrome Cardiovascular disease Immunosuppression Cushingoid features Hyperglycemia Skin disorders Glaucoma Myopathy Cataracts Diabetes The risk of adverse side effects is particularly high when taken systemically. However, side effect occurrences vary when administered as local injections for pain management. Data indicates that steroid injections into joints and the spine can produce systemic effects that can last for weeks. When assessing the risk factors associated with steroid injections, healthcare providers must consider all types and doses of steroids the person is taking, including both oral and injectable forms. Additionally, special caution is advised for certain populations, such as those who may undergo surgery soon, postmenopausal women, and individuals with diabetes. What is Platelet-Rich Plasma (PRP) ? Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections use an individual's own blood to promote cellular regeneration. Through the extraction and reinjection of platelets, growth factors, and other bioactive proteins from the person's blood, PRP therapy offers long-lasting improvements, sustained pain relief, and enhanced tissue function. What do PRP injections treat? PRP injections can stimulate healthy cell growth, reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair, form new blood vessels, rejuvenate the skin and hair, and accelerate recovery after a traumatic injury. It can treat a wide range of conditions, including: Pain resulting from traumatic injury or degenerative conditions such as arthritis and chronic back pain Musculoskeletal conditions Tendinopathies and tears Compressive neuropathy Scars and stretch marks Osteochondral lesions Rheumatoid arthritis Erectile dysfunction Muscular injuries Plantar fasciitis Vaginal atrophy Osteoarthritis Epicondylitis Infertility Psoriasis Wounds Bursitis Vitiligo What are the side effects of PRP? Since PRP is derived from the person's own blood, the risk of allergic reactions or rejection is significantly lower compared to other injectables, such as steroids. PRP typically does not cause major side effects, though you may experience some soreness or bruising at the injection site. In rare cases, potential side effects may include: Tissue damage Nerve injuries Bleeding Infection Comparison of Steroid Injections and PRP Injections A study in the Journal of Orthopaedic Surgery and Research compared steroid injections with PRP injections in patients with mild to moderate symptomatic knee osteoarthritis (OA). The findings indicated that both treatments were safe and effective in improving short-term pain and functioning, with no significant differences observed. However, PRP therapy demonstrated superior outcomes in the long term, with benefits extending up to one year. Additionally, a literature review in Cureus Journal of Medical Science analyzed multiple studies comparing steroid injections with PRP in lumbar spondylosis and sacroiliac arthropathy. The review found that PRP was equally as effective, if not superior, to steroid injections in the short term. Neither treatment was associated with major complications, and there were no significant differences in minor complications between the two. The review concluded that both PRP and steroid injections are safe and effective for treating lumbar spondylosis and sacroiliac arthropathy, with some evidence that PRP may offer more benefits in the long term. Research has confirmed that both steroid and PRP therapy are valuable options for pain management and tissue healing. Steroid injections offer potent anti-inflammatory benefits that can provide immediate relief. However, their systemic side effects and limited duration of efficacy should be carefully considered, especially in high-risk populations. While PRP may take longer to show results, its long-term benefits make it an increasingly popular choice for treating various conditions. Ultimately, the choice between these treatments should be based on the specific needs of the individual patient, with careful attention to the patient's medical history. Thank you for reading the Write Shift RN blog. If you need an experienced RN writer for your health or healthcare educational content, contact me !