What is ‘good’ and ‘bad’ cholesterol?

Cholesterol 0:35 min watch Published 4 December 2024 Dr Ravi Assomull, Consultant Cardiologist

What do we mean by “good” and “bad” cholesterol? In this video, Dr Ravi Assomull breaks down the difference between HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein). HDL helps remove fatty deposits from your arteries, while LDL contributes to plaque build-up and increases your risk of coronary heart disease. Understanding these subtypes is a key step in managing your heart health effectively.

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Transcript

Good and bad cholesterol refer to two different subtypes of cholesterol, good cholesterol, what we call high-density lipoprotein. HDL is a cholesterol that actually mops up fatty deposits from the blood vessels and takes them out of the body, whereas bad cholesterol, so called low-density lipoprotein, actually assists in depositing fatty deposits in the blood vessels, causing coronary heart disease.

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