What it means
LDL carries cholesterol to the body's tissues. When there is too much, cholesterol builds up in artery walls as plaquePLAKA deposit that builds up on a surface in the body, such as a sticky film of bacteria on teeth or a fatty buildup in an artery wall.Full entry , leading to atherosclerosisath-er-oh-skluh-ROH-sisA buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the walls of the arteries.ather/o fatty pastescler/o hard-osis conditionFull entry , heart attack and stroke. It is measured with total cholesterol, HDL ("good" cholesterol) and triglyceridestry-GLIS-er-idesThe main type of fat in the blood and in body fat, measured in a lipid panel.Full entry . Statin drugs, diet and exercise lower it.
For the nurse
Teach a diet low in saturated and trans fats and high in fiber, regular exercise, weight control and not smoking. Clients on statins should report unexplained muscle pain.
At a glance
| Normal range | Less than 100 mg/dL [less than 2.6 mmol/L] is optimal; 190 mg/dL [4.9 mmol/L] or higher is very high. Goals are set lower for people with heart disease or diabetes. |
|---|---|
| Abbreviations | LDL, LDL-C |
| Spanish | lipoproteína de baja densidad |
| Also written | LDL, LDL cholesterol, LDL-C, low-density lipoproteins |
Related terms
atherosclerosis
A buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) inside the walls of the arteries.
plaque
A deposit that builds up on a surface in the body, such as a sticky film of bacteria on teeth or a fatty buildup in an artery wall.
triglycerides
The main type of fat in the blood and in body fat, measured in a lipid panel.
heart disease
A general term for any condition that affects the structure or function of the heart.