One of the ailments which targets most people is high blood pressure. In the US 9 out of 10 people develop hyper-tension by the age of 60. A pressure of 160/110, it is regarded high while 120 – 160/ 80 - 94, it is regarded borderline. The latter is not indicative of any underlying problem in any organ. A rise in blood pressure is caused by cholesterol, but not high cholesterol.
Cholesterol is of 2 types, LDL and HDL. While both these are essential in the blood, higher levels of LDL is regarded unhealthy. Cholesterol is used by the body cells to make their protective linings. They get attached to a type of transporter protein called ‘Apo-B’ for flowing in the blood stream.
LDL cholesterol is carried through the membrane of the cell for getting processed. The cell detaches the cholesterol from the Apo-B carrier. This process requires energy in the cell.
In a weak cell, LDL cholesterol does not get trough the membrane. Instead, it parks on the outer surface. When free radicals of oxygen in the blood stream combine with it, formation of a chemical called LPC - lysophosphatidylcholine - occurs. This is the substance which allows the hardening of oxy-cholesterol, thickening of the walls of the artery and inflammations.
In people with normal pressure, antibodies get generated by the immune system to destroy the LPC. In people with borderline pressure, the antibodies surround the LPC, but, they get stuck to the inner walls of the artery. They thicken slowly and result in constricting the blood vessel causing increase in the blood pressure.
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