Lipoproteins are characterized because of their density; they are categorized as (HDL) the high density lipoprotein, (LDL) low density lipoprotein and the very low density lipoprotein. The building block of the outer layer of cell called cholesterol is being transported in a water soluble form of molecules through the blood and these molecules described to look like tiny spheres are known as lipoprotein. It is made out of the outer shell of phospholipids that renders the particle to be soluble in water.
The building up of cholesterol in the blood vessels is a term known as atherosclerosis which took place when LDL particles that are circulating in the blood will penetrate to the internal lining of the blood vessels and can be trapped in the artery wall (Fauber, 2004). The building up of LDL in the blood vessels causes the inflammation of cells as it will be a fat filled cell that would result into blood clotting which can block the normal blood flow in the coronary arteries.
Once the flow of nutrients and oxygen stops to the heart muscle this leads to a catastrophic event called heart attack or myocardial infarction. Research shows that cardiac patients who had a high level of “bad” cholesterol concentrations in their blood are more prone and get a 70 percent probability to have heart attack than those patients that was diagnosed to have lower concentrations of “bad” cholesterol.
Aside from the effect of LDL cholesterol in the blood another lipoprotein called Lp (a) is believed to be a contributor to the increase of atherosclerotic plaques and it has a similar structure to plasminogen which is a clot busting blood protein this Lp (a) levels may interrupt the normal way of removing the clot which could block the artery. Cited Literature Fauber, J. (2004). Lipoproteins particles predict heart attack risk. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel (Milwaukee, WI). Retrieved March 30, 2009 from http://www. highbeam. com/doc/1P2-6310567. htmlyright information.