In: Biology
Renee and Karl have been married for six years, and have two active children, ages 2 and 5. The kids keep both parents busy, chasing the kids around and, recently, preparing the oldest child for kindergarten. In addition, both Renee and Karl work full time, so there isn’t a lot of free time to do things that are important to their health, like see the doctor for regular physicals. Both are healthy, so they haven’t been too worried.
Renee went for routine physical last week and had blood work drawn. (It had been three years since her last physical.) The doctor called during the day with some worrying results. After putting the kids to bed, Renee was ready to talk through the results with Karl. Karl, with a worried look on his face, asked what was up. Renee told him that her cholesterol levels were very high. In fact, her total cholesterol was 220. Her HDL was 20, and her LDL was 200. That information, combined with the fact that her father had passed away at a young age from a heart attack, worried the doctor…and Renee.
1) What are HDL and LDL?
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2)What is the normal role of cholesterol in the body? Do you
need cholesterol? (Hint: Remember cell membranes.)
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3)What are the health consequences of high cholesterol?
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4)What could be causing Renee’s high cholesterol levels?
Describe at least three possible contributing factors.
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