What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of fatty substance, also known as a lipid which is a type of fat in the blood. You get cholesterol from eating certain types of fatty foods.
Your body also makes cholesterol. In fact, cholesterol is a major component of cell membranes and is made by the cells of most organs and tissues in the body. Your body also uses cholesterol to make bile salts, which help aid in digestion. Smaller amounts of cholesterol are used to make hormones, vitamin D and other substances.
Cholesterol is carried in the blood by special substances called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as “bad” cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as “good” cholesterol. These two types of lipids, along with triglycerides, make up the three main parts of your cholesterol.
The three main categories of fats (lipids) are:
Bad cholesterol (low-density lipoproteins) builds up in arteries, along with other substances, to form plaque, which can restrict blood flow to your heart, brain,and other organs.
Good cholesterol (high-density lipoproteins) carries cholesterol from the blood vessels to the liver, where the body can eliminate it.
Triglycerides (trī-glis-er-īdes—also called "the other bad lipid") are a form of lipid that is produced in the liver and also comes from the foods you eat.
What are healthy cholesterol levels?
To help lower your risk for heart disease, each of your lipid numbers should be in the healthy range:
LOW
Good cholesterol (HDL) should be HIGH
Too Much Bad Cholesterol
Excess bad cholesterol can stay in your arteries and eventually build up in the artery wall, leading to atherosclerosis and heart disease.
Many people have unhealthy cholesterol levels, most often caused by:
- Poorly controlled diabetes
- Poor dietary habits
- Inadequate exercise
- Excess weight
- Increasing Age
- Family history of unhealthy cholesterol
How can your levels affect heart risk?
High levels of bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood are important factors in the development of heart disease. A high triglyceride level often goes hand-in-hand with a higher bad cholesterol level and a lower good cholesterol level.
Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood. They're produced in the liver and also come from foods that you eat. If there is too much bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, excess cholesterol can build up in the lining of the arteries. Over time this build up, called plaque, hardens the arteries making it hard for blood to flow.
Improving Unhealthy Levels of Cholesterol and Triglycerides
To improve your unhealthy levels of cholesterol and triglycerides your doctor may recommend diet, excercise and/or cholesterol lowering medication.
The First Step to Heart Disease
Atherosclerosis is generally the first step in developing heart disease. While atherosclerosis can happen to blood vessels anywhere in the body, when it happens in the arteries of your heart, your risk for heart attack increases.
Plaque build up in these arteries can restrict blood flow to the heart, meaning necessary oxygen and nutrients do not get to the heart muscle. This can cause chest pain, or angina.
Some plaques can also burst, releasing cholesterol and fat into the bloodstream. This may completely block blood flow through the artery-causing a heart attack. A clot that forms in an artery in or leading to the brain can cause a stroke.