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High Cholesterol?
Here's What You Can Do
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a type of fat found in your bloodstream or stored in tissues. Your body produces cholesterol to build cell walls and to make hormones. Cholesterol is essential for many bodily functions, including the maintenance of cell membranes and proper brain functioning. Cholesterol comes from two main sources: it is made in your liver and it comes from the foods that you eat. Health problems can occur when there is too much cholesterol in your blood.
What is wrong with too much cholesterol?
Too much cholesterol in your blood increases your chances of having a heart attack or stroke. Cholesterol can build up on the artery walls. Eventually, the build-up of cholesterol in the arteries can block off blood flow to your heart or your brain. Without enough blood flowing to your heart or brain, you could have a heart attack or a stroke.
There is bad and good cholesterol—and triglycerides
Bad cholesterol is LDL, the “lousy” cholesterol. LDL stands for “low-density lipoproteins.” High amounts of these lipoproteins in the blood increase the chance that the particles could stick to the artery walls and form a buildup of particles called plaque. This buildup of cholesterol particles can narrow the artery opening. When the artery openings narrow, this condition is called atherosclerosis.
Good cholesterol is HDL, the “healthy” cholesterol. HDL, or “high-density lipoproteins,” actually prevents the harmful build-up of cholesterol in your arteries. The higher your HDL number the better. Exercise helps to raise your HDL number. Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood. They are a major source of energy and the most common type of fat in your body. When you eat, your body uses the calories it needs for quick energy. Any extra calories are turned into triglycerides and stored in fat cells to be used later. In normal amounts, triglycerides are important to good health. But high triglycerides are often part of a group of conditions associated with increased risk of heart disease. You can decrease your triglycerides by losing weight, exercising, limiting alcohol and sweets.