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What is high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance that your body needs to function normally. Cholesterol is naturally present in cell walls or membranes everywhere in the body, including the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Your body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat. It takes only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood to meet these needs. If you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, the excess may be deposited in arteries, including the coronary (heart) arteries, where it contributes to the narrowing and blockages that cause the signs and symptoms of heart disease.
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Also known as cholesterol, high
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High Cholesterol
The chemical formula for cholesterol is C27H45OH. A monohydric alcohol. The most abundant steroid in animal tissues, especially in bile and gallstones, used as an emulsifying agent. Hypercholesterolemia is an excessive amount of cholesterol in the blood. About 80% of total body cholesterol is manufactured in the liver, the other 20% is from dietary sources. The body produces cholesterol because it is necessary in building cell membranes and sex hormones, and it aids in digestion. Cholesterol becomes a problem when excess of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) are present in the body. It is this excess of LDLs that can trigger the formation of placque on artery walls. High density lipoproteins (HDLs) are good because they sweep the body clean of excess cholesterol. If the body has too little HDL or too much LDL, there can be a problem. The levels of these substances are greatly influenced by diet. Vegetarians have low LDL, while exercise, vitamin C, and niacin elevate the good HDL. It is generally healthier to have a total cholesterol reading of less than 200 (combining both HDL and LDL), and the higher the HDL fraction the better. If the HDL level is 80 and the LDL level is 120, you are considered low risk for heart disease. As the HDL level decreases, your potential for heart problems intensifies, even if the total is on the low side. An HDL level under 35 is considered risky. Cholesterol is insoluble in water. It must be attached to a protein in order for it to be carried in the blood. This link to a protein is called a lipoprotein. Read more on
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Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the body that is used for many different purposes. It is manufactured by the body and also found in animal products, such as red meat and dairy products. Read more on
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Cholesterol
To screen for risk of developing heart disease Read more on
www.labtestsonline.org
NHLBI, High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know
High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high. It is important to find out what ... Read more on
www.nhlbi.nih.gov
Hypercholesterolemia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is not a disease but a metabolic derangement that can be caused by many ... Read more on
en.wikipedia.org
High Cholesterol Basics - High Cholesterol Center - EverydayHealth.com
Should you be worried about high cholesterol? Learn what your cholesterol score means and discover ways to prevent and treat high cholesterol at ... Read more on
www.everydayhealth.com
What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean
Feb 25, 2011 ... Symptoms, Diagnosis & Monitoring of High Cholesterol .... A high triglyceride level combined with low HDL cholesterol or high LDL ... Read more on
www.heart.org
Cholesterol information: high cholesterol, lowering cholesterol ...
Mar 12, 2011 ... High Cholesterol I am sure many of you have been reminded by doctors, nurses, ... Thus, high levels of LDL cholesterol and low levels of HDL ... Read more on
www.medicinenet.com
What is High cholesterol?
Dec 30, 2010 ... What is High cholesterol? Learn about symptoms and treatments from Consumer Reports Health. Read more on
www.consumerreports.org
High Cholesterol | Good Cholesterol | Bad Cholesterol | Healthline
High cholesterol, or lipid disorder, refers to the abundance of fatty substances in your blood. Learn the causes, symptoms and treatments for high blood ... Read more on
www.healthline.com
Contents
Cholesterol, High
Cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid. It is mostly made by the liver from the fatty foods we eat, and is vital for the normal functioning of the body (see box). However, having an excessively high level of lipids in your blood - a condition known as hyperlipidemia - can have a serious effect on your health, as it increases your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
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www.nhs.uk
High blood cholesterol and triglycerides
The medical term for high blood cholesterol and triglycerides is lipid disorder. Such a disorder occurs when you have too many fatty substances in your blood. These substances include cholesterol and triglycerides.
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www.nlm.nih.gov
High blood cholesterol
Cholesterol is found in every cell in your body. Cholesterol is used by your body to build healthy cells, as well as some vital hormones.
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www.mayoclinic.com
Cholesterol and Children
High cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary heart disease in adults, but some children may be at risk for premature coronary heart disease if they have high cholesterol levels earlier in life. Most parents dont know their childrens risks, and health care providers often dont test childrens cholesterol levels. According to the American Heart Association, there is sound research that the process of cholesterol buildup in arteries begins in childhood. Childhood may be the time to intervene with lifestyle changes that include sound diet and plenty of exercise, especially for children determined to be at high risk.
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Cholesterol test
A total cholesterol test is a rough measure of all the cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Cholesterol is a soft, wax-like substance found in all parts of the body. Your body needs a little bit of cholesterol to work properly. But too much cholesterol can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease. Some cholesterol is considered "good" and some is considered "bad." Different blood tests are needed to individually measure each type of cholesterol. See also: HDL test ("good" cholesterol) LDL test ("bad" cholesterol) Lipid profile High blood cholesterol and triglycerides
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Statins and Cholesterol
Statins and cholesterol overview Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, are highly effective cholesterol-lowering medications. Statins have been studied extensively and overall have been proven to decrease the risk of heart attack, stroke, and other coronary artery diseases that are related to high cholesterol levels. Statins, which are medications available only by prescription, are only considered after certain lifestyle changes have been made. These lifestyle changes include the following:
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Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them. High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart disease. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test. You are likely to have high cholesterol if members of your family have it, if you are overweight or if you eat a lot of fatty foods.
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hdl cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol
Cholesterol Management Center - WebMD
High cholesterol affects 42 million Americans, and 63 million more have borderline high cholesterol. Here you'll find in-depth cholesterol information ...
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www.webmd.com
High Cholesterol Information: Find Out How to Lower Your ...
High cholesterol levels are due to a variety of factors including heredity, diet, ... What treatment has been effective for your high cholesterol? ...
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