High Cholesterol
Basics About High Cholesterol

High cholesterol  information is in the news, on product labels and in all kinds of advertising today. We even read about it on food package labeling. High cholesterol, LDL, HDL, saturated fat, lowering cholesterol levels, and cholesterol numbers are all terms we hear about. We may even have some knowledge of some of the terms.. People interested in taking charge of their own health have noted this high cholesterol talk and want more specifics.

Exactly what is high cholesterol and what causes high cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a fatty substance, or lipid, manufactured every day in the liver in sufficient amounts to be a building block from which your body produces some of its hormones. Cholesterol is also a critical component of cell membranes. Your liver makes enough cholesterol daily to satisfy your body's needs, and the cholesterol you eat simply adds to the overall cholesterol level in your body. When cholesterol leads to problems, it is usually because your eating habits leave a surplus of cholesterol in your bloodstream. This is where high cholesterol enters the picture.

If there is too much cholesterol -- high cholesterol -- it builds up  in the bloodstream and accumulates in the walls of the blood vessels causing a condition known as atherosclerosis. Nodules form which interfere with the normal blood flow. This favors the formation of clots in the blood which ultimately cuts off the flow leading to heart attacks and strokes.

Dangers of High Cholesterol

As blood cholesterol rises, so does the risk of coronary artery diesease (CAD). For over a century, scientists have known that high cholesterol leads to an accumulation of cholesterol in the coronary arteries, reducing the flow of blood to the heart. This leads to eventually narrowing of the passage so severely that a heart attack occurs.

Other factors in addition to high cholesterol contribute to the build up of plaque in the arteries: smoking, elevated blood pressure, diabetes, being overweight and leading a sedentary lifestyle.  Also, family history of heart attacks at an early age raises the risk of CAD.

No matter what age you are, it is never too late to take corrective measures if you have high cholesterol. Healthy habits can keep problems from getting worse -- stop smoking, get more exercise and eat a heart-healthy diet.

For more information about cholesterol and its effects on your body see:

 High Cholesterol Diet - Managing Cholesterol Levels With Diet
Cholesterol Lowering Diet - Eat To Reduce Cholesterol Levels