Is Your Cholesterol High?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly 1 in 3 American adults has high cholesterol. Too much cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease and stroke—two of the leading causes of death in the United States. 

What Is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in fats in your blood, which your body needs to function. There are two types of cholesterol:

• LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is known as “bad cholesterol” because it can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke. 
• HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is known as “good cholesterol” because it can lower your risk for stroke and heart disease by removing other types of cholesterol from your blood

What Causes High Cholesterol?

Here are some of the factors which may lead to high levels of LDL cholesterol:

• An unhealthy diet and physical inactivity
• Smoking or excessive alcohol consumption
• Family history of high cholesterol
• Type 2 diabetes or obesity

How Can I Lower My Cholesterol?

High cholesterol usually has no signs or symptoms, so it’s important to get your cholesterol levels checked by a doctor before serious problems occur.

Depending on your screening results, your doctor may recommend the following practices to lower your risk:

• Lifestyle changes
• Diet changes
• Cholesterol-lowering medicine

For further information, please consult a medical professional.