According to the American Heart Association (AHA), cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the body. According to the AHA 75 percent of cholesterol is made in the body and 25 percent of cholesterol comes from food.
Function
According to the Mayo Clinic, cholesterol is needed for the body to function normally by building healthy cells and producing various hormones.
HDL
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), high density lipoproteins (HDL) are considered the good cholesterol because it transports cholesterol away from the heart to the liver for excretion.
LDL
According to the CDC, low density lipoproteins are the major carrier for cholesterol in the body. However, high levels of LDL can lead to serious health conditions like heart disease.
Recommended Levels
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the recommended levels of total cholesterol should be under 200 mg/dl to maintain optimal health and prevent heart disease.
Complications
High levels of LDL and total cholesterol can lead to serious health conditions like narrowed arteries, angina, coronary heart disease and heart attack according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI).
Testing and Diagnosing
According to the NHLBI, doctors can use a blood test called lipoprotein profile to determine the levels of total HDL and LDL cholesterol.
