To determine what a cholesterol level is, a physician must order a fasting lipoprotein profile by drawing a sample of blood. This test will show what the total cholesterol level is, the HDL, the LDL and the blood triglyceride level. A good level...
High cholesterol can lead to a host of cardiovascular diseases including atherosclerosis and congestive heart failure. Certain risk factors associated with high cholesterol can be lowered by lifestyle interventions. Just a few alterations in your...
Cholesterol plays a role in cell production in your body, according to MayoClinic.com, but too much cholesterol can clog your arteries and lead to heart disease or stroke. Your body makes some cholesterol in the liver and gets other from the foods...
According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI), cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is needed to produce hormones, Vitamin D and digestive substances. More than 98 million Americans suffer from high blood cholesterol...
Cholesterol is a vital component of the body's cell membranes and serves many other functions. It is produced naturally in the body and comes from the food we eat. Many factors--both modifiable and non-modifiable--contribute to high cholesterol...
One of the major risk factors for heart disease--the No. 1 killer in the United States, according to the National Institutes of Health--is high cholesterol. When too much cholesterol accumulates in the arteries, it becomes plaque, which adheres to...
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that can accumulate along the walls of your arteries if your blood contains too much of it. These fatty deposits can reduce or stop the flow of blood, which can lead to heart disease, heart attack and stroke....
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found among lipids (fats) in the bloodstream. Healthy amounts of cholesterol are important to your overall health. Excessive cholesterol, however, increases your risk for serious conditions, such as heart disease, a...
Cholesterol, a waxy substance that your body produces naturally, is found in every cell in your body, according to the Mayo Clinic. Its purpose is to build healthy cells along with hormones. While some cholesterol is beneficial, too much can...
Numerous conditions can be secondary causes of high cholesterol. According to the University of Maryland Medical Center, hypercholesterolemia, or high blood cholesterol, occurs when there is an excessive amount of cholesterol in your body....
Cholesterol is an important risk factor for heart disease. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that travels through the blood and tends to build up on the walls of arteries. Over time, this tends to narrow the arteries and block or slow blood flow to...
Cholesterol is a crucial fat produced by the liver that has many functions in the body. It maintains cell membranes, involved in the production of sex hormones and bile, converts sunshine to vitamin D and important in the metabolism of fat-soluble...
Heredity plays a role in high cholesterol for teenagers, but unhealthy diets and obesity have become increasing problems in recent years that lead to bad cholesterol levels. High blood pressure and smoking also contribute to high cholesterol in...
High cholesterol levels put you at risk for heart disease and cardiovascular problems such as heart attack and stroke. Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is produced by the liver, but we get most of the cholesterol in our blood through the foods...
High cholesterol increases your risk for developing serious medical conditions, like Alzheimer's and cardiovascular disease. The Fisher Center for Alzheimer's Research Foundation cites a study by Kaiser Permanente which links mildly elevated...
When your doctor tells you that you have high cholesterol, it can be frightening as well as confusing. High cholesterol increases your risk of heart disease and heart attack, so it is important to reduce your numbers to normal ranges. Fortunately,...
Your liver, one of the largest organs in your body, stores energy and nutrients, makes proteins and enzymes, breaks down and removes harmful substances and produces cholesterol. Doctors monitor liver function by determining the level of three...
You may get high cholesterol or the tendency to develop high blood cholesterol from your parents or due to genetics. This type of high cholesterol is very dangerous, because it causes very high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), known as...
High cholesterol affects more than 102 million Americans, according to the American Heart Association. More women than men post high cholesterol levels and, among men, Mexican Americans are the most likely to possess cholesterol levels above...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the leading cause of death among American women over 65 is heart disease, and among women age 45 to 64, it is the second leading cause of death. High total cholesterol is a major risk...
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. One of the main risk factors for heart disease is high cholesterol levels. Cholesterol, a type of...
No single food causes high cholesterol. It depends on how much and how often you eat certain foods and how they fit within your overall diet plan. But ice cream, often high in saturated fat and sugar, could certainly contribute to elevations in...
High cholesterol levels are a concern for more than 102 million Americans, according to 2010 statistics gathered by the American Heart Association. These numbers are driven by hereditary factors in part, but many cases of high cholesterol occur as...
Cholesterol is a waxy fat-like substance your body uses to add structure to cell membranes, produce hormones and make bile acids important for the digestion of fats. Although your body needs cholesterol, too much cholesterol increases your risk...
High cholesterol is both the cause and result of serious medical disorders. When high cholesterol levels are left unnoticed or untreated, they can lead to heart disease, which in the long run can prove fatal for some. Although you can treat...
Lyrica is a prescription medication used to help manage pain associated with shingles, diabetic nerve pain and fibromyalgia. Lyrica may also be used to treat partial onset seizures in adults who also have epilepsy and take at least one medication...
Being obese increases your risk of high cholesterol. High cholesterol and being overweight are two risk factors for developing heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, obese individuals are more likely to develop heart disease...
Unless you've been blessed with a magical gene that allows you to eat whatever you want, chances are you're just as concerned about the amount of cholesterol in your diet as you are the number of calories you consume. According to the American...
Your cholesterol level is one of the main measures your doctor uses to gauge your circulatory health. The single best thing you can do to keep your levels in a healthy range is to know how the foods and beverages you consume -- such as beer --...
Cardiomyopathy refers to deteriorating in the function of the heart muscle itself, which can lead to further medical difficulties. Learn more about cardiomyopathy, including symptoms and treatment options in this video.
Atherosclerosis is a disease that inflames and constricts arterial blood vessels, at times obstructing circulation and requiring surgical intervention. Learn more about atherosclerosis, causes and symptoms, in this health video.
Take control of cholesterol. Learn the facts about cholesterol and tips for lowering cholesterol count in this video.