Cholesterol, a waxy substance found in all cells in the body, may get too high if the diet is high in cholesterol. Cholesterol can build up in arteries and lead to health problems, like heart attack and heart disease. There are a variety of...
Cholesterol is a necessary substance in the body. It helps keep cellular membranes healthy, and also aids in the production of several hormones. However, according to the American Heart Association, too much of it can cause heart disease, heart...
Cholesterol itself is not actually bad. Cholesterol comes from two different sources. The American Heart Association says that 75 percent of cholesterol is naturally made in your body and the other 25 percent of the cholesterol in your body comes...
When you have too much cholesterol in your blood, some of the excess cholesterol combines with other substances to create hard plaques on the inside walls of your coronary arteries. Known as atherosclerosis, this condition deprives your heart of...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is carried through the bloodstream attached to lipids, or fats. The body synthesizes most of the cholesterol it needs, however, cholesterol can also be consumed through the diet. In normal ranges, cholesterol...
Elevated blood levels of cholesterol, a waxy, fatty substances that can build up on the lining of blood vessels, can be inherited or caused by diet, inactivity, being overweight or drinking too much alcohol. Having high cholesterol levels...
When you hear the word "cholesterol," your first thought might be dread, as it is often associated with clogged arteries, heart attack and stroke. LDL, or bad cholesterol, gets most of the attention, and excess amounts of LDL can result in these...
High cholesterol results from heredity, unhealthy diet and a lack of exercise. The best way to decrease the unwanted effects of high cholesterol is to avoid high cholesterol levels in the first place, but if you are unable to do this there are...
About one in every six adults in America has high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). High blood pressure significantly increases your risk of heart disease. In fact, if you have high cholesterol, you...
Studies indicate that niacin may help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease when combined with statin medications. This treatment may also help improve the outcomes in people currently with cardiovascular disease. However, you should seek the...
Cholesterol is both good and bad for your health. Produced naturally by the body, cholesterol in just the right quantities helps form cells and produce hormones, notes the Mayo Clinic. When people begin to eat unhealthy foods, gain too much weight...
Approximately 16 percent of adults in the United States have high cholesterol which is a major risk factor for the development of heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cholesterol is a waxy substance required...
Cholesterol are fat-like substances that occurs naturally in the blood and plays an important role in the metabolism of the body. There are three kinds of cholesterol in the body -- good cholesterol or HDL, bad cholesterol or LDL, and...
Your body naturally produces cholesterol to make hormones and form cells. It knows exactly how much cholesterol you need for your body to effectively perform these functions. Therefore the food choices you make provide your body with excess...
If you have high cholesterol levels, you are at an increased risk of heart attack or stroke, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Cholesterol is a fatty substance that can lead to a buildup of plaque on the walls of your...
High cholesterol is generally defined as a total cholesterol of 240 mg/dL or higher. If you have high cholesterol, there are things you can do to lower your numbers. Diet and lifestyle changes are often the best and healthiest ways to lower your...
Lowering high cholesterol can reduce the risk of stroke and heart attacks. Medication, diet, exercise, and other lifestyle changes are all treatments used to lower LDL "bad" cholesterol and increase HDL, "good" cholesterol. Even small lifestyle...
Your total cholesterol level is made of both LDL and HDL cholesterol. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is known as "bad" cholesterol as it is the type of cholesterol that clogs your arteries. HDL, or high-density lipoprotein, is the "good"...
Natural methods for cholesterol control might be your first treatment choice, especially if you are among those who prefer not to take medication. While your doctor may prescribe one of several medications to treat high cholesterol, they all have...
Lowering the level of low-density lipoproteins, or LDL cholesterol, in your body can help reduce your risk of developing heart disease. Too much cholesterol in your blood can clog your arteries, reducing blood flow and forcing your heart to work...
Your cholesterol is made of two types. LDL, or "bad" cholesterol, causes clogged arteries. HDL is your "good" cholesterol because it rounds up LDL and takes it to the liver for disposal. Having a low level of LDL and a high level of HDL is what...
Cholesterol provides a variety of benefits to health, such as helping to maintain the membranes of cells and playing a role in the creation of hormones, acids and vitamins. Too much cholesterol, however, can lead to a hardening and clogging of the...
Cholesterol is a steroid that travels through your blood and protects your cell membranes. Good cholesterol, or HDL, carries excess cholesterol out of your blood and into your liver so it can be eliminated. Bad cholesterol, or LDL, can accumulate...
Normally, most of the foods you eat are broken down into glucose, the form of sugar in your blood. People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin or their bodies can't use the insulin effectively being made by the pancreas, a large...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the body. Your body requires some cholesterol, but too much may contribute to heart disease. Excess cholesterol sticks to your arteries, hardens and forms plaque. Too much plaque slows circulation and may...
Cholesterol-- the waxy substance in fats in your bloodstream-- is not necessarily harmful in itself; MayoClinic.com notes that your body requires it for cell growth. But excessive levels of LDL, or low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, can increase...
HDL -- or good cholesterol -- helps transport the cholesterol in your body to your cells, and carries excess amounts of LDL -- or bad cholesterol -- back to the liver, which excretes it from your body. When your levels of HDL are too low, you are...
When cholesterol levels rise, it begins to stick to the walls of the arteries causing decreased blood flow to your heart and brain. Increased levels of cholesterol are cause for concern and, if left untreated, can lead to heart disease and stroke....
Cholesterol is composed of low-density lipoproteins (LDL), which are the bad kind, and high-density lipoproteins (HDL), which are the good kind. When your cholesterol levels become elevated, your risk for heart attacks and strokes goes up due to...
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.
Take control of cholesterol. Learn the facts about cholesterol and tips for lowering cholesterol count in this video.
Underactive thyroid, or hypothyroidism, leads to a large range of symptoms, often resembling other illnesses. Learn more about underactive thyroids in this health video.