High cholesterol that is hereditary, or familial hypercholesterolaemia, results in high levels of LDL, otherwise known as bad cholesterol. These increased levels begin at birth, causing heart attacks at an early age. Unlike high cholesterol levels...
Heart disease is the largest killer in America today. According to the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, more than a million Americans have a heart attack each year, and half a million die from heart disease. Cholesterol plays a major role in heart...
If high cholesterol and, especially, heart disease run in your family, you face increased risk of suffering a heart attack or stroke yourself -- and a bigger challenge when it comes to managing your cholesterol levels. But this does not mean you...
You may have seen commercials or magazine ads for cholesterol medication that portray comic family members and unhealthy foods as sources of cholesterol. The concept behind these ads is based in scientific fact: some people do have a genetic...
The primary source of cholesterol production is your liver, while the secondary source is the food you eat: Fried food, foods high in fat and foods high in cholesterol. Another factor affecting one in 500 people results in high cholesterol as well...
Niacin is a B vitamin present in foods including fish, nuts and eggs. A more concentrated form is also available in supplement form. You can purchase niacin over the counter. If you suffer from high cholesterol, your doctor may prescribe niacin...
The National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute states that coronary vessel disease is the most common form of heart disease in the United States. The underlying cause of coronary vessel disease is fat deposits in the arteries of the heart....
If you're fit and at a healthy weight, you might think you don't have to worry about things like high cholesterol and heart disease. That's not necessarily the case. High cholesterol can be caused by poor diet and lack of exercise, but it can also...
Cholesterol serves a valuable purpose in your body, despite its generally negative connotation. A waxy substance carried through the blood on lipoproteins such as low-density lipoproteins and high-density lipoproteins, cholesterol comes both from...
Cholesterol is a substance found in every cell of your body. If you develop high cholesterol, that means that you may have an abundance of cholesterol that creates fatty deposits in your blood vessels. These deposits can act as obstacles and...
Discussions of cholesterol can be confusing, especially when failing to account for the "good" cholesterol that actually minimizes health risks. Generally speaking, cholesterol cannot be absorbed by the blood, so it is transported by lipoproteins....
The American Heart Association says cholesterol comes from two different sources. Around 75 percent of cholesterol is made naturally in your body, and the other 25 percent comes from the food you eat. High levels of cholesterol are commonly...
When cholesterol accumulates in excess, it can build deposits in your blood vessels and block the flow of blood through your arteries. As the blood flow decreases, your chance of a stroke increases. High cholesterol has been shown to be...
Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance found throughout the body. It is an essential in maintaining cell structure, producing hormones and in other vital functions of the body. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is known as "bad" cholesterol while...
High cholesterol often occurs as a result of consuming a diet high in fat. As well, some people may also have high cholesterol that stems from hereditary factors. However, no matter the cause for high levels of cholesterol, this condition can...
Adults should begin regular cholesterol checks at age 20 and continue with a check-up every 5 years. Total blood cholesterol can indicate risk for heart disease and related conditions such as stroke. A reading of less than 200 mg/dL is desirable....
Your gallbladder stores a fluid produced by the liver known as bile. Bile consists of water, bilirubin, fats, salts, proteins and cholesterol. Sometimes, it contains excess cholesterol, and, as it sits in the gallbladder, small, hard deposits...
When your cholesterol levels are too high, you're at risk of stroke and heart disease. Your body contains two types of cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Individuals with high cholesterol may have...
Cholesterol is a waxy solid found in all animals. It's an essential component of animal cells and is used to build the cell membranes. Cholesterol is also needed in the synthesis of bile acids, hormones and vitamins. An excess of cholesterol in...
Several genetic factors are associated with heart disease. According to the U.S. National Library of Medicine and the National Institutes of Health, or NIH, heart disease is the leading cause of death among American men and women, and heart...
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...
Cholesterol occurs naturally in the body and circulates in the bloodstream as a waxy, fat-like substance. When cholesterol is too high, it can form on artery walls. Lipoproteins travel through the bloodstream with cholesterol in three forms: low...
If your cholesterol levels are out of control, there's a good chance that your triglyceride levels are too, says the American Heart Association. If left untreated, high cholesterol and triglyceride levels can eventually lead to coronary heart...
Cholesterol is a waxy-type substance in your body that is used to manufacture new cells and maintain good health. Two types of cholesterol circulate through the body: high-density lipoprotein or the "good" cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein...
Heart disease kills 26 percent of Americans each year, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in 2006. Coronary heart disease, the most common type of heart disease, has a number of causes, but the most common is atherosclerosis,...
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...
Many people have an idea of what their ideal weight is. But weight isn't just a number or a cosmetic issue -- it's a health issue. Individuals who are overweight run a greater risk for a number of heart and health conditions that could lead to...
Although hereditary factors may increase your risk of developing high cholesterol, your diet often plays a major role in preventing and controlling this condition. High cholesterol refers to the presence of too many fats in your blood. Following a...
Cholesterol is a component of cell membranes and the source of all steroid hormones. Cholesterol is a lipid that is transported in the blood by lipoproteins. HDL and LDL are lipoproteins involved in transporting cholesterol. Atherosclerosis is the...
