Cholesterol is not inherently bad, and the body needs a certain amount of this substance to regulate hormone production, produce bile salts, digest fat and produce vitamin D, reports KidsHealth. Cholesterol levels are strongly related to your...
High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, cholesterol is the component of total cholesterol that actually helps reduce risk of cardiovascular disease. The higher your HDL cholesterol reading, the more you reduce the risk of heart disease. For this reason,...
Cholesterol is a natural substance formed in your body by your liver. While cholesterol helps your body form cell membranes and some hormones, having too much cholesterol can raise your chances of having a heart attack and is a major risk factor...
According to the American Heart Association, there are different types of cholesterol readings. Having too much of the "bad" cholesterol or too little of the "good" cholesterol can increase a person's chances for heart disease and stroke. Heart...
Regular blood cholesterol screening provides a means of measuring your heart disease risk. It is especially imperative given that high cholesterol has few noticeable symptoms. MayoClinic.com recommends you get a cholesterol check every five years...
Cholesterol is a substance produced by the body and is present in certain foods. Cholesterol, similar to wax in consistency, is an important part of cell growth and the functions of the body. This important substance becomes a problem when there...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by your liver and also ingested in the food you eat. While you need cholesterol to build and maintain healthy cells, excess cholesterol can accumulate on the inside of your arteries, reducing blood flow to...
You may be at risk for having a heart attack. More than 100 million adults in the United States have high cholesterol, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 35 million of these Americans have levels high enough to put...
Your blood naturally contains two types of cholesterol, a good kind called HDL and a potentially harmful type called LDL. Cholesterol is needed for certain bodily functions, but it causes problems if your levels get too high. Adults have...
Although cholesterol has a negative image because of its association with heart disease, you need a certain level of cholesterol to build healthy cells, create vitamin D and produce certain hormones. When cholesterol levels are too high, however,...
Doctors use cholesterol measurements to assess a person's risk for developing cardiovascular disease. More than 102 million adults in America suffer from high cholesterol, according to the American Heart Association, and 35 million of these people...
Your doctor sat you down and gave you the bad news: your cholesterol numbers are off. You have no idea what it means, though. There are so many different numbers and categories, it can be confusing to sort it all out. Some cholesterol is good,...
A fasting blood test to determine cholesterol levels is called a lipid profile or lipid panel. When cholesterol is tested, four types are reported: LDL, or bad cholesterol; HDL, or good cholesterol; triglycerides; and total cholesterol. In the...
Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, cholesterol can accumulate over time and form plaques on the inside of the arteries. This decreases blood flow to the heart and leads to heart disease. High cholesterol has no symptoms, so you need to find out your...
A cholesterol test is a blood test that checks the amount of the different types of cholesterol in your blood. Based on the results you may need to manage your cholesterol levels through dietary changes, exercise and medication to reduce your risk...
A cholesterol blood test examines three types of fat in your bloodstream: triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein and high-density lipoprotein, or LDL and HDL, respectively. While your cholesterol and triglyceride readings both reflect the type of...
An important component of managing and preventing heart disease is keeping your cholesterol and triglyceride levels low. Both are easily tested through a blood sample taken at your doctor's office, a clinic and there are even home models. You will...
