Now that you know cholesterol comes from 2 sources, food and family, you may still have some questions. No worry. Here are answers to some common questions about cholesterol.
- Q. What is cholesterol?
A. Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance found in your bloodstream. Although your body needs cholesterol to help build and maintain cells, too much cholesterol can build up on your artery walls.
- Q. What are LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol?
A. LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol is known as “bad cholesterol” because it can build up in the walls of your arteries and form a thick, hard plaque that clogs your arteries and blocks the flow of blood to your heart and brain. HDL refers to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, also called “good cholesterol” because it helps eliminate bad cholesterol from the body.
- Q. What can happen if I do have high cholesterol?
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A. Having high LDL (bad) cholesterol can put you at risk for heart disease, heart attack, or stroke—especially if you have any of these additional risk factors:
- Low HDL cholesterol
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Lack of physical activity
- Family history of heart disease
- High-fat/high-cholesterol diet
- Men aged 45 or older
- Women aged 55 or older
- Q. What should I do?
A. The first thing to do is have your cholesterol checked and talk to your doctor to find out your LDL (bad) cholesterol goal. Use the Goal Card to help you keep track. Watching your diet and exercising can help, but if your cholesterol still is not low enough, your doctor may suggest adding a medication to your routine.