Cholesterol is a type of fat that is produced by your body and is also found in foods that come from animal sources (meat, milk products, eggs, poultry, and fish). Your body’s cells need cholesterol to function properly. However, excess cholesterol in the blood can build up inside your arteries (atherosclerosis), causing them to narrow. Atherosclerosis is the starting point for most heart and circulation problems.
Good and Bad Cholesterol
Cholesterol travels through your bloodstream attached to protein, in a combination called a lipoprotein. Two lipoproteins are the main carriers of cholesterol: low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL). High-density lipoproteins contain more protein than they do fat.
- LDL (”bad cholesterol”) carries cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body. When LDL levels are high, cholesterol can build up on the walls of the arteries. Having a high LDL cholesterol level increases your risk for coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack, and stroke.
- HDL (”good cholesterol”) helps clear cholesterol from the body by picking up cholesterol from the bloodstream and taking it back to the liver for disposal. Increasing your HDL cholesterol level may reduce your risk for heart disease, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.
Triglycerides are another type of fat that can be found in the bloodstream. A high triglyceride level may also increase your risk of coronary artery disease and stroke.
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