Cholesterol is a fat-like substance. It is essential for life. The body needs cholesterol to make strong membranes, steroids and other hormones, and to ensure proper function of the nervous system. Cholesterol is manufactured by the body and is also found in foods of animal origin. But
too much cholesterol in the blood has been linked to the formation of fatty plaques that can narrow arteries, including those that supply the heart muscle itself."Good" and "bad" cholesterol
When the fat levels in a person's blood rise excessively, he or she is at risk for developing coronary artery dease. Two kinds of fat that are closely watched are cholesterol and triglycerides. Cholesterol and triglycerides are found in the blood in a complex substance known as lipoprotein. Lipo means fat, so a lipoprotein is a combination of fat and protein.
Cholesterol is cholesterol no matter what. But depending on how it is transported in the blood, cholesterol can be either "good" or "bad." Cholesterol is harmful when it's bundled in a ball of protein called low-density lipoprotein, or LDL. LDL transports cholesterol to the arterial wall where it is absorbed into the slowly growing plaque. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) - the "good" cholesterol, removes cholesterol from the artery wall and slows, or may even prevent, the development of plaque.
Concerned about your cholesterol level?
Consult with your doctor about ways of lowering total blood cholesterol.