Description
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that your body needs to build its cells and produce certain hormones. It is carried throughout your body via the bloodstream. A small amount of cholesterol is sufficient to meet the needs of the body.
When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, you have high cholesterol. It is a common disorder. Cholesterol generally increases with age and can increase your risk of heart disease, cerebral vascular accident (stroke) and peripheral vascular disease.
Most cholesterol in your body (about 80%) is synthesized in the liver. The diet provides the rest. Dietary cholesterol comes from animal sources like eggs, meat and dairy products. There are 2 main types of cholesterol, it is important to know:
* The low density lipoprotein (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol;
* The high-density lipoprotein (HDL) or “good” cholesterol.
The bulk of LDL or “bad” cholesterol circulates in the blood, unused. Normally, the liver removes cholesterol that “extra”, but many people have more LDL cholesterol than the liver can convert. LDL facilitates the accumulation of plaque (fatty deposits) harmful on the walls of arteries.
HDL is considered “good” because it removes LDL cholesterol from arteries and tissues and transports it to the liver where it can decompose.
