Private MD News

What’s the deal with cholesterol?

Category: Heart Health and Cholesterol

Many people often hear the advice that they should seek cholesterol testing and take steps to reduce their levels. However, how many people actually know what cholesterol is? Furthermore, how many can explain why staying on top of cholesterol levels is important?

While there may be a general lack of understanding of the role that the substance plays in the body, it is relatively simple to fathom.

Cholesterol is a collection of lipids, or fats, in the blood. While having these fats circulating throughout the arteries is not necessarily a bad thing, excessively high levels is. The substance can begin to accumulate at certain areas in the circulatory system. These buildups can slow the flow of blood and make arteries less flexible, according to the American Heart Association.

Over time, these accumulations can completely block smaller yet vital veins in the brain and heart, resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

Yet not all cholesterol is the same. High density lipoprotein, or HDL, has been shown to carry these buildups to the liver where they can be processed, thereby reducing cardiovascular risk. This is why cholesterol testing is so important.