What is Cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the blood of your body. Your body produces all the cholesterol it needs to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. But cholesterol also comes from the food that you eat. When high cholesterol foods are a regular presence in your diet, the good things that cholesterol does for the body quickly turn into bad consequences.

Why Should I Be Concerned About Cholesterol?
If you have too much cholesterol, it starts to build up in your arteries. This process, called atherosclerosis, is usually a slow process, but it worsens as you get older. Its health consequences are serious. As your arteries begin to clog, it gets harder for your blood to flow through them. As a result, your body tissues—most importantly your heart—do not get their needed amount of blood flowing through them, leading to serious health problems including heart attack and stroke.

What are the different kinds of cholesterol?
LDL is the “bad” cholesterol that gets into your arteries and clogs them. If you have high cholesterol, LDL is the cholesterol that you need to lower. HDL is the “good” cholesterol because it helps clear fat from your blood. A high level of HDL can help protect you from heart attack. Triglycerides are another type of fat in your blood. If you have high triglycerides and high LDL, your chances of having a heart attack are higher.

What causes high cholesterol?
High cholesterol can come from many things. It can come from eating foods high in saturated and trans fat. Saturated fats come from foods made from animals (like meats, eggs, whole milk, butter, and cheese). Trans fats come from packaged and snack foods like cookies, chips, and crackers. High cholesterol can also be a result of being overweight and inactive. It might even be the consequence of your family history. So if your family members have or have had high cholesterol, you may have it too. High cholesterol can also come about from your overall health. Consequently, diseases such as hypothyroidism can raise your cholesterol levels.

How is Cholesterol Level Measured?
High cholesterol is 240 or above. Borderline high is 200 to 239. Best is less than 200.

How to treat it?
If you have high cholesterol, you need treatment to lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. The two main treatments are lifestyle changes and medicine. Eating a heart-healthy diet can help lower your cholesterol. Consume high-fiber grains and omega-3 rich foods like fish and olive oil. Also base your diet on lots of fruits, vegetables, and beans. Get regular, daily exercise. Don’t smoke; smoking decreases your HDL (good cholesterol) and decreases your heart health.