What are the Risks of Having High Cholesterol? Treatment & Prevention

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood.

When you hear the word “cholesterol,” you probably think of something that is “all bad” and can harm your health. But the truth is your body actually makes and needs cholesterol to survive. The problem is with excessive amounts of cholesterol, and even then, it is only one specific kind of cholesterol that is bad for you and can increase your risk of heart attack or stroke.

When the “bad” cholesterol in your blood is too high, it can lead to fatty deposits known as plaque in the arteries. This can be particularly harmful when the arteries leading to the heart become thick with plaque. These fatty deposits impede good blood flow to the heart and the condition — known as atherosclerosis – is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease.

There are people that are genetically predisposed to have higher than normal cholesterol levels; however, high cholesterol is more likely the result of a poor diet and sedentary lifestyle.

The good news is that high cholesterol is quite treatable and manageable. Oftentimes exercising more and making better “heart healthy” food choices, is all that is needed to lower cholesterol. Beyond that, there are several effective cholesterol lowering drugs available, and in many cases, hormone replacement therapy has been shown to reduce “bad” cholesterol levels while raising “good” cholesterol.

What Causes High Cholesterol?

The cholesterol in your body travels in your blood, bound to proteins. There are two kinds of cholesterol, often referred to as “good” cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol.

• Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) – LDL is the “bad” cholesterol. This is the kind of cholesterol that builds up as arterial plaque and raises your risk of cardiovascular disease.
• High-density lipoprotein (HDL) – HDL is the “good” cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is actually like the “street sweeper” of your bloodstream, picking up excess cholesterol and removing it from your blood back to your liver to be processed as waste.

Some people are genetically predisposed to making too much bad cholesterol. That is largely out of your control. However, most of the causes of high cholesterol can be controlled, such as diet and lack of exercise.

Certain medical conditions such as HIV/AIDS and diabetes can contribute to high cholesterol, as can some medications, but obesity, a poor diet, and a sedentary lifestyle are the primary causes of high cholesterol.

What Is Considered High Cholesterol?

The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends that all Americans over age 20 get their cholesterol levels tested every four to six years.

Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). AHA guidelines point to a total cholesterol of below 200 mg/dL as “desirable” and anything over 239 mg/dL as “high.”

What Is the Difference Between “Good” and “Bad” Cholesterol? 

Cholesterol is a kind of fat in your blood. It serves a purpose in the growth and maintenance of certain tissues and cells. But, if you have too much of it, it can build up on the walls of your blood vessels and make them narrow. This is what is meant when we say someone has “high cholesterol.” When cholesterol builds up like that, it can make it harder for your blood to move through your body. This can lead to high blood pressure and an increased risk of heart disease.

But not all cholesterol is bad. There are two types of cholesterol – LDL and HDL.

LDL cholesterol is the kind that builds up in your blood vessels, causing heart problems. LDL is often called “bad” cholesterol because it leads to this buildup of arterial plaque. HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol because it helps the liver to break down and to flush out LDL, or “bad” cholesterol.