Understanding Cholesterol

Cholesterol isn’t inherently “bad,” but too much of it can cause a plethora of problems! Keep watching for the cholesterol basics.

Understanding Cholesterol Cholesterol #1: What is Cholesterol? Cholesterol, you hear the word all the time. But what it is really mean? And should you care? Dr. Brian P. Kessler, M.D. Cholesterol is a waxy fat like substances found in the blood streams and in cells throughout the body. Because ti often had has a negative connotations it may surprise you to learn that cholesterol is not inherently bad. In fact this naturally occurring substance plays a critical rule in the formation cell membranes in manufactures of hormones. But you only need a small amount of cholesterol to carry out these functions. So in too much cholesterol is present in your body it becomes a health risk. To understand this more fully let us look how cholesterol works. Cholesterol does not dissolve in the blood stream instead it is transported in and out of cells by carriers called low density lipoproteins or LDL and high density lipoproteins or HDL. When the amount of cholesterol in the blood stream increases the body needs to create additional lipoproteins to transport them. LDL is known as bad cholesterol because too much of it results in plaque build-up on the arterial walls. This condition known as Atherosclerosis hardens and clogs the arteries which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. HDL on the other hand has been that good cholesterol because it aids in removing cholesterol from the body carrying it away from the arteries to the live where it passed out to the body. Determining your cholesterol level can be done with the simple blood tests. The normal level of cholesterol for any individual varies depending upon their age, weight and sex. Typically though, an LDL level above 160 is considered high similarly and HDL of 40 is usually too low. Both high LDL levels and low HDL levels can put you at risk for plaque build-up. About 75% of the cholesterol on the blood is made by your liver and cells on your body. The other 25% comes from the food you eat. Cholesterol is found in animal products like meet, eggs, poultry and liver, which is a particularly high source. This is why eating less saturated fat from animals is a good first step towards lowering your cholesterol to a healthy level. Because high cholesterol can be a big risk factor for both heart disease and stroke. Managing your levels is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. If you think you may have high cholesterol or if you have the family history of that condition please see your doctor for a test. Want to learn more check out other videos and sources on this site for more information.