What Are The Health Risks Of High Cholesterol?
What is cholesterol?
Most of the cholesterol in your body is made by your liver from saturated fat in your diet. Some cholesterol also comes from foods such as eggs, meats and dairy products.
Why is a high cholesterol level unhealthy?
While some cholesterol is needed for good health, too much cholesterol in your blood can raise your risk of having a heart attack or stroke.
The extra cholesterol in your blood may be stored in your arteries (blood vessels) and cause them to narrow. (This is called atherosclerosis.) Large deposits of cholesterol can completely block an artery, so the blood can't flow through.
If an artery that supplies blood to your heart becomes blocked, a heart attack can occur. If an artery that supplies blood to your brain becomes blocked, a stroke can occur.
When should I start having my cholesterol level checked?
Men aged 35 and older and women aged 45 and older should have their cholesterol checked periodically. Depending on what your cholesterol level is and what other risk factors for heart disease you have (see the box below), you may need to have it checked more often.
Risk factors for heart disease of high cholesterol
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Having already had a heart attack |
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Being a man 45 years of age or older |
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Having a father or brother who had heart disease before he was 55 |
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Being a woman who is going through menopause or has completed menopause |
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Having a mother or sister who had heart disease before she was 65 |
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Smoking cigarettes |
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Having high blood pressure or diabetes |
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Being very overweight |
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Being inactive |
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