High cholesterol is the cause of thickening artery walls that can lead to atherosclerosis, heart attacks and strokes. Unless treatment is put in place to lower cholesterol levels the person could suffer from one of the aforementioned conditions. Part of the treatment for high cholesterol is understanding why high cholesterol levels occur. This is due to the way cholesterol is transported throughout the body. This article will look at this in relation to high density lipoproteins (HDL) and low density lipoproteins (LDL).
Although cholesterol serves many essential roles in keeping our bodies in good health it receives more attention when it is harmful to our bodies. It is harmful when there is too much in the body. We produce about 80% of the cholesterol that is needed by the body naturally in the liver. The rest is obtained through dietary means. However when too much cholesterol is consumed through dietary means then the cholesterol level becomes elevated and this can lead to health problems. Thickening of the arteries is a common consequence of high cholesterol. This can lead to high blood pressure and other cardiovascular diseases. So what is a normal cholesterol level ? This article will give you the facts and figures according to the American Heart Association and explain what they mean.
Cholesterol is a natural sterol that is produced in the liver; it is a vital part of a healthy body as it acts as a structural component of the cell membranes and helps the body to absorb various vitamins. Cholesterol becomes a problem when there is too much in the body.
Sometimes this is due to some hereditary condition but in most cases it is caused by what the person eats. Animals products, especially fat and dairy products have cholesterol in them. Eating too much of these types of foods or not exercising enough can lead to high cholesterol.
