What precisely is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy type of fat which is present in human cells. Cholesterol does have a place, however, and a certain amount is important to remain healthy. Our livers manufacture cholesterol and it is absorbed through the diet, especially dairy products, some meats and egg yolks.

The issue of Cholesterol and cardiovascular health is very important, but certainly not simple. If you know your cholesterol count you are better prepared than a lot of people, but it's not enough on its own. To fully understand the implications you should factor in other blood fat levels and other risks of cardiovascular disease that may be present. Only with this information can cholesterol assume its proper place in the cardiovascular disease puzzle.

As your cholesterol levels increase so does your exposure to the risk of coronary heart disease. Smoking, lack of exercise and high blood pressure can all be contributory factors in increasing the chance further. Many of us inherit high levels of cholesterol from our parents, increasing our risk of heart disease. Other health conditions and medications may also affect your levels of cholesterol. Making changes to your diet and lifestyle will help to reduce your blood cholesterol, but if these don’t reduce your levels of cholesterol your GP may suggest medication to control it.

There are two forms of cholesterol; blood cholesterol, which is the level of cholesterol in the bloodstream, comes from endogenous synthesis, in other words manufactured within the body itself, and from dietary sources. The dietary form of cholesterol is absorbed from the food we eat for instance shellfish, dairy products and egg yolks. Triglycerides are the fats you use for energy and come from the fatty foods you eat. You store what you don’t use inside the fatty tissues of your body. These excess triglycerides may also increase the chance of heart trouble. Cholesterol tests are commonplace and allow you to assess your risk and take preventative measures if it is too high.

Problems occur when high levels of cholesterol within the blood cause the lining of the arteries to take up too much LDL cholesterol, and in individuals with high blood pressure the risk is increased even further. Smokers are subject to a greater risk, but eating sensibly and taking some exercise can raise the HDL level in the bloodstream which reduces the overall risk. The quantity of cholesterol actually removed from the circulation is restricted through the demand at the cells, and this can also be affected by exercise.

High cholesterol levels themselves don’t cause symptoms, but over time can lead to cardiovascular disease, so it is useful to have a cholesterol test if you think you could possibly be at risk.

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