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High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty, waxy substance in your blood that helps your body make vitamin D, hormones and cells. You need some cholesterol in order to keep your body healthy, known as good cholesterol, but there is a bad type too, which can lead to serious complications.
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Bad cholesterol can form fatty deposits in your arteries and blood vessels, which can change their structure and narrow them. This can reduce blood flow and cause dangerous conditions, such as a heart attack, stroke, mini stroke, peripheral arterial disease or a narrowing of your arteries.
The cholesterol in your body is carried in your blood by either low-density lipoproteins (LDL cholesterol) or high-density lipoproteins (HDL cholesterol). LDL is also referred to as bad cholesterol, whilst HDL is good cholesterol. As suggested by the name, the LDL is the one to watch out for, as it can lead to the complications we’ve mentioned.
More information about the types of cholesterol and fats in your blood:
- high density lipoprotein, or HDL – carries good cholesterol around the body. These can pick up low density lipoproteins and carry them back to the liver, where they can be flushed out of your body.
- low density lipoprotein, or LDL – transports bad cholesterol in your blood, which can collect in your blood vessels and arteries, causing a lack of blood flow around your body, leading to complications.
- triglycerides – these are another form of fat in your body and is used by your body for energy. Having a high level of them, which is the case if you’re overweight or obese, can put you at a higher risk of developing a cardiovascular disease.