High Cholesterol and Heart Risks

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in our bodies. It is produced in our liver whenever we need energy sources. It helps our body insulate nerves, produce hormones, make new cells and so on. Utilized in many different ways, it is truly helpful in assisting our bodies to function normally. Cholesterol is not only from our liver but also from the food we eat. Animal- based foods such as red meat, dairy products, and eggs have high contents of cholesterol. Minimal consumption of these foods is recommended because too much cholesterol in our body poses as a heart risk.

Too much cholesterol in our blood stream leads to them building up in our arterial walls and cause atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition where the arteries become narrow and the circulation of blood to the heart is slowed down or even blocked. Insufficient blood reaching the heart means that not enough oxygen is being supplied to the heart and this condition may lead to a heart attack.

Most of us have high levels of cholesterol and don't even know it. High blood cholesterol levels have no warning signals. Although it is one of the primary risk factor for developing cardiovascular diseases that might lead to stroke or a heart attack, people who are diagnosed with this condition don't feel a thing and usually disregard their condition. Levels of cholesterol that are unhealthy are usually associated with physical inactivity, stress, age, heredity, obesity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and poor diet.

There are two kinds of cholesterol that we should watch out for, your HDL or "good" cholesterol and your LDL or bad cholesterol. The medical community recommends that a high level of HDL and a low LDL level should be maintained; the higher your HDL and the lower your LD, the less is your risk for heart diseases and the vice versa.

HDL or high-density lipoprotein is often referred to as the "good" cholesterol. HDL helps remove cholesterol on the arterial walls and deposits them in the liver to be eliminated from our body. This process helps in decreasing the risk of decreasecholesterol.com/heartdisease/heart-disease.html atherosclerosis and maintains cholesterol levels within normal range.

LDL or low density lipoprotein is also known as the "bad" cholesterol. Elevated levels of LDL increase our risk of developing coronary heart disease. LDL cause cholesterol to be deposited on your arterial walls which lead to the formation of which, hard substances called plaque or cholesterol plaque. These substances cause the walls of our arteries to harden, thicken and make them narrower which is a condition called atherosclerosis.

Matt Morrison is a regular author for decreasecholesterol.com decreasecholesterol.com and controls his high cholesterol through a healthy diet, exercise, and statin medications.