What is high blood cholesterol? Is it risky?
High blood cholesterol termed as hypercholesterolemia is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease and some types of stroke. Too much cholesterol in the blood leads to development of fatty deposits in the blood vessels that supply the heart and other parts of the body. These deposits make it difficult for enough blood to flow through the arteries, and the heart may not get as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs, which increases the chances of a heart attack (atherosclerosis). Decreased blood flow to the brain can also cause a cerebral stroke. Healthy levels of cholesterol – A persons total blood cholesterol will fall into any one of these categories: 1) Desirable — Less than 200 mg/dL 2) Borderline high risk — 200-239 mg/dL 3) High risk — 240 mg/dL and over – risk of developing coronary heart disease. What is HDL and LDL? Cholesterol is transported through the blood attached to proteins, known as lipoprotein. The two main types of lipoproteins are: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL)
