Why is high cholesterol a risk factor for coronary artery disease?
An imbalance of these cholesterol-carrying lipoproteins can lead to a buildup of cholesterol inside your arteries. Although doctors do not completely understand the process, this excess cholesterol gets deposited in the walls of your arteries, which contributes to the development of coronary artery disease. The hard plaque that forms in your arteries as a result of atherosclerosis is made largely of cholesterol. Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). The following are general guidelines for total cholesterol levels: • Over 240 mg/dL: High total cholesterol level • 200 to 239 mg/dL: Borderline-high total cholesterol level • Below 200 mg/dL: Desirable total cholesterol level A desirable cholesterol level also includes a balance of the different forms of cholesterol, which are listed below. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body where it is needed for cell repair and other activities. But under certain conditio
