Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. However, cholesterol also comes from the foods you eat.
If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances in the blood to form a thick, hard deposit on the inside of your blood vessels. This is known as atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Over time, this buildup — called plaque — can narrow your arteries. Narrow arteries can slow or block blood flow to your heart, brain, and other organs. High cholesterol levels increase your risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the U.S.
There are often no signs or symptoms of high cholesterol. The only way to know if you have high cholesterol is to get your cholesterol checked. All adults age 20 or older should have their cholesterol levels checked every 4 to 6 years. If you have risk factors for heart disease — such as obesity, smoking, lack of exercise or heart disease in your family — you may need your cholesterol levels checked more often.
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Here are some tips to maintain healthy cholesterol levels:
Ask your doctor if you should take medicine, in addition to lifestyle changes, to help manage high LDL or low HDL cholesterol. Living a healthy lifestyle can help keep your cholesterol levels on track and lower your risk of serious health problems.