Cholesterol & Heart – What is the Relationship Between the Two?

Having high cholesterol is reported to increase your risk of heart disease.  In particular, your risk of having a heart attack or stroke increases if your cholesterol is not kept in check.

But what exactly is cholesterol and why is it bad?

Well, cholesterol is not really bad.  You need cholesterol in your body for it to function properly.  It is involved in hormones in your body as well as the formation of your cell membranes.  It is a waxy product that can be produced in your liver, but it can also come from the foods you eat.  Foods such as egg yolks, meats including poultry and fish, and milk products can contribute to the cholesterol in your body.  Unfortunately you do not need all of this extra cholesterol that you get from eating particular foods, as your liver is efficient at making the right amounts of cholesterol.  This is what can cause cholesterol levels to increase to unhealthy levels in your body.  When this happens, your risk of developing coronary artery disease (angina and heart attack) and stroke increases.

There are two types of cholesterol that you will hear about.  First, the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is what is known as the less-healthy cholesterol (I remember this because they both start with L’s).  Whereas, the high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is known as the good or healthier cholesterol (Hint:  They both start with H’s).  The LDL cholesterol is more damaging, because it builds up in your coronary (heart) arteries and can narrow and block oxygen flow getting to the heart.  If the cholesterol builds up in the arteries that supply the brain, a stroke can result.  The HDL cholesterol is helpful in that it helps to take away the extra LDL cholesterol, and therefore reduces the opportunity for plaque to develop within the artery walls.

Watch for more posts on cholesterol….