Cholesterol is a fatty substance found in your blood. It's produced naturally in the liver, and everyone has it.
You may also hear cholesterol referred to as lipids. We need it to stay healthy because every cell in our body uses it.
Cholesterol levels are measured in millimoles per litre (mmol/L).
We often think of it building up in our arteries and contributing to long-term health problems. But cholesterol isn’t always a bad thing.
There are different types, and some cholesterol is good. When these become unbalanced, you are at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease.
HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is usually called the ‘good’ cholesterol. HDL gets rid of the ‘bad’ cholesterol from your blood.
It takes cholesterol that you don’t need back to the liver, where it is broken down to be passed out of your body. The higher your HDL level, the more you're protected against heart disease.
Non-LDL (or non-high-density lipoproteins) is usually referred to as ‘bad’ cholesterol.
When there is too much of it, it can build up inside the walls of the blood vessels. This causes a narrowing of the arteries, increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke.
You may have also heard of 'bad' cholesterol being called 'LDL' cholesterol. This was the primary measure of bad cholesterol. We now know other forms are also harmful.
Our blood also contains a type of fat called triglycerides. This is stored in the body's fat cells.
Things that can make you more likely to have a high triglyceride level:
Triglycerides can also contribute to the narrowing of the artery walls.
High cholesterol can be caused by things you can control and things you can't.
Things that cause high cholesterol that you can control:
You should have your blood fat levels checked once per year; a simple blood test does this.
More information on foods you can eat to lower your cholesterol can be found below.
Disclaimer
This article is for educational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for medical advice. Always speak to your doctor, nurse or pharmacist about your individual care. The information reflects NHS and NICE guidance at the time of publication.
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