These are human-made fats found in partially hydrogenated oils. Dietary cholesterol, found in eggs and organ meats, can also raise blood cholesterol levels, but not as much as saturated fat does. These fats, found in meat and full-fat dairy products, raise LDL cholesterol.

Your risk of having high cholesterol goes up if: What Are the Risk Factors for Having High Cholesterol? If this balance isn’t maintained, especially if it’s reversed, you are said to have high cholesterol. For good health, you want to keep the LDL levels down and the HDL levels up. Another kind of cholesterol called high-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as good cholesterol because it helps remove LDL from the blood and from the body. The cholesterol that blocks arteries is called low-density lipoprotein ( LDL).

If the plaque blocks a blood vessel going to your brain, you can have a stroke. If levels of blood and oxygen to the heart drop far enough, you may start feeling chest pain or find yourself short of breath.Ī heart attack happens when the plaque completely blocks a blood vessel feeding a section of the heart muscle. This plaque buildup can block blood flow to the heart muscle, reducing its oxygen supply. There are different kinds of cholesterol, and if there’s too much of certain kinds in your blood, a fatty deposit called plaque can build up on the walls of your arteries. When there’s too much, health problems, such as heart disease, may develop. But the body needs only a limited amount of cholesterol. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help you digest fat. It’s also found in certain foods, such as dairy products, eggs, and meat. What Is High Cholesterol?Ĭholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance made in the liver and other cells. If your numbers are high, your doctor may recommend the test more often. Everyone over 20 should get a cholesterol test at least once every 5 years. The only way to know how high your cholesterol levels are is to get a blood test. But a variety of lifestyle choices - including diet, activity, and weight - also affect cholesterol levels. High cholesterol tends to run in families, so genes play a role. For many men, the risk from high cholesterol starts in their 20s and goes up with age. High cholesterol, also called hypercholesterolemia, puts men at higher risk for heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral artery disease. Why Should I Care About High Cholesterol in Men?

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