The amount of cholesterol in your blood has a lot to do with your chances of getting cardiovascular disease (CVD). High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors this illness. In fact, the higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk for developing CVD or having a heart attack.
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance produced by your liver; it is necessary for building cell walls and in the production of hormones. Cholesterol is also found in some foods.
When you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this buildup causes "hardening of the arteries," meaning that the inside of the arteries becomes narrow, affecting blood flow to the heart. Blood carries oxygen to your heart and other vital organs. If enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may feel chest pain. If the blood supply to an area of the heart is completely blocked, the result is a heart attack.
No symptoms High blood cholesterol does not cause symptoms, so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high until it has caused symptoms of cardiovascular disease. That's why it's important to find out what your cholesterol level is. If your level is high, you can take steps to reduce it, and thus reduce your risk of developing CVD, or of dying of a heart attack if you already have heart disease.
Keeping your cholesterol within healthy limits is important for you no matter what your age or gender, whether you have CVD or not. Everyone age 20 and older should have a blood cholesterol test at least once every five years. The most accurate test is the "lipoprotein profile," which is done after fasting.
A lipoprotein profile measures:
- Total cholesterol
- LDL ("bad") cholesterol, which is the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries
- HDL ("good") cholesterol, which helps keep LDL cholesterol from building up in the arteries
- Triglycerides, which are another form of fat in your blood
- VLDL (very low-density lipoproteins) and a cholesterol/HDL ratio may also be included in the profile
If it's not possible to get a lipoprotein profile done, knowing your total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol can give you a general idea about your cholesterol level.
