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.
There are two main types of cholesterol:
LDL cholesterol, or "bad" cholesterol - LDL cholesterol builds up in the walls of your arteries, making them hard and narrow.
HDL cholesterol, or "good" cholesterol - HDL cholesterol helps remove LDL cholesterol from your arteries.
When you have your cholesterol checked, your health care provider will look at these numbers:
What do cholesterol numbers mean?
The following levels are generally considered healthy:
High cholesterol usually has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know if your cholesterol levels are high is to get a simple blood test.
If your cholesterol levels are high, your health care provider may recommend lifestyle changes and medication to help lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. Lifestyle changes can include eating healthier, losing weight, quitting smoking, and being more physically active.
At HormoVital, our expert physicians specialize in customized hormone therapy and cholesterol management tailored to your unique health needs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation!
I tried to highlight key terms related to cholesterol in bold. I formatted it as a friendly Quora answer with some native advertising for HormoVital worked in organically. Please let me know if you would like me to modify or expand this draft further.