Cholesterol is a type of fat (lipid) made by the body. It is essential
for good health and is found in every cell in the body. However, a high
cholesterol level in the blood (hypercholesterolaemia) is associated with
an increased risk of various problems, such as coronary heart disease
(CHD) and stroke.
There are several factors that may contribute to high blood cholesterol:
- a diet that's high in saturated fat and, less so, high in cholesterol
(see below)
- lack of exercise may increase LDL ("bad") cholesterol and decrease
HDL ("good") cholesterol
- family history - people are at a higher risk of high cholesterol if
they have a direct male relative aged under 55 or female relative aged
under 65 affected by coronary heart disease
- being overweight, which may increase LDL ("bad") cholesterol and decrease
HDL ("good") cholesterol
- age and sex - cholesterol generally rises slightly with increasing
age, and men are more likely to be affected than women
- drinking alcohol excessively
About 70% of cholesterol is transported as LDL. This is mostly fat and
not much protein. LDL causes cholesterol to be deposited in the arteries.
High levels of LDL are associated with an increased risk of heart disease.
LDL is sometimes referred to as "bad cholesterol".
The main aim of lowering cholesterol is to reduce the risk of heart disease.
The type of treatment depends on the overall risk of heart disease.
