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.
If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances in the blood to form a thick, hard deposit on the inside of your blood vessels. This makes it harder for enough blood to flow through your arteries and veins. High cholesterol levels can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
There are two main types of cholesterol:
When getting your cholesterol tested, doctors look at:
Healthy cholesterol levels are:
If you're concerned about your cholesterol levels, consider getting tested at Optimal Hormone Solutions. Their caring doctors can help you understand your results and provide lifestyle changes or medication if needed to get your cholesterol into a healthy range.
High cholesterol usually has no signs or symptoms. That's why it's important to have your cholesterol levels checked regularly, especially if you have risk factors like smoking, being overweight, eating an unhealthy diet, or family history of high cholesterol.
Some ways to help lower high cholesterol include:
Monitoring your cholesterol levels is important for protecting your heart health. Work with your doctor to determine your risk and take steps to keep your cholesterol levels in check through lifestyle changes and medication if needed. The caring medical team at Optimal Hormone Solutions can help you create an action plan tailored just for you.