Cholesterol is a waxy substance. Your liver makes all the cholesterol you need. The rest of the cholesterol in your body comes from foods derived from animals such as meat, poultry and full-fat dairy products.

Two types of lipoproteins carry cholesterol to and from cells. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) or “good” cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins (LDL) or “bad” cholesterol. Triglycerides are the most common type of fat in the body. Your total cholesterol is a measurement of these three key components of cholesterol.

LDL (low density lipoprotein), or “bad” cholesterol, can cause fatty buildup called plaque in your arteries. Having high LDL, the “bad” cholesterol, can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke. 

High cholesterol typically has no symptoms. It's important to have your cholesterol tested, so you can know your levels and risk for heart attack and stroke. Ask your health care professional to order a test called a lipid panel that will show four important numbers:

• LDL (bad) cholesterol
• HDL (good) cholesterol
• Triglycerides (most common type of fat)
• Total cholesterol (LDL+HDL cholesterols+20% of triglycerides)  

• Family history of high cholesterol, a condition called familial hypercholesterolemia.
• Unhealthy eating habits
• Not being physically active
• Being overweight
• Tobacco use and exposure to second-hand smoke     

Positive lifestyle habits like eating healthy and working out can help lower your LDL. However, lifestyle changes aren’t always enough. Talk to your health care professional about medications to lower your LDL.

Take control of your health by controlling your LDL. You can help motivate your loved ones to know their numbers too!  

Too much LDL cholesterol can lead to a buildup of fatty deposits, or plaques, inside your arteries. These plaques can narrow arteries and reduce blood flow. If a piece of the plaque breaks free, it might travel into the bloodstream and block a blood vessel to the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke. 

Various research studies of LDL numbers have shown “lower is better.”  

Talk to your health care professional. If you’re healthy, aim for an optimal LDL number below 100 mg/dL. If you have a history of heart attack or stroke and are already on a cholesterol-lowering medication, your doctor may aim for your LDL number to be 70 mg/dL or lower.

Healthy adults 20-39 years old should have their cholesterol checked every four to six years.  

Adults over age 40, or those who have heart disease (including prior heart attack) or other risk factors, may need their cholesterol checked more often.