Cholesterol & You

Cholesterol is in your bloodstream and in all your body's cells. It's normal to have cholesterol. It's an important part of a healthy body because it's used to build new cells, insulate nerves, and produce hormones.

Your liver makes cholesterol for your body, and you also get cholesterol from the food you eat. If you eat foods high in fat, or if your liver produces too much cholesterol, your cholesterol can reach an unhealthy level.

As a general rule, the higher the level of cholesterol in your body, the higher the risk you have of developing cardiovascular disease.

Health officials estimate that roughly 50 percent of all adults have unhealthy levels of cholesterol and 42 million adults have dangerously high levels-and you could be one of them without even knowing.

Lower your cholesterol level, and you'll lower the risk of cardiovascular disease.

What are healthy levels of cholesterol?

What's the difference between LDL and HDL cholesterol?