Things that Contribute to High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is naturally present in cell walls or membranes everywhere in the body, including the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Your body needs this substance to function normally. Cholesterol is substantial in producing many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help your body to digest fat.
However, it takes only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood to meet these needs. If you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, the excess may be deposited in arteries, including the coronary arteries. This process contributes to the narrowing and blockages of the arteries that cause the signs and symptoms of heart disease.
The tendency to build up high cholesterol may run in families, but excessively high levels are usually the result of an uncontrolled diet consisting high saturated fats and calories, combined with little or no exercise. In some cases, a high cholesterol level may be associated with an undiagnosed medical condition, such as hypothyroidism or diabetes. You need to be aware as high cholesterol rarely causes symptoms.
It is usually detected during a routine blood test that measures cholesterol levels. You may first discover it when you are diagnosed with a condition that is caused in part by high cholesterol, such as coronary artery disease, stroke, or peripheral vascular disease. If you are overweight and have high cholesterol levels, losing weight may help you lower it.
