Triglycerides are another class of fat found in the bloodstream. The bulk of your body's fat tissue is in the form of triglycerides. The link between triglycerides and heart disease is being studied. High triglyceride levels may be caused by health conditions like diabetes, hypothyroidism, kidney disease, or liver disease.
Dietary causes of high triglyceride levels may include drinking a lot of alcohol, and eating foods containing cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fat. Facts about cholesterol Cholesterol is a fat-like, waxy substance that helps your body make cell membranes, many hormones, and vitamin D. What is LDL low-density lipoprotein cholesterol? Cholesterol has a bad reputation, thanks to its well-known role in promoting heart disease.
Excess cholesterol in the bloodstream is a key contributor to artery-clogging plaque, which can accumulate and set the stage for a heart attack. However, the role of cholesterol in your body is not all negative. To fully explain cholesterol, you need to realize that it's also vital to your health and well-being.
Although we measure cholesterol production in the blood, it's found in every cell in the body. The Harvard Special Health Report Managing Your Cholesterol explains cholesterol as a waxy, whitish-yellow fat and a crucial building block in cell membranes. Cholesterol also is needed to make vitamin D, hormones including testosterone and estrogen , and fat-dissolving bile acids.
See illustration. If you eat only to milligrams mg of cholesterol a day one egg yolk has about mg , your liver will produce an additional milligrams per day from raw materials such as fat, sugars, and proteins. Since cholesterol is a fat, it can't travel alone in the bloodstream. It would end up as useless globs imagine bacon fat floating in a pot of water. Your cholesterol levels are directly tied…. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.
The Effects of High Cholesterol on the Body. Medically reviewed by Judith Marcin, M. Share on Pinterest. Cardiovascular and circulatory systems. Endocrine system. Nervous system. Digestive system. Which Statin Is Safest? Read this next. Medically reviewed by Debra Sullivan, Ph. It can lead to coronary artery disease , where your coronary arteries become narrow or even blocked. They are a combination of fat lipid and protein. The lipids need to be attached to the proteins so they can move through the blood.
Different types of lipoproteins have different purposes:. Genetics may also cause people to have high cholesterol. For example, familial hypercholesterolemia FH is an inherited form of high cholesterol. Other medical conditions and certain medicines may also cause high cholesterol. If you have large deposits of plaque in your arteries, an area of plaque can rupture break open.
This can cause a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can mostly or completely block blood flow in a coronary artery. If the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle is reduced or blocked, it can cause angina chest pain or a heart attack. Plaque also can build up in other arteries in your body, including the arteries that bring oxygen-rich blood to your brain and limbs. This can lead to problems such as carotid artery disease , stroke , and peripheral arterial disease.
There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high cholesterol. There is a blood test to measure your cholesterol level. When and how often you should get this test depends on your age, risk factors, and family history.
The general recommendations are:. You can lower your cholesterol through heart-healthy lifestyle changes. They include a heart-healthy eating plan , weight management , and regular physical activity.
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