High Cholesterol

You may blame your family tree or fault the late-night binges on French fries and greasy hamburgers, but when high cholesterol levels strike, there is much cause for concern. The waxy, fat-like matter known as cholesterol is a substance that naturally occurs in all parts of the human body. In fact, the body needs at least a small amount of cholesterol to properly function. When too much of the material is found in the blood, this is when health issues begin to surface.

What is High Cholesterol?

When a high amount of cholesterol is found in the blood, the reserve that the body does not need finds other places to settle, such as the walls of the arteries. As cholesterol begins to stick to various parts of the body, it is referred to as “plaque,” which can narrow the arteries and even cause blockage. Not only is high cholesterol an unhealthy condition that strikes people of all ages, but it can also increase the risk of additional health ailments, such as heart disease.

In the United States, more than 100 million adults possess total blood cholesterol levels considered borderline-high risk, while close to 40 million American adults showcase levels considered a high risk.

Causes of High Cholesterol

Cholesterol hitches a ride with proteins and travels throughout the body in the blood. A handful of lifestyle habits and controllable factors contribute to the development of this condition. Lack of exercise, being overweight, and following an unhealthy diet are just some of the characteristics that fit most patients with high cholesterol. Other causes cannot be avoided, such as a genetic makeup that prevents cells from efficiently removing LDL cholesterol from the blood. One may also possess a heredity trait that causes the liver to produce an excessive amount of cholesterol.