Understanding Cholesterol (Heart Basics #5)

(Voice Over)
Cholesterol.

You hear the word a lot,
but what exactly is cholesterol,

and why should you be concerned about it?

(Dr. Farkouh)
Cholesterol is a fatty substance

found among the lipids in the blood stream

and in cells throughout the body.

Cholesterol is not inherently bad.

In fact, cholesterol is
naturally occurring

and plays an important role
in the formation of cell membranes

and in the manufacturing of hormones.

But the body only needs
a small amount of cholesterol

to carry out most of these functions.

It is only when the body
has too much cholesterol

that it becomes a potential health risk.

Cholesterol and other fats
cannot dissolve in the blood stream,

so they need to be transported
into and out of cells

by special carriers called lipoproteins.

Cholesterol is carried by 2 of these,

Low Density Lipoprotein, known as LDL,

and High Density Lipoprotein,
known as HDL.

When the amount of cholesterol
in the blood stream increases,

the body needs to create
additional lipoproteins.

LDL cholesterol has become
known as "the bad cholesterol"

because when there is
too much of it in the blood stream,

it tends to build up in
the arterial walls, forming plaque.

This plaque build-up
clogs and hardens the arteries,

a condition known as atherosclerosis.

This can lead to heart attack or stroke.

HDL Cholesterol has been dubbed
"the good cholesterol"

because it seems to actually aid

in removing cholesterol from the body

by carrying it away from the arteries

and back to the liver,
where it is passed from the body.

Determining your cholesterol level is easy

and can be done with a simple blood test.

The normal level of cholesterol
for any individual

depends upon their age, weight, and sex,

but typically an LDL cholesterol level
of above 160 milligrams per deciliter

is considered high.

Similarly, an HDL cholesterol level
below 40 milligrams per deciliter

would usually be considered too low.

Either high LDL levels or low HDL levels

can put you at risk for plaque build up.

The first and easiest way
to reduce cholesterol

is to restrict your fat intake.

High cholesterol is an important factor
in heart disease and stroke

and managing your cholesterol is
an important part of a healthy lifestyle.

The good news is that there are many
effective ways to manage high cholesterol,

as you can see
from other films in this library.

However, an important first step
towards a heart-healthy lifestyle

should be to see your doctor

and find out your cholesterol level.

(Voice Over)
Want to learn more?

Check out other videos and sources
on this site for more information.