🧬 What Is Cholesterol? Understanding the Role, Risks, and Health Impact

Cholesterol is a vital type of lipid (fat) in the body, essential for building cell membranes, producing hormones, and supporting metabolic functions. While cholesterol is necessary for health, high cholesterol levels can pose serious risks—particularly to the heart and arteries.

🧪 Where Does Cholesterol Come From?

Cholesterol in your body comes from two main sources:

Dietary intake – animal-based foods like eggs, meat, and dairy
Liver production – your body naturally produces cholesterol

Once in the bloodstream, cholesterol is carried by lipoproteins, which transport it to different tissues.

⚠️ How High Cholesterol Affects Your Body

Excess cholesterol in the blood can build up on the walls of arteries, forming arterial plaque. These plaques can:

Thicken and harden arteries (known as atherosclerosis)
Reduce blood flow
Lead to serious cardiovascular problems such as:
- Heart attacks (myocardial infarction)
- Stroke (cerebral thrombosis)
- Peripheral artery disease
- Aortic aneurysms

In some cases, plaque can rupture and cause blood clots that block arteries or send emboli to smaller vessels, cutting off oxygen supply to critical tissues.

🩸 LDL vs. HDL: The “Bad” and “Good” Cholesterol

Cholesterol travels in the blood attached to two main types of lipoproteins:

LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) – Delivers cholesterol to tissues; excess leads to plaque buildup (“bad cholesterol”)
HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein) – Removes excess cholesterol from tissues and arteries (“good cholesterol”)

Managing your LDL and HDL cholesterol levels is crucial to reducing cardiovascular risk.

📊 What Are Healthy Cholesterol Levels?

Total cholesterol: Below 200 mg/dL
LDL (bad) cholesterol:
- <70 mg/dL if you’re at very high risk (e.g., diabetes or existing heart disease)
- <100 mg/dL for high-risk individuals
- <115 mg/dL for moderate risk

Talk to your doctor to evaluate your 10-year cardiovascular risk score, which helps determine your cholesterol target range.

👨‍⚕️ Managing High Cholesterol

If your cholesterol levels are high:

Work with your healthcare provider to adjust your diet and lifestyle
You may be prescribed statins or other lipid-lowering medications
In some cases, you may be referred to a specialized lipid clinic for further evaluation