What is Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance in your blood. It comes from the food you eat, and is also made by your liver. You need some cholesterol to be healthy. If you have too much, it can build up in your blood vessels and put you at risk for a heart attack or stroke. If you have high cholesterol, there may be no signs or symptoms.
Measuring Cholesterol
Cholesterol is measured with a simple blood test, sometimes called a cholesterol panel or lipid panel. Your healthcare team will determine how often you should have this test. The test measures your total cholesterol, TC, which includes:
- Too much LDL Cholesterol can contribute to a buildup of fatty deposits (plaque) in your arteries. LDL is also known as “bad” cholesterol.
- HDL Cholesterol helps return parts of cholesterol to the liver to be broken down. HDL is also known as “good” cholesterol.
- Triglycerides are a type of fat in the blood.
- Non-HDL cholesterol equals the total cholesterol in the body minus HDL.
High LDL, low HDL, or high triglycerides may increase your risk for heart attack or stroke. Controlling your cholesterol may take a combination of diet, exercise, and medicines.
Other risk factors for heart attack and stroke can be measured with different blood tests:
Lipoprotein(a), also called Lp(a)
This is a type of LDL cholesterol. Having high levels of it is usually inherited from one of your parents. High levels of Lp(a) puts you at a greater risk of heart attack or stroke than just having high LDL levels.
Apolipoprotein B, also called Apo B
ApoB is the combined amount of most harmful cholesterol in your arteries.
Check with your healthcare professional about your goal levels and how to reach them.
Your healthcare professional can help you know your risk for heart attack, stroke, or problems with your blood vessels to make a plan.