What does cholesterol mean

High cholesterol can be inherited, but it's often the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices, which make it preventable and treatable. A healthy diet, regular exercise and sometimes medication can help reduce high cholesterol. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute NHLBI , a person's first cholesterol screening should occur between the ages of 9 and 11, and then be repeated every five years after that.

The NHLBI recommends that cholesterol screenings occur every one to two years for men ages 45 to 65 and for women ages 55 to People over 65 should receive cholesterol tests annually. If your test results aren't within desirable ranges, your doctor might recommend more-frequent measurements.

Your doctor might also suggest more-frequent tests if you have a family history of high cholesterol, heart disease or other risk factors, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Cholesterol is carried through your blood, attached to proteins. This combination of proteins and cholesterol is called a lipoprotein. There are different types of cholesterol, based on what the lipoprotein carries. They are:. A lipid profile also typically measures triglycerides, a type of fat in the blood.

Having a high triglyceride level also can increase your risk of heart disease. Factors you can control — such as inactivity, obesity and an unhealthy diet — contribute to harmful cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Factors beyond your control might play a role, too.

For example, your genetic makeup might make it more difficult for your body to remove LDL cholesterol from your blood or break it down in the liver. Cholesterol levels can also be worsened by some types of medications you may be taking for other health problems, such as:. If you have too many cholesterol particles in your blood, cholesterol may accumulate on your artery walls. Eventually, deposits called plaques may form.

The deposits may narrow — or block — your arteries. These plaques can also burst, causing a blood clot to form. High cholesterol can cause a dangerous accumulation of cholesterol and other deposits on the walls of your arteries atherosclerosis. These deposits plaques can reduce blood flow through your arteries, which can cause complications, such as:.

The same heart-healthy lifestyle changes that can lower your cholesterol can help prevent you from having high cholesterol in the first place. To help prevent high cholesterol, you can:. Mayo Clinic does not endorse companies or products. Why is this, and it is…. There are two types of cholesterol. One is harmful, and builds up in the arteries, but the other can actually benefit the body. In this MNT Knowledge…. In this article, learn about the different kinds of cholesterol, what different factors affect cholesterol levels, and when to contact a doctor.

What causes high cholesterol? Medically reviewed by Daniel Murrell, M. What is cholesterol? Causes of high cholesterol. High cholesterol symptoms. Cholesterol in foods. Levels and ranges. Preventing high cholesterol. How can high cholesterol be treated? Complications of high cholesterol. Exposure to air pollutants may amplify risk for depression in healthy individuals. Costs associated with obesity may account for 3. Related Coverage. What should my cholesterol level be at my age?

Medically reviewed by Deborah Weatherspoon, Ph. What to expect in a cholesterol test. Medically reviewed by Jenneh Rishe, RN. Can my HDL be too high? If the clogging gets worse over many years, it can cause a heart attack or stroke in adults. Cholesterol can start to build up in childhood. Doctors can find out what your cholesterol level is by taking a little of your blood and testing it.

Cholesterol in the blood doesn't move through the body on its own. It combines with proteins to travel through the bloodstream. Cholesterol and protein traveling together are called lipoproteins say: lie-poh-PRO-teenz. LDL low-density lipoprotein cholesterol , or "bad cholesterol," carries cholesterol from the liver into the bloodstream, where it can stick to the blood vessels. HDL high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, or "good cholesterol," carries the cholesterol in the blood back to the liver, where it is broken down.

Here's a way to remember the difference: the LDL cholesterol is the bad kind, so call it "lousy" cholesterol — "L" for lousy. The HDL is the good cholesterol, so remember it as "healthy" cholesterol — "H" for healthy.