Managing High Cholesterol Is Important to Heart Health

Heart disease is the #1 cause of death in the United States. About every 34 seconds in the United States, someone has a heart attack. 80% of people who have had a heart attack have high cholesterol, a leading risk factor for heart disease. If you have high cholesterol, you may be at increased risk for heart disease.

High Cholesterol and Its Possible Effects

Having high "bad" cholesterol means you have too much LDL cholesterol in your blood. LDL is low-density lipoprotein, or "bad" cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can build up in your arteries and prevent the blood from getting to your heart. HDL cholesterol is the "good" cholesterol. It carries LDL cholesterol away from your artery walls.

When you have high cholesterol, a thick, waxy plaque can build up in your artery walls. As plaque builds up, the artery narrows and becomes less flexible. If a blood clot forms and clogs an artery narrowed by plaque, you could have a heart attack or stroke.

cholesterol buildup in artery

A healthy artery is open and has a smooth lining (far left). An unhealthy artery contains plaque buildup, commonly caused by high cholesterol.

Work With Your Doctor to Manage Your High Cholesterol

Unfortunately, you may not know you have high cholesterol. People with high cholesterol often have no symptoms. That’s why if you don’t know your cholesterol levels, now is the time to have your cholesterol checked by your doctor.

Your overall cholesterol is important. But guidelines suggest that you focus on your LDL ("bad" cholesterol) level to manage high cholesterol.

Next: What Is Cholesterol? >>

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Common side effects are diarrhea, upset stomach, muscle and joint pain, and changes in some blood tests.