cholesterol

• cholesterol is a fatty substance known as a lipid
• cholesterol is carried through the bloodstream by carriers made of fat (lipid) and proteins and are called lipoproteins
• one is called low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and the other is high-density lipoprotein (HDL)
• LDL cholesterol is called 'bad' cholesterol because high levels of this can build up in your arteries (called atherosclerosis), leading to coronary heart disease
• fatty deposits form on the artery walls and this causes restricted blood flow which can damage organs and stop them functioning properly
• if these fatty deposits come away from the artery wall, it can cause a blood clot, this can block the blood supply to the heart and lead to a heart attack, or even cause a stroke
• HDL cholesterol is 'good' cholesterol, as it acts as a scavenger
• HDL cholesterol carries cholesterol from other parts of the body to the liver
• the liver then processes the cholesterol out of the body
• its important to have a healthy balance of both HDL and LDL cholesterol
• a healthy HDL cholesterol level may protect against heart attack and strokes
• however HDL cholesterol only removes 1/4 to 1/3 of blood cholesterol