Cholesterol is needed but not in excess. If the level of cholesterol increases too much there is a risk of stroke and heart attack. This happens because the cholesterol blocks the arteries and forms a so called "plaque" which narrows them. The disease the cholesterol in excess gives is named atherosclerosis. If the arteries get blocked completely by this plaque, then the blood will not be able to flow any more and tragic complications appear.

The heart is nurtured by the coronary arteries. If one of these arteries is obstructed by plaque, the heart attack will soon followed because the muscle heart will not be irrigated any more and will die. The same thing can happen inside the brain. If one of the arteries that irrigate the brain is blocked, the cerebral vascular accident, also known as stroke will occur.

A blood test to check the level of cholesterol is generally indicated after the age of 35 in men and after the age of 45 in women. If you have a heart condition associated or diabetes you might have to check the level of cholesterol more often. Also, persons who have suffered already a heart attack, those who have a family case of heart attack, those who smoke, are overweight and are quite inactive must check the level of cholesterol often too.

Cholesterol does not travel by its own inside the blood. He is attached to different lipoproteins and this is why doctors say that there are more types of cholesterol.
The low density lipoproteins make sure that the cholesterol gets to the body. The high density lipoproteins are charged with removing the cholesterol from the blood stream. This means that the low density lipoproteins are bad for the organism and the high density lipoproteins are good for it. So, if the total level of cholesterol in your body is high due to low density lipoproteins this means that you are at risk of having a stroke or heart attack. You the high level is due to high density lipoproteins you can relax because this does not expose you to such a high risk.

When checking the blood tests results the doctor knows that the ideal level of cholesterol in under 200. If it is until 239 it is considered to be a little bit high and if it is over 240 the patient is at risk of having a heart attack.

The level of low density lipoproteins is best to be less than 130 and the level of high density lipoproteins is good to be kept over 60 because under 40 exposes you to heart diseases.

There can be made some lifestyle changes in order to reduce the level of cholesterol: give up smoking, keep a healthy diet, and be active.

Of course there is medication that can lower the level of cholesterol but only the doctor can prescribe you an adequate treatment.

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