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Cholesterol is a type of fat that is a normal component of most body tissues, and is required for good health. Yet, high levels can increase the risk of developing diseases e.g. heart disease. High cholesterol levels are asymptomatic, and in many cases, the first sign of any problem is a serious health issue. To help reduce the risk of this occuring, cholesterol levels are measured by a simple blood test. Your healthcare professional can organise this for you, along with other measurements of your cardiovascular health, such as blood pressure testing. LDL and HDL Cholesterol is transported through the blood stream in particles known as lipoproteins. The two most important varieties of lipoproteins to be aware of are low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL). High levels of LDL-cholesterol can lead to fatty deposits in the artery walls, referred to as atherosclerosis, or 'hardening of the arteries'. Atherosclerosis makes the blood ve...

Hypercholesterolemia is the presence of abnormally high levels of cholesterol in the blood. Cholesterol is an essential molecule from which hormones and steroids are made. It is also used in maintaining nerve cells. Approximately 75 percent of the cholesterol that circulates in a person’s bloodstream is made by the person’s liver. The remainder is acquired from outside sources. Cholesterol is found in animal sources of food and not found in plant sources. A normal cholesterol level is less than 200 milligrams per decilitre (mg/dL) of blood. A range between 200 to 239 mg/dL is considered borderline for blood cholesterol. Hypercholesterolemia is a condition whereby the cholesterol levels exceed 240 mg/dL. Cholesterol can be divided into 2 major categories: low-density lipoprotein (LDL), also known as the "bad" cholesterol and high density lipoprotein (HDL), the "good" cholesterol.     Triglycerides, HDL and LDL cholesterol LDL molecules are the ...