Cholesterol Information and Cholesterol Medications

Cholesterol can be confusing because it is both good and bad, so it's important to learn what exactly it is, how it affects your health and how to manage your blood cholesterol levels.

Cholesterol is found among the fats in the bloodstream and in all of the body's cells. It's an important part of a healthy body because among other things, it is used to form cell membranes and some hormones.

But high levels of cholesterol in the blood - hypercholesterolemia - is a major risk factor for coronary heart disease, which can lead to heart attack.

Heart disease is the number one cause of death for both men and women in America. More than 90 million adults, or about 50 percent of Americans, have high blood cholesterol levels, one of the key risk factors for heart disease.

Typically the body makes all the cholesterol it needs, so people don't need to consume it. Saturated fatty acids and trans fats also raise blood cholesterol, which can increase the risk of heart disease. The average American man consumes about 337 milligrams of cholesterol a day; the average woman, 217 milligrams.

People get cholesterol in two ways. The body produces varying amounts and foods also contribute cholesterol into the body. Foods from animals like eggs, meat, poultry, fish, seafood and whole-milk dairy products contain cholesterol.

By keeping your dietary intake of saturated fats low, you can significantly lower your dietary cholesterol intake.
Understanding the facts about cholesterol will help you live a healthier life and reduce your risk for heart attack.

The information presented on RxNorth.com is for informational purposes only. Consult your doctor, and/or pharmacist for any health problem and before making any changes in prescribed medications.