Cholesterol is something that a normal person makes in their body every day. Many parts of the body depend on cholesterol for their proper function. But, if the body makes too much cholesterol, it can build up in places where it is harmful. One place where cholesterol causes trouble if it builds up is in the walls of blood vessels. Too much cholesterol in the walls of a blood vessel can make the vessel brittle or can block the flow of blood.

Cholesterol is something your body needs, but also something that causes problems. It can be both good and bad for you. We have learned that different types of cholesterol are also "good" and "bad" for you. The good type of cholesterol is known as HDL cholesterol. When people have higher amounts of HDL cholesterol, they seem to have less risk for heart disease. The bad type of cholesterol is LDL cholesterol. Higher amounts of LDL in the blood raise the chances of heart disease.

When your doctor measures your blood cholesterol, he or she often measures the total amount of cholesterol and the HDL and LDL, as well. The American Heart Association suggests that people with total cholesterol levels over 240 need to take steps to lower their cholesterol. About one in five American adults have levels above this number. You may need to take steps even if your total level is not over 240, if your LDL level is too high or your HDL level is too low.

If you want to lower your cholesterol level, the place to start is with your diet. You should eat no more than 300 milligrams per day of cholesterol. If you eat a lot of saturated fats, such as milk, butter or other animal fats, your body produces more cholesterol. You should eat no more that 10 percent of your total calories from saturated fats. If changing your diet doesn't decrease your cholesterol to a safer level, you may require medication.

To find out more on this subject, contact your local Heart Association office or call (800) 242-8721.

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