Cholesterol? Colesteral is a common misspelling of cholesterol.
Cholesterol is found in every cell in your body and is needed to hold cells together and make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help digest foods. It is found in animal products, such as meat, eggs, and butter. Although your body needs this substance in order to work properly, if you have too much in your blood, it can cause problems. Approximately 40 million Americans have high cholesterol, which is one of the risk factors for developing heart disease. Each year, about half a million Americans die from heart disease.
The only way to determine your level of this substance is through a blood test. Most healthcare providers recommend that a person have a fasting test every five years. However, a person with risk factors for heart disease may want to be tested more often.
(Click Cholesterol for more details on where cholesterol comes from, how it is processed in the body, and the good and bad types of cholesterol. You can also click on any of the links in the box to the right for more specific information.)
HealthSavvy Sign In
|