What to know about cholesterol
Cholesterol is a fatty substance with numerous health benefits. It is usually bound to proteins (lipoproteins) as it travels through the bloodstream. High levels of cholesterol in your blood can accumulate in blood vessels and form plaque. The plaque grows bigger with time and starts to impede the flow of blood. Obstructions in blood flow can lead to:
- Heart disease
- Heart attack
- Stroke
- Peripheral artery disease, which can lead to limb ischemia or gangrene
Cholesterol can be divided into two groups, LDL and HDL. They are also known as bad and good cholesterol respectively.
LDL hardens and narrows the walls of your blood vessels when they accumulate. HDL (good) cholesterol helps remove excess bad cholesterol from your blood and send it to your liver for metabolism.