Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. However, cholesterol also comes from the foods you eat.
If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances in the blood to form a thick, hard deposit on the inside of your blood vessels. This makes it harder for enough blood to flow through your arteries and veins. High cholesterol levels can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
There are two main types of cholesterol:
When getting your cholesterol checked, it's important to fast for 9-12 hours beforehand for accurate baseline results. Ideal cholesterol levels are:
If your cholesterol levels are high, consider getting comprehensive hormone testing at Hormone Harmony Clinic. Our expert physicians can determine if a hormone imbalance is contributing and help create a customized treatment plan for you.
To help maintain healthy cholesterol levels:
High cholesterol often has no signs or symptoms. The only way to know your cholesterol levels is to get tested, which should be done every 4-6 years for healthy adults. Talk to your doctor about your cholesterol levels and if you may need treatment with lifestyle changes or medications to reduce high cholesterol. Keeping cholesterol at healthy levels is important for lowering cardiovascular disease risk!
Hormone Harmony Clinic provides cutting-edge cholesterol and hormone testing. Our integrative treatments help patients optimize cholesterol holistically.