Related Terms

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Background

• High cholesterol, or hypercholesterolemia, is a condition in which there are unhealthy high levels of cholesterol in the blood. It is also called dyslipidemia, hyperlipidemia, and lipid disorder.
• Too much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk for heart disease, which may lead to a heart attack, heart failure (cannot pump enough blood to the body), and death. High cholesterol levels are also a risk factor for stroke (lack of blood and oxygen to the brain), causing nerve damage.
• Cholesterol is a soft, waxy, fat-like substance found within the bloodstream and cells of the body. Cholesterol synthesis is a naturally-occurring process that functions to produce membranes for all cells in the body, including those in the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, intestines, and heart. Cholesterol is also converted into steroid hormones, such as the male and female sex hormones (androgens and estrogens) and the adrenal hormones (cortisol, corticosterone, and aldosterone). In the liver, cholesterol is the precursor to bile acids that aid in the digestion of food, especially fats. Cholesterol is also used in making vitamin D.
• The body obtains cholesterol in two ways, producing the majority of it in the body, and consuming the rest in the diet in the form of animal products, such as meats, poultry, fish, eggs, butter, cheese and whole milk. Plant foods, like fruits, vegetables, and grains, do not contain cholesterol. Fat that occurs naturally contains varying amounts of saturated and unsaturated fat.
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Types of Cholesterol

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Risk Factors and Causes

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Signs and Symptoms

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Diagnosis and Screening

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Complications

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Treatment

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Integrative Therapies

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Prevention

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Author Information

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References

Natural Standard developed the above evidence-based information based on a thorough systematic review of the available scientific articles. For comprehensive information about alternative and complementary therapies on the professional level, go to www.naturalstandard.com. Selected references are listed below.

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