Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. The body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if there is too much in the blood, it can stick to the walls of the arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them.

High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase the risk of heart disease. Cholesterol levels tend to rise as a person gets older. There are usually no signs or symptoms that a person has high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test. A person is likely to have high cholesterol if members of their family have it, if they are overweight, or if they eat a lot of fatty foods.

The best way to lower cholesterol is by exercising more and eating more fruits and vegetables.