Updated: 1 day ago
Cholesterol is a waxy material found in the blood. Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells; however, high levels of cholesterol increase your risk of heart disease. When you have high cholesterol, you develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. These deposits grow and make it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes, they can break suddenly and form a clot that causes either a heart attack or stroke.
While high cholesterol can be inherited, it usually is caused by eating a lot of high cholesterol foods, including cheese and shellfish. However, at HEALOR Primary Care, double board-certified physician Dr. Raj Singh can help his patients treat high cholesterol if they have been diagnosed. Ultimately, a healthy diet, regular exercise, and medication in Las Vegas, NV can help reduce high cholesterol.
What causes high cholesterol?
Cholesterol is carried through your blood and attaches to proteins. This is called a lipoprotein. There are different types of cholesterol, which are based on what the lipoprotein carries, including:
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL): LDL or "bad" cholesterol transports cholesterol particles throughout the body. It builds up on the walls of your arteries, which makes them hard and narrow.
High-density lipoprotein (HDL): HDL or "good" cholesterol picks up any excess cholesterol and takes it to the liver to be removed from the body.