About Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a lipid found in the cell membranes of all animal tissues. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body.

The name originates from the Greek chole- (bile) and stereos (solid), and the chemical suffix -ol for an alcohol, as researchers first identified cholesterol in solid form in gallstones by François Poulletier de la Salle in 1769. However, it is only in 1815 that chemist Eugène Chevreul named the compound "cholesterine".

Most of the cholesterol in the body is synthesized by the body and some has dietary origin. Cholesterol is more abundant in tissues which either synthesize more or have more abundant densely-packed membranes, for example, the liver, spinal cord and brain. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly.It plays a central role in many biochemical processes, such as the composition of cell membranes and the synthesis of steroid hormones.But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them. 

Since cholesterol is insoluble in blood, it is transported in the circulatory system within lipoproteins, complex spherical particles which have an exterior composed mainly of water-soluble proteins; fatschylomicrons, very low density lipoprotein (VLDL), intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL), low density lipoprotein (LDL) and high density lipoprotein (HDL). The cholesterol within all the various lipoproteins is identical.

According to the lipid hypothesis, abnormally high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia), or, more correctly, higher concentrations of LDL and lower concentrations functional HDL are strongly associated with cardiovascular disease because these promote atheroma development in arteries (atherosclerosis). This disease process leads to myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke and peripheral vascular disease. 

Since higher blood LDL, especially higher LDL particle concentrations and smaller LDL particle size more than cholesterol carried by LDL  contribute to this process, LDL particles are often termed "bad cholesterol" because they have been linked to heart disease. On the hand, high concentrations of functional HDL (often called "good cholesterol" can remove cholesterol from cells and atheroma, offer protection. These balances are mostly genetically determined but can be changed by body build, medications, food choices and other factors.

Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older.  

There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test.

You can lower your cholesterol by exercising more and eating more fruits and vegetables. You also may need to take medicine to lower your cholesterol.