Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that your body actually needs. It is a building block for cell membranes, certain hormones, and vitamin D, and your liver makes most of what you require. You also take in cholesterol from some foods. In the right amounts, it is essential. The trouble comes from having too much of certain kinds circulating in your blood over time.

Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream packaged in particles called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is often called the harmful kind because when there is too much of it, it can deposit cholesterol into the walls of your arteries. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is often called the helpful kind because it carries cholesterol away. When LDL builds up, it contributes to plaque, the fatty deposits at the heart of atherosclerosis, which stiffens and narrows arteries.

Narrowed, stiffened arteries are the link between cholesterol and serious events like heart attack and stroke, because reduced or blocked blood flow can damage the heart or brain. Cholesterol levels are checked with a simple blood test, and they are influenced by diet, physical activity, weight, genetics, and hormones. After menopause, the loss of estrogen often shifts a woman's cholesterol in a less favorable direction. A health professional can interpret your numbers in the context of your overall heart and vascular health.

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women, and cholesterol is one of its most manageable contributors. Because high cholesterol causes no symptoms, many women do not realize their levels have changed, particularly after menopause, when the protective effect of estrogen fades and cholesterol often rises.

The encouraging side is how much influence you have. Diet, movement, and, when needed, medication can all improve your cholesterol picture and lower your long-term risk of heart attack and stroke. Knowing your numbers, and understanding what they mean for your arteries, turns an invisible risk into something you can watch and act on, in partnership with your care team, well before it causes harm.