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September is National Cholesterol Education Month.  Cholesterol is a "waxy," fat-like substance that is found in all of the cells in your body. Your body needs some cholesterol to make hormones, vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs. Cholesterol is also found in foods from animal sources, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese.
 

If you have too much cholesterol in your blood, it can combine with other substances in the blood to form plaque.   When plaque forms, it sticks to the walls of your arteries. This buildup of plaque is known as atherosclerosis.  It can lead to coronary artery disease, where your coronary arteries become narrow or blocked.  There are several factors that can cause the plaque to build up causing high cholesterol, for example:

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• Unhealthy eating, such as eating bad fats. One type of "bad fat," is saturated fat, which is found in some meats, dairy products, chocolate, baked goods, deep-fried and processed foods.  Another "bad fat" is, trans fat, which is found in some fried and processed foods. 

• Lack of physical activity.

• Smoking.

• Genetics may also cause people to have high cholesterol. (Familial hypercholesterolemia is an inherited form of high cholesterol). 

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High cholesterol can be diagnosed through blood tests. It is important that you follow your doctors instructions, if you are diagnosed with having high cholesterol, because if you have large deposits of plaque in your arteries, an area of plaque can rupture (break open). This can cause a blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If the clot becomes large enough, it can block blood flow in a coronary artery.

If the flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart muscle is reduced or blocked, it can cause angina (chest pain) or a heart attack.

Plaque also can build up in other arteries in your body, including the arteries that bring oxygen-rich blood to your brain and limbs. This can lead to problems such as carotid artery disease, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.

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Don't take having high cholesterol lightly. Exercise regularly, eat more healthy foods, and take your doctor prescribed medication.  To find out more about how to control cholesterol, watch the American Heart Association YouTube video below:

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By Dietra Myers