Cholesterol FAQs (cont.)
IN THIS ARTICLE
- What is cholesterol?
- What causes high cholesterol?
- What are the symptoms of high cholesterol?
- How often should I have my cholesterol checked?
- How is cholesterol checked?
- Should I only be concerned with my total cholesterol number?
- What kinds of problems are caused by high cholesterol?
- What can I do to prevent high cholesterol?
- When would a doctor prescribe a medication to lower cholesterol?
- What are the uncontrollable and controllable risk factors for high cholesterol?
- For More Information
- Web Links
- Synonyms and Keywords
- Authors and Editors
Should I only be concerned with my total cholesterol number?
Just knowing your total cholesterol isn’t enough.
Cholesterol is made up of 2 different types: HDL ("good") cholesterol and LDL ("bad") cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is considered good because it helps keep LDL ("bad") cholesterol from building up in the walls of your arteries and causing blockage.
You also need to know your level of triglycerides because high triglycerides also increase the risk of heart disease, especially in people with diabetes.
See Understanding Your Cholesterol level.
Next: What kinds of problems are caused by high cholesterol? »
| Printer-Friendly Format | | | Email to a Friend |
Cholesterol Management
Tips to keep it under control.
From WebMD
Cholesterol Resources
- Cholesterol: Fact vs. Fiction
- Lowering Your Cholesterol: Doing Enough?
- 9 Food Tips to Lower Cholesterol
Featured Centers
- Top 10 Asthma Cities
- Health Check: How to Choose The Right Vitamins
- 10 Triggers for the Holiday Blues
Health Solutions From Our Sponsors
Read What Your Physician is Reading on eMedicine
High HDL Cholesterol (Hyperalphalipoproteinemia) »
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is positively associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).
Explore 80+ Centers
- Allergy
- Allergy Medications
- Anaphylaxis
- Antidepressants
- Anxiety
- Arthritis
- Asthma
- Baby's Health
- Back, Neck, Head Injury
- Bioterrorism, Warfare
- Blood, Lymphatic System
- Bone, Joint, Muscle
- Brain, Nervous System
- Breathing Difficulties
- Burns
- Camping
- Cancer, Tumors
- Children's Health
- Cholesterol
- Cold and Flu
- CPR, Choking
- Cuts, Scrapes, Bruises
- Dementia
- Depression
- Diabetes
- Diabetic Coma, Insulin Shock
- Digestive System
- Dislocations
- Drowning
- Drug Overdose
- Ear, Nose, Throat
- Emotional Wellness
- Endocrine System
- Environmental Injuries
- Erectile Dysfunction
- Exercise, Nutrition
- Eye, Vision
- Fainting
- Fever
- First Aid, Emergency
- First Aid Kits
- Food Poisoning
- Foreign Bodies
- Fractures, Broken Bones
- Glaucoma
- Headache
- Health, Medical
- Heartburn, GERD, Reflux
- Heart, Blood Vessels
- Heart Attack
- Hepatitis
- Immune System
- Incontinence
- Infections
- Kidneys, Urinary System
- Lung, Airway
- Medications
- Men's Health
- Mental Health, Behavior
- Multiple Sclerosis
- Nosebleeds
- Osteoporosis
- Outdoor Living
- Overexposure
- Poisoning
- Procedures
- Psoriasis
- Public Health
- Scuba Diving, Swimming
- Seizures
- Senior Health
- Shock
- Skin, Hair, Nails
- Sleep Disorders
- Social, Family Health
- Sports Injury
- Sprains, Strains
- Statins
- STDs
- Substance Abuse
- Teen Health
- Teeth, Mouth, Oral Health
- Weight Management
- Wilderness Emergencies
- Women's Health
- Wounds
