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?
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- 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? »
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High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is positively associated with a decreased risk of coronary heart disease (CHD).
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