Cholesterol is a fat produced by the liver.
How Common Is High Cholesterol?
More than one out of every 10 Americans has high total cholesterol.
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Overview
High cholesterol comes up whenever too much fat (lipids) is in your blood.
These lipids can build up in your arteries and form fatty deposits known asplaque.
Plaque formation leads toatherosclerosis, which increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
A total blood cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or greater is considered high in adults.
How Is Cholesterol Measured?
Cholesterol levelsare measured via a blood test called a lipid panel.
Risk factors and causes of high cholesterol include:
Can You Be Healthy With High Cholesterol?
Screenings are often recommended more frequently for those at increased risk of heart attack or stroke.
The number of Americans with high cholesterol has decreased in the past 20 years.
High cholesterol rates are highest overall among Americans ages 4059 and lowest among those ages 2039.
Women are slightly more likely than men to have high cholesterol.
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