Quick guide...to cholesterol

It's something we've all heard of and may even have been checked for, but what exactly is cholesterol and why does it matter? Read our 'quick guide' to find out.

What is it?

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that surrounds all cells in our bodies, to keep them intact and functioning properly. Cholesterol is vital to keep the body working - without it we wouldn't exist.

Oh, I thought it was a bad thing.

It's only a bad thing if you have too much of it or, in extreme cases, too little. Too much - or 'high cholesterol' - can increase the risk of heart disease. Too little can, in extreme cases, contribute to problems such as cancer, depression and pregnancy complications.

So how do I know how much cholesterol I've got?

The best way to calculate total cholesterol is to go to your GP and have them take a blood sample for testing. This will measure the amount of cholesterol and lipoproteins in the body - lipoproteins transport cholesterol around. They come in three types: low-density, high-density and triglycerides. Low-density are considered 'bad' and high-density 'good'. If you have too many low-density and triglycerides, you might be considered to have a cholesterol problem.

Oh dear.

It's not as bad as it sounds and is very common among adults in the UK. Thankfully, there are a number of thing you can do to help lower your cholesterol to more normal levels. These include:

Revising your diet. To help keep cholesterol levels in check you should be eating a low fat, high fibre diet. Regularly eating oily fish can also help.

Exercise. Regular physical activity is important to help increase your levels of high-density lipoproteins, or 'good' cholesterol.

Medication. If your doctor feels it's necessary, they may prescribe you some medication that helps to lower your cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Date: 06/02/2012

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