About High Cholesterol

Learn About High Cholesterol

How can some cholesterol be good and other cholesterol be bad? Here are some answers to common questions about cholesterol.

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatty substance that your bloodstream carries to the cells in your body. Your body uses cholesterol to make bile acids, which help digest food. Normally your liver makes most of the cholesterol your body needs. Some foods have cholesterol too. Your body does not need this extra cholesterol.

What are bad and good cholesterol?

It is important to have the right balance of the different types of cholesterol in your body.

• Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Often called bad cholesterol. It builds up over time in your blood vessels
• High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Often called good cholesterol. It helps keep bad cholesterol from building up in your blood vessels

What causes high cholesterol levels?

High cholesterol levels have different causes. You can control some causes; others you cannot.

• Foods you eat
• Physical activity
• Weight
• Age
• Gender
• Family history
• Medical history

Why is it important to control my cholesterol levels?

Controlling your level of bad cholesterol is important. High levels of bad cholesterol may cause heart disease. Bad cholesterol builds up on the walls of the blood vessels over time. The blood vessels then become narrow. This may happen to the blood vessels going to the heart and brain. The result may be a heart attack, stroke, or other diseases.*

What can I do to manage my bad cholesterol?

Work with your physician, nurse, pharmacist, or other healthcare provider to monitor your cholesterol level. If your bad cholesterol levels are too high, diet and lifestyle changes may help you manage your cholesterol and keep it down.

The following pointers may help you stay healthy and promote low cholesterol:

• Make sure to stick to a heart-healthy diet
• Stay physically active—If permitted by your healthcare provider, you can start with as little as 10 minutes of exercise a day
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Quit smoking (or don’t start)
• If you have been prescribed cholesterol medicine, take it as prescribed
• Follow any other recommendations your doctor may have

*Welchol has not been shown to prevent heart disease, heart attacks, or strokes.