National Cholesterol Education Month

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Cholesterol Management

Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance. It is produced by the liver and is present in dietary sources. It is a major component of cell membranes and is used to make hormones, vitamin D, and bile acids used in digestion. Optimal cholesterol management is an important part of reducing heart disease.

Cholesterol is carried through the blood on lipoproteins. There are two major types of lipoproteins:
  • High-density lipoprotein (HDL), often called “good” cholesterol
  • Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), often called “bad” cholesterol

Excess LDL cholesterol is deposited in the walls of arteries throughout the body. This can lead to ASCVD, which includes heart attack, stroke, transient ischemic attack (TIA), stable or unstable angina, and peripheral artery disease (PAD), including aortic aneurysm, all of atherosclerotic origin.

Cholesterol Monster

The “cholesterol monster” illustrations below highlights the nature of high cholesterol in a playful way. It is meant to show how plaque can build up on the walls of blood vessels when the body has too much LDL cholesterol.

For more information, click here. 

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