Controlling your blood pressure, managing cholesterol and diabetes, and quitting smoking are important steps to reducing your risk. Cholesterol is a soft, waxy, fat-like substance found in your body’s cells and bloodstream. So the cholesterol present in HDL is, to a large extent, excess cholesterol that has just been removed from cells and blood vessel walls and is being transported back to the liver for recycling. Although our bodies are capable of producing so much cholesterol on its own, it is still very important to obtain cholesterol from dietary sources. Why cholesterol matters. Good and Bad Cholesteral Cholesterol is divided into a “good” and “bad” portion. "Cholesterol is important for cell function," says Prediman K. Shah, MD, director of the Oppenheimer Atherosclerosis Research Center and Atherosclerosis Prevention … Cholesterol circulates in the blood. Cholesterol is publicized as an antonym to health. Much of the needed cholesterol is obtained through foods such as meat and dairy, but it can also be made by the liver. However, it is a necessary nutrient for body function. What causes low HDL cholesterol? There are many reasons why some people have low HDL and others have high HDL. If your risk is very low, you probably won't need a statin, unless your LDL is above 190 mg/dL (4.92 mmol/L). An estimated 21 million Americans have diabetes and 284,000 die from it each year, with 65% percent of these deaths related to cardiovascular causes. The most important thing your doctor will keep in mind when thinking about statin treatment is your long-term risk of a heart attack or stroke. According to the American Heart Association, your body makes all the cholesterol you need and circulates it through your bloodstream. The Importance of Lowering Cholesterol. Cholesterol testing is very important if you: have a family history of high cholesterol or heart disease; are overweight or obese; drink alcohol frequently High cholesterol contributes to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke. Lifestyle choices also affect HDL levels. Lower cholesterol and blood pressure target levels may help adults with type 2 diabetes to prevent or even reverse hardening of their arteries, according to new research. As the amount of cholesterol in your blood increases, so does the risk to your health. The higher the HDL cholesterol levels , presumably, the more cholesterol is being removed from where it might otherwise cause damage. Diet plays an important role in determining your cholesterol levels Regular exercise can help in regulating cholesterol levels The heart is an essential organ of the human body. Bad cholesterol, LDL, often deposits cholesterol in blood vessels. 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