More than 97 million American adults have it, and it's a leading risk factor for heart attacks-high cholesterol. But, it's a health problem that can be prevented.
Cholesterol belongs to a group of compounds known as lipoproteins.
Fats, also called lipids, are carried in the blood by joining proteins to form lipoproteins. When more lipoproteins than the body needs are present, deposits form in blood vessels. This process of arteriosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is a risk factor for heart attacks. Total cholesterol levels are important, but other lipoproteins also have a role in heart disease. Low-density lipoproteins or LDLs, are lethal.