Cholesterol is a waxy substance found mostly in the fatty foods that come from animals.
It is also manufactured by the body. You need small amounts of cholesterol to make and maintain nerve cells and to manufacture hormones. Too much cholesterol circulating in the bloodstream is known as hypercholesterolemia. Hypercholesterolemia increases the risk of heart disease. Diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol, and certain illnesses can affect the levels of both types of cholesterol.