We all need cholesterol. It is an important component in the walls of cells.
Cells are the small building blocks of living tissue.
If, however, the cholesterol level becomes too high in the blood for a prolonged period of time, it can lead to a build-up of the cholesterol in the lining of artery walls, resulting in an increase in the bumpy, hard material of atherosclerosis . As in high blood pressure and high blood glucose, high blood cholesterol usually does not cause any symptoms until it's too late. Only a blood test can determine whether you have high cholesterol. For some people, all that is required to treat hypercholesterolemia is to eat a low-fat diet. For others, cholesterol-lowering medications are necessary.