Much of this emphasis is due to the alarming statistics about heart disease, the nation's number one killer for both men and women. There's a lot of talk these days about the importance of having a healthy heart. Much of this emphasis is due to the alarming statistics about heart disease, the nation's number one killer for both men and women. One of the risk factors of heart disease is a high cholesterol level. In fact, more than half of all Americans have blood cholesterol levels high enough to be at risk for heart disease.
Cholesterol is made by the liver and is found in every cell in the body.
Everyone needs cholesterol - it helps make hormones and build cell walls. Your body probably makes all the cholesterol it needs. Any excess cholesterol enters the blood when you eat foods that are high in cholesterol and saturated fat, such as meat and dairy products. When there is too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, it can become trapped in your arteries. This can cause heart attacks, chest pains, or over time, heart disease.