LDL-cholesterol carries cholesterol in the blood. When too much cholesterol is found in the blood, buildup in the arteries results. Often when cholesterol is measured, a cholesterol ratio is obtained. This ratio is composed of your total cholesterol level divided by your HDL level. This number gives an overview of a person's risk for heart disease.
Heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the United States.
Blood cholesterol levels are an important indicator of a person's risk of getting coronary heart disease. A high cholesterol level increases the risk. When too much cholesterol is found in the bloodstream buildup occurs and the arteries narrow. Blood flow is blocked or slowed down by the narrow arteries and the heart gets less oxygen. Pain in the chest, heart attack, or death can result from this decreased oxygen supply.