Eighty-six million American adults live with this “silent” condition.
Cholesterol often gets a bad rap, but its presence isn’t inherently bad—our bodies need this molecule to build cells and make hormones. [1] “Cholesterol is a fatty substance in the blood that is produced mostly by the liver, though some of it is obtained through your diet,” explains Demilade Adedinsewo, MD, a cardiologist in Jacksonville, Florida. [2] If cholesterol levels get too high, deposits can collect in the walls of the arteries, creating plaque that builds up in blood vessels.
As you grow older and your metabolism changes, your liver becomes less efficient at removing LDL cholesterol from your blood. This is the type of cholesterol most often associated with disease, which is why the risk for high cholesterol typically increases with age [4]. High cholesterol levels are also more prevalent for people of certain races. However, experts aren’t certain why. [3, 5] The condition is no small problem: Eighty-six million American adults have high total cholesterol.
Age can also be a risk factor. Because your liver become less efficient at removing LDL cholesterol from your blood as you grow older, most people are diagnosed with high cholesterol between the ages 40 to 59 [4] Cholesterol levels also vary by race and type of cholesterol, though more research is needed to explain why. As a group, non-Hispanic whites are more likely than others to have high total cholesterol levels, but everyone is at risk.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Everything You Need to Know About the 2023 Chicago MarathonDon’t miss out on the all the excitement (and a potential personal best) at next year’s race.
Read more »
Alabama vs. Ole Miss 2023: Everything fans need to knowYour complete fan guide to the Crimson Tide's SEC opener.
Read more »
The iPhone 15 lineup has arrived, and here’s everything you need to know about itUSB-C! USB-C!
Read more »
The iPhone 15 lineup has arrived, and here’s everything you need to know about itUSB-C! USB-C!
Read more »