What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol (say: ko-LESS-ter-ol) is a waxy material found in the blood and the body's cells. It is called a lipid or a fat. We get cholesterol from our bodies, which produce it naturally, and from the food we eat.
The body needs some cholesterol. It helps to make cell membranes, some hormones and other body tissues. But too much cholesterol is bad for the body.
What are the "good" and "bad" types of cholesterol?
Cholesterol is moved through the body by carriers called lipoproteins. There are good and bad kinds of lipoproteins:
- The good kind is called high-density lipoprotein (HDL). This type helps lower heart disease risk. It is thought that HDL takes cholesterol away from the arteries to the liver, which removes it from the body.
- The bad kind is called low-density lipoprotein (LDL). It helps raise heart disease risk. LDL forms a substance called plaque that can clog arteries.
What is hyperlipidemia?
Hyperlipidemia (say: HI-per-lip-id-EE-me-uh) refers to high cholesterol levels in the blood. It is also called hypercholesterolemia. In adults, it is mainly caused by inherited risk factors and a diet too high in fat.
Hyperlipidemia in children is not the same as it is in adults. It is usually passed from parent to child (familial hyperlipidemia). In a very few cases, given the increasing trend toward obesity among children, it is possible to see cases of hyperlipidemia caused by poor diet. Certain medications can also cause hyperlipidemia in some cases.