Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood that your body needs to build cells; however, too much can pose aproblem. Cholesterol travels through the blood on proteins called lipoproteins. There are two types of lipoproteins:
1.Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), known as bad cholesterol, makes up most of your body’s cholesterol. High levels of LDL cholesterol can increase your risk for heart disease and stroke.
2. High-density lipoprotein (HDL), known as good cholesterol, absorbs cholesterol and carries it back to the liver to be flushed from the body.
More than 40% of U.S. adults with high cholesterol don’t know they have it, according to a study published in JAMA Cardiology.
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