You’ve probably heard that cholesterol has a lot to do with heart health, but it can be tough to keep the facts straight. What should you know about cholesterol?

What is cholesterol, anyway?

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in the bodies of all mammals. There’s nothing inherently bad about cholesterol. In fact, You need it to stay alive!

Then why do we keep hearing about the dangers of cholesterol?

Well, having too much cholesterol, especially of a certain kind, can be bad news. It can build up inside your arteries, strain your heart and eventually clog blood flow completely. That’s why the higher your overall cholesterol is, the more likely you are to have a heart attack or develop heart disease – the number one killer of men and women in the US.

But isn’t there a good and bad kind of type of cholesterol?

Yes! LDL is the dangerous stuff. You want to keep your LDL level as low as possible. HDL, on the other hand, is good. It keeps your LDL – and your risk of heart disease – low.

Where does cholesterol come from? How do we control it?

Your liver makes most of your cholesterol, and some is also found in the animal products people eat, like meat, dairy and eggs.

There are several risk factors for high cholesterol. One factor is genetic. Your family might be predisposed to high cholesterol, and that’s beyond your control. On there other hand, there are many factors you can control. Eating less saturated fat (which is also found in animal products) and being physically active lowers your cholesterol level. Controlling your weight is also important, because obesity makes high cholesterol more likely. Smoking tobacco is also a risk factor for high cholesterol.

Should I talk to a doctor about my cholesterol?

Definitely. The National Institutes of Health recommends that everyone over age 20 get a cholesterol screening, called a lipoprotein profile, every five years. With ZocDoc, making an appointment for a cholesterol checkup is simple.

While some people are able to control their cholesterol with diet and lifestyle changes, some people should be on medication. Do you want to speak to a blood health specialist or a heart health specialist about your cholesterol? We’ve got your back! Your friends at ZocDoc are happy to help. It’s in our blood.