So many people have high cholesterol levels or hyperlipidemia due to their eating habits. So let's discuss what cholesterol is and its importance in our body. What is cholesterol? Cholesterol is a type of lipid, and it is both a good and bad type. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) are bad cholesterols, whereas high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are good cholesterols. Cholesterol is an essential substance for various crucial mechanisms in our body. Our body produces cholesterol to fulfill the system's needs, but we can absorb it from the food we eat, such as eggs, meat, and dairy products. Cholesterol is an oil-based substance and travels in our blood in lipoproteins form. What are the functions of cholesterol in our body? Cholesterol plays a crucial role in our body. The liver produces all the necessary lipoproteins, and blood carries them to different organs. Cholesterol has the following primary functions:

The most important function of cholesterol is that it builds cell membranes and maintains the integrity of the cell membranes.
It helps the production of digestive bile acids in our intestine, which is crucial for proper digestion.
It helps the production of various crucial steroid hormones, including stress hormones (cortisol) and sex hormones, which are necessary for the proper functioning of our body.
Cholesterol is essential for the synthesis of vitamin D in our body.

What is the correlation between heart disease and cholesterol? Cholesterol is a fat-based substance and doesn’t dissolve with blood, which is water-based. So, when the cholesterol level increases, it starts building up in the wall of the arteries. This buildup of cholesterol in arteries (plaque formation) can narrow the arteries, called atherosclerosis. With time, excess plaque formation can lead to narrowing or complete blockage of the arteries supplying the heart. If the coronary artery stops the blood supply to the heart muscles, it can cause a heart attack. Causes of high cholesterol A significant increase in cholesterol levels in the blood can lead to an increased risk for coronary artery diseases and heart attack. An increase in the LDL cholesterol levels and a decrease in HDL cholesterol levels cause plaque formation and atherosclerosis of arteries. The following are a few causes and risk factors that are responsible for high cholesterol levels:

Unhealthy diet: frequent eating saturated fat or trans-fat rich diets, such as fatty meat, red meat, full-fat dairy products, packaged snacks, or desserts.
Inactivity: Continuous sitting idle or sedentary lifestyle increases LDL cholesterol levels in blood vessels.
Obesity: A higher body mass index (BMI) increases the risk of high cholesterol.
Medical conditions: Various illnesses cause an increase in LDL levels, including lupus, HIV infection, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and hypothyroidism.
Medications: Medicines for other health issues can increase cholesterol levels, such as acne, AIDS, irregular heart rhythms, organ transplants, or cancer
Smoking and alcohol: Tobacco abuse and too much alcohol consumption increases total cholesterol level and decrease HDL levels.

Must Read : What Are Recommended Cholesterol Levels by Age?

Diagnosis of high cholesterol High cholesterol levels don't show symptoms until plaque blocks the coronary arteries. Cholesterol travels in our blood in lipoprotein form. The healthcare provider suggests a complete cholesterol test (lipid profile or lipid panel) to find out the following four types of cholesterol levels:

Total cholesterol level
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol
Triglycerides level

High levels of total cholesterol, LDL, and triglycerides and low levels of HDL cholesterol put you at higher risk of developing various health issues. So, regular screening of cholesterol is necessary for a healthy life.