Why is cholesterol important?

Why is cholesterol important?The major risk factors for developing a stroke or heart failure are the level of blood pressure, level of cholesterol and whether you smoke or not. It is therefore very important if you have raised blood pressure to stop smoking and lower your cholesterol level as far as possible. In relation to cholesterol it can, like blood pressure, be lowered by changes in diet but if you are at sufficient risk or the level is high enough, it may be necessary to take tablets.

What is cholesterol?There are two types of cholesterol:

LDL (low density lipoprotein) - this settles in your arteries, narrows them and can block them

HDL (high density lipoprotein) - this removes LDL cholesterol from arteries

Your doctor will want to know your total cholesterol level as well as the ratio of the bad cholesterol (LDL) to good cholesterol (HDL). You should be aiming for a high HDL cholesterol and a low LDL cholesterol.