Cardiovascular specialist Merle Myerson, MD, describes the function of cholesterol in your arteries and your body overall. Watch Dr. Myerson's video for important tips and information about heart health.
Cholesterol is needed by the body. We use cholesterol to make certain body structures for example, cell membranes and other things that your body produces such as steroids, but too much of it can be a problem. So when the numbers get too high, your body takes what it needs, and the rest sometimes can end up deposited inside the arteries and those are the arteries in your heart or in your brain, the cerebral vascular arteries, and start the build up of plaque.
So while our bodies need cholesterol, it's very important to keep the levels low, so we don't have excess cholesterol that can build up inside your arteries.
Healthy cholesterol helps prevent cardiovascular disease. Get tips to lower high cholesterol with diet, exercise and medication, to protect your heart and reduce your stroke risk. Learn about the difference between HDL and LDL cholesterol.
See All Heart Health