Cholesterol

Your body needs some cholesterol. But if you have too much—of the wrong kind—it starts to build up in your arteries. Cholesterol is produced naturally by the liver, and also comes from eating certain foods, such as eggs and red meat. Too much of the bad kind, LDL cholesterol, raises your risk of heart disease, stroke, and other conditions. Low levels of the good kind, HDL cholesterol, can have the same effect.

Cholesterol Journey

Cholesterol Is Not Your Enemy

You can keep your cholesterol under control with diet and exercise, or with the right medication. Learn more about how cholesterol works and how you can keep your heart, mind, and body healthy by controlling cholesterol.

Cholesterol News

It’s ‘Buyer Beware’ When Getting Statins Off the Internet
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter THURSDAY, Feb. 2 (HealthDay News) — Be wary of buying the cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins on the Internet, British researchers say. Common statins such as Lipitor, Crestor or Zocor may not be the same as advertised and sites often don’t include warnings about side effects or even require a prescription, the researchers [...]
Statins Equally Effective in Women and Men
By Steven ReinbergHealthDay Reporter MONDAY, Jan. 30 (HealthDay News) — Cholesterol-lowering drugs known as statins are equally effective in men and women, a new study finds. For both males and females, these drugs lowered the risk of a heart attack by about 20 percent, the researchers say. Previously, some thought that statins, which include Lipitor, Lovastatin [...]
Vitamins, Omega-3s May Keep Brain From Shrinking: Study
By Jenifer GoodwinHealthDay Reporter WEDNESDAY, Dec. 28 (HealthDay News) — Older adults with high levels of omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins B, C, D and E in their blood performed better on certain measures of thinking abilities, and also tended to have larger brain volume, a new study finds. Seniors with high levels of trans fats in [...]
First Generic Lipitor Approved
THURSDAY, Dec. 1 (HealthDay News) — The first generic version of the cholesterol-lowering statin Lipitor (atorvastatin calcium) has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Drug maker Ranbaxy Laboratories, based in India, has gained approval to produce the tablets in 10 milligram (mg), 20 mg, 40 mg and 80 mg strengths, the FDA said [...]
Does Psoriasis Thwart the Benefits of ‘Good’ Cholesterol?
THURSDAY, Nov. 17 (HealthDay News) — Inflammation caused by psoriasis may trigger changes in a person’s cholesterol, including weakening the function of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), the “good” cholesterol, new research suggests. The researchers said that, if confirmed, their findings could help explain why people with psoriasis — a chronic skin condition — are at greater risk [...]