Cholesterol is a natural molecule in our bodies that is actually required for our bodies to function properly. The problem is, when you have too much cholesterol in your blood, you can and will develop some serious health situation if you don’t care for it correctly.
Hypercholesterolemia is the technical word for high cholesterol. With too much cholesterol circulating your blood system, you will be diagnosed with this. When your cholesterol levels are too high for too long, your blood has trouble flowing through your veins and thus begins to starve your organs and body of the necessary blood, oxygen and nutrients that is required to survive. The cholesterol simply begins to build up and create blocks in your blood system, which causes the starvation. For instance, if your heart or brain are starved of blood, you would eventually have a heart attack or stroke.
High cholesterol usually has as its source one of two different causes. Your liver may be the problem, or it could your diet.
In the case of your liver being the problem, it is sometimes hereditary. Your liver is responsible for the manufacturing of cholesterol in your body. This is known as endogenous cholesterol. High amounts of this type of cholesterol is caused by some disease conditions such as hypothyroidism or diabetes, but it also may be hereditary.
Like many Americans, high cholesterol can also be caused by diet. This type of cholesterol is called exogeneous cholesterol, and this represents the cholesterol that comes from outside of the body. High cholesterol and saturated fat foods such as fast food, pastries and some meats contain large amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat. The recommended daily intake of cholesterol is 200mg, however your body usually produces enough cholesterol by itself. Another important element in high cholesterol is that some medications can also be the cause.