Blood Cholesterol: Levels, Risks, and How to Manage It

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 4 Aug 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

Learn what blood cholesterol is, how LDL and HDL differ, why high levels raise heart disease risk, and how diet, exercise, and statins help to manage it.

At a Glance

• 1 - Human breast milk contains significant quantities of cholesterol.
• 2 - The average blood cholesterol level in adult Americans is about 203 mg/dL.
• 3 - The American Heart Association recommends a cholesterol test every five years for people aged 20 or older.
• 4 - The share of adults aged 20 to 74 with high cholesterol fell from 33 percent in 1960 to 1962 down to 17 percent in 1999 to 2002.

Topic Definition

Blood Cholesterol

Blood cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance, technically a sterol and lipid molecule, that the body needs to function normally and that every animal cell produces to build and maintain healthy cell membranes. It travels through the bloodstream inside particles called lipoproteins, which come in two main types: low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, which carries cholesterol to the body and can build up in the arteries, and high-density lipoprotein, or HDL, which carries cholesterol back to the liver for removal. While the body makes all the cholesterol it requires, extra cholesterol, mostly from diet, can be deposited on artery walls as plaque, gradually narrowing them through a process known as atherosclerosis and raising the risk of heart disease. Because high blood cholesterol usually causes no symptoms, regular testing along with a healthy diet, physical activity, weight control, and sometimes statin medication is central to keeping levels within a normal range.

Overview

Cholesterol is an organic molecule. It is a sterol (or modified steroid), a lipid molecule, and is biosynthesized by all animal cells because it is an essential structural component of animal cell membranes that is required to maintain both membrane structural integrity and fluidity. Cholesterol enables animal cells to not need a cell wall (like plants and bacteria) to protect membrane integrity/cell-viability and thus be able to change shape and move about (unlike bacteria and plant cells which are restricted by their cell walls).

High blood cholesterol presents a major risk factor for heart disease. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. Approximately seventeen-percent of all adults in America have high blood cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the body that is actually needed for it to function normally. The body produces sufficient amounts of cholesterol for its needs; when there is too much cholesterol in the body it is deposited in the arteries, to include arteries involved with the heart, potentially leading to a narrowing of these arteries and heart disease.

Blood Cholesterol Check and Control

(See our Blood Cholesterol Level Chart)

The presence of high blood cholesterol does not produce symptoms; many people are unaware that they have an elevated blood cholesterol level. There are ways to keep blood cholesterol levels within a normal range.

Cholesterol is carried in blood in particles referred to as, 'Lipoproteins.' Lipoproteins are made up of cholesterol on the inside with protein on the outside. There are two kinds of Lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins (LDL's), and high-density lipoproteins (HDL's).

• LDL's are the major type of lipoprotein that carries cholesterol in the bloodstream to the body. They may lead to a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries and heart disease.
• HDL's are particles that carry cholesterol back to the liver to remove it from the body; higher levels of HDL are considered to be good.

Excessive amounts of either total or LDL cholesterol in the blood presents a risk for atherosclerosis and heart disease. People may have an excess of cholesterol due to their diet and because of the rate at which cholesterol is processed in their body. The majority of the excess cholesterol comes from the person's diet. Cholesterol may build up on the person's artery walls in their body, a buildup referred to as, 'Plaque.' Over a period of time, plaque may cause the person's arteries to narrow, a process referred to as, 'Atherosclerosis.' As a result, less oxygen-rich blood can pass through. When the arteries that carry blood to the person's heart become affected, coronary artery disease may result. A heart attack happens when the person's coronary artery becomes completely blocked, either by plaque buildup or by a plaque that either ruptures or bursts, causing a clot. The person may also develop angina due to plaque buildup. Angina occurs when the person's heart does not receive enough oxygen-rich blood.

If a doctor discovers that a person's blood cholesterol is too high, they may prescribe various forms of treatment depending on that person's risks for the development of heart disease. The forms of treatment may include lifestyle changes involving diet, physical activity, and weight control. The doctor may prescribe certain statin drugs to manage cholesterol levels. Lifestyle changes are still commonly a recommendation, even with medications.

Cholesterol Facts and Statistics

• Human breast milk contains significant quantities of cholesterol.
• The average blood cholesterol level in adult Americans is about 203 mg/dL.
• Among White-Americans, 17.4% of women and 17.0% of men have high cholesterol.
• Among Mexican-Americans, 17.4% of women and 17.0% of men have high cholesterol.
• Approximately seventeen percent of Americans over age twenty have high cholesterol.
• Among African-Americans, approximately 16.6% of women and 12.5% of men have high cholesterol.
• Major dietary sources of cholesterol include cheese, egg yolks, beef, pork, poultry, fish, and shrimp.
• The American Heart Association recommends testing cholesterol every five years for people aged 20 years or older.
• The National Cholesterol Education Program recommends that all adults have their cholesterol checked once every 5 years.
• In 2004 there were six and a half million doctor's office visits which included a cholesterol test either being performed or ordered.
• American Heart Association guidelines issued in 2013 indicates that patients taking statin medications should have their cholesterol tested 4 to 12 weeks after their first dose and then every 3 to 12 months thereafter.
• According to data from CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (2005), 75.7% of whites, 73.7% of African Americans, and 52% of Hispanics reported having had their cholesterol checked within the previous 5 years.
• The percentage of persons aged 20-74 years with high cholesterol dropped from 33% in 1960-1962 to 17% in 1999-2002. During that same period, the average blood cholesterol levels in adults dropped from 222 mg/dL to 203 mg/dL.
• In 2005, 73% of adults reported that they had their cholesterol checked within the previous 5 years, according to data from CDC's Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Some 23% reported that they never had their cholesterol checked.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is considered a healthy blood cholesterol level?

A healthy level depends on your overall heart risk and the balance of LDL and HDL, so it is best confirmed with a blood test and a discussion with your doctor rather than a single number alone.

Why is LDL called bad cholesterol and HDL called good?

LDL is called bad because it can deposit cholesterol in the arteries, while HDL is called good because it carries cholesterol back to the liver to be removed from the body.

How often should adults get their cholesterol checked?

Guidance from major health groups suggests that adults aged 20 or older have their cholesterol checked about once every five years, or more often if they have added risk factors.

Can you lower cholesterol without medication?

Many people can improve cholesterol through lifestyle changes such as a healthier diet, regular physical activity, and weight control, though some still need statins as advised by a doctor.

Does dietary cholesterol come mainly from certain foods?

Yes, major dietary sources include cheese, egg yolks, beef, pork, poultry, fish, and shrimp, and most excess cholesterol in the body comes from what a person eats.

What happens if high cholesterol is left untreated?

Untreated high cholesterol can lead to plaque build-up that narrows the arteries, reducing oxygen-rich blood flow and raising the risk of angina, heart attack, and other heart disease.

Does the body need any cholesterol at all?

Yes, cholesterol is essential for building cell membranes and normal body function, and the body naturally produces all the cholesterol it needs on its own.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.

Last updated: 4 Aug 2026