10 Questions You Should Be Asking About Dyslipidemia

3. What is cholesterol?

Every cell in the human body carries cholesterol, a waxy substance similar to fat. Cholesterol produces hormones like estrogen and testosterone, as well as vitamin D and other substances that help the digestive system dissolve foods. But because of its waxy consistency, too much cholesterol becomes a hindrance. It sticks to other substances and forms plaque, which adheres to the walls of the arteries, causing atherosclerosis, the predecessor to coronary artery disease. The liver produces a majority of the body’s cholesterol. It needs about 1000 mg to perform the functions required.

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