Cholesterol circulates in the blood. As the amount of cholesterol in your blood increases, so does the risk to your health. High cholesterol contributes to a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as heart disease and stroke. That's why it's important to have your cholesterol tested, so you can know your levels.
Diagnosis. High cholesterol is a condition that occurs when levels of cholesterol in your blood are elevated enough to cause health problems, including heart disease and stroke. Sometimes known as
High Cholesterol Facts Print Find up-to-date facts about high cholesterol in the United States. High total cholesterol in the United States Between 2017 and 2020, 10% of adults age 20 or older had total cholesterol levels above 240 mg/dL and about 17% had high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol levels below 40 mg/dL. 1
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