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High cholesterolCholesterol is a fat-like substance in the blood that can build up on the inside walls of the arteries, causing hardening of the arteries. High blood cholesterol does not have symptoms, but is a major risk factor for developing coronary artery disease in which arteries supplying the heart with oxygen-rich blood are narrowed or completely blocked. This can lead to angina, heart attack and permanent damage to the heart muscle. Maintaining a low cholesterol level is important for everyone, no matter what their age or the condition of their heart and arteries. Anyone over the age of 19 should have a cholesterol test - preferably a lipoprotein profile -- at least once every five years. A lipoprotein profile is a simple blood test performed after the individual has fasted for several hours. It provides information about total cholesterol, "bad" cholesterol (LDL), "good" cholesterol (HDL, which protects against heart disease), and another fatty substance in the blood called triglycerides. [ Previous page ]
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