High Blood Cholesterol

Frequently Asked Questions

3. What is LDL cholesterol?

LDL stands for low-density lipoproteins. (Lipoproteins are molecules that carry cholesterol through your bloodstream.) LDL cholesterol is sometimes called bad cholesterol because it can build up in the walls of your arteries and make them narrower. This is called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

The higher the level of LDL cholesterol in your blood, the greater your chances of getting heart disease.