Stroke - if the blood vessels that supply the brain become narrower or blocked by plaque, blood supply to the brain can be severely reduced or cut off, causing a stroke.Heart attack - if a plaque in a coronary artery bursts (ruptures), a clot may form and block the supply of blood to the heart, starving it of oxygen.This may cause shortness of breath and chest pain. Angina - when plaque builds up in the major arteries that supply your heart, known as the coronary arteries, they become narrower and are partially blocked, reducing blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart.Over time, the plaque causes narrowing and hardening of the arteries (known as atherosclerosis). The excess LDL cholesterol leads to fatty deposits called plaque forming in the artery walls. Too much LDL (bad) cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart and blood vessel disease (cardiovascular disease). What are the risks linked to high cholesterol? Your doctor can then assess your risk of having a heart attack or stroke in the next 5 years. This checks your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should start lipid blood tests at 35, because on average heart and blood vessel disease - such as heart attacks and stroke - happen 10 to 20 years earlier in Indigenous people.ДЄll Australians in these age groups are eligible for a regular 20-minute heart health check with their doctor.

How often should I have my cholesterol tested?ДЄdults should have their blood lipids measured every 5 years, starting at 45 years. You will normally be asked to fast (not eat anything) and only drink water for about 10 hours before the test. This measures total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol, as well as triglycerides - another type of fat in the blood. How is cholesterol measured?Д¬holesterol is measured using a blood test called a вЂ lipid profileвЂ™. If you have a family history of high cholesterol or of heart disease at a young age, ask your doctor about your risk.ДЇIND A HEALTH SERVICE - The Service Finder can help you find doctors, pharmacies, hospitals and other health services. About one in 500 Australians has this condition and many donвЂ™t know they have it. Some people have a condition called familial hypercholesterolaemia - where a genetic problem leads to high cholesterol. High cholesterol can only be detected through a blood test. Many Australians don't know they have high cholesterol, because there are no symptoms. How do I know if I have high cholesterol? Making lifestyle changes - and sometimes, taking medicines - can lower a personвЂ™s cholesterol levels. This leads to a narrowing and hardening of the arteries, which increases the risk of heart attacks and stroke. Over time, having too much 'bad' cholesterol causes fatty deposits called plaques to form in the walls of the arteries. High cholesterol is common among Australians - 1 in 3 adults has high cholesterol.

HDL cholesterol (high-density lipoprotein cholesterol) - known as вЂgoodвЂ™ cholesterol.

LDL cholesterol (low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) - known as вЂbadвЂ™ cholesterol.

There are different types of cholesterol, and each is named after the different proteins that carry cholesterol in the blood. Your liver makes cholesterol, and some foods contain it.

Related information on Australian websitesД¬holesterol is a type of fat which is needed by your body to build and repair cells and to make hormones.

How can I lower my cholesterol with medicines?.

How can I lower my cholesterol by making lifestyle changes?.

What are the risks linked to high cholesterol?.

How often should I have my cholesterol tested?.

How do I know if I have high cholesterol?.You can lower high cholesterol by making lifestyle changes and often through medicines.Over time, too much LDL cholesterol (or, вЂbadвЂ™) cholesterol in your blood can raise your risk of heart attack and stroke.There are different types of cholesterol - including LDL cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.Cholesterol is made in your liver but is also present in some foods.Cholesterol is a type of fat needed to build and repair cells and to make hormones.

Ways to lower cholesterol