Why does cholesterol increase in the body? The most important reasons that you should know

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in all cells of the body. Although the body makes enough cholesterol on its own, it needs it to produce hormones, vitamin D, and digestive juices.

It can also be obtained from animal-source foods, such as egg yolks, meat, and cheese. If blood cholesterol levels become excessively high, it may combine with other substances to form plaques, which in turn stick to the walls of the arteries, according to the National Library of Medicine's medlineplus website.

The process of accumulation of these plaques is called atherosclerosis. This may cause coronary artery disease, when the coronary arteries become narrow or even blocked. An unhealthy lifestyle is the most common cause of high cholesterol, including: What health problems does high cholesterol cause?

High cholesterol, if left undiagnosed and untreated, can lead to serious health problems: How to lower your cholesterol level? Cholesterol can be lowered by making lifestyle changes that promote heart health; These changes include following a heart-healthy diet, maintaining an appropriate weight, and getting regular physical activity.

If these lifestyle changes alone are not enough to lower cholesterol levels, a person may also need to take medications. There are several types of cholesterol-lowering medications, including statins, and even if you take these medications, you should continue to make healthy lifestyle changes.

As for people who have familial hypercholesterolemia, they may undergo a treatment known as “lipoprotein apheresis,” which relies on the use of a special device that acts as a filter to remove harmful cholesterol from the blood, and then the device returns the rest of the blood components to the patient’s body.