Data on the situation and trends in the number of people living with HIV Data on the situation and trends in the number of people living with HIV Skip to main content
High blood cholesterol levels. Cholesterol is a fat (also called a lipid) that your body needs to work properly. Too much bad cholesterol can increase your chance of getting heart disease, stroke, and other problems. The medical term for high blood cholesterol is lipid disorder, hyperlipidemia, or hypercholesterolemia. There are many types of cholesterol. The ones talked about most are:
Cholesterol Tests: the Good, Bad, the Fatty. Cholesterol is a form of fat that's not all bad -- a certain amount is essential for life. Cholesterol helps provide stability to the outer membranes of our bodies' cells.But cholesterol can have harmful effects. LDL -- or bad -- cholesterol can deposit in blood vessel walls.n Overview of Cholesterol Tests. There are multiple forms of cholesterol circulating in the blood. The various forms of cholesterol and other fats in the blood are together called lipids. Doctors measure and diagnose high cholesterol with a simple blood test, often called a lipid profi le.