High cholesterol often has no symptoms, but can lead to serious health issues. Learn about HDL and LDL cholesterol, risk factors, and treatment. Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in every cell in your body. Learn what a total cholesterol test can reveal. Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in the blood. The body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells. But high levels of cholesterol can raise the risk of heart disease. With high cholesterol, fats and other substances can build up in blood vessels called arteries. This buildup is called plaque. CHOLESTEROL definition: 1. a substance containing a lot of fat that is found in the body tissue and blood of all animals…. Learn more.
