Research reveals that high cholesterol levels can lead to heart diseases.

This is the leading cause of death in the United States (US).

Whereas, stroke is the fifth leading cause of death.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that the liver and foods we eat, such as eggs, cheese, and certain meat products produce.

It is necessary for the body to function.

However, too much bad” cholesterol, which is also called low-density lipoprotein (LDL), can clog the arteries with a fatty buildup.

It increases the risk of heart attack, stroke, or peripheral artery disease.

Scientists have also linked high total of it to overweight, lack of exercise, smoking, and alcohol consumption.

More than 12% of adults in the U.S. aged 20 years total cholesterol levels above 240 milligrams per deciliter, which doctors consider high.

Of children and adolescents aged 6–19 years, some 7% have high total cholesterol.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is good and helps to sweep LDL from the arteries back to the liver, which removes it from the body.

A new study follows almost 400,000 people in 19 countries for up to 43.5 years (1970–2013).

The findings shine a spotlight on the link between bad cholesterol (non-HDL) levels in people under 45 years of age and the long-term risk of heart disease.

This observational study suggests that elevated non-HDL cholesterol levels at a younger age can predict cardiovascular risk at 75 years.

Around 400,000 individuals that the study followed, none had cardiovascular disease at the start.

The scientists tracked the participants over decades and took details of any heart disease event, fatal or stroke.

In total, there were 54,542 incidents of heart disease, fatal or non-fatal, and stroke.