Every day, many Americans face the fact that their cholesterol levels are rising. Cholesterol affects the heart health of many people and can put their overall health at risk. It is imperative to understand the role cholesterol plays in the human body and the risk of heart disease. Once increased cholesterol is diagnosed, treatment options can be explored to improve health. Knowing when something is wrong in the body is the best way to develop a plan to achieve better health and eventually live longer. As millions of Americans face a diagnosis of high cholesterol, understanding the role cholesterol plays in heart disease and the treatment options available is essential to improving health. The key to understanding cholesterol is to realize that cholesterol plays an important role in the human body. . Cholesterol is a steroid-like substance obtained from foods consumed and made by a healthy liver. Cholesterol is a fatty or waxy substance that does not dissolve in the bloodstream (Klapper, 2006, p. 4). Although it is a fat, cholesterol is part of every cell in the body and serves a useful function. Cholesterol is used to maintain the structure of cell walls and keep the brain healthy. The human body uses cholesterol and fats not only to build cell membranes, but also to make necessary hormones and digestive enzymes (Khaleghi, 2011, p. 5). Cholesterol is found in virtually every cell in the human body. Total cholesterol is made up of two parts. The cholesterol that is beneficial to the human body is the HDL part. HDL refers to high-density lipoproteins. LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, is the part of cholesterol called bad cholesterol. High density...... middle of paper ......eghi, 2011, p. 166). Statins lower LDL cholesterol levels more than any other type of medication (Khaleghi, 2011, p. 166). Statins reduce LDL levels by blocking the enzyme HMGCoA reductase (Khaleghi, 2011 p. 166). The enzyme HMGCoA reductase produces cholesterol in the liver (Khaleghi, 2011, p. 166). By blocking the enzyme, the liver produces less cholesterol. One of the reasons statins are widely used is that most people who take them do not have serious side effects and statins can reduce LDL levels by up to sixty percent (Khaleghi, 2011 , p.167). Statins will have an impact on cholesterol levels in about four to six weeks. Studies show that statins lower the risk of heart attack, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and death in both men and women (Khaleghi, 2011, p. 167). Some of the common brands of statins on the market today are Mevacor, Zocor, Pravachol, Lescol, and Lipitor..