Definition of the pathology

Cholesterol is a type of fat that is important for the proper functioning of the body and is made up of the fractions LDL, HDL and VLDL. HDL is the cholesterol popularly known as good cholesterol because it is responsible for removing fat molecules and is considered a protective factor for the heart, while LDL is known as bad cholesterol because it is easily deposited in the blood vessels, although it is also essential for the formation of some hormones. High cholesterol is only a health risk if the LDL is too high or the HDL is too low, as this increases the risk of developing heart disease.