Obesity, lack of exercise, a high-fat diet, smoking, stress, diabetes mellitus and hypertension are common risk factors that contribute to poor cholesterol levels. Accumulated over time, disorders of fat metabolism are one of the main causes of arteriosclerosis that eventually can cause fatal consequences such as heart attacks and strokes.
Individual risk is calculated on the basis of the lipometabolic parameters cholesterol, HDL cholesterol (high density lipoprotein), LDL cholesterol (low density lipoprotein) and triglycerides. An elevated LDL value is the most important risk factor for arteriosclerosis, while high HDL values protect against a heart attack. Low HDL, on the other hand, represents an additional risk factor.
