According to the American Heart Association, approximately 107 million people have high cholesterol which can increase one’s chance of getting heart disease. It's important to learn what cholesterol is, how it affects your health and how to manage your cholesterol levels. Understanding the facts about cholesterol can help you take better care of your heart and live a healthier life, reducing your risk for heart attack and stroke.   Learn the facts about cholesterol, have regular screenings and, if you need to lower your cholesterol level, work with your health care professionals to set up a plan.

• Cholesterol is a fat-like substance that is made in your body. Cholesterol is also in some foods that you eat. Your body needs some cholesterol to work the right way. Your body makes all the cholesterol it needs.
• Too much cholesterol in the blood is called high blood cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia.
• High blood cholesterol can increase the chance of having a heart attack or some other symptom of heart disease, like chest pain (angina).
• Lowering cholesterol is important for everyone—young, middle-aged, and older adults, and both men and women.
• Eating too much saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol raises the level of cholesterol in your blood. (Trans fats are found in foods such as vegetable shortening, some margarines, crackers, candies, baked goods. Cookies, snack food, fried foods, salad dressing and many processed foods.)

• Too much cholesterol in your blood can build up in the walls of arteries. This is called plaque.
• There are no signs or symptoms of high blood cholesterol. Many people don't know that their cholesterol level is too high.
• High blood cholesterol is diagnosed by checking cholesterol levels in your blood.
• A blood test called a lipoprotein profile measures the cholesterol levels in your blood and is the recommended test.
• It is important that everyone age 20 and older has their cholesterol checked at least once every five years.
• Many people are able to lower their cholesterol levels by eating a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, exercising, and losing weight if needed.
• Some people will need to take medicines prescribed by their doctor to lower their cholesterol in addition to eating a low saturated fat and low cholesterol diet, exercising, and losing weight if necessary.

Ciao For Now!
Jeannine

Wellness Tip: Check out this "Lowering Your Cholesterol" slideshow by MedicineNet.com
http://www.medicinenet.com/lowering_cholesterol_15_tips_slideshow/article.htm

For more cholesterol information visit the American Heart Association
http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/CholestrolATH_UCM_001089_SubHomePage.jsp