Controlling Your Cholesterol

Get Smart About Cholesterol

Is your cholesterol too high? If it is, you could be heading for a heart attack or stroke without knowing it. This is especially true if you have other risk factors for heart disease. That's why you need to get smart about cholesterol and take steps to reduce it. Read on to learn easy ways to change your eating habits to help lower your cholesterol.

High Cholesterol Is a Risk to Your Health

Why is high cholesterol a problem? Cholesterol is a waxy substance that travels in your bloodstream. The higher your cholesterol is, the more likely some cholesterol will build up in the walls of your blood vessels. This makes the blood vessels narrower. When the vessels get narrow, blood flow decreases. Then you could have a heart attack or a stroke.

What Your Cholesterol Numbers Mean

Your total cholesterol can be checked by a blood test. The results tell you how much total cholesterol you have in your blood. You may also get numbers for LDL and HDL cholesterol.

Total Cholesterol

• Total cholesterol includes LDL and HDL cholesterol, as well as other fats in the bloodstream. Total cholesterol should be less than 200.

LDL Cholesterol

• LDL ("bad" cholesterol) builds up in the walls of the blood vessels. For most people, LDL cholesterol should be lower than 100. Ask your healthcare provider what your goal should be.

HDL Cholesterol

• HDL ("good" cholesterol) helps rid the body of excess cholesterol. HDL cholesterol should be 40 or higher.

Other Risk Factors

How great a risk your cholesterol numbers are depends on other risk factors you may have for heart attack and stroke. These risk factors include:

• Lack of exercise
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Family history of heart disease or stroke
• Age (over 45 for men, over 55 for women)
• Being overweight

Your healthcare provider can discuss your cholesterol numbers and other risk factors with you.