Managing Cholesterol - Cholesterol is a fatty substance, also called a lipid, that's produced by the liver. It's also found in foods high in saturated fat, like fatty meats, egg yolks, shellfish, and whole-milk dairy products. It's a vital part of the structure and functioning of our cells. However, too much cholesterol in your blood may lead to a serious, progressive disease of the arteries, called atherosclerosis.

A Closer Look - So how can something your body needs be harmful? Well, not all cholesterol is considered bad. There are actually three main components doctors evaluate when you have a blood test to check your cholesterol. They look at LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and another substance called triglycerides. Everyone with high cholesterol needs to keep it under control, but it may be even more important for some groups of people, such as People with a family history of early heart disease People with high blood pressure People with diabetes Males over age 45 Females over age 55 Smokers African Americans Hispanic Americans

What's Your Cholesterol Goal? - Managing high cholesterol may be different for you depending on your medical history and your health. Your doctor will look at the results of your cholesterol test, also known as a fasting lipid profile, and, using this information along with your medical background, establish a cholesterol goal for you. Always ask what your cholesterol numbers mean, based on your complete health history so you can work together to manage your cholesterol.

Cholesterol Guidelines - National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) guidelines recommend that all adults over age 20 have their cholesterol checked at least once every 5 years. Take a look at the guidelines below to get a better idea of where your cholesterol numbers should be.

Total cholesterol level

Desirable - Less than 200 mg/dL

Borderline high - 200-239 mg/dL

High - 240 mg/dL or higher

Heart Disease: Lower Cholesterol to Reduce Your Risk How to Lower Your Cholesterol - Cholesterol helps your body build new cells, insulate nerves and produce hormones. Normally, the liver makes all the cholesterol the body needs. But cholesterol also enters your body from dietary sources, such as animal-based foods like milk, eggs and meat. Too much cholesterol in your body is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. How Does High Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease? When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries, causing a process called atherosclerosis. The arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack.

There are two forms of cholesterol that most Americans are familiar with: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) and high-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol.) These are the form in which cholesterol travels in the blood. LDLs have little protein and high levels of cholesterol and HDL has a lot of protein and very little cholesterol. LDL is the main source of artery clogging plaque. HDL actually works to clear cholesterol from the blood. Triglycerides are another fat in our bloodstream. Research is now showing that high levels of triglycerides is also linked to heart disease. What Are the Symptoms of High Cholesterol?