There’s so much information out there about cholesterol. But what is cholesterol? It’s a waxy, fat-like substance that’s produced by the liver. It also comes from animal foods that we eat like meat, whole milk, cheese, butter and eggs.
Everybody needs some cholesterol to develop cell walls and help with other important body functions. But too much cholesterol can be bad for your health and can put you at risk for heart disease.

Why would you have high cholesterol?

Family history
Unhealthy diet
Inactivity
Being overweight
 
If you think that you have any of these risk factors for high cholesterol, or you’re having a hard time lowering your cholesterol with diet and exercise alone, you should get more information from your doctor about high cholesterol For 2 out of 3 adults with high cholesterol, diet and exercise may not lower cholesterol enough.¹ Ignoring high cholesterol may lead to heart disease. Talk to your doctor about managing your risk factors.
    

 
Anyone can have high cholesterol numbers. You can’t see it or feel it in yourself. It’s basically invisible. In fact, as many as 1 in 5 adults has high cholesterol.¹ It affects people both young and old.
Only your doctor or health-care professional can test for high cholesterol, find out your number and prescribe the suitable medication to help you lower your cholesterol it if it’s too high.
 
The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has determined that a total cholesterol number above 240 is considered high.
If you know your numbers, follow the Cholesterol guidelines section to see where your cholesterol falls. If you don’t know your cholesterol levels but feel that you may be at risk for high cholesterol or heart disease, see your doctor for a cholesterol test.

Cholesterol guidelines
 
The National Cholesterol Education program (NCEP) has published these general cholesterol guidelines and considers a total cholesterol number above 200 to increase your risk of heart disease.

	If your total number is above 240, you have high cholesterol.2 A person with this level has twice the risk of heart disease compared with someone whose cholesterol is 200 mg/dL. About 1 in 5 American adults has a high blood cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or greater.3
	If your total cholesterol number is between 200 and 239, you have borderline high cholesterol.4 Any cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL or more increases your risk.5 More than half the adults in the United States have levels above 200 mg/dL. 6
	If your total cholesterol number is above 200 or “borderline” your doctor may want to measure the specific levels of your HDL and LDL cholesterol as well as your triglycerides. This test is called a “lipoprotein profile.”
	It’s desirable that your total cholesterol number be less than 200.7 According to the NCEP cholesterol guidelines, everyone over the age of 20 should have their cholesterol checked once every 5 years. Depending on your risk, your doctor may suggest that you get your cholesterol checked more often. That’s ok, getting checked is easy. Just a simple blood test will tell you your total cholesterol level and how it relates to your overall health.

There are certain habits or traits that increase a person’s risk for developing heart disease and stroke – these are known as risk factors.
Risk factors for heart disease you can control:
High blood cholesterol
Cigarette smoking
High blood pressure
Inactivity
Diabetes

Risk factors for heart disease you can’t control:
you are male, at least 45 years old
you are female, at least 55 years old
you have a family history of early heart disease (male parent or sibling under age 55, female parent or sibling under
  age 65)

Risk factors for stroke you can control:
High blood pressure
Diabetes
Heart disease
TIAs (transient ischemic attack) or mini stroke
Carotid artery disease
Smoking
Inactivity
Excessive alcohol intake
Illegal drug use

Risk factors for stroke you can't control:
Age
Heredity and race
Prior stroke
 
Sometimes it’s hard to admit that your bad habits, like smoking and weight, are affecting your health. However, if you know that you have any of these risk factors, you should go see your doctor and have your cholesterol checked.
Having high cholesterol is a risk factor for heart disease. Because 1 out of 5 people has high cholesterol, your risk might be greater than you think.¹

" According to the American Heart Association, cardiovascular diseas kills more Americans each year than any other cause."

There are several effective ways to treat high cholesterol – and some easy ways to start living a healthier life.
Try changing to a healthier diet and incorporating exercise into your life. If that’s not lowering your cholesterol enough, ask your doctor how medication can help lower your cholesterol.
Effective ways to treat high cholesterol.

Diet and exercise
A healthy diet and regular exercise should be part of everyone’s lifestyle. By incorporating more fruits and vegetables and fewer saturated fats in your diet, and by exercising just 30 minutes a day, most days of the week, you can help reduce your cholesterol levels.

Other risk factors for heart disease.
if you are overweight, lose weight
quit smoking
stay far away from second-hand smoke
check your blood pressure
recognize and treat diabetes
drink alcohol in moderation
 
If you recognize any of these risk factors in yourself, see a doctor and have your cholesterol checked. 
 

 
The pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the A blood pressure of 120/80 would be considered ‘normal.’ "Blood pressure readings are usually given as two numbers: 110 over 70 (written as 110/70). The first number is called the systolic blood pressure reading and represents the maximum pressure exerted when the heart contracts. The second number (the lower number) is called the diastolic blood pressure reading and it represents the pressure in the arteries when the heart is at rest." Quoted from MEDLINE plus Medical Encyclopedia at The National Institutes of Health Website (http://www.nlm.nih.gov)