High cholesterol is one of the risk factors for heart disease that you can do something about. If you're concerned about high cholesterol, the following article will teach you the basics of what it is and how to treat it. Then you can have a more productive discussion with your doctor or other medical professional about how to lower your cholesterol.

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About cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that's produced by the liver. It's also found in the foods we eat that come from animals, like meats, egg yolks, shellfish, and whole-milk dairy products.

Our bodies need cholesterol to function. But when we have too much cholesterol, the excess can get deposited in our arteries as plaque, increasing our risk for heart disease.

People with high cholesterol usually don't have any symptoms. That's why it's important for adults to make sure they get a cholesterol screening at least every 5 years, starting around age 20.

Your cholesterol test

A blood test, called a "lipid profile," is usually done after a fast of 9 to 12 hours, so it's best to have it first thing in the morning. A lipid profile will measure:

• Low-density lipoproteins (LDL). This so-called "bad" cholesterol can clog your arteries and put you at risk for heart disease
• High-density lipoproteins (HDL). This "good" cholesterol can actually help remove cholesterol from your blood, lowering your risk for heart disease
• Triglycerides. High amounts of this fat, which is contained in molecules called very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), can also increase your risk for heart disease
• Total cholesterol. The sum of the three types of cholesterol (LDL, HDL, and VLDL)

After you have your blood test, your doctor will discuss the results with you. The numbers the test gives you will help you and your doctor decide what steps, if any, you need to take to lower your cholesterol. Make sure to write down your cholesterol numbers before you leave the doctor's office.

What the numbers mean

The following guidelines were developed by a group of medical experts with the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). Always ask your doctor what your cholesterol numbers mean, based on your complete health history.

Total Cholesterol
Desirable	Less than 200 mg/dL
Borderline high	200-239 mg/dL
High	240 mg/dL or higher
LDL Cholesterol
Optimal	Less than 100 mg/dL
Near optimal/above optimal	100-129 mg/dL
Borderline high	130-159 mg/dL
High	160-189 mg/dL
Very high	190 mg/dL or higher
HDL Cholesterol
High	60 mg/dL or higher
Low	Less than 40 mg/dL
Triglycerides
Normal	Less than 150 mg/dL
Borderline high	150-199 mg/dL
High	200-499 mg/dL
Very high	500 mg/dL or higher

Source: National Cholesterol Education Program ATP III Guidelines, 2002


The latest report from the NCEP suggests that people with established heart disease plus other factors that put them in the very-high-risk category may benefit from lowering their LDL cholesterol even further, to less than 70 mg/dL.

Lowering your cholesterol

Lowering high cholesterol is important for adults, no matter what their age or health.

If you need to lower your cholesterol levels, your doctor may suggest that you change your diet, lose weight, and increase your level of physical activity. And if that's not enough - as is the case for many people with high cholesterol - your doctor may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering medication, such as a statin.

Diet. Changing the way you've eaten all your life may not be easy, but it is key to lowering your cholesterol. It doesn't mean giving up everything you love to eat. It does mean thinking a bit more about the choices you make about what you eat, and including more foods that are low in saturated fat and cholesterol.

Exercise. In addition to eating the right foods, exercising regularly is an important way to help lower your cholesterol. Exercising 30 minutes most days of the week is recommended for most people. Before beginning any exercise program, ask your doctor about what's right for you.

Weight loss. Losing excess weight can help lower LDL (bad) cholesterol. This is especially important for people who have many risk factors for heart disease, such as high triglyceride levels and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

*Ask Your Doctor How Serracor-NK Can Help You (Nattokinase is the main ingredienient in Serracor-NK) Lower Blood Pressure and Cholesterol.

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