National Cholesterol Education Month seeks to educate population about risks

• "Know Your Cholesterol Numbers, Know Your Risk" is the 2005 theme of National Cholesterol Education Month.
• This theme emphasizes two of the main thrusts of the cholesterol guidelines: the importance of having your cholesterol measured and knowing your risk of developing heart disease.
• September, National Cholesterol Education Month, is a good time to learn more about cholesterol and how it affects you and your health.
• Cholesterol is a waxy substance that can collect in your blood vessels.
• Too much cholesterol in your blood increases your risk of heart disease.
• In fact, high blood cholesterol is one of the main risk factors for heart disease, the number one killer in the U.S. today.
• A variety of things can affect cholesterol levels.
• These are things you can do something about: diet, weight, and physical activity.
• Diet - Saturated fat and cholesterol in the foods you eat make your blood cholesterol level go up.
• Significant amounts are found in animal foods: red meat, poultry, shell fish and dairy products.
• Coconut oil, palm, palm kernel and hydrogenated vegetable oils are also high in saturated fat.
• A cholesterol-lowering diet will help you reach and keep a weight that is right for you.
• Losing weight can help lower your LDL or bad cholesterol and total cholesterol levels, as well as raise your HDL or good cholesterol and lower your triglyceride levels.
• Physical activity - Not being physically active is a risk factor for heart disease.
• Regular physical activity can help lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol levels.
• Things you cannot do anything about also can affect cholesterol levels.
• Before the age of menopause, women have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age.
• After the age of menopause, women's LDL levels tend to rise.