Also called: Also called: HDL, Hypercholesterolemia, Hyperlipidemia, Hyperlipoproteinemia, LDL
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that occurs naturally in all parts of the body. Your body needs some cholesterol to work properly. But if you have too much in your blood, it can stick to the walls of your arteries. This is called plaque. Plaque can narrow your arteries or even block them.
High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart disease. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test. You are likely to have high cholesterol if members of your family have it, if you are overweight or if you eat a lot of fatty foods.
You can lower your cholesterol by exercising more and eating more fruits and vegetables. You also may need to take medicine to lower your cholesterol.
National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute
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Cholesterol: What Your Level Means(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/risk/029.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/heartdisease/risk/029.printerview.html
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High Blood Cholesterol
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbc/HBC_WhatIs.html
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Managing Cholesterol
(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/managingcholesterol/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/managingcholesterolspanish/htm/index.htm
- Cholesterol(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1516
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Cholesterol(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/womens/getthefacts/cholesterol.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.fda.gov/womens/getthefacts/Spanish/cholesterol-Spanish.html
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Cholesterol Counts for Everyone(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/
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High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.htm
- Statin Use Suboptimal Among Elderly Heart Patients(09/16/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_69324.html
- Lipitor Aids Diabetics with Kidney Disease(09/04/2008, Reuters Health) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68900.html
- No Definitive Link Seen between Vytorin and Cancer(09/02/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68818.html
- More News on Cholesterol http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/alphanews_c.html#cholesterol
- What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=183
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Cholesterol-Lowering Medicines(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/seniors/seniors-meds/801.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/seniors/seniors-meds/801.printerview.html
- Controlling Cholesterol with Statins(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/statins051608.html
- How Do I Raise My HDL Cholesterol?(Family Physicians Inquiries Network) - Links to PDF - http://resources.fpin.org/EBP/PatientHandouts/0307_hdl%20cholesterol.pdf
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How to Stay on Your Cholesterol-Lowering Medication(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://nhlbisupport.com/chd1/tipsheets/howtostay.htm
- Making Sense of Vytorin Concerns(Food and Drug Administration) - http://www.fda.gov/consumer/updates/vytorin071808.html
- Statins: Summary of Affordable Alternatives(Consumers Union of U.S.) - http://www.consumerreports.org/health/best-buy-drugs/statins.htm
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Your Guide to Lowering Cholesterol with TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes)(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - Large PDF file - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.pdf
- Cholesterol Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/cholesterol/test.html
- HDL Cholesterol Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/hdl/test.html
- High Blood Cholesterol Prevention(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/prevention.htm
- Home-Use Tests - Cholesterol(Center for Devices and Radiological Health) - http://www.fda.gov/cdrh/oivd/homeuse-cholesterol.html
- LDL Cholesterol Test(American Association for Clinical Chemistry) - http://www.labtestsonline.org/understanding/analytes/ldl/test.html
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Flaxseed and Flaxseed Oil(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/flaxseed/index.htm
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Garlic(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/garlic/index.htm
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Grape Seed Extract(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/grapeseed/
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Green Tea(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/greentea/index.htm
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Red Clover(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/redclover/
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Soy(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/health/soy/
- Cholesterol: The Top 5 Foods to Lower Your Numbers(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/cholesterol/CL00002/METHOD=print
- Cooking for Lower Cholesterol(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=515
- Fats & Cholesterol(Harvard School of Public Health) - http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/what-should-you-eat/fats-and-cholesterol/index.html
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How Can I Lower High Cholesterol?
(American Heart Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.americanheart.org/downloadable/heart/110288182952015%20LwrHighChol.pdf
- Plant Sterol Story: Using Food Choices to Help Manage Cholesterol(American Dietetic Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.eatright.org/ada/files/The_Plant_Sterol_Story.pdf
- Tips for Eating Out(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=531
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Trans Fat Now Listed with Saturated Fat and Cholesterol on the Nutrition Facts Label(Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition) - http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/transfat.html
Also available in Spanish http://www.cfsan.fda.gov/~dms/stransfa.html
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How You Can Lower Your Cholesterol Level: Virtual Fitness Room(National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/Tipsheets/vfitness.htm
- Lifestyle Changes to Improve Your Cholesterol(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=523
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Talk to Your Doctor--Be Part of Your Health Care Team(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/Tipsheets/nextsteps.htm
- Cholesterol Disorders(Merck & Co., Inc.) - http://www.merck.com/mmhe/sec12/ch157/ch157a.html
- Hyperlipidemia(Society for Vascular Surgery) - http://www.vascularweb.org/patients/NorthPoint/Hyperlipidemia.html
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Cholesterol, Triglycerides, and Diabetes(American Diabetes Association) - Links to PDF - http://www.diabetes.org/main/uedocuments/ADACholesterolPatient.pdf
Also available in Spanish http://www.diabetes.org/uedocuments/CholSpan.pdf
- Common Misconceptions about Cholesterol(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3006030
- Statin Drugs: Can They Cause Memory Loss?(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/statin-drugs/AN01116/METHOD=print
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What Is Cholesterol and What Does It Have To Do with Heart Disease?(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/why.htm
- Xanthelasma Palpebrum(Logical Images) - http://www.visualdxhealth.com/adult/xanthelasmaPalpebrum.htm
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Risk Assessment Tool for Estimating Your 10-Year Risk of Having a Heart Attack(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/atpiii/calculator.asp
- Test Your Cholesterol IQ(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3032767
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High Blood Cholesterol
(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/highbloodcholesterol/toc.html
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Managing Cholesterol(Patient Education Institute) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/tutorials/managingcholesterol/htm/index.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/spanish/tutorials/managingcholesterolspanish/htm/index.htm
- Bad Fats Brothers(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3055398
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Better Fat Sisters(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3055399
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Hypercholesterolemia(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hypercholesterolemia%22
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Hyperlipidemias(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Hyperlipidemias%22
- Genetics Home Reference: Hypercholesterolemia(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=hypercholesterolemia
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Genetics Home Reference: Tangier disease(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=tangierdisease
- AHA Advisory on SEAS Trial of Cholesterol-Lowering Drug(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=474
- AHA Comment on SEAS Trial of Cholesterol-Lowering Drug(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=508
- Eating Beans Helps Lower Cholesterol(Agricultural Research Service) - http://www.ars.usda.gov/is/pr/2007/071128.htm
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Garlic Does Not Appear to Lower "Bad" Cholesterol(National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine) - http://nccam.nih.gov/research/results/spotlight/022607.htm
- Gene Variation May Be Why Some Don't Respond to Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=438
- Low Levels of Good Cholesterol Linked to Memory Loss, Dementia Risk(American Heart Association) - http://americanheart.mediaroom.com/index.php?s=43&item=451
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: Commentary: Controversies in NICE guidance on familial hypercholesterolaemia. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18753175&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Familial hypercholesterolaemia: summary of NICE guidance. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18753174&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Independent associations between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and cancer among patients... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18725615&tool=MedlinePlus
- Cholesterol -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=(hypercholesterolemia[majr]+NOT+hypercholesterolemia/th[majr])+OR+(cholesterol/bl[majr]+AND+(etiology[sh]+OR+diagnostic+tests,routine[mh]))+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+jsubsetk[text]+OR+jsubsetaim[text]+OR+jsubsetn[text])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Treating high cholesterol -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=hypercholesterolemia/th[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- American Heart Association - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=1200000
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National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
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Cholesterol Facts and Statistics(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/cholesterol/facts.htm
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/DHDSP/library/fs_cholesterol_spanish.htm
- Cholesterol Statistics(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=536
- Cholesterol and Your Child(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/parent/medical/heart/cholesterol.html
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Nutrition: Tips for Kids(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/common/heartdisease/kids/495.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/common/heartdisease/kids/495.printerview.html
- What's Cholesterol?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/talk/qa/cholesterol.html
- Importance of Dietary Fat and Cholesterol: A Guide for Teens(Children's Hospital Boston) - http://www.youngwomenshealth.org/cholesterol.html
- What Is Cholesterol?(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/teen/question/dieting/cholesterol.html
- Women and Cholesterol(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=185
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High Blood Cholesterol(National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute) - http://nihseniorhealth.gov/highbloodcholesterol/toc.html
- Medicare Coverage for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention Screening(American Heart Association) - http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3028172
- Dietary Fats - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/dietaryfats.html
- Heart Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/heartdiseases.html
- Nutrition - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/nutrition.html
- Triglycerides - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/triglycerides.html
- Blood, Heart and Circulation - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/bloodheartandcirculation.html
- Food and Nutrition - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/foodandnutrition.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Cholesterol is the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute - http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
Cholesterol - Multiple Languages - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/languages/cholesterol.html