High Cholesterol

Minority Women's Health > African Americans > Health Topics > High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all parts of the body. It comes from two sources: your body and the food you eat. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. Eating too much cholesterol in animal foods like meats, whole milk dairy products, and egg yolks can make your cholesterol go up. Cholesterol blocks blood from flowing easily through your body. The higher your cholesterol, the more likely you are to get heart disease. High cholesterol is a health problem for all women.

Among African American women over 20, almost half have borderline-high risk total cholesterol levels. Close to one in five African American women in the U.S. has a high risk total cholesterol level. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol levels of 130 mg/dL or higher are linked to a higher risk of heart disease.

Have your cholesterol checked by a doctor. Ask her or him how often you should have your cholesterol checked.

There are some things you can do to help lower your cholesterol:

Don't smoke. If you smoke, try to quit. For help along the way, check out our Quitting Smoking section.
Keep a healthy weight.
Eat right. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Eat chicken, turkey, and lean meats. Avoid organ meats, egg yolks, whole milk dairy products, fats like butter or lard, and packaged or processed foods.
Get moving. Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day, most days of the week. Try taking the stairs instead of the elevator. Or, walk during breaks at work.

Publications

For Your Heart - This portion of the womenshealth.gov web site will escort you through a short, confidential survey of questions about your health and lifestyle. Based on your answers, it will provide you with a series of articles detailing the latest information on exercise, nutrition, smoking, diabetes, cholesterol, high blood pressure, and other factors that affect you and your risk for heart disease - all tailored to your needs.
http://www.womenshealth.gov/ForYourHeart/
Be Heart Smart! Eat Foods Lower in Saturated Fat and Cholesterol - This booklet offers specific information on lowering the fat in your diet and identifies steps to promote healthy lifestyles among African Americans.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/chdblack/smart.pdf
Heart-Healthy Home Cooking African American Style - Prepare your favorite African American dishes in ways that protect you and your family from heart disease and stroke. These 20 tested recipes will show you how to cut back on saturated fat, cholesterol, salt, and sodium and still have great-tasting food. Delicious foods from spicy southern barbecued chicken to sweet potato pie are included.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/other/chdblack/cooking.htm
High Blood Cholesterol - What You Need to Know - This publication for patients and the general public is based on new clinical guidelines for cholesterol testing and management. Find out what your cholesterol numbers mean and what treatment your doctor may prescribe to help lower your cholesterol level. It includes a tool to estimate the risk for having a heart attack, and outlines ways to reduce risk.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.htm
How You Can Lower Your Cholesterol Level: Virtual Fitness Room - This publication provides information to people who are at risk of heart disease about the types of light to moderate physical activity in which they can participate. Research indicates that there are great benefits to physical activity in helping to lower an individual's cholesterol level.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/Tipsheets/vfitness.htm
Live Healthier, Live Longer: Cholesterol Counts for Everyone - Visit this interactive page to find information about preventing heart disease and reducing the risk of having a heart attack for those with heart disease. It contains recipes, a "how to" guide for lowering cholesterol, and many engaging activities.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd/
The Heart Truth for African American Women: An Action Plan - This fact sheet provides The Heart Truth facts and figures specific to African American women. Statistics are provided on heart related issues, as well as a checklist of questions to ask your doctor to begin your action plan for a healthy heart.
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/hearttruth/material/factsheet_aa.pdf

Organizations

= Indicates Federal Resources

Current as of December 2007