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The Heart Truth
A National Awareness Campaign for Women About Heart Disease
Risk Factor Spotlight: High Cholesterol
The Heart Truth® campaign urges women to talk with their doctor to find out if they have risk factors for heart disease. Risk factors, such as high blood cholesterol, are conditions or habits that make a person more likely to develop a disease. When there is too much cholesterol—a fat-like substance—in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries and increases your risk of developing heart disease.
Nearly 1 in every 2 American women has high or borderline high cholesterol. The condition usually has no signs or symptoms, so many people don't know that their cholesterol levels are too high.
When there is too much cholesterol—a fat-like substance—in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries and increases your risk of developing heart disease. Know your total cholesterol, your LDL (bad) cholesterol, and your HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglycerides. Make an appointment to get tested.
High cholesterol by age
20s: 22%
30s: 38%
40s: 50%
50s: 62%
Nearly 1 in every 2 American women has high or borderline high cholesterol.
Total cholesterol numbers:
High: 240 mg/dL and above
Borderline high: 200-239 md/dL
Desirable: Less than 200 mg/dL
(See more risk factor infographics from The Heart Truth.)
Knowing your cholesterol numbers is important, even when you're feeling fine. If your cholesterol levels are normal, you can work with your doctor to keep it that way. If your levels are too high, your doctor will advise you about treatment with lifestyle changes and medicines. Check out these resources for more information:
- What You Need to Know About High Blood Cholesterol
Learn what cholesterol numbers mean, understand the link between cholesterol buildup and heart disease, and read about treatments for high blood cholesterol.
- Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol With Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes
This is designed to help you make the lifestyle changes that will lower blood cholesterol and reduce your risk for heart disease. It explains how to follow the TLC diet (low in saturated fat, trans fat, and dietary cholesterol) and includes sample menus.
- Do You Know Your Cholesterol Levels? / Cómo están sus nivels de cholesterol?
Develop a plan for your family to lower cholesterol with this booklet in English and Spanish.
- The Heart Truth Wallet Card
Track your numbers with this wallet card to record your personal results from blood cholesterol, blood pressure, and blood glucose screenings. Take the information with you the next time you go to the doctor.
- Health Topics: High Blood Cholesterol
Health Topics provides science-based, plain-language information about cholesterol for patients, caregivers, and the public, including how it's diagnosed, treatment and prevention information, and how to join a clinical trial.
Are you at risk? Here's how to find out.
Download the Spanish-language speaker's kit and video.
Spread The Heart Truth in your community with free posters, brochures, DVDs, and more.
Our speaker's kit and video features several inspiring stories from real women.
Planning to use The Heart Truth logo? Check out our logo guidelines and downloads.
The Heart Truth, in collaboration with Ladies' Home Journal, travels to cities across the United States.
Last Updated: September 6, 2012