Everything You Need to Know About Cholesterol

Do you know what your levels are?

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September Is National Cholesterol Education Month - This month commemorates National Cholesterol Education Month. Read more about what it is, how high levels of it affects African-Americans and what you can do to prevent unhealthy levels of cholesterol. —Kellee Terrell(Photo: Picturenet/GettyImages)

What Is Cholesterol? - Cholesterol is a waxy substance that comes from our foods, our bodies and our liver, says the American Heart Association. Our bodies make enough cholesterol, but if you eat foods high in cholesterol and trans fats, the liver makes more cholesterol. This can make us more vulnerable to heart disease and other chronic conditions. (Photo: Garo/Cobis)

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What Is Cholesterol? - Cholesterol is a waxy substance that comes from our foods, our bodies and our liver, says the American Heart Association. Our bodies make enough cholesterol, but if you eat foods high in cholesterol and trans fats, the liver makes more cholesterol. This can make us more vulnerable to heart disease and other chronic conditions. (Photo: Garo/Cobis)

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The Tea on “Bad” Cholesterol - “Bad” cholesterol, also known as LDL (low-density lipoprotein), is called that because this type of sticky cholesterol that clogs up your arteries if you have too much in your blood. The higher your LDL levels, the more unhealthy it is. Fried food and junk food can raise your LDL levels. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

Why Clogged Arties Are Bad - Clogged arteries, also called arterial plaque, can restrict the amount oxygen that flows into your heart by creating blockages. (Photo: Stocktrek Images/Corbis)

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Why Clogged Arties Are Bad - Clogged arteries, also called arterial plaque, can restrict the amount oxygen that flows into your heart by creating blockages. (Photo: Stocktrek Images/Corbis)

Understanding “Good” Cholesterol - “Good” cholesterol, also known as HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is called this because it helps remove the “bad” cholesterol from your blood. It finds the LDL and whisks it away. Having a good level of HDL can protect you against diabetes, heart disease and strokes. Salmon, tuna, veggies and nuts are foods with healthy fats that can boost your HDL.  (Photos from left: Tetra Images/GettyImages, Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

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Understanding “Good” Cholesterol - “Good” cholesterol, also known as HDL (high-density lipoprotein) is called this because it helps remove the “bad” cholesterol from your blood. It finds the LDL and whisks it away. Having a good level of HDL can protect you against diabetes, heart disease and strokes. Salmon, tuna, veggies and nuts are foods with healthy fats that can boost your HDL.  (Photos from left: Tetra Images/GettyImages, Tim Boyle/Getty Images)

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African-Americans and Cholesterol - Here’s what we know: Even though African-Americans have better overall cholesterol levels than whites, we are more likely to have heart disease and die from it. Our LDL levels are slightly higher and could play a factor in this disparity, but doctors are not really sure.  (Photo: Rick Gershon/Getty Images)

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Why Triglycerides Matter - Triglycerides are another type of fat connected to our cholesterol levels. These fats store extra energy from the foods that we eat. The more fat in our blood, the more at risk we are for heart disease. People with high triglycerides tend to have high levels of LDLs and low levels of HDLs.(Photo: Richard Drew, File/AP Photo)

Heart Disease Is a Man’s Disease - Did you know heart disease is actually the number one killer of women? And African-American women are two times as likely to suffer from a range of heart health problems and are more likely to die from it. Sometimes there are no symptoms: Sixty-four percent of women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease had no previous symptoms. 

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What Are the Symptoms? - Here’s the deal with cholesterol: There really aren’t that many symptoms until your heart disease is advanced. This is why testing and catching it early is so important.(Photo: Chris Hondros/Getty Images)

Do You Know What Your Levels Are? - The only way to know what your cholesterol and triglycerides levels is to get a blood test. During your next annual physical or next doctor’s appointment, talk to your doc about your risk factors and getting a test so you can know your numbers. You are never too young to know.  (Photo: Rick Gershon/Getty Images)

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Do You Know What Your Levels Are? - The only way to know what your cholesterol and triglycerides levels is to get a blood test. During your next annual physical or next doctor’s appointment, talk to your doc about your risk factors and getting a test so you can know your numbers. You are never too young to know.  (Photo: Rick Gershon/Getty Images)

Reducing Your Risk - The good news is that heart disease doesn’t have to be our destiny. Eating low fat and low calorie foods along with lean meats and more fresh veggies in addition to working out five days a week can slash your chances of developing heart disease. So can ditching the cigarettes and being easy on the salt. (Photo: GettyImages)  

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Preventing High LDL and Triglyceride Levels - While genetics and family history play a role, there are things that you can do to have better control over your cholesterol. Exercise, eating more of a plant-based diet and lean meats, quitting smoking, reading food labels to make better decisions, losing weight and drinking alcohol in moderation. (Photo: Cristina Cassinelli/FoodPix/Getty Images)