HIGH BLOOD CHOLESTEROL CAN INCREASE A PERSON'S RISK FOR HEART DISEASE, BUT A FEW LIFESTYLE CHANGES CAN LOWER ONES CHOLESTEROL LEVEL AND IMPROVE HEALTH.

CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE IS THE NUMBER ONE KILLER OF AMERICANS AND ONE OF THE RISK FACTORS FOR HEART DISEASE IS HIGH CHOLESTEROL. CHOLESTEROL IS A SUBSTANCE THAT OCCURS NATURALLY IN THE BODY, AND WHEN IT IS TOO HIGH, IT CAN CAUSE A BUILDUP OF PLAQUE IN THE HEART VESSELS SAYS DOCTOR SUSAN HINGLE, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR OF INTERNAL MEDICINE AT THE S-I-U SCHOOL OF MEDICINE IN SPRINGFIELD. SHE SAYS SEVERAL THINGS CAN AFFECT CHOLESTEROL LEVELS.

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DOCTOR HINGLE SAYS CHOLETEROL IS MEASURED WITH A SPECIFIC BLOOD TEST WHICH IS DONE AFTER FASTING FOR 10 TO 12 HOURS. THE TEST RESULTS PROVIDE VARIOUS READINGS FOR CHOLESTEROL. SHE EXPLAINS THE IDEAL READINGS.

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DOCTOR HINGLE ADVISES ALL ADULTS TO SEE THEIR PERSONAL PHYSICIAN AND HAVE THEIR CHOLESTEROL CHECKED REGULARLY. IF CHOLESTEROL READINGS ARE NOT IN A HEALTHY RANGE, THE PHYSICIAN MAY RECOMMEND LIFESTYLE CHANGES AS WELL AS MEDICATION TO LOWER CHOLESTEROL.