If you have high cholesterol, you have a greater chance of developing heart disease, or having a heart attack or stroke. Hear from people living with high cholesterol as they share their experiences and offer tips about what worked for them.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance
that travels through the blood.
Your body makes the cholesterol it needs. But you also get it from the food you eat (for example, full-fat dairy products, fried foods and fatty meat).
Too much cholesterol can be dangerous. That’s because, over time, cholesterol and fat can build up as plaque in the inner walls of the arteries that supply blood to the heart and other parts of the body. This can cause a narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), which is a major cause of heart and blood vessel disease.
If you have high cholesterol, you’re certainly not alone - about 2 in 5 adults in the U.S. have high cholesterol. The good news is that high cholesterol is often preventable and treatable. Adopting a healthy diet, getting regular exercise and, in some cases, taking medication can go a long way to help lower your cholesterol and protect your heart.
Patient Voices: Managing High Cholesterol
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- Last Edited 08/25/2023
