High Cholesterol Comes From Food AND Your Family (NAPSA)—What comes not only fried, baked, scalloped and sauted but also from Grandpa John, Mom, and AuntEthel? High cholesterol. Did you know that cholesterol comes from two primary sources? It is absorbed from the food you eat andit is naturally produced in your body, influenced by your family history. According to the American Heart Association, over 105 million Ameri- cholesterol that can be influenced by family history. Every adult should knowhis or her cholesterol levels and what their goal cholesterol levels should be. Cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease, the number- one killer for both men and women in the United States. Over time, deposits of excess LDL (or bad) cholesterol can form plaque on the inner walls of the When it comesto high arteries that supcholesterol, diet and ply blood to the eart. These deexercise may not be posits cause the enough to lowerit to arteries to narrow and restrict blood recommendedlevels. @ flow, which can cans have high cholesterol and, astonishingly, 60 percent of patients being treated for high cholesterol continue to have LDL (bad) cholesterol levels above recommended levels. Eating a well-balanced diet and exercising regularly are the first steps in a healthy lifestyle to help keep your cholesterol in check. Staying away from some foods—such as Mom’s deviled eggs or Uncle Al’s famous cheeseburgers at the family cookout—can also help, but for many people, changes in diet and exercise are often not enough to lower cholesterol to recommended levels. Simply stated, their bodies just naturally produce too much of the result in a heart attack. While it is a serious condition, it is also treatable. If you have high cholesterol, talk to your doctor about the two sources of cholesterol and, if appropriate, make sure to share important information such as your family’s history of high cholesterol. This information is valu- able as you two work together to develop a cholesterol-lowering plan that is best for you. For more information on the two sources of cholesterol, visit www.2sourcesofcholesterol.com.
