High Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in all parts of the body. It comes from two sources: your body and the food you eat. Your liver makes all the cholesterol your body needs. Eating too much cholesterol in animal foods like meats, whole milk dairy products, and egg yolks can make your cholesterol go up. Cholesterol blocks blood from flowing easily through your body. The higher your cholesterol, the greater your risk for heart disease. Over 25% of American women have blood cholesterol levels high enough to put them at risk for heart disease. Among Mexican American women ages 20-74, almost half have borderline-high risk total cholesterol levels. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or "bad" cholesterol levels of 130 mg/dL or higher are related to a higher risk of coronary heart disease. And 41.6% of Mexican American women have an LDL cholesterol level in that range. Control your cholesterol by exercising, eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol, and keeping a healthy weight. Ask your health care provider about how often you should get your cholesterol checked.