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You Can Control Your Cholesterol
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Reduce Other Heart Risks
High cholesterol is only one of the many risk factors for heart disease. You have no control over factors such as your family's history of heart attacks or your age. But you can control other risks.
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Stop smoking. Smoking lowers your HDL (good) cholesterol and increases your risk of heart
attack, stroke, and cancer.
Control high blood pressure and diabetes through diet, weight loss, medication (if prescribed), and regular monitoring.
Reduce the stress in your life. Ask your company health services or your healthcare provider for information about managing stress.
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Get Regular Checkups
Visit your healthcare provider periodically to be sure that your cholesterol level–and your other risks for heart disease–are under control.
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Rechecking your cholesterol level. Whatever your cholesterol is now, you should have it
periodically rechecked. If all your cholesterol levels are desirable and you're not at risk for heart disease, have your cholesterol level checked every five years. Otherwise, your doctor may ask you to have more frequent cholesterol tests.
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Taking medication. If your cholesterol levels don't become desirable after making changes in your lifestyle and diet for at least six months, your doctor may ask you to take medication. If you have other heart risks or extremely high cholesterol levels, you may be put on medication sooner. Even if you take medication, continue with your guide for low-cholesterol living, which helps make the medication work better.
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