September is National Cholesterol Month

Did you know September is National Cholesterol Month? Did you know that over 65 million Americans have high cholesterol levels? High blood cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease, the number one cause of death in America. To help people lower their risk of heart disease, the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) has designated September as National Cholesterol Education Month. The goals for 2007 are:

• Know Your Cholesterol Numbers
• Know Your Risk
• Adapt healthier behaviors

Healthier behaviors include eating foods low in saturated fat and cholesterol, becoming physically active and controlling weight. The NCEP uses a variety of materials and channels to educate people about the benefits of lowering cholesterol levels. The NCEP's interactive Web site www.nhlbi.nih.gov/chd provides cholesterol-lowering information that's user-friendly. The NCEP uses a variety of materials and channels to educate people about the benefits of lowering cholesterol levels. Another very useful web site is www.americanheart.org.

Take charge of your life. Know your numbers, your risks and go eat your vegetables!