About.com Health: Getting the Cholesterol Monkey Off Your Back

If you can't see this email, click here

Health From Kristin Kane, your About Health Editor "You have high cholesterol." If a doctor's visit was ever so exciting that it could have a mood-buster, this might be close to numero uno. Though you may feel just fine (most often, there are no symptoms), your blood test results may prompt marching orders to get your cholesterol under control. Reason to take it seriously? Let's just say it's way more than "I told you so." This Is Not a Drill It's human nature to treat problems we can see evidence of with more importance. When it comes to high cholesterol, however, waiting a while to treat the issue is waiting too long. Understanding Your Cholesterol Test Results Just Diagnosed: What to Do Now Giving Cholesterol a 1-2 Punch Heart docs would certainly be a lot less busy if prescribing a pill was all it took to help patients with this problem. Taming the cholesterol beast may indeed involve medication, but it in large part involves you making and sustaining healthy lifestyle changes. Here's a guide to get you started. Your Favorite Foods...Reinvented Diet is a cornerstone of this -- and that, for many, sounds like deprivation. The keys to meals that will help you achieve your goal are that they are low in fat and, of course, low in cholesterol. With these suggestions from our resident dietitian, we promise that doesn't have to also mean low in tastiness. (Mac and cheese is on the list -- 'nuf said.) More Cholesterol-Lowering Diet Basics Are You Getting Enough Fiber? The TLC Diet Identifying Good Fats and Bad Fats Quick, Easy Low-fat Recipes Protect Your Heart High cholesterol increases your heart disease risk in a big way. Now that we've got your pledge to knock your numbers down a few notches (thank you very much), make sure you're also working to keep other factors that pose a threat to your pumper in check, too. Helpful Tools Quit Smoking Exercise for Beginners Lose Weight: Commit Today Health Ads Lower Cholesterol Skin Health Health Juice Health Weight Loss Cherries Health Featured Articles Follow About.com Health on Twitter! Car Trip? Avoid Motion Sickness (Video) 4 Things You Don't Know About Weight Loss Can a Hair Loss Medication Prevent Prostate Cancer? Facing Alcohol Withdrawal Excessive Sweating in Teens   More from About.com Plan a Unique Vegas Wedding The minister, music and champagne are just the beginning -- why not get married aboard a helicopter or have a pirate swing in to deliver your rings? Arrrr! More> Join About.com's User Panel! Share your opinions and help us make About.com more relevant, informative and enjoyable to use. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About Health newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Reader to Reader Mosquito Allergy Dramas Your Tips for Coping With Postpartum Depression Tributes to Those Lost to AIDS Advertisement