• Quit Smoking
• Get Sensible Exercise
• Get Tested for Diabetes
• Control High Blood Pressure
• Form a Partnership for Health
• Keep Alcohol Use Moderate
• Strive for Balance
• Maintain a Health Body Weight

• What is Blood Pressure? What Happens When It's High?
• How is Blood Pressure Checked and What Do the Numbers Mean?
• What Causes High Blood Pressure?
• Preventing High Blood Pressure
• If You Have High Blood Pressure

• Activities and Calories Used in Exercise
• Sample Walking Program
• Test Your Physical Activity and Heart Disease IQ
• Successful Exercise at a Glance

• Low-fat Cooking
• Eating Right in Every Location
• Diet tips at a Glance
• Calculate Your Body Mass Index
• Using the Food Label
• What is Cholesterol and Why Does it Matter?
• What Your Cholesterol Numbers Mean
• What Affects Blood Cholesterol Levels
• What Can You Do to Lower Your Blood Cholesterol
• Eating Right and Staying Active
• A Daily Food Guide
• Shopping the Heart-Healthy Way

Cholesterol is present in the blood in two forms -- as a high-density lipoprotein, called HDL cholesterol and as a low-density lipoprotein, called LDL cholesterol. The HDL cholesterol is referred to as a “good” cholesterol because it helps to rid the body of the LDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol is often referred to as the “bad” cholesterol, because it is the component that causes the cholesterol to build up in the walls of your arteries. 

In the past, a person having a “cholesterol” blood test would only learn one number -- the total blood cholesterol. But over the past decade or so, doctors have been testing the blood for LDL and HDL cholesterol values as well as for total blood cholesterol. This gives a much more accurate picture of risk for heart disease, and many people use these numbers to make heart-healthy changes in their lifestyle. 

The values below are divided into ranges of total cholesterol, so you can compare your own total cholesterol value. Then, the next time your doctor has your blood cholesterol measured, ask for a breakdown between the HDL and LDL cholesterol. Tip: you want a higher HDL cholesterol and a lower LDL cholesterol. These values are listed below as well. 

Total serum cholesterol values: 
<160 mg/dL   optimal for people with a history of heart disease 
<200 mg/dL   desirable for the general population 
Patients with cholesterol levels above 200 mg/dL are considered to have high blood cholesterol 

HDL and LDL serum cholesterol values: 
HDL < 35 mg/dL = increased risk; HDL > 35 mg/dL = good 
LDL > 130 mg/dL = increased risk; LDL < 130 mg/dL = good