Prevention

Cholesterol levels tend to go up as you age, but they can often be controlled by:

• Following a diet rich in fruits and vegetables along with eating low-fat dairy products and whole grains. Avoid overly processed foods.
• Exercising (or brisk activity) at least 30 minutes a day most days of the week.
• Maintaining a healthy weight. Lose weight if you are overweight.
• Not smoking.
• Getting your cholesterol checked routinely.

High cholesterol runs in some families. If you have inherited a tendency to get high cholesterol, you may need to also take medication to control your levels.

More on Cholesterol

In the Encyclopedia:

This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.