Prepare for National Cholesterol Education Month

When it comes to cholesterol, it’s good to know your numbers. High blood cholesterol increases your risk for heart disease and heart attack, and lowering it decreases that risk.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a great time to learn about high blood cholesterol, especially if you are among the 65 million Americans who have this condition. It is also a good time to sponsor cholesterol screening and education events.

The NHLBI offers many resources to help you prepare for National Cholesterol Education Month. They are featured on the National Cholesterol Education Month Web page at http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/cholmonth/.

Get your worksite, health or community center, HMO, social organization, or faith-based group involved. In addition to organizing screenings, offer cholesterol education sessions and distribute printed take-home materials. Ideas for fun activities include heart healthy cooking demonstrations, taste tests, and cafeteria menus; pot luck dinners with dishes low in saturated fat and cholesterol; and bulletin board displays or e-mail newsletters with tips for lifestyle changes that foster lower cholesterol levels.

September is right around the corner. Visit the National Cholesterol Education Month Web site at http://hp2010.nhlbihin.net/cholmonth/ or get a jump start with the materials below today!

Take Steps to Lower Cholesterol with a Little TLC

Did you know that with a combination of a heart healthy diet, physical activity, and weight management, you may be able to lower your high blood cholesterol by 20 to 30 percent? The NHLBI’s easy-to-read 80-page booklet Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol with TLC (Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes) details a three-part program and includes practical tips and tools to help you reach your blood cholesterol goal.

View the booklet online at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/chol_tlc.pdf.
See page 16 to learn how TLC steps add up to keep cholesterol down.
See page 19 to start learning about the TLC eating plan.

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Spread the Word to Your Community

Need an easy-to-share, clearly written brochure to help others understand what their cholesterol numbers mean and how best to lower their cholesterol? Try the laminated guide, High Blood Cholesterol: What You Need to Know.

View the brochure online at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.pdf.
See pages 3 and 6 for tools that estimate your risk for having a heart attack.
See page 4 for goal cholesterol levels for each risk category.

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