If you missed the other parts of this series, check them out now. One of the risk factors for atherosclerosis is a high blood level of cholesterol, a form of fat that becomes deposited on the artery wall forming a plaque.
Cholesterol is a rather complex subject.
There are different kinds of this substance, classified based on density. A higher level of HDL cholesterol, therefore, protects you from atherosclerosis. With the increasing awareness of the role that serum cholesterol levels play in causing heart disease , a routine enquiry into dietary habits has become a part of most medical physical examinations. The AHA recommends that total and HDL cholesterol levels be measured in all adults over 20 years of age positive and negative risk factors for heart disease be evaluated at least every five years. Reaching the goal The American Heart Association has also recommended a program to achieve these end points slowly and steadily.