Skip to main content
    • English
    • Español
American Heart Association Go Red for Women
American Heart Association Go Red For Women
  • Heart Attack and Stroke Symptoms in Women
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • Donate
  • Donate
  • Search
    Clear
    SearchLoading
  • or
    • Heart Disease in Women
    • Facts
    • Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
    • Living with Cardiovascular Disease
    • Latest Research
    • Class of Survivors
    • Signs and Symptoms
    • Women and CPR
    • Know Your Risk
    • Risk Factors
    • Know Your Numbers
    • Pregnancy and Maternal Health
    • Menopause
    • High Blood Pressure and Women
    • Mind-Heart-Body
    • Healthy Living
    • Go Red Get Fit
    • Healthy Eating
    • Recipes
    • Healthy Lifestyle
    • Fitness
    • Pets and Your Health / Healthy Bond for Life
    • Pregnancy and Maternal Health
    • Mom Life
    • Menopause
    • Get Involved
    • Take Action
    • Give
    • Local Opportunities
    • Research Goes Red
    • About Go Red for Women
    • Join the Go Red for Women Movement
    • International
    • Milestones
    • Sponsors, Supporters and Alliances
    • Resources for Women and Kids
    • Contact Us
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • X formerly known as Twitter
    • Tik Tok
    • YouTube
    • LinkedIn
    • Pinterest
    • Heart Disease in Women
      • Signs and Symptoms
      • Facts
      • Latest Research
      • Class of Survivors
      • Preventing Cardiovascular Disease
      • Living with Cardiovascular Disease
      • Women and CPR
    • Know Your Risk
      • Risk Factors
      • Know Your Numbers
      • Pregnancy and Maternal Health
      • Menopause
      • Mind-Heart-Body
    • High Blood Pressure and Women
    • Healthy Living
    • Go Red Get Fit
    • Healthy Eating
      • Add Color
      • Cooking Skills
      • Eat Smart
      • Heart-Check Foods
      • Losing Weight
      • Recipes
    • Healthy Lifestyle
      • Mental Health and Well-being
      • Sleep
      • Stress Management
      • Quit Smoking/Tobacco
    • Fitness
      • Fitness Basics
      • Getting Active
      • Staying Motivated
      • Walking
    • Pets and Your Health / Healthy Bond for Life
    • Company Collaboration
      • Food System Strategy
      • Heart-Check Certification
    • Pregnancy and Maternal Health
    • Mom Life
    • Menopause
    • Get Involved
    • Give
      • Wear Red and Give
      • Circle of Red
    • Local Opportunities
      • Go Red for Women Luncheons
      • STEM Goes Red
      • Woman / Teen of Impact
    • Take Action
      • Advocate
      • Volunteer
      • CPR Training
    • Research Goes Red
      • Participate in Research
      • For Researchers
    • About Go Red for Women
    • Join the Go Red for Women Movement
    • Red Dress Collection
    • International
    • Milestones
    • Sponsors, Supporters and Alliances
    • Resources for Women and Kids
    • Contact Us
  • or
  • Warning Signs
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
    • English
    • Español
  1. Home
  2. Cholesterol
  3. How To Get Your Cholesterol Tested
  4. Understand Risk

Thoughtful Talks With My Health Care Professional: Understanding My Cholesterol Risk

If you have high LDL (bad) cholesterol, it’s important to follow a heart-healthy lifestyle to lower it and keep it at a healthy level. High LDL-C at any point in your lifetime can have a cumulative effect in increasing your risk for heart disease and stroke.

Work together with your health care professional to choose the best treatment plan for you.

Understanding cholesterol risk downloadable 

See questions to help you start the conversation (PDF) with your health care professional. 

Why Should I Know My LDL Cholesterol? (PDF) | Spanish (PDF)


Last Reviewed: Feb 19, 2024

X formerly known as Twitter Facebook LinkedIn Email Print

Cholesterol

Cholesterol
  • About Cholesterol
    • Atherosclerosis and ASCVD
    • What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean
    • Common Misconceptions
  • HDL, LDL Cholesterol and Triglycerides
    • Lower Your LDL
  • Genetic Conditions
    • Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH)
    • Homozygous FH
    • Lipoprotein (a)
  • Causes of High Cholesterol
  • How To Get Your Cholesterol Tested
    • Understand Risk
  • Prevention and Treatment of High Cholesterol
    • Cholesterol Medication Questions
    • Cholesterol Medications
    • The Skinny on Fats
    • Cooking to Lower Cholesterol
  • Cholesterol Tools and Resources
    • Heart & Stroke Helper App

Related Articles

Cholesterol medications downloadable

Thoughtful Talks With My Health Care Professional: Cholesterol Medications

doctor reviewing chart with patient

What Your Cholesterol Levels Mean

CVS Health is a proud national sponsor of the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement.
Goredforwomen.org/es is made possible through the generous support of the Adriana Gallardo Legacy Fund for Women's Health.

*All health/medical information on this website has been reviewed and approved by the American Heart Association, based on scientific research and American Heart Association guidelines. Find more information on our content editorial process.

American Heart Association

National Center
7272 Greenville Ave.
Dallas, TX 75231

Customer Service
1-800-AHA-USA-1
1-800-242-8721

Contact Us

Hours
Monday - Friday: 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. CT 
Saturday: 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. CT
Closed on Sundays

Tax Identification Number
13-5613797

About Us

  • About the AHA/ASA
  • Annual Report
  • AHA Financial Information
  • Careers
  • International Programs
  • Latest Heart and Stroke News
  • AHA/ASA Media Newsroom

Get Involved

  • Donate Now
  • Make a Memorial Gift
  • Advocate
  • Ways to Give
  • Volunteer
  • ShopHeart
  • ShopCPR

Our Sites

  • American Heart Association
  • American Stroke Association
  • CPR & ECC
  • Professional Heart Daily
  • More Sites
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Threads
  • X formerly known as Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Tik Tok
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • National Health Council Standards of Excellence Certification Program page for Standards of Excellence
  • Better Business Bureau page for American Heart Association
  • Charity Navigator Home
  • Secured by Sectigo page for SSL certificates

Speed Bump

American Heart Association

This link is provided for convenience only and is not an endorsement of either the linked-to entity or any product or service.

Proceed
  • AHA Careers
  • Privacy Policy
  • Medical Advice Disclaimer
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Copyright Policy
  • Ethics Policy
  • Conflict of Interest Policy
  • Linking Policy
  • Whistleblower Policy
  • Content Editorial Guidelines
  • Suppliers & Providers
  • State Fundraising Notices


©2025 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved. Unauthorized use prohibited.
The American Heart Association is a qualified 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.
*Red Dress ™ DHHS, Go Red ™ AHA ; National Wear Red Day® is a registered trademark.