Cholesterol | cdc.gov

Almost 2 in 5 adults in the United States have high cholesterol (total blood cholesterol ≥ 200 mg/dL).¹ Too much cholesterol puts you at risk for heart disease and stroke, two leading causes of death in the United States.

High cholesterol has no signs or symptoms, so the only way to know whether you have it is to get your cholesterol checked. Talk to your health care team about how you can manage your cholesterol levels and lower your risk.

Learn About Cholesterol

Read about “good” and “bad” cholesterol and triglycerides.

Know Your Risk for High Cholesterol

Find out what increases your risk for high cholesterol.

Prevent and Manage High Cholesterol

Learn what you can do to lower your risk for high cholesterol.

Resources for Health Professionals

Find tools and resources to help your patients.

Featured Resources

Cholesterol Communications Kit

Health professionals can share these social media messages, graphics, and resources to educate their audiences about cholesterol and cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention.

Best Practices Guide for Cardiovascular Disease Prevention

CDC developed this guide to provide health professionals with evidence-based strategies for effective and sustainable CVD prevention, including health and economic impact and potential for reducing health disparities.

Cholesterol: Fact or Fiction?

Share this quiz to test your audiences’ cholesterol smarts and encourage them to learn more about cholesterol management.

“Live to the Beat” Campaign

This Million Hearts^® and CDC Foundation campaign focuses on empowering Black adults to pursue heart-healthy lifestyles on their own terms—to find what works best individually and consistently—as they live to their own beat.

Reference

Tsao CW, Aday AW, Almarzooq ZI, Beaton AZ, Bittencourt MS, Boehme AK, et al. Heart disease and stroke statistics—2022 update: a report from the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2022;145(8):e153–e639.