Aiming For Heart Health?

One simple checkup can help you hit a bull's-eye.

What comes to mind when you hear "high cholesterol"? Maybe it's a bacon cheeseburger. Or drug ads. Or a clogged artery. Whatever image pops up, it's probably more likely to conjure Angela Lansbury than Ali Larter. Yet nearly 1 in 10 young women already has unhealthy cholesterol levels, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, and because 40 percent of adults ages 20 to 44 haven't had a screening in the past five years, many have no idea they're at risk. The reality is that if you don't start getting a handle on your cholesterol now, you could be facing big trouble later. Need another reason to take it seriously? Here are four.

HEART DISEASE STARTS EARLY...REALLY EARLY

You may be only in your 20s or 30s, but it's possible cholesterol is already beginning to coat your arteries. In fact, studies have found waxy buildup in the blood vessels of children, says Holly Phillips, M.D., internist and chief medical correspondent for WCBS-TV in New York City. Eating too much saturated fat makes the liver churn out extra LDL ("bad") cholesterol, which clings to arteries. So given that some kids are showing early signs of heart disease, it's no surprise young women are also.

STRESS COULD BE YOUR PERSONAL SNEAKY RISK FACTOR

Even if you exercise regularly and eat a healthful, lowfat diet, unchecked stress could still be upping your cholesterol levels. When researchers followed people for three years, they found that those who were particularly sensitive to stress were twice as likely to have high LDL cholesterol, a study from the University College London shows. One reason blood fats might surge in those who are anxiety prone: The extra tension may interfere with the body's ability to clear fat from the bloodstream.

YOUR HEART ISN'T THE ONLY ORGAN HIGH CHOLESTEROL HURTS

When your arteries are gummed up, not only are you in danger of a clot causing a heart attack, but you also risk the same thing happening in your brain. A blocked blood vessel is actually one of the leading causes of stroke. The effect of elevated cholesterol can be profound: A study in the journal Neurology found that otherwise healthy women who had moderately high cholesterol levels—but no history of heart disease—were 78 percent more likely to suffer a stroke than the study participants with low levels.

MAKING A SMALL CHANGE NOW CAN HAVE A BIG-TIME PAYOFF

Dropping too-high LDL by as little as 15 percent over many years is better for your heart's health than waiting to tackle the problem when you're older, a study in The New England Journal of Medicine finds. Plus, it's much easier to correct an early-stage (and relatively reversible) medical problem than one that already poses a serious risk, Dr. Phillips says. You know what to do: Eat wisely, exercise regularly, make time to unwind, don't smoke and ask your doc for a cholesterol test. Your heart will more than return the favor with a longer, healthier life!

?Ace your blood test

Starting at age 20, ask for a cholesterol blood test at least every five years. Get checked yearly if you have a family history of heart disease. Shoot for these numbers.

• Total cholesterol: less than 200 milligrams per deciliter
• LDL: less than 100 milligrams per deciliter
• HDL: 50 milligrams per deciliter or greater
• Triglycerides: less than 150 milligrams per deciliter