1 In 3 Adults have high cholesterol
Jun9Written by:
09/06/2011 11:25 
One in three Irish adults has a cholesterol level greater than five - the maximum level recommended by health professionals, a national screening initiative has revealed. Current European guidelines state that the average person should try to maintain a total cholesterol level of less than or equal to 5mmol/L (millimoles per litre).
When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this buildup causes "hardening of the arteries" so that arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack. High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high. It is important to find out what your cholesterol is whatever age you are
Lowering cholesterol- Cholesterol can be lowered by a number of lifestyle changes, main lifestyle changes include:
Diet: Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food you eat make your blood cholesterol level go up. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level.
Weight management: Being overweight is a risk factor for heart disease. It also tends to increase your cholesterol. Losing weight if you are overweight can reduce the bad cholesterol in your blood.
Physical activity : Regular physical activity (30 minutes on most, if not all, days) is recommended for everyone. It can help raise good cholesterol and lower the bad cholesterol.