The American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition has determined that when it comes to cholesterol screening in kids, more is better.

Previous recommendations called for kids who were at known risk for high cholesterol or whose familial medical histories were unknown to be tested for high cholesterol. The updated guidelines have added some additional criteria. Any child who has a risk factor for heart disease -- obesity, family history, diabetes, high blood pressure, and so forth -- should be tested. Cholesterol testing can begin as young as two-years-old, and should take place before the child's 10th birthday at latest.

The optimal LDL ("bad" cholesterol) level for most kids is 110 or lower.

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Did you know your liver can produce all the cholesterol your body needs? But, a resourceful little organ, when we have cholesterol in our body from foods that we eat, the liver creates little bundles of fat and protein called "lipoproteins." There are two kinds of lipoproteins:

• High Density Lipoproteins (HDL). Think "H" for Healthy. HDL's are considered beneficial to the body because they carry excess cholesterol from the bloodstream back to the liver for removal. Your HDL should be greater than 40 mg/dl for men and greater than 0 mg/dl for women.
  
• Low Density Lipoproteins (LDL). Think "L" for Lousy. LDL's can clog up your arteries and inhibit blood flow. Keeping your LDL lower than 100 mg/dl is optimal.
  
• Triglycerides are another form of fat that circulates in your blood. Tri-Gs are deposited in muscles for energy or are stored in fat cells. Your triglycerides should be lower than 150 mg/dl.

Your total cholesterol should be less that 200 mg/dl. Eating healthy foods and staying active can help keep your cholesterol in control. To learn more check out the American Heart Association's common misconceptions about cholesterol.

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A recent study concluded that performing stressful tasks could lead to an increase in cholesterol or lipid readings compared to those who handle stress well.

So, if you're stressed and really weary this holiday season (as many of us are), try to find ways to, umm, not be stressed out (yes, there are ways).

The reason for the uptick in cholesterol levels in the stressed out was found to be due to stress encouraging the body to produce more energy in the form of metabolic fuels. Sounds good, yes? That also leads to an increase in LDL, the 'bad' form of cholesterol.

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Although the obesity epidemic in the U.S. is in full swing, at least many of us have normal cholesterol levels. Well, according to a report out this week from the federal government.

The average 'bad' cholesterol level of the typical American is 199, which is actually an ideal level based on current cholesterol research. Now, here is where things take a weird turn -- that level is the 'ideal' range for the first time in fifty years.

I'm not sure methods for measurement were around fifty years ago when it comes to cholesterol, but there you have it. Straight from the government's medical geniuses.

Is this a PR piece for pharmaceutical drugs meant to lower cholesterol or is this a legitimate finding? Hard to tell, but with the report mentioning the use of cholesterol pills being the main reason for the surprise lower levels here, I'm quite skeptic. Are you?

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Can't seem to find the time, energy, or commitment to exercise? You're not alone. Nearly 41 percent of Americans don't meet the minimum exercise goals -- 30 minutes of moderate exercise most days of the week -- recommended in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

If you don't get up and get moving, do you know that you share the same increased risk of coronary heart disease as cigarette smokers, people with high blood pressure, and those with high cholesterol? It's true, so as soon as you can, please step away from the couch!

The key is to get moving. Most exercise benefits come from simply doing more than what you're doing right now. Forget the 'perfect' program. Just get up off of that couch. All it takes to reduce that risk is a simple 30-minute stroll around the neighborhood at least five days a week. That half-hour's worth of moderate activity also cuts your risk of stroke. If you're under time constraints, don't let the 30-minute rule prevent you from getting started. You'll still get the same fitness benefits if you break up that half hour into smaller chunks of time. Three 10-minute walks or two 15-minute flurries of activity will work just as well.

Think of it this way ... all it takes is 10 minutes of moderate activity, three times a day, to cut your risk of coronary heart disease.

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Do you need some TLC? No, not tender loving care...I'm talking about therapeutic life changes. September is National Cholesterol Education month, and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute want you to take charge of your heart health by taking charge of your cholesterol. Their theme is:


Check out their website for information you can download on lowering your cholesterol, reducing your risk for heart disease, charting your progress, and information on reading food labels. Even if your cholesterol is picture perfect, there's a lot of great information to be found on improving your overall cardiovascular health. In addition, CardioChek, which makes devices that let you check your own cholesterol at home, will be offering free screenings nationwide at Sam's Clubs on September 15th and Kroger stores throughout the month.

Now go out there and give yourself some TLC! Your heart will thank you.

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According to a recent nationwide survey, 63 percent of females in America are concerned about having a high cholesterol level (the "bad" kind of cholesterol). Oddly though, only 32 percent of those who are concerned actually know what their cholesterol level is. I wonder why that is? If you're worried, find out if you should be worried -- alas, you may be worried over nothing.

In the same surveyed group, 88 percent responded that they know high cholesterol levels are connected with hardening of the arteries, and 85 percent know that a stroke can result from high cholesterol levels.

What should you do? Have the four components of cholesterol checked by your doctor: total cholesterol level, low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride level. Then, make a plan to improve if any of those are outside established healthy ranges.

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Italian cuisine is some of the best in the world -- pastas, sauces and...high carbs. I'm a huge fan of Italian cooking, but really have to watch myself to ensure I don't swallow 2,000 calories in a single sitting!

But what is you could eat Italian all day and have a gene that would actually lower your "bad" cholesterol? That is what Italian researchers have found, as three Italian families were discovered to have a cholesterol-blocking gene by researchers.

Although the research group stated that two percent of African-Americans carry the mutated gene that blocks cholesterol, this was the first time Caucasians were found to carry the gene. Can gene therapy work to prevent future cholesterol problems in humans? That sends shivers down my spine -- how about yours?

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Many of us have heard it before: get that cholesterol level down! Having a high cholesterol level (the "bad" kind) can throw many of us for a loop. Yes, there are statin drugs and other synthetic ways to lower cholesterol, but what are the "best" ways?

While diet changes and lifestyle changes may benefit many sufferers of high cholesterol, those methods don't work for everybody. As is with life, there is no "one size fits all" to almost every medical situation. With the advent of genetic mapping, this is becoming more apparent every day.

Bringing high cholesterol down to manageable levels has a goal of getting something unhealthy under control -- but are there more advantages beyond that? Sure! Reduced chances for arterial hardening and heart disease in general are just a few, and there are many more reasons as well.

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If you are into fitness, did you know that the longer you work out, the more "good" cholesterol your body will produce? This new finding comes from researchers in Japan.

Although "bad" cholesterol is not good for human health, "good" cholesterol (the HDL kind) is good for the body in moderate amounts.

Cholesterol can be consumed in food or produced directly in the body, so if you're into workouts that last longer than 30 minutes (say, 45 minutes or an hour), you'll get more calories burned while producing more good cholesterol. That is a great double-whammy!

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A new study says that "bad" cholesterol levels (LDL) are more prevalent in women than in men in higher-risk patients, and many women should strongly consider talking to their physician about where their cholesterol level sits (and if it is too high).

While high levels of LDL cholesterol are tied to heart attacks and heart disease, it's interesting here to see that women have a propensity to have higher LDL levels than men. Although diet and exercise are a great way to maintain lower LDL cholesterol levels, some require prescription drugs to keep dangerous levels at bay. Are more women or men taking drugs for lowering cholesterol? That was not discussed in this study, unfortunately.

A quote from the study that rings true regardless of health or conditions would be, "This study highlights the importance of not just knowing your health, but also taking an active role in your care." Could not agree more -- it's up to you to take control of your health with every fiber of your responsibility, yes?

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According to the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES), 17 percent of American teenagers are overweight. You can blame it on busy parents, video games, or fast food -- but whatever the reason the results are the same. Too many kids aren't eating well and/or exercising enough and it's led to a culture of obesity. The long-term effects of early obesity are still being studied, but growing evidence supports the (relatively logical and dare I say, obvious) conclusion that obese children are at greater risk for cardiovascular disease.

Children who have high cholesterol are likely to continue to have high cholesterol well into adulthood. It's important to start treating the issue and promoting a healthier lifestyle early. New information garnered from NHANES data are meant to improve upon the current guidelines which don't account as fully for age. Currently, cholesterol screening is recommended for adolescents who have risk factors such as a parent with high cholesterol, a family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes, or tobacco use. In April 2008, The U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute is expected to release new medical guidelines for cholesterol screening for children and teens.

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Although cholesterol (bad cholesterol, like HDL) may be bad for your heart, how about it being partially responsible for diabetes? A new study out of Canada suggests that cholesterol regulation may be responsible for Type 2 diabetes.

Although the study was conducted on mice, it could open a new window into the treatment, prevention and control of Type 2 diabetes.

Although there are quite a few "diseases" that can be traced back to bad lifestyle choices, there are quite a few that are just the result of bad luck. But, by controlling the cholesterol levels in your body using the best nutrition and lifestyle choices that are associated with eating and drinking well, the late onset of diabetes may be just another condition that can be prevented.

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With U.S. waistlines expanding and with an aging population, heart disease has become one of the major health headlines of our day. Heart failure -- when a heart can not pump correctly -- affects 5 million people nationwide, and a 1/2 million more new cases will be diagnosed this year. The leading causes of heart failure include heart attack, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

A healthy lifestyle can prevent heart disease. This article outlines six simple steps to good heart health -- including losing weight, dropping the cigarette habit, and limiting alcohol, as well as exercising and having basic blood work done by your doctor.

This article is interesting for its health advice, but also has a stunning list of statistics. Over 100 million people have high cholesterol, 47 million still smoke, and a whopping 73% don't exercise....it's an eye-opener for sure.

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