Website helps reduce cholesterol.

• Position: Internet

As a part of its public education efforts, the American Heart Association encourages people to use two free online tools to help control their cholesterol. By clicking on americanheart.org/cholesterol, the 42,000,000 individuals with high cholesterol can help reduce their risk for heart disease and stroke and improve their "cholesterol IQ" with the latest news, tips, personal stories, checklists, and guidelines. Treatment advances are outlined in the section Heart Profilers, which includes information on high cholesterol research medications, potential side effects, and lifestyle changes. Along with their doctors, patients can determine the best treatment options for them.

Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance located in the bloodstream and in all body cells. It also is found in certain foods from animals. The saturated fats, transfats, and cholesterol individuals eat help raise their natural blood cholesterol levels. "Cholesterol management is imperative to reduce the incidence of coronary heart disease--the single largest killer of Americans," stresses Clyde Yancy, associate professor of medicine and cardiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas. "If you are diagnosed with cholesterol disorders by your doctor, take heed. This is a wakeup call to get you to [gain] control of your heart disease--now."

The American Heart Association's website can help. For instance:

Find out your numbers and what they mean. Regardless of your current numbers, have your cholesterol checked at least every five years beginning at age 20. Men over age 45 and women over 55 should have their levels monitored more often...