Frequently Asked Questions about
Cholesterol and Atherosclerosis

Take a look at a few common questions below about cholesterol and atherosclerosis to see if we can provide an answer.

Please remember that your doctor and pharmacist are the best sources of information on how cholesterol and atherosclerosis relate to your specific situation.

Questions about Cholesterol

Q. Where does cholesterol come from?
A. Cholesterol is produced by the liver. It's also found in foods high in saturated fat, like fatty meats, egg yolks, shellfish, and whole-milk dairy products.

Q. What makes cholesterol good or bad for your health?
A. Cholesterol travels through the bloodstream packaged inside a protein called a lipoprotein. There are two kinds of lipoproteins that are important when discussing cholesterol — LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol (HDL-C). LDL cholesterol is considered "bad" because too much of it in your bloodstream can contribute to the progression of atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in your arteries. HDL cholesterol is considered "good" because it helps return cholesterol to the liver, where it can be eliminated.

Q. How does LDL cholesterol contribute to health problems?
A. If you have too much LDL cholesterol circulating in your bloodstream, it can begin to buildup in your arteries, a disease process called atherosclerosis. For many people, this buildup starts in early adulthood and gets worse over time.

Q. How does my medical history relate to managing cholesterol?
A. Ask your doctor to be sure. If your doctor has told you cholesterol management is especially important for you, it could mean that you have one or more additional health factors that make it even more likely that high cholesterol can contribute to the buildup of plaque in your arteries.

These factors include things like cigarette smoking, hypertension, personal or family history of early heart disease, and age — over 45 for men and over 55 for women. Certain ethnic groups are more susceptible to cholesterol-related issues than others. And some diseases, such as diabetes, call for close cholesterol management. Be sure to talk to your doctor for more information about your personal medical history.

Q. How do I find out what my cholesterol numbers mean?
A. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) publishes general cholesterol guidelines, but based on your individual situation, your doctor may recommend something more specific. Take a look at the general NCEP guidelines for cholesterol , and then talk to your doctor about your specific goals.

Q. How can I lower my cholesterol?
A. Living a healthy lifestyle, such as eating a diet that is low in saturated fats and cholesterol and getting at least 30 minutes of exercise most days, may help lower cholesterol. It also may be able to help manage other health factors associated with the progression of atherosclerosis. When diet and exercise alone aren't enough, your doctor may add a cholesterol-lowering medicine. Learn more about living a healthy lifestyle.

Questions about atherosclerosis

Q. What is atherosclerosis?
A. Atherosclerosis, or "athero," is the progressive buildup of plaque in the arteries. One major cause is high levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, which play a role in the formation of plaque. Other common health factors, such as a family history of early heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, or being overweight, also play an important role. This plaque starts building up in our arteries in early adulthood and gets worse over time.

Q. Do I have health factors that contribute to the development of atherosclerosis?
A. If you have high cholesterol and other health factors, such as age (your risk increases as you get older), family history of early heart disease, diabetes, or high blood pressure, or if you smoke or are overweight, atherosclerosis may be something you should be concerned about. The good news is that some of the health factors, such as cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol, can be managed.

Q. What are some common lifestyle changes that can help to manage my health factors?
A. Most doctors agree that living a healthy lifestyle, such as eating a healthy, low-fat, low-cholesterol diet and getting regular exercise are two of the most important things you can do. If you smoke, you should try to quit immediately. Last but not least, every plan should start by talking with your doctor. Learn more about living a healthy lifestyle.

Q. Can you tell me more about bruits, the ankle brachial index, and how they are used to diagnose athero?
A. One way your doctor can diagnose athero is by placing a stethoscope on your neck, abdomen, or leg to listen to your arteries. Your doctor is listening for bruits (pronounced brew-ees), which are faint whooshing noises caused by the turbulence of blood rushing through restricted arteries.

Another way your doctor can check for athero involves taking blood pressure at the ankle and arm. This technique is called the ankle/brachial index.

During your next office visit, don't be afraid to ask your doctor about these techniques for diagnosis.

Q. Can CRESTOR^® (rosuvastatin calcium) help slow the progression of atherosclerosis?
A. Along with diet, CRESTOR, the same medicine that lowers LDL (bad) cholesterol and raises HDL (good) cholesterol, has been proven to slow the progression of atherosclerosis, as part of a treatment plan to lower cholesterol to goal. Ask your doctor if CRESTOR is right for you.