High cholesterol, also known as hypercholesterolemia, is a health condition that puts people at greater risk for heart attack and stroke. Over 65 million Americans have high cholesterol. September is National Cholesterol Education Month, which is a great reason to have your cholesterol checked and understand your numbers.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance in the blood that is made by the liver and also obtained from food. Cholesterol has several important functions in the body, which include making vitamin D and some hormones, building cell walls, and creating bile salts which assist in digesting fat.

For the full column, go to http://www.ncpad.org/756/3995/Cholesterol~Counts~~Knowing~Your~Numbers.