Congratulations!

It's great that you're taking the time to learn about protecting your heart. Sister to Sister is proud to provide you with useful information about the importance of knowing your triglyceride and cholesterol numbers.

You may have heard about "Bad" cholesterol (LDL) and "Good" cholesterol (HDL), but chances are you don't know much about the "Forgotten Fat" also known as triglycerides. Triglycerides are often ignored when people talk about heart health, but if your triglyceride levels are too high, you could be putting yourself at risk for a heart attack or stroke!

You may not realize that triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood that can increase your risk of heart disease when they are not at healthy levels. A normal level of triglycerides is considered less than 150. If your level is above 150, you have a higher chance of developing heart disease. Your risk for developing heart disease doubles when triglyceride levels are above 200. When triglycerides are above 200 and "good" (HDL) cholesterol is below 40, you have four times the risk of developing heart disease.

While everyone has triglycerides - which are in the food you eat as well as made by your body - high levels are most common in people who are overweight, have diabetes or have low HDL levels. Women in particular should know their triglyceride levels. It is important to remember that a normal triglyceride level is below 150.

Heart disease, which includes heart attack and stroke, is the number one cause of death for American women as well as men. Every year nearly 500,000 women die from heart disease, yet many women still don't know that it's a serious threat to their health. The good news is that by learning about heart risks early, women can lower their chances of having a heart attack or stroke.

By visiting this Web site you've taken the first step in learning the important role triglycerides and cholesterol play in your heart health. Don't stop here! On this Web site you'll find tips and tools about how to manage your triglycerides and other levels so you can be on your way to better heart health.