Cholesterol ResourcesTrusted Information and Support

5 min read

Managing cholesterol is easier when you have access to reliable information and helpful tools. The resources below come from respected medical organizations, government agencies, and evidence-based sources. Whether you're newly diagnosed with high cholesterol or looking to deepen your understanding, these resources can help you make informed decisions about your heart health.

Leading Organizations

American Heart Association (AHA)

The AHA provides comprehensive, science-based information about cholesterol and heart disease. Their website includes guidelines, educational materials, and tools for understanding your cardiovascular risk.

  • Website: heart.org/cholesterol
  • Key Resources: Cholesterol management guidelines, risk calculators, recipes

National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI)

Part of the National Institutes of Health, NHLBI conducts and supports research on heart, lung, and blood diseases. Their resources are authoritative and evidence-based.

  • Website: nhlbi.nih.gov
  • Key Resources: Cholesterol health information, DASH diet guidelines, clinical trial information

American College of Cardiology (ACC)

The ACC develops clinical guidelines used by healthcare providers. Their patient resources help you understand what doctors recommend and why.

  • Website: cardiosmart.org
  • Key Resources: Patient education, treatment guidelines, decision aids

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

The CDC provides public health information about cholesterol, including statistics, prevention strategies, and basic education.

  • Website: cdc.gov/cholesterol
  • Key Resources: Screening recommendations, prevention tips, statistics

Online Tools and Calculators

ASCVD Risk Calculator

This tool, developed by the ACC/AHA, estimates your 10-year risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Doctors use this calculation to help determine whether cholesterol medication is appropriate.

  • Website: ACC ASCVD Risk Estimator Plus
  • What You Need: Age, sex, race, blood pressure, total and HDL cholesterol, diabetes status, smoking status

Cholesterol Ratio Calculator

Many websites offer simple calculators to compute your total/HDL ratio and other cholesterol ratios from your lipid panel results.

Heart Age Calculator

The CDC and other organizations offer "heart age" calculators that compare your cardiovascular risk to what's typical for your actual age, providing an intuitive way to understand your risk level.

Mobile Apps

Several apps can help you track cholesterol-related health metrics and maintain heart-healthy habits:

Health Tracking Apps

  • MyFitnessPal: Track food intake and monitor saturated fat consumption
  • Cronometer: Detailed nutrition tracking including fiber and specific fats
  • Apple Health / Google Fit: Store lab results and track health metrics over time

Medication Reminder Apps

  • Medisafe: Medication reminders and tracking
  • MyTherapy: Medication and health diary
  • CareZone: Medication management and health information storage

Heart Health Apps

  • Heart Habit: Track heart health factors including cholesterol
  • Qardio: Health monitoring including blood pressure that often correlates with cholesterol concerns

Diet and Nutrition Resources

DASH Diet

Originally developed to lower blood pressure, the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet also improves cholesterol. Free resources include:

Mediterranean Diet

This eating pattern is associated with improved cholesterol and reduced cardiovascular events. Resources include:

Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes (TLC)

The TLC diet was specifically designed by the National Cholesterol Education Program to lower cholesterol through diet.

Recommended Reading

For those who want to understand cholesterol more deeply, consider these evidence-based books:

  • "The Great Cholesterol Myth" by Jonny Bowden and Stephen Sinatra - Provides perspective on the cholesterol debate (read critically alongside mainstream sources)
  • "Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease" by Caldwell Esselstyn - Plant-based approach to heart health
  • "The DASH Diet Action Plan" by Marla Heller - Practical guide to the DASH diet
  • "The Mediterranean Diet Weight Loss Solution" by Julene Stassou - Mediterranean eating for heart health

Support and Community

Finding Support

  • WomenHeart: Support network for women with heart disease - womenheart.org
  • Mended Hearts: Peer support for heart patients - mendedhearts.org
  • American Heart Association Support Network: Online community for heart health

Finding a Specialist

If you need specialized care for cholesterol management:

  • Cardiologist: Heart specialist who manages cardiovascular risk factors
  • Lipidologist: Specialist focused specifically on lipid disorders (find through the National Lipid Association)
  • Registered Dietitian: Can help develop eating plans for cholesterol management

Clinical Trials

Participating in clinical trials can provide access to new treatments while contributing to medical knowledge:

Questions for Your Doctor

Make the most of your appointments by asking:

  • What are my cholesterol numbers, and what do they mean for my risk?
  • What is my 10-year cardiovascular risk?
  • Should I be taking medication, or can lifestyle changes be enough?
  • What specific dietary changes would help most?
  • How often should I have my cholesterol rechecked?
  • Are there other tests I should have (like Lp(a) or coronary calcium score)?
  • What warning signs should prompt me to seek care?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which cholesterol information sources can I trust?

Look for information from major medical organizations (AHA, ACC), government health agencies (NIH, CDC), and peer-reviewed medical journals. Be skeptical of websites selling supplements or promoting extreme diets. When in doubt, discuss information with your healthcare provider.

How do I find a lipid specialist?

The National Lipid Association maintains a directory of certified lipid specialists at lipid.org. Your primary care doctor or cardiologist can also provide referrals if specialized care is needed.

Are online cholesterol tests accurate?

Home cholesterol test kits can provide reasonable estimates but are generally less accurate than laboratory tests. They're useful for monitoring trends between professional tests but shouldn't replace regular medical testing, especially for treatment decisions.

How can I learn more about my genetic risk?

If you have very high cholesterol or a strong family history of early heart disease, genetic testing for familial hypercholesterolemia may be appropriate. Discuss this with your doctor or a genetic counselor. Some academic medical centers have specialized lipid genetics clinics.