The C word...

Why is a high cholesterol level bad for you? A high level of HDLs takes excess cholesterol safely back to the liver. But if your LDL level is high, fatty deposits can stick to the heart's arteries, narrowing them and leading to heart disease, heart attack and stroke

How can you test for it? A simple blood test can reveal your cholesterol levels. Your GP can do this, or some chemists offer finger-prick tests

How can I reduce cholesterol? Our high-fat diet is the main cause of the high cholesterol levels suffered by nearly two-thirds of us. So cutting down on saturated fats is crucial. So, too, is doing more exercise and eating more fruit and vegetables. If cholesterol is dangerously high, cholesterol-lowering drugs such as statins may be prescribed

What should I eat for a healthy heart? Grill, don't fry and cook with unsaturated fat (for instance rapeseed oil instead of butter). Eat soluble fibre (beans, peas, lentils, oats) to reduce the cholesterol absorbed into the bloodstream, and at least five portions of fruit and vegetables a day (these contain antioxidants that help prevent cholesterol turning into fatty deposits). Also eat oily fish, such as mackerel, at least once a week, as its Omega-3 oil reduces heart-disease risk

Call the British Heart Foundation Heart Information Line on 08450 708 070 (9am to 5pm, Mon to Fri) or visit www.bfh.org.uk