Four words that can make people shake in their shoes are this: you have high cholesterol.

High cholesterol, as you probably know, is an important risk factor for heart disease (but not the only one). The good news is that there are successful ways to treat this illness. It's also important to keep in mind that your cholesterol numbers are just one element in the "Big Picture" of your overall health.

Below, our Total Access Medical doctors in Philadelphia & New Jersey weigh in on high cholesterol—why understanding it matters, what causes it, and different ways to treat it. 

Let's Talk High Cholesterol

In this video, Dr. David Perkins talks about the "nature vs. nurture" component, in addition to other factors.

Here, Dr. Teresa A. Saris discusses some ways to test for and treat high cholesterol.

And, finally, in this video, Dr. Frank Pettinelli provides tips on managing high cholesterol (key tip: be honest with yourself).