• Consumer Health: Top 5 lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol level

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Cholesterol is a waxy substance found in your blood. Your body needs cholesterol to build healthy cells, but high levels of cholesterol can increase your risk of heart disease.

With high cholesterol, you can develop fatty deposits in your blood vessels. Eventually, these deposits grow, making it difficult for enough blood to flow through your arteries. Sometimes those deposits can break suddenly and form a clot that causes a heart attack or stroke.

High cholesterol can be inherited, but often it's the result of unhealthy lifestyle choices, which makes it preventable and treatable.

Here are the top five lifestyle changes you can make to improve your cholesterol level and reduce your risk of heart disease.

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