February is Heart Month, a good time to think “heart-healthy”, to start the New Year off right and to take stock of your personal numbers. Do you know your cholesterol levels? Elevated cholesterol levels, whether caused by hereditary factors or unhealthy diet and a sedentary lifestyle can increase your risk for heart attack, stroke, metabolic syndrome and diabetes. High cholesterol has no symptoms. The only way to know if you have it is to have it checked by a doctor.

Get the New Year going with a commitment to yourself and your family to strive for better health. Keep your cholesterol numbers good by eating “heart healthy” foods, avoiding trans-fats, exercising more, and quit smoking if you do. Most importantly, schedule your annual physical exam with your doctor to have your cholesterol screening done. Even children need to have their cholesterol numbers evaluated! Let JAAN’s trusted professional nurses help you find a primary care physician, pediatrician, or cardiologist if you need one. Because, nurses know the best doctors!