High cholesterol affects approximately 50 million Americans and is a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease — which half of all men and a third of all women will get at some time in their lives.

As founder and chief of the prestigious Lipid Metabolism Unit at Massachusetts General Hospital and an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Mason W. Freeman treats hundreds of patients each year and oversees breakthrough cholesterol research. In The Harvard Medical School Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol, he provides the most expert, up-to-date advice on reaching and maintaining healthy cholesterol levels. He has written the book with medical writer Christine Junge.

In addition to covering the best medical approach to the subject, Dr. Freeman discusses nutrition, exercise, and information on what we know about alternative approaches, and how to work best with your doctor to develop the best cholesterol control treatment plan for you. The book examines:

• How to assess your risk for high cholesterol
• Cholesterol-lowering drugs — who should take them, what to look out for, and how to be sure your doctor is monitoring you properly
• How to manage your cholesterol through diet and exercise
• The latest scientific findings on alternative therapies

The Harvard Medical School Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol includes patient stories, questions doctors often hear, self-assessment exercises, and the most inclusive, up-to-date advice available on all ways to feel better and be healthier.