Anyone can develop high cholesterol, artery-clogging atherosclerosis, or heart disease. But if you have certain risk factors, you may have a much greater chance of developing these conditions.

• I have a close blood relative - mother, father, sister, brother, or child - who has been diagnosed with high cholesterol or coronary heart disease.
• I'm a man who is 45 years old or older. Or, I am a woman who is 55 or older or has gone through menopause.
• I eat more than three eggs per week.
• I regularly eat whole-milk dairy products, such as milk, ice cream, half-and-half, cream, cheese, sour cream, or butter.
• I often eat fatty cuts of meat, organ meat, or processed meats, such as ham, bacon, bologna, hot dogs, sausage, liver, kidney, or sweetbread.
• Snacks such as potato chips, corn chips, buttered popcorn, candy bars, cookies, and cake are a regular part of my diet.
• I often eat deep-fried and breaded foods, such as fried chicken, fried fish, deep-fried chicken strips, French fries, or onion rings.
• For breakfast or snacks, I often eat doughnuts, croissants, biscuits, butter rolls, muffins, coffee cake, Danishes, or other pastries.
• My body mass index (BMI) is 27 or higher.
• I carry my extra pounds mostly around my waist rather than my hips and thighs.
• I don't get at least 30 minutes of exercise at least three to five times a week.
• I smoke or am exposed to secondhand smoke every day.
• I have diabetes or take medicine to control my blood glucose.