Before you know your goal, you should know your cholesterol numbers. And the only way to know your cholesterol numbers is for your doctor to do a blood test. The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommends that all adults aged 20 years and older have their cholesterol levels checked at least every 5 years.

Total Cholesterol
Your total cholesterol is a measure that includes both the LDL (Bad) Cholesterol and HDL (Good) Cholesterol in your blood. Your total cholesterol number represents the general risk of developing heart disease. However, your doctor may choose to focus on your LDL (Bad) Cholesterol because it is considered a better measure of risk than your total cholesterol is.

LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
The higher your LDL (Bad) Cholesterol number, the greater your risk of developing heart disease. That’s because too much LDL (Bad) Cholesterol in your bloodstream can build up in your arteries increasing your risk of heart disease.

Take a look at the charts below. They will give you an idea of what your cholesterol levels mean.

Total Cholesterol Level (mg/dL)	Category
Less than 200	Desirable
200–239	Borderline high
240 and above	High

LDL Cholesterol Level (mg/dL)	LDL Cholesterol Category
Less than 100	Optimal
100–129	Near optimal/above optimal
130–159	Borderline high
160–189	High
190 and above	Very high

Source: The National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP).

What is my LDL goal?
Your doctor will determine your LDL (Bad) Cholesterol based on your risk of developing heart disease. The higher your risk, the lower your LDL goal level should be. Ask your doctor about what your cholesterol numbers mean so you can work together to manage your cholesterol.

Talk to your doctor to see if a cholesterol medicine like ZETIA can help you reach your LDL (Bad) Cholesterol goal.

Unlike some statins, ZETIA has not been shown to prevent heart disease or heart attacks.

Important Risk Information About ZETIA
ZETIA is a prescription medicine and should not be taken by people who are allergic to any of its ingredients. ZETIA can be taken alone or with a statin. Statins should not be taken by women who are nursing or pregnant or who may become pregnant, or by anyone with liver problems. If you have ever had liver problems or are pregnant or nursing, your doctor will decide if ZETIA alone is right for you. Your doctor may do blood tests to check your liver before you start taking ZETIA with a statin and during treatment.

Unexplained muscle pain or weakness could be a sign of a rare but serious side effect and should be reported to your doctor right away. In clinical studies, patients reported few side effects while taking ZETIA. These included diarrhea, joint pains, and tiredness.

You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch, or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Please read the Patient Information and discuss it with your doctor. Also available is the physician Prescribing Information.