This week's "What's Ailing You" report looks at combating high cholesterol.

Adam Heche, of Norwalk, says he's taking a "red yeast rice" supplement, instead of a statin, which is a pill used to lower cholesterol. Heche told "What's Ailing You" that he wonders if the supplement will work though.

Stamford Hospital cardiologist Dr. Thomas Nero says red rice yeast is a main ingredient in some cholesterol medications. But, he says, supplements are not proven and there's no guaranteeing what they contain since they're not regulated.

Nero says it's best for each patient to work with their doctor to lower high cholesterol. 

"Just being on a good heart-healthy diet and exercising every day will decrease your cardiac event rate, chance of heart attack or stroke by almost 70 percent," says Nero.

Dr. Nero says total cholesterol level shouldn't be over 200. He says the bad cholesterol number within that big picture is most important - you don't want that over 130, and if it's over 160 he says you definitely need to be on a statin medication.