In Health Watch:Women are at risk of developing heart disease after menopause, and a new study reveals one reason why.As Janet Choi reports... virtually all women see a rise in their cholesterol levels.Charlotte Grossman saw her cholesterol jump when she hit menopause..Charlotte Grossman, Cholesterol patient says"it had gone up over 60-70 points".She's not alone. In a study of more than a thousand women ... virtually all of them saw a sharp increase in cholesterol around their last period. And, the so called bad cholesterol - called L-D-L - increased most dramatically.Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, Lenox Hill Hospital says,"This is the stuff that actually causes plaque to develop in the arteries."The study followed women between 42 to 52 years old.. for nine years. Regardless of age, weight and ethnic group.. all of them showed a rise in cholesterol levels .While women are at greater risk of developing heart disease as they get older... only cholesterol is directly linked to menopause.An increase in cholesterol around menopause may be inevitable, but doctors say that knowledge can help keep women healthy.Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, Lenox Hill Hospital says,"If we can identify women who are at risk for developing high cholesterol early on, we can make changes so that when they go into menopause their cholesterol doesn't go up."Charlotte now takes medicine, and watches what she eats.Charlotte Grossman, Cholesterol patient, says"I try my best, a lot of fruits and vegetables, very little red meat."The 62 year old is also exercising... doing everything she can to keep her cholesterol in check.Janet Choi, CBS News, New York.