“Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, more than all cancers combined,” says Dr. Suzanne Steinbaum, a consultant for the Take Cholesterol to Heart campaign and an attending cardiologist in private practice at the Juhi-Ash Integrative Health Center in New York City.
Recently a survey developed in partnership with ‘Take Cholesterol to Heart’ to explore attitudes around awareness and understanding of heart disease risk, specifically related to cholesterol. Interestingly, this survey revealed that while older Americans stay informed about relevant medical issues, when it comes to heart health, only 52% of the responders said they make every effort to maintain healthy cholesterol levels – a major risk factor for heart disease – and even fewer (46%) have discussed their heart disease risk profile with their doctor.
Know Your Risk
Taking a deeper look at high cholesterol, you might be wondering – What is it and who’s affected by it?
High cholesterol affects more than 95 million Americans and is a major risk factor for heart disease. It has also been associated with coronary heart disease, stroke, and linked to diabetes and high blood pressure—a concerning correlation that deserves attention.
Perhaps one of the more frightening facts about high cholesterol is the lack of symptoms. You read that correctly – if your cholesterol levels are high, you won’t know it unless you are actively working with your doctor to assess them. High cholesterol silently creates a thick, hard buildup within the walls of the arteries, which can lead to blocked blood supply and flow to the heart or the brain. The buildup can eventually result in a heart attack or stroke.
While high cholesterol was once thought to be a “men’s health” issue, that’s actually not the case. A recent study by the National Center for Health Statistics revealed that a higher percentage of women 20 and older have high total cholesterol than men in the same age group, and the rates continue to be even higher among women over 60 than for men of the same age. Dr. Steinbaum wants to clear the air: “High cholesterol management is equally important for women and men.”