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Should you be concerned?
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 Why
should you be tested if you feel healthy?
The tragedy of high cholesterol and heart disease is that, for many, a fatal
heart attack or stroke is their first indication of coronary heart disease (CHD).
- Your arteries can have a 90% blockage without causing any noticeable
symptoms. 1
- Half of all men and 63% of all women who die suddenly of CHD have
no previous symptoms. 2
Contrary to popular opinion, heart disease cannot be accurately predicted simply
by evaluating age, weight, race or gender. Heart disease does not announce its
arrival. In fact, despite your best efforts to dissuade the disease through
diet and exercise, there is no guarantee that heart disease will not slip into
your life.
Most people can point to a relative or friend who appeared trim and fit, and
yet suffered a heart attack. Every year there are stories of young athletes
who die of previously undiscovered heart disease.
The responsible thing to do is to have your blood lipid levels tested. Make
sure you know your blood lipid numbers, and ask your doctor to evaluate your
risks for heart disease.
Risk Factors for Heart Disease
There are several factors that can contribute to these health problems associated
with heart disease:
- a sedentary lifestyle
- a high-fat diet
- smoking
- age
- gender
- family health history & genetics
To estimate your risk determined by a variety of personal factors, see the
"Related Links" page of this site to use the 10-Year Risk Assessment
Calculator on the NCEP website.
How does age & gender affect the risk of heart disease?
Cholesterol levels rise as both men and women get older.
The incidence of heart disease in men rises significantly after the age of
40. This is thought to result from the tendency toward a more sedentary lifestyle,
and the accumulated effects of poor nutrition during earlier years.
Until menopause, women typically have lower total cholesterol levels than
men. Due to falling estrogen levels, women’s LDL levels tend to rise post-menopause,
and the rate of heart disease increases 2 to 3 times - almost equal to the risk
for a man.
Are high cholesterol and heart disease hereditary?
Yes. Genetics will in part determine how much cholesterol your body manufactures.3
Also, strong family history of coronary disease is considered a predictor
of atheriosclerotic disease. According to William J. Parsons, M.D., "if
a close male relative has had a heart attack or stroke before age 50, or a female
relative before age 60, you have a significant family history." 4
Does diabetes increase the risk of high cholesterol or a heart attack?
Yes. According to the NCEP’s Adult Treatment Panel III report, diabetes
poses as great a risk for having a heart attack within 10 years after onset,
as does heart disease itself. Diabetes increases plaque formation within your
arteries, due to reduced lipid metabolism and liver function.5
The new guidelines recommend that persons with diabetes be treated as intensively
as heart disease patients.
1. Dr. London
in Total Health article.
2. Framingham Heart Study, NHLBI
3. Ref: NCEP brochure "High Blood Cholesterol; What You Need to Know"
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/wyntk.pdf
4. Parsons, p. 16.
5. Dr. London’s article in Total Health magazine (see reprint)
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Fighting
Imbalanced Blood Lipids
