This year Cholesterol Awareness Week runs from November 24 to 30, and this week a range of heart charities across Australia are working together to tackle cholesterol—a serious health problem that is often misunderstood by the public.
Cholesterol is a soft substance like wax or fat that is found in the blood and in every cell of your body. Often cholesterol is considered bad, when in fact our body needs it to function normally.
High cholesterol levels are often associated with Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD), which accounts for 85% of cardiovascular-related deaths.
This high cholesterol is a critical risk factor for Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease (ASCVD).
If left untreated, ASCVD can lead to heart attacks and strokes, leading to 85% of all cardiovascular-related deaths worldwide.
In recent years, ASCVD is the underlying cause of almost a quarter (45,000) of all deaths in Australia, significantly contributing to the $14.3 billion in health care costs attributed to cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Tanya Hall, CEO of hearts4heart provides an explanation of cholesterol known as the 'silent disease' because it often causes no symptoms.
Effective management requires a proactive approach, including lifestyle changes such as diet and physical activity. Regular consultations and open communication between patients and healthcare practitioners are essential for success.
Understanding genetic risks is also important. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) and high Lp (a) are congenital disorders that cause high cholesterol levels.
Source information from Hearts4heart.
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