October is National Cholesterol Month which is all about raising the awareness & importance of maintaining a health cholesterol level.

 

High cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Yet despite around half UK adults having raised cholesterol, many do not realise they have it. In fact, recent research showed that almost a third of the UK population have never had their cholesterol levels checked, leaving a large number of potential diagnoses undetected. This means it is especially important to build understanding and knowledge on the risks of high cholesterol.

 

Lowering LDL cholesterol earlier in life, and maintaining optimal levels throughout adulthood, could help to prevent coronary heart disease events and lower long term risk of cardiovascular disease. Even small reductions in cholesterol early in life have the potential to make a significant impact.

 

In addition to younger adults, awareness may also need to be raised for other at risk groups including those with a family history of premature heart disease, post-menopausal women, individuals with Type 2 diabetes and overweight / obese individuals.

 

Healthcare professionals can help to identify those at risk and suggest dietary and lifestyle modifications to help lower cholesterol such as:

 

Reducing weight if obese / overweight

Reducing alcohol intake (sticking to under 14 units/week)

Smoking cessation

Physical activity (minimum 150 minutes activity / week)

Reducing sedentary time

Swapping saturated fats for unsaturated fats

Eating sufficient fibre (30g / day) include sources of soluble fibre e.g. oats, fruit

 

For more information please visit Heart UK – The Cholesterol Charity