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One in two Australian adults over 25 are living with high cholesterol
Friday February 29
One in two Australian adults over 25 are living with high cholesterol
meaning many Australians are potentially at risk of heart disease1
Ironman Guy Leech and FH-AAS
* Support Cholesterol Awareness
A new survey released today reveals that only one in five Australians have discussed cholesterol with their doctor in the past 12 months2 - however, with one in two Australian adults over 25 living with high cholesterol, this means many Australians are potentially at risk of developing heart disease1. High cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease1, the leading cause of sudden death in Australia, claiming one Australian life every ten minutes – approximately 50,000 Australians each year3.
Coinciding with the launch of a new National Cholesterol Awareness Campaign, the data shows that despite there being no obvious symptoms for high cholesterol, many Australians incorrectly believe they can tell if they have high cholesterol due to weight gain, breathlessness, heart strain, headaches or a general feeling of unwellness2.
Champion Australian Ironman, Guy Leech, and the Australian Atherosclerosis Society Familial Hypercholesterolemia Sub-Committee (FH-AAS) are keen to raise cholesterol awareness and encourage those at risk of heart disease to speak to their doctor and discuss whether a cholesterol test is right for them.
Diagnosed with high cholesterol at the height of his Ironman career, Guy knows firsthand the impact of heart disease.
“I was devastated when my father had a stroke when I was just eleven years old. Given family history is a major risk factor for heart disease, I know that while maintaining a healthy lifestyle through diet and exercise is vitally important, it may not always be enough.
“You don’t have to be overweight or feel unwell to have high cholesterol. It shocked me to find out I had high cholesterol at 19 years old when I was at the peak of my fitness. That’s why I have regular cholesterol tests to ensure I can manage my cholesterol levels and help minimise my risk of heart disease,” said Guy Leech, fitness guru and Heart Research Institute Ambassador.
Associate Professor David Sullivan from FH-AAS believes cholesterol awareness is an important message for all Australians as high cholesterol can have an impact on their overall health.
“It’s concerning that the survey found that 74 percent of Australians with a family history of heart disease have not discussed cholesterol with their doctor in the past 12 months2, despite family history being a major risk factor for heart disease,” said A/Prof Sullivan.
Other risk factors for heart disease include smoking, physical inactivity, diabetes, high blood pressure, being overweight and depression4.
According to A/Prof Sullivan, the only way you can tell if you have high cholesterol is to have a blood cholesterol test, as high cholesterol has no obvious symptoms. “I encourage anyone who thinks they could be at risk of heart disease to speak to their doctor today about cholesterol and whether a cholesterol test is right for them,” he said.
The National Cholesterol Test survey2, a nationwide survey of 503 Australian men and women, revealed the behaviours and perceptions of Australians aged 18 to 55 about cholesterol and its link to heart disease, including:
- Although heart disease is the leading cause of death in Australia, only six percent of Australians had a cholesterol test because they were concerned about heart disease.
- Despite heart disease killing more people than cancer each year1, 48 percent of Australians believe cancer is a more concerning health issue than heart disease.
- More than 50 percent of Australians incorrectly believe that the majority of cholesterol comes solely from food, when in fact, the body makes most of the cholesterol it needs.
- 47 percent of Australians actively try to manage their cholesterol through lifestyle changes such as diet, exercise and weight loss.1 It is important to be aware that diet and exercise may not always be enough to lower cholesterol to an acceptable level5
To find out more about the National Cholesterol Awareness Campaign, high cholesterol and heart disease, visit www.cholesteroltest.com.au. The National Cholesterol Awareness Campaign has been developed by Pfizer Australia.
References
*Australian Atherosclerosis Society Familial Hypercholesterolemia Sub-Committee
FH-AAS is a team of clinicians and scientists committed to helping people with inherited cholesterol disorders, such as familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH), that are undiagnosed or inadequately treated. FH-AAS was established by the Australian Atherosclerosis Society Inc.
1. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Heart, stroke and vascular diseases. Australian facts 2004. CVD Series No. 22, May 2004. http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/cvd/hsvd04/hsvd04.pdf (Accessed December 2007).
2. The National Cholesterol Test conducted by Soup, Sydney. January 2008 Analysis for this research was conducted by Pollinate, a specialist communications research agency.
3. Heart Information Statistics. The Heart Foundation. http://www.heartfoundation.org.au/Heart_Information/Statistics.htm (Accessed December 2007).
4. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Living Dangerously: Australians with multiple risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Bulletin No. 24. AIHW Cat. AUS 57, 2005. http://www.aihw.gov.au/publications/aus/bulletin24/bulletin24.pdf (Accessed January 2008).
5. Lipid Management Guidelines, MJA 175, 5 November 2001.