The number one killer in Australia remains heart and vessel disease ( strokes , heart attacks) , despite a pleasing reduction in deaths from coronary heart disease , as people modify their risk factors , heart and vessel disease still remains responsible for the death of 1 in 3 Australians. Cholesterol is a fat produced in our liver from fatty foods. Some fat is needed (to store and transport energy , help to absorb vitamins…) , to much fat and the wrong cholesterol (LDL cholesterol) forms patches of fatty lumps clogging up arteries . Other cholesterol (HDL) might actually prevent the clogging up of vessels. This Clogging up of arteries (hardening) eventually leads to critical obstruction of blood flow and than causes angina , heart attacks, strokes, kidney disease. It makes sense to detect risk-factors (one of which is cholesterol) before it is to late. Cholesterol and cardiovascular risk should be checked :
- 5 yearly in healthy individuals older than 45
- 1-2Yearly in patients over 45 , who also smoke, are overweight , have high blood-pressure, have a strong family history of specific heart disease
- Yearly in patients with high risk to develop heart-disease, or who already have heart-disease , diabetes, high levels of cholesterol in the family(genetic fat disease), chronic kidney disease
- Aboriginals and Torres straight islanders yearly after age 18
Mass screening for cholesterol in the population, regardless of age and risk factors is not currently recommended.
To determine your risk of heart disease , the Doctor/Nurse will ask you a number of questions and take some basic measurements (Blood pressure, Weight, abdominal circumference, ECG …) This helps to decide, wether your cholesterol level is high or low ,as this depends on a range of pre-existing risk factors. So Auntie Emilys level might be ok for her, but to high for Uncle Kevin already. Patients with raised Cholesterol but also everyone, are well advised to follow lifestyle and diet advice. :
- Keep to ideal body weight
- Eat high fibre diet
- Avoid saturated fats
- Select low – GI foods
- Eat fish twice a week
- Beware fast foods
- Take regular exercise
- Exercise relaxation
- Do not smoke
- Drink plenty of water
- Drink alcohol in small amounts only
A bit of thought and a few bucks spent on proper advice and prevention will save you hundreds on prescription and gap fees later.
If above is not leading to success, than your doctor might consider the use of medication (most commonly statins ) , which can effectively and safely reduce your cholesterol , with you, til you reach satisfactory targets. You will also benefit from treatment of other risk factors (Weight, Smoking, …) and all going well have decades left to enjoy the important things in life.
Sources
- www.heartfoundation.org.au
- Position statement on lipid management 2005 National Heart Foundation
- JOhn Murtagh Patient education prevention cholesterol and cardiovascular riskfactors
- Guidelines for preventive activities in general practice 6th edition RACGP
- General Statement for lipid lowering drugs prescribed under PBS
- www.patient.co.uk cholesterol, statin
Dr Helko Schenk, GMG, 29 12 2008
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