Qalmost everyone knows what cholesterol is. However, few take it “seriously”. This is one of the most interesting data presented at the information meeting “Taking early action against cholesterol: how important is the time factor to protect yourself from cardiovascular risks”, which has just ended in Milan. Experts have highlighted, in fact, how the Most people, to be precise 2 out of 3, believe it was a heart attack and other serious heart problems are almost “a destiny”. In practice, we get sick because fate decides it, not because certain lifestyles and the presence of high cholesterol favor the appearance of damage to the heart and circulatory system. Damage that could be avoided by intervening immediately, as soon as cholesterol is too high.
LDL cholesterol: only half of people know the risks
The survey conducted by SWG for Sanofi, on over 1,200 people aged between 45 and 74 showed that less than 50% of those interviewed consider bad cholesterol, i.e. LDL, to be harmful for the heart, if it exceeds certain levels. In practice, what doctors call hypercholesterolemia, i.e. high cholesterol, is not recognized as one of the major enemies of heart health. And well-being in general. «Yet high cholesterol is not just one of the various risk factors, but it is the main one. The entire scientific community has long underlined how hypercholesterolemia represents a causal factor of atherosclerotic disease and that its significant decrease, maintained over time, simultaneously allows for a reduction in cardiovascular events” explains the Dr. Alessandro Navaziovice president of Anmco – National Association of Hospital Cardiologists.
To keep it monitored it is not enough to “check the asterisk”
It happened to everyone. The results of the blood tests are collected and we immediately go to check whether there is an asterisk next to the various items, which indicates that the values are off compared to international criteria. «As regards LDL cholesterol, however, the value is individualized to the patient. Everyone has their own reference parameter and only the doctor can say if those tests are really good” explains Dr. Navazio. For example, if a person has already had cardiovascular problems, his cholesterol may not reach the same levels as if he had never had health problems. Also who he is if you are hypertensive or have diabetes, you must “keep” your cholesterol lower than average. For this reason, only a specialist can truly evaluate whether or not you have high cholesterol, based on the cardiovascular risk factors that only a doctor can evaluate.
Prevention starts with kids
“It’s important not to wait until you have high cholesterol to worry about keeping it under control” explains Dr. Luisa Cattaneo of Conacuore. «As far as cholesterol is concerned, information must be provided immediately, by children, because lifestyles are learned early. Young people learn better and if they internalize the correct way to eat then they will not forget it. It is important to talk to healthy people and to help them stay healthy, which is why we often go to schools to do prevention” concludes Dr. Cattaneo.
Having regular blood tests is useful for keeping cholesterol under control. (Getty Images)
It’s not just a men’s problem
When cardiovascular disease affects women it is more serious. Yet many worry about whether their husband has too high cholesterol levels, ignoring their own. «After the age of 50, or in any case when you enter menopause, cholesterol levels also increase in women. Women, however, are not miniature men and their symptoms of cardiovascular problems may be different from those of men” explains the Professor Pasquale Perrone Filardi. Basically, you don’t have to go to the doctor just if you feel chest pain. In fact, in that case an ambulance should be called immediately. The mortality rate of those arriving in cardiology with a heart attack is 6%, but the patient must get to hospital immediately. Women, on the other hand, often forget to do blood tests, ignore their cholesterol levels and ignore many alarms that their body sends.
Medicines work… if you take them!
«Drugs to lower cholesterol work, but you have to take them and on a regular basis: we must be the first ones responsible for our health, otherwise no treatment works” he explains Emanuela Folco, President of the Italian Heart Foundation (Fipc). There is no cholesterol that cannot be lowered, everyone can keep it under control. Often, however, patients forget their tablets, or they change therapy based on “hearsay”. Or they decide to stop a treatment just because they “feel better” or worse. Without talking to your doctor. «Based on a recent study i biological drugs against cholesterol they have a very high adherence, i.e. the therapy is followed correctly. They also have a high rate of persistence, that is, patients continue treatment to the end. They are injectable for self-administration and have very high efficacy. Cholesterol is reduced by 60%, with few significant side effects. Self-injection at home is a method of administration that has made a leap forward compared to oral therapies” explains Professor Perrone Filardi.
Extra help for prevention
Precisely because medicines are good for you… those who take them were born site www.vincicontroilcolesterolo.it. The portal, promoted by Sanofi with the patronage of the Italian Society of Cardiology and other scientific societies, explains in a simple way the risks of LDL cholesterol. And how to prevent it. Furthermore, he proposes the list of specialized centers to treat high cholesterol. It gives the possibility to do also an online test to understand how your heart is. And see what you really know about cholesterol and other risk factors. All information is verified. And they want to help people better understand what risks they run by ignoring that their cholesterol is too high.
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