(U-WIRE) SAN MARCOS, Texas — A spoonful of Cheerios is good news for the heart, especially in September, which is National Cholesterol Awareness Month. Cholesterol problems are well known and often discussed in the media, but according to a recent survey, it is neither watched nor well controlled by women who are between their college years and mid-40s.
“Heart disease is a serious threat to women, and that the fact that only one in five women surveyed knew their current cholesterol level shows how much work remains to be done in educating women about cholesterol,” said Phyllis Greenberger, president and CEO of the Society for Women’s Health Research. “Knowing one’s cholesterol number is the first step in managing cholesterol, and that number is certainly more important than knowing what one’s body weight was in high school.”
Richard Schmits, the society’s director of communication, agrees.
“It is very important for women to know that cholesterol is needed for good health, but too much of it in the blood can raise the risk of having a heart attack or stroke,” Schmits said. “The survey’s key point was to remind women, starting at age 20, to get their cholesterol numbers checked at least once every five years.”
The survey showed that 21 percent of respondents were surprised cholesterol can harden the arteries and lead to a heart attack or stroke while more than 44 percent did not even know high cholesterol had no symptoms.
For a quick look back at biology 101, cholesterol is a soft, fat-like, waxy substance found in the bloodstream and in all the body’s cells. Cholesterol is normal and an important part of a healthy body because it is used for producing cell membranes and some hormones, and serves other necessary bodily functions.
However, too much cholesterol in the blood is a major risk for coronary heart disease, which leads to heart attacks and strokes.
Cholesterol cannot dissolve in the blood. It has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as “bad” cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as “good” cholesterol. These two types of lipids contribute to the total cholesterol count, which can be determined through a blood test. High cholesterol can be hereditary or linked to a person’s weight or consumption of fatty foods.
“It is very important to have a level of total cholesterol less than 200,” Schmits said. “A desirable level of LDL (bad cholesterol) is less than 100 and essentially for women, an HDL (good cholesterol) of 50 or higher is considered to be in good shape and have a low risk of a cardiovascular disease.”
Further demonstrating the lack of cholesterol knowledge, half of the women surveyed incorrectly identified HDL as “bad” cholesterol. And approximately 35 percent were surprised to learn dangerous cholesterol levels can still affect people who exercise and eat a healthy diet, which indicates a low awareness of how genetics play a significant role.
Knowing the facts about cholesterol can reduce the risk for a heart attack or stroke, but understanding what cholesterol is and how it affects the health is only the beginning. Debra Heathman, interdisciplinary studies senior, took her first cholesterol test at age 23 “just out of curiosity.” Heathman had no idea the results were going to change her nutrition lifestyle.
“When I got to college I didn’t work out as much as I did in high school,” Heathman said. “But I was never worried about what I was eating and I never thought that I would have bad cholesterol even though I knew a little bit about it.”
Though heart disease is the leading cause of death in American women, college-age females believe breast cancer is a more serious threat. According to the survey, 47 percent of respondents of the survey were worried about heart disease while 58 percent worried about breast cancer, a disease that affects far fewer women. Half of the survey’s respondents were surprised to learn heart attacks kill six times as many women as breast cancer.
“After I actually read the test results, I was surprised and I knew I had to do something about it,” Heathman said. “I had to learn to eat celery, raw veggies, and I also found myself a workout partner. I learned that I could still eat the same foods I had always eaten at times, but I did have to change how much I ate and include some healthier nutrition.”
When it came to knowing about ways to help control cholesterol, almost all of the young women understood exercise can play a part in fighting high cholesterol, with just about as many knowing that eating more fruits and vegetables and eating foods low in fat can contribute to a healthier heart. Nearly a quarter of women, however, did not know quitting smoking can help control cholesterol.
“Since there are no specific signs about having bad cholesterol, early detection is recommended along with keeping a healthy balanced diet and exercising,” said James Whitley, a nurse practitioner at the Central Texas Medical Clinic. “A person can be a marathon runner, but if heart disease runs in the family, it is never too early to do something about cholesterol.”
Whitley said he did not get too many patients that went in with intentions of getting a blood test to check on their cholesterol numbers, but he often suggests it to women so they can become aware and take necessary action if needed.
“Getting a blood test for cholesterol is something to do even if the person is not overweight,” said Karen Gordon-Sosby, assistant director at the Student Health Center. “Last year, only 50 people came into our labs to check on their cholesterol numbers, which is not a big number considering the large number of students here at Texas State. Knowing your body inside and out is very important.”