Cholesterol Awareness Month: Americans Urged to Seek Early Intervention

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- September is Cholesterol
Awareness Month. The National Lipid Association (NLA) notes that recent
controversies over perceived failures in drug trials, Tim Russert's sudden
death, and the issue of early recognition and treatment of dyslipidemia in
children have all led to increased attention on cholesterol and lipid
management.
The NLA views these developments as reinforcing the importance of a
lifelong commitment to a healthy lifestyle to prevent cardiovascular disease,
and drug therapy when appropriate. The Association urges patients to get an
early start on managing their cholesterol. Despite controversy that has arisen
about recent lipid-lowering trials, the preponderance of evidence indicates
that lipid-lowering medications extend lives and improve the quality of life
for dyslipidemic patients. The tragic loss of Tim Russert showed that
aggressive therapies begun after the progression of cardiovascular disease are
sometimes "too little too late." In the case of new guidelines for children at
risk, we see the critical importance of starting the fight against heart
disease early in life with proper screening, diet and exercise.
The relationship between cholesterol and heart disease has never been more
clear, and patients need to be familiar with the established guidelines for
lipid levels. Current studies show that among patients at higher risk, fewer
than one in five are within guidelines. The NLA strongly recommends patients
to stay with their treatment plan and to those who have lapsed, the
Association urges them to continue therapy and attain their goal.
Depending on your age and current health outlook, there are only a few
numbers you need to know-your total cholesterol, "bad" and "good" cholesterol,
and triglycerides. Websites such as www.learnyourlipids.com have more
information, and your health care professional may have additional advice. You
can't change your age or family history, but if you smoke, you can stop. If
you have high cholesterol and blood pressure, these can be managed. As for
losing weight, even modest reductions and small increases in the amount of
physical activity can pay big health dividends.
"People need to know where they stand with respect to reaching their
cholesterol and triglyceride targets," says Dr. Thomas Bersot, president of
the NLA. "They need to know their numbers and reduce their risk of
cardiovascular disease."
SOURCE National Lipid Association

Daniel Sosnoski, Director of Communications, National Lipid Association,
+1-904-998-0854, dsosnoski@lipid.org