How many Americans have high cholesterol?

According to the American Heart Association more than 120 million American Adults (age 20 or older) have a total cholesterol level above 200mg/dL which is above healthy levels.  An alarming number of children are also now developing high cholesterol.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month which was launched by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 1985 to contribute to reducing the percentage of Americans with high blood cholesterol by raising awareness and understanding that high blood cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary heart disease.  The NIH also released a book “Your Guide to Lowering Your Cholesterol with Therapeutic Lifestyle Changes” or TLC.  The recommended lifestyle changes to lower your cholesterol are diet, increased physical activity and weight management.  The book is a good resource for heart healthy living.

In support of National Cholesterol Education Month, HomeHealthTesting.com is offering $3 off any cholesterol test with coupon code “heart3”.  We offer two different types of home cholesterol tests which are easy to take and very affordable.

One single comment

  1. So what makes the LDL ‘bad cholesterol’ too high?
    Firstly, we need to establish a set ‘safe level’ of both LDL and HDL combined as a total serum cholesterol reading at 200 milligrams per decilitre of blood (mg/dl). A reading above 200 indicates an increased potential for developing heart disease. A level of 200 to 239 is borderline, and those with levels over 240 are considered to be at high risk. The
    normal HDL range for adult men is 45 to 50 mg/dl, and that for women is 50 to 60 mg/dl. It should be noted that women, probably because of their higher oestrogen levels, have lower LDL and higher HDL contents than men, accounting for their lower incidence of arteriosclerosis. It is suggested that higher HDL levels, such as 70 or 80 mg/dl, may protect against heart disease. An HDL level under 35 mg/dl is considered risky. So if you have a cholesterol reading of 200, with HDL at 80 and LDL at 120, you are considered at low risk for heart disease. On the other hand, even if you have a total cholesterol level well under 200, you are still considered to be at increased risk of developing cardiovascular disease if your HDL level is under 35. In other words, as your HDL decreases, your potential for heart problems intensifies, even if your total is on the low side.