For Immediate Release:
September 14, 2005

Contact:
Nanci Gonder
Office of Public Information
573-751-6062

Knowing your numbers is key to keeping cholesterol under control
High cholesterol is on the rise in Missouri

Know your numbers. When it comes to cholesterol, that's the advice offered by the Missouri Heart and Stroke Prevention Program. High cholesterol is on the rise in the state, and Missourians are urged to visit their doctor for a cholesterol test.

September is National Cholesterol Education Month, a good time for Missourians to have their cholesterol levels checked and make lifestyle changes that can help prevent or reduce high cholesterol. Making healthier lifestyle changes is one of the important recommendations of the Healthy Missourians Initiative, a plan led by Governor Matt Blunt to address the state's obesity epidemic and to encourage healthier lifestyles by Missourians of all ages.

“Knowing your cholesterol level can ultimately mean the difference between life and death, because high cholesterol can lead to heart disease – Missouri's number one killer,” said Judy Alexiou, manager of the Missouri Heart and Stroke Prevention Program at the Department of Health and Senior Services.

In Missouri, more than 33 percent of adults over age 18 had high blood cholesterol levels in 2003 compared to 30 percent in 1999. More men (35%) than women (32.4%) have high blood cholesterol, and the percentage of white adults (34.9%) is greater than the percentage of African- American adults (27 percent) with high cholesterol.

All adults over the age of 20 should have a blood test at least every five years to monitor their cholesterol levels.

The state health department recommends a lipoprotein profile test, which provides several important numbers, including:

• Total cholesterol level
• LDL cholesterol (commonly known as bad cholesterol) – creates the main source of buildup and blockage in the arteries
• HDL cholesterol (commonly known as good cholesterol) – helps keep cholesterol from building up in arteries
• Triglycerides – another form of fat in the blood

The lipoprotein profile test must be done after a nine to 12 hour fast. If that is not possible, a simpler test can be done that determines total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol.

A total cholesterol level of less than 200 is desirable. A level of 200 to 239 is borderline high, while a level of 240 and above is considered high.

An LDL cholesterol level of less than 100 is considered optimal. A reading of 160 to 189 is high, and a level of 190 or above is very high.

Because HDL cholesterol helps prevent a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries, an HDL level of 40 or higher is desirable.

“A high total cholesterol level has no symptoms, so a blood test is the only way to find out if you are at risk,” Alexiou said. “However, knowing your numbers is just the first step. If your cholesterol level is high, you should make some changes to decrease it.”

To reduce cholesterol levels:

• Eat a well-balanced diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol
• Eat at least five servings of fruits and vegetable every day
• Get regular physical exercise
• Maintain a healthy weight

People with high cholesterol should also visit their doctor regularly so their cholesterol level can be closely monitored.

More information and a cholesterol fact sheet can be found at www.dhss.mo.gov/heartandstroke or call 1-800-TEL-LINK (1-800-835-5465).