Following on from World Heart Day on the 29th September, October is National Cholesterol Month, a campaign by HEART UK which aims to raise awareness on the importance of maintaining a healthy cholesterol level.

High cholesterol is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Yet despite around half of UK adults having raised cholesterol, many do not realise they have it. In fact, recent research showed that almost a third of the UK population have never had their cholesterol levels checked, leaving a large number of potential diagnoses undetected. This means it’s especially important to build understanding and knowledge on the risks of high cholesterol.

Increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) increases with age, however, the escalation of that risk may happen earlier than previously thought. In fact, the current 10 year CVD risk scores may insufficiently detect long term CVD risk in younger individuals.

Lowering LDL cholesterol earlier in life, and maintaining optimal levels throughout adulthood, could help to prevent coronary heart disease events and lower long term risk of cardiovascular disease. Even small reductions in cholesterol early in life have the potential to make a significant impact.

In addition to younger adults, awareness may also need to be raised for other at risk groups including those with a family history of premature heart disease, post-menopausal women, individuals with Type 2 diabetes and overweight/obese individuals.