Ignorance of ‘silent killer’ that claims thousands

HALF of people in Leeds think high cholesterol is caused by drinking too much alcohol. Catherine Scott reports.

Millions of people in the UK are increasing their risk of heart disease – the UK’s biggest killer – by failing to take simple steps to lower their cholesterol, according to new research carried out by HEART UK, the cholesterol charity.

The research, which tested people on their knowledge and concerns about high cholesterol, revealed that nationally more than 40 per cent of respondents wrongly thought that raised cholesterol resulted from drinking too much, while almost 60 per cent did not know that you can inherit the condition. In Leeds 50 per cent of people thought it was a result of too much alcohol.

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Almost half the population have never had a cholesterol check and only two per cent of those surveyed named high cholesterol as their biggest health concern, even though almost one in ten fear a heart attack, to which high cholesterol is a major contributor.

According to the survey, the top health worry for people was cancer, even though heart disease is still the biggest killer in the UK.

HEART UK ambassador, Dr Chris Steele, admitted that he was shocked by the findings.

“Raised cholesterol isn’t called the silent killer for nothing and I never cease to be amazed at how few people can be bothered to find out what their cholesterol level is,” said Dr Steele.

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“It is vital that people in the UK start to take their cholesterol level seriously and I know, from my own experience, how heart disease can affect your life, whether it is caused by an unhealthy lifestyle or an inherited condition. Simple changes such as adding oats to your diet and cutting back on fried or fatty foods can make such a difference.”

Despite years of high cholesterol health warnings, huge numbers of us have not been tested, are not overly worried about it and don’t know how our diet can help reduce it.

Many people are unaware of the types of foods that could actually help them reduce their cholesterol levels and ultimately help them decrease their risk of complications from conditions such as heart disease and other circulatory disorders.

Only half of all those surveyed correctly identified that oats, being rich in soluble fibre, are an easy and affordable way to lower harmful cholesterol levels.

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Four of the top five foods thought to have a cholesterol-lowering effect, by members of the public, do not directly lower cholesterol at all and almost a fifth of people had no idea at all of which foods can do so.

HEART UK chief executive Jules Payne said: “HEART UK is passionate about helping people with raised cholesterol and the results of this survey underline the challenges we continue to face about the public’s misunderstanding of the condition and the simple changes that can save their life.

“Younger people in particular don’t think that raised cholesterol or heart disease can affect them and sadly we see too many cases of younger people who are afflicted by the condition. National Cholesterol Week gives us an opportunity to remind people that getting their cholesterol level checked may well save their life.”

More than 120,000 people in Britain have a form of inherited high cholesterol called FH which can cause premature death in those as young as 30 with only 15 per cent aware that they have the condition.

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HEART UK is the UK’s only cholesterol charity and dedicated to providing support for people with inherited and non-inherited high cholesterol. They also work with governing bodies and medical stakeholders to develop better methods of detection and treatment for cholesterol-related conditions.

The research for HEART UK and , and Hovis Hearty Oats, was carried out between August 10 and August 15, 2011 and the sample included 1,177 UK adults.

www.heartuk.org.uk

EASY WAYS TO CUT CHOLESTEROL

Simple everyday cholesterol lowering tips

Replace animal fats with vegetable fats

Include two or more slices of 50 per cent oat bread at breakfast or lunch

Start the day with a bowl of oat-based cereal such as porridge, muesli or instant oats

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Keep a handfull of unsalted almonds, walnuts, pecans or peanuts for snacks

Eat foods (such as spreads, milk, yoghurt, cheese) fortified with plant sterols and stanols at mealtimes

Make one of your five-a-day a portion of beans, peas or lentils

Try soya dairy alternatives

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