Practical Prevention—Cholesterol Counts for Women and Seniors Too
En Español (Spanish Version)
Most people know that middle-aged men with
high cholesterol
levels are prone to
heart attacks. What many people don't seem to understand is that cholesterol is just as dangerous for women and people over age 65.
In the US,
coronary heart disease
is the leading killer of women, as well as men. About equal numbers of both sexes contribute to the toll of over 500,000 deaths each year from heart disease. There are some differences, though. For instance, men tend to develop heart attacks earlier, while women usually don't experience them until later in life.
Women rapidly catch up with men with respect to heart disease during
menopause. The female sex hormone estrogen tends to raise HDL (good cholesterol). A woman produces the most estrogen during her childbearing years. When she enters menopause, her body produces less estrogen. At this time the ample levels of HDL that seem to protect younger women take a nosedive. Other blood fats such as triglycerides and LDL (bad cholesterol) may start to skyrocket. As a result, about 75% of women over age 55 have unhealthy levels of cholesterol as compared to only 25% of younger women. These changes at least partly explain why a woman's risk of heart attack more than doubles after menopause.
Research suggests that cholesterol treatment is at least as effective in preventing heart disease in women and seniors as it is in younger men. It is just as important for women and seniors to monitor their cholesterol levels and make the lifestyle changes that will help them to lower their LDL cholesterol and raise their HDL cholesterol.
Current guidelines recommend aggressive drug therapy and lifestyle changes for seniors, with careful attention to individual circumstances. In addition, the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) advises all adults aged 20 years or older to have their cholesterol checked at least once every five years. This should include a fasting blood test for total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides.
Do you know your cholesterol levels? Have you had them tested recently? Check out the tables below to see what the normal and desirable ranges are for each type of cholesterol and triglycerides.
Total cholesterolLess than 200 mg/dL (5.2 mmol/L)Desirable200-239 mg/dL (5.2-6.1 mmol/L)Borderline high240 or higher (6.2 mmol/L)High
mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter (mmol/L = millimoles per liter)
LDL (bad) cholesterolLess than 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L)Optimal100-129 mg/dL (2.6-3.3 mmol/L)Near optimal/above optimal130-159 mg/dL (3.4-4.0 mmol/L)Borderline high160-189 mg/dL (4.1-4.8 mmol/L)High190 mg/dL (4.9 mmol/L) or higherVery high
mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter (mmol/L = millimoles per liter)
HDL (good) cholesterolLess than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L)Low60 mg/dL or higher (1.6 mmol/L)Desirable
mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter (mmol/L = millimoles per liter)
TriglyceridesLess than150 mg/dL (1.7 mmol/L)Normal150-199 mg/dl (1.7-2.2 mmol/L)Borderline high200 or higher (2.3 mmol/L)High500 or higher (5.7 mmol/L)Very high
mg/dL = milligrams per deciliter (mmol/L = millimoles per liter)
If you have unhealthy amounts of cholesterol or other fats in your blood, the guidelines advise treatment based on your level of risk. The most aggressive therapy is warranted for those at highest risk for heart disease, says NCEP. This includes people with the following conditions:
- Established coronary heart disease
- Hardening of the arteries
-
History of a
stroke
or warning stroke
- Diabetes
Lifestyle changes or cholesterol-lowering drugs are also recommended if you have two or more factors that accentuate your risk. These are the factors:
- Age: Men over 45 and women over 55
- Cigarette smoking
- High blood pressure
(even if controlled)
- HDL (good) cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL (1.0 mmol/L)
- Family history of premature heart disease (in a brother or father under age 55, or a sister or mother under age 65)
Ask your healthcare provider about your cholesterol. It really counts—for women and men of all ages—when it comes to preventing heart disease.
American Heart Association
National Cholesterol Education Program
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada
At-a-glance: what yo uneed to know about high blood cholesterol. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute website. Available at: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/chol/cholesterol_atglance.pdf. Accessed September 16, 2011.
NCEP ATP III guidelines. EBSCO DynaMed website. Available at: http://www.ebscohost.com/dynamed/. Accessed September 16, 2011.
Women and cholesterol. American Heart Association website. Available at: http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/UnderstandYourRiskforHighCholesterol/Women-and-Cholesterol_UCM_305565_Article.jsp. Updated June 14, 2011. Accessed September 19, 2011.
Last Reviewed September 2011