Women and High Cholesterol

High Cholesterol and Women

When most people think of high cholesterol, they think of overweight men in their forties and fifties. 

Women should take a look at their cholesterol count also. 

Elevated cholesterol count is a factor for stroke death of young women, especially those of African descent.  High cholesterol, high blood pressure, and diabetes have been found the culprits in nearly all young female stroke victims in a recent study. 

Studies that were conducted in the past had a small population size and did not focus on minority women.  The most recent study turned that around to find its conclusions. The new sample size increase by twenty four thousand women and ranged in age from thirty to ninety seven.  The minority statistics increased seventeen percent for African American women and four percent for Hispanic women.  Some of these women were looked and followed for almost twenty years.  Out the twenty four thousand, five hundred and sixty eight stroke deaths were reported.  Out of those, eighty percent of the stroke deaths were caused by clots or clogging of the vessels.  This is the same result as a person how has high cholesterol.  The other ten percent were pronounced dead because of bleeding in the brain. The women in the study group were divided into four populations that were designated by their cholesterol levels.  The average cholesterol levels were between 162 and 290.  The average age of the stroke death was sixty three.  The results indicated that African American women were at higher risk then her non-African American peers.  Other factors that presented this fact were if the woman smoked, had diabetes, was obese, or had high blood pressure.

This led researchers to state that high cholesterol contributes to stroke risk is several ways.  The high cholesterol can increase atial fibrillation.  This is a disorder where at least two chambers of the heart do not beat.  They quiver instead causing a decrease in blood flow, which in turn causes a decrease in oxygen going to the brain and other body systems.  It was also reestablished that in women, as well as in men and children, high cholesterol builds plague around the vessels of the walls and restricts blood flow and oxygen levels throughout the body.

If you are a woman, do not be mislead by your gender. 

Research has now closed the gap between the ideas that high cholesterol was a male dominated disorder. 

The next time you go to the doctor, ask for blood work that will determine your cholesterol levels.  If you are obese or have a tendency to eat a lot of fast foods, your disposition is higher, and you need to go to a doctor now. 

To prevent high cholesterol in the future, eat more vegetables and less dairy and meat.  Exercise frequently and be sure to add cardio-vascular exercises into your routine.  If you are a smoker it is time to quit.  Smoking and using tobacco increases your chance for cardio related disorders or stroke.  If you do have high cholesterol, ask your doctor if medications would be a good idea for you. 

Remember high cholesterol medications are expensive and very long term.  Try diet and exercise first before considering them.  If you know that diet and exercise will not fit your lifestyle, go ahead and try the medications.  You have to get your cholesterol levels down as fast as possible to extend your life and to better improve your quality of life.