Better Nutrition January 2020

NEWS*BITES
BY VERA TWEED
The Cholesterol Question
What is high cholesterol? The answer can be confusing because it depends
on an individual’s overall health situation. Cholesterol is one of the markers
used to estimate risk for cardiovascular disease, but its impact on your
health depends on additional factors.
If you’ve already had a heart attack or stroke, or have stents, your cholesterol
status must be evaluated by a doctor. Otherwise, if you’re between the ages
of 40 and 79, there’s a formula—created by the American Heart Association
and the American College of Cardiology—to calculate whether your cholesterol
level is unhealthy.
The formula uses age, gender, race, cholesterol and blood pressure readings,
diabetes status, and smoking status to produce an atherosclerotic cardiovascular
disease (ASCVD) score. This score estimates your risk of heart disease
or stroke in the next 10 years. For example, a score below 5 means low
risk—odds of less than 5 in 100. But a score over 20 means high risk.
Depending on your ASCVD score, plus family history and other health
conditions, your cholesterol level may or may not need lowering. For example,
if your father had coronary artery disease before age 55, or your mother
did before age 65, or if you have an inflammatory disease, kidney disease,
or metabolic syndrome, risk is higher, even if the ASCVD score is low.
If a cholesterol-lowering drug is indicated, medical guidelines call for
doctors to discuss individual risk, lifestyle, ways to improve health, and a
patient’s preferences before writing a prescription.
How to Calculate Your Score
Online calculators are designed for
people between the ages of 40 and
79 who haven’t had a heart attack or
stroke and whose total cholesterol is
not above 320. The simplest one to use
can be found at cvriskcalculator.com.
You’ll need to know:
**
**
**
**
Your total cholesterol level
Your HDL cholesterol level
Your systolic blood pressure number
Your diastolic blood pressure
number
**
Whether or not you have diabetes
Tests to determine these factors are
routinely performed during health
check-ups.
Photo: ivector/adobestock.com
8 • JANUARY 2020