$Unique_ID{BRK00344} $Pretitle{} $Title{Women, Cholesterol, and Heart Attacks} $Subject{woman cholesterol heart Blood heart attacks menopause hormones cardiovascular disease National Cholesterol Education Program low-density-lipoprotein LDL Adult Treatment Panel's} $Volume{G-7,G-26} $Log{ Cholesterol*0002700.tid How Cholesterol Levels Affect the Arteries*0002701.scf HDL Transports Cholesterol Back to the Liver*0002702.scf} Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc. Women, Cholesterol, and Heart Attacks ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ QUESTION: Correct me if I am wrong, but since women are not as prone to heart attacks as men, and since cholesterol is what causes heart attacks, then it follows that controlling cholesterol in women is not as important as in men. Do I have my facts straight? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ANSWER: I suppose your letter might be classified as "A little knowledge may be a dangerous thing" for in using facts that are half right to construct your conclusion, you have come out just about all wrong. But we can straighten it out together. You are right, women are less prone to heart attacks than men, but only when you consider the statistics before menopause. Once the protection that female hormones must afford is finished the picture changes dramatically, and within 6 to 10 years after menopause the women have caught up to the men and are suffering heart attacks at about the same rate. You are right, elevated cholesterol is a factor in heart attack and cardiovascular disease, but though very important is but one factor and can not be considered as a direct 1 to 1 relationship. The fact is that the latest report on the implications of cholesterol on health from the National Cholesterol Education Program fails to draw any distinction between men and women, and offers exactly the same guidelines about detection, evaluating and treatment of high levels of blood cholesterol for both. Blood levels of above 200 mg/dL should be confirmed by a second or third test. If the findings are over 240 mg/dL, a test for levels of low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) should be run, and its results used to guide the therapy. 160 mg/dL of LDL and above is classified as high risk, between 130-159 mg/dL is considered borderline. Appropriate therapy depends upon a variety of factors, but includes diet as a first line defense followed, when indicated, by medication. The full details of this study are contained in the Adult Treatment Panel's report, obtainable from the National Cholesterol Education Program, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, NIH, C-200, Bethesda, MD 20892 ---------------- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical problem.