![]() ![]() People aged 45 years and older are encouraged to have their cholesterol and risk for heart disease assessed. The Australian Absolute Risk Calculator can help you begin to assess your risk, but we strongly advise you discuss your risk with your GP as this tool does have limitations it doesn't take your family history into account, for example. If these risk factors are present in your life, it's even more important to keep your blood cholesterol levels in check and seek your doctor's advice. Other risk factors for heart disease include increased age, ethnicity, family history, inactivity, smoking, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and obesity. If you discover you have high cholesterol, have family members with high cholesterol, or are not sure if you're at risk, it is advisable you seek your doctor's advice. However, heart disease takes years to develop, so you can take steps to reduce your risk. This is approximately 30 per cent of all deaths in Australia, and most deaths are occurring in those aged 65 years and over. In 2017, the Australian Bureau of Statistics reported 43, 477 deaths in Australia from heart disease. If the artery becomes completely blocked, it can lead to a heart attack and stroke, which can be life threatening. If the blood vessels leading to your heart become too clogged, blood supply to your heart is reduced, which can lead to symptoms such as angina (chest pain). This diagram shows a normal artery with normal blood flow (Figure A) and an artery containing plaque build-up (Figure B). Too much cholesterol in the bloodstream can harden arteries and promote fatty deposits within these arteries, potentially leading to dangerous blockages and narrowing over time called atherosclerosis. Various factors affect blood cholesterol levels including your diet and lifestyle, body weight and genes. Your body needs a small amount of cholesterol to function, but an imbalance between different types of cholesterol in the blood increases the risk of heart disease, one of the leading chronic diseases in Australia today.Ībout ¾ of the cholesterol in your body is made in the liver and a small amount may come from the food you eat. Understanding cholesterol: How good lifestyle practices can help keep your cholesterol in check Firstly, what is cholesterol?Ĭholesterol is an essential type of fat that's carried in the blood.Īll cells in the body need cholesterol it's an essential part of cell walls in our bodies and has important roles, including to produce some hormones, maintain healthy nerve cells and in the synthesis of vitamin D. The content on this page is currently under review to ensure it reflects latest scientific evidence and guidelines. ![]()
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