Key points:
- Women don’t seem to realise that they are nine times more at risk of developing a heart condition than breast cancer.
- Women are also notoriously bad at getting their cholesterol checked.
As cholesterol-related deaths continue to rise, South Africans need to start managing their cholesterol levels far more proactively if they wish to extend their lifespan. Women are particularly bad at checking their cholesterol levels, in part because they tend to be under the erroneous impression that heart disease is predominantly a ‘male’ condition. Of concern is that, according to The Department of Health (DoH), one in four South African women will develop some form of heart condition before the age of 60[1]. As the Heart and Stroke Foundation SA (HSFSA) points out, many South African women don’t seem to realise that they are nine times more likely to develop a heart condition than breast cancer [2].
It’s a dire situation that is getting worse! The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that cardiovascular disease is the largest single cause of mortality among women, accounting for a third of all deaths in women worldwide every year [3]. The HSFSA’s analysis of recent trends has also led them to predict that premature deaths due to heart and blood vessel diseases among South Africans of working age (35 – 64 years) will increase by 41% between 2007 and 2030 [4].
Screening is crucial
While breast cancer screening is important for all women in South Africa, a high risk of heart disease raises the importance of cholesterol checks too. And, with a high prevalence of familial high blood cholesterol in some local communities, everyone should have their cholesterol checked at least in early adulthood, with the latest US guidelines even suggesting that children should be checked.
The good news is that blood cholesterol tests no longer need to be done after fasting. Various studies have demonstrated that lipid profiles change minimally in response to normal food intake, rendering the concept now obsolete.
Supplements to help lower your cholesterol
RyChol contains a blend of plant-derived (phytochemical) ingredients all shown to help reduce blood cholesterol levels in a unique and individual manner. Its multi-modal pharmaceutical action is through the selective blocking of various biochemical pathways that are involved in saturated fat digestion and cholesterol absorption, as well as cholesterol excretion.
Whilst there is little scientific evidence to prove, for example, that by taking vitamins each day you can make a measurable difference to your health and life expectancy, overwhelming statistical evidence proves that by lowering your cholesterol, you can extend your life expectancy significantly. Besides stopping smoking, this basic step should therefore be viewed as one of the ultimate anti-ageing strategies that you could possibly invest in. Read more about RyChol
1. The South African Department of Health (DoH). 1998. -www.heartfoundation.co.za/health/women
2. World Health Organization (WHO). The world health report, 2004: changing history. WHO, Geneva, 2004. bb
