High Cholesterol: Many Americans With This Health Problem Not Seeking Treatment

A new report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that as many as one in eight Americans have high cholesterol.

Despite a decline in high rates over the years--which may lead to heart disease if not properly treated--researchers found that close to 44.5 percent of American adults who would likely benefit from cholesterol-lowering drugs were not on one, according to the Los Angeles Times. Furthermore, 35.5 percent of adults with high cholesterol said they weren't taking medications that could help treat the problem or working on lifestyle changes that could also make a difference--including diet and exercise.

"Nearly 800,000 people die in the U.S. each year from cardiovascular diseases - that's one in every three deaths - and high cholesterol continues to be a major risk factor," study researcher Carla Mercado, a scientist in the CDC's Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention, said in a statement. "This study reveals opportunities to reduce existing disparities through targeted patient education and cholesterol management programs."

The report also showed that minority populations were less likely to be taking cholesterol-lowering drugs than white Americans, with all types of cholesterol-lowering drugs seen in the study, but nearly 90 percent of those on a medication in the study taking a statin, the researchers say.

"This study reveals opportunities to reduce existing disparities through targeted patient education and cholesterol management programs," Carla Mercado, a CDC scientist, said in a statement.

More information regarding the findings can be seen here.

Related Articles

ADHD Diagnosed Younger, CDC Study States

Pregnancy: 1 in 10 Pregnant Women Binge Drink

For more great science stories and general news, please visit our sister site, Headlines and Global News (HNGN).