Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Yet, most people with heart disease and high cholesterol don’t have their condition under control. Learn how to take charge of your heart health with L. Reuteri NCIMB 30242 and discover the healthy lifestyle changes you can make today to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke!
Disclaimer: This post provides an overview of heart disease and cholesterol facts and statistics. It is for informational purposes only and is not meant to provide medical advice. Please talk to your doctor about your health concerns and consult them before taking any supplements or making changes to your supplement regime.
Key Facts About Cholesterol & Heart Health
- High blood cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease, which is the leading cause of death worldwide and in the US.
- High cholesterol and high blood pressure are usually symptomless, so it is important to get checked to know your status.
- There are many lifestyle changes you can make to reduce your risk of heart disease, such as staying active, eating a nutritious diet, and avoiding tobacco and alcohol.
- L. Reuteri NCIMB 30242 is the only clinically tested probiotic that supports heart health and already normal cholesterol and vitamin D levels.
If you want to read the detailed facts and stats about cholesterol and heart disease, head over to this in-depth article. This post summarizes the key information to help you take charge of your heart health today.
What You Need to Know About High Cholesterol
Cholesterol is necessary for the body to function properly, but too much of it can lead to medical complications if it is not managed.
High cholesterol can lead to heart attack, stroke, and other cardiovascular disease complications (CDC).
Most cholesterol is produced by the body, the rest comes from diet. Dietary cholesterol absorption and production vary widely among individuals, with cholesterol hyperabsorbers at the highest risk of heart disease (Kapourchali et al., 2016; Lutjohann et al., 2019).
According to WHO, globally 39% of adults have raised total cholesterol, with 38% of US adults having total cholesterol levels higher than 200 mg/dL and 12% with levels higher than 240 mg/dL (WHO; CDC; Tsao et al., 2022).
CDC data points to a wide range of prevalence of high cholesterol across US states, ranging from 28.1% in Wyoming and North Dakota to 39.5% in West Virginia (CDC).
The prevalence of high cholesterol (over 240 mg/dL) and borderline high cholesterol (over 200 mg/dL) varies between genders and races, with Non-Hispanic White women having the highest prevalence of borderline-high cholesterol (CDC).
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Checking Your Cholesterol Levels
In the US, 86.6% of adults have checked their cholesterol in the past 5 years, with the remaining checking less frequently (CDC; Tsao et al., 2022).
According to guidelines and studies, your total cholesterol should be between 100-200 mg/dL for optimal health, HDL should be <40 mg/dL (for men) and <50 mg/dL (for women) and LDL should be <100 mg/dL.
It is important to get your cholesterol levels checked regularly and to make healthy lifestyle changes to help keep your levels under control.
Medication is also available to help lower cholesterol levels in people who cannot control their levels through lifestyle changes alone.
Summary
High cholesterol is a serious health concern. Monitor your levels regularly and lead a healthy lifestyle to keep your levels in check and reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease.
What You Need to Know About Heart Disease
The human heart is the size of a fist, pumps blood throughout the body, and has four chambers. Fun fact: women have an average heartbeat of 8 beats faster than men! (Cleveland Clinic)
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the U.S. and globally, with 1 in 5 deaths being caused by heart-related issues. Additionally, an alarming 2 million heart disease complications could be prevented each year if all adults had a high level of heart health (CDC).
Men are more likely to have high blood pressure than women. Among different races, non-Hispanic black adults have the highest prevalence while non-Hispanic white adults have the best control rate (CDC).
Hypertension or high blood pressure is considered a silent killer due to its lack of warning signs and symptoms. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke and costs the U.S. $131 billion annually. Sadly, only 1 in 4 adults with high blood pressure have their condition under control (CDC).
Every 40 seconds in the U.S., someone is having a heart attack, with 805,000 people having one each year and 393,872 dying from it. Most heart attacks happen at home, and the average age of having a heart attack is 64.5 for men and 70.3 for women (AHA).
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Summary
The human heart is a fist-sized organ that pumps blood around the body and has four chambers. Heart disease leads to many deaths a year and billions of dollars in costs. Most people with high blood pressure and heart disease do not have their condition under control.
Take Control of Your Heart Health with L. Reuteri NCIMB 30242
While all these statistics may sound scary, the good news is that there are many simple steps you can take to take control of your heart health.
You can reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke by eating a healthy diet, maintaining a healthy weight, getting quality sleep, exercising, and avoiding smoking, alcohol, and stress. Laughter is also beneficial - it reduces stress and strengthens immunity! (Kaminsky et al., 2022).
On the flip side, poor sleep is the number one underrecognized risk factor for heart disease. Meanwhile, copper is the number one underrated nutrient for heart health. Keeping your copper and magnesium intake high is key to optimal heart health (DiNicolantonio et al., 2018; Evers et al., 2022).
You may also consider taking supplements such as L. Reuteri NCIMB 30242, omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, vitamin D, and garlic (Casas et al. 2018; Bronzato & Durante, 2018).
Additionally, new research suggests that plant sterols are not a good choice for most people. Unfortunately, plant sterols are still recommended by many healthcare professionals. Read why you should avoid plant sterols and share this information with your provider (Makhmudova et al., 2021; Helgadottir et al., 2020).
It is one of the few probiotics with GRAS status and is considered a heart-healthy supplement. You can read about the complete scientific research behind L. Reuteri NCIMB 30242 here.
Summary:
Eating a healthy diet, exercising, avoiding smoking, alcohol and stress, and taking supplements such as L. Reuteri NCIMB 30242, omega-3 fatty acids, CoQ10, vitamin D and garlic can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. Consider avoiding plant sterols.
Takeaway
High cholesterol and heart disease are leading causes of death and disability worldwide and in the US.
Fortunately, healthy lifestyle changes, such as eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, and taking supplements like L. Reuteri NCIMB 30242 can help reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Be sure to monitor your cholesterol levels and heart health regularly and start making healthier lifestyle choices today.
Read Next:
- 13 Hacks on How to Improve Heart Health Quickly & Naturally
- 11 Foods that Actively Lower Your Cholesterol
- 8+ Reasons to Avoid Plant Sterols (Side Effects & Risks)
- The Best Probiotic for Heart Health and Cholesterol (LRC)
Ana Aleksic, MSc Pharm
Ana is an integrative pharmacist and scientist with many years of medical writing, clinical research, and health advising experience. She loves communicating science and empowering people to achieve their optimal health. Ana has edited 800+ and written 150+ posts, some of which reached over 1 million people. Her specialties are natural remedies, women’s health, and mental health. She is also a birth doula and a strong advocate of bridging scientific knowledge with holistic medicine.
