Broadcaster Daithí O Sé has called on all those over 45 to have their cholesterol level checked the next time they visit their GP as new research from the heart and stroke charity Croí, supported by Novartis Ireland, reveals that the majority of respondents (83% ) do not mention cholesterol when thinking about their heart health.
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD ) is a silent, invisible disease that creates a large health and economic burden on society. ASCVD is caused by a fatty build up in the lining of the artery walls and is a major driver of heart attacks, strokes and death. It is often invisible or unnoticed, as most people do not experience any significant symptoms until the atherosclerotic plaque unexpectedly ruptures, causing a heart attack or stroke.
A new worldwide movement called Invisible Nation, aimed at highlighting and reducing the large number of preventable deaths from the silent, invisible atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD ), launched this week and will bring together a worldwide network of patient organisations and other stakeholders which are committed to effecting systemic change in the management of ASCVD, under the auspices of the Global Heart Hub, of which Mr Johnson is Founder and Executive Director.
In general, people don’t fully grasp the sheer scale and impact of ASCVD on healthcare systems as well as global mortality and morbidity. This is the same in Ireland, where Croí carried out research to measure and understand current levels of knowledge and awareness about atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease among those over-45 years of age in Ireland. The research showed that 60% of over-45s never heard of the term atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease which is the underlying cause of 85% of heart attack and stroke-related deaths and disability in Ireland.
“ASCVD is the underlying cause of 85% of heart and stroke-related deaths, so it is worrying that most over-45s in Ireland do not know about this risk factor. This means that there is a large ‘invisible’ cohort of the population who are not focused on reducing their chances of a heart attack or stroke, and I would encourage them to visit www.croi.ie/ascvd to learn more about ASCVD and cholesterol. It is time we put atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease higher on the political and health agenda to have a positive impact on public health in Ireland and globally,” Neil Johnson, CEO, Croí, stated.
Visit www.croi.ie/ascvd or www.invisiblenation.com or follow #InvisibleNation #ASCVD #Cholesterol for more information.
