Taking care of our health and prevention has never been more important than now when we’re confined to our homes. High cholesterol statistics regularly inform us about this health issue’s gravity, which is present in great numbers worldwide.
Contrary to popular myths, cholesterol levels don’t necessarily have to be connected to one’s weight. People can have genetic predispositions for the condition, or it can simply be caused by an unhealthy lifestyle. Reasons for its occurrence vary.
If you’d like to see an overview of some of the most interesting, informative, and a bit alarming stats and facts on cholesterol you should know in 2022, just keep scrolling!
Top Ten High Cholesterol Statistics for 2022
- Over 50% of the adult population in high-income countries is affected by high cholesterol.
- When it comes to high cholesterol, death statistics show that elevated cholesterol takes 2.6 million lives worldwide every year.
- High cholesterol facts reveal that not all cholesterol is unhealthy: science differentiates between “good” and “bad” cholesterol.
- The American Heart Association recommends that all 20-year-olds and older adults check cholesterol levels every 4–6 years.
- High cholesterol lab values that reached 240 mg/dL or higher levels boost the heart disease risk by 200%.
- Food high in cholesterol, saturated and trans fats cause the liver to create excessive amounts of cholesterol.
- High cholesterol and hypertension in young adults increase the likelihood of suffering from heart disease in the future.
- High cholesterol population statistics suggest that it can affect anyone—children, adults, women, and men—even if they’re slim.
- Most recent research suggests that, for most people, dietary cholesterol isn’t linked to high blood cholesterol levels.
- West Virginia is the state with the highest cholesterol in the US, with nearly 40% of the adult population struggling with this condition.
High Cholesterol Statistics Worldwide
High cholesterol poses a severe threat to one’s health, and it affects people worldwide. However, some differences are connected to various life conditions, so let’s analyze this a bit further.
1. When it comes to high cholesterol, death statistics show that elevated cholesterol takes 2.6 million lives worldwide every year.
(WHO)
More specifically, this is 4.5% of all premature deaths. Raised cholesterol levels also account for 2% of all disability-adjusted life years. That’s nearly 30 million DALYS annually.
- Raised cholesterol is accountable for about 33% of ischemic heart disease cases.
(WHO)
Judging by WHO statistics on high cholesterol, the condition affects both developed and developing countries. It increases the risk of stroke and ischemic heart disease. It poses a significant threat to a large portion of the world’s population.
3. Over 50% of the adult population in high-income countries is affected by high cholesterol.
(WHO)
In analyzing wealthier countries and their success in dealing with high cholesterol, WHO statistics show a connection between income and the number of people affected by this condition in a given country.
Wealthier countries tend to have a significantly higher percentage of individuals with elevated cholesterol. In comparison, in low-income countries, that percentage stays around 25%. In contrast, middle-income countries fall in between, with about 33% of adults affected.
4. High cholesterol statistics show that the prevalence of high mean cholesterol in adults reduces by less than 0.1 mmol/L per decade.
(WHO)
In 2008, 37% of male and 40% of female adults had high cholesterol levels. The global median percentage of raised cholesterol was approximately 39% for all adults.
When discussing specific demographics with high cholesterol, we should mention that, at the time, Europe was the most affected continent, followed by the Americas. Southeast Asia and Africa had significantly lower prevalence levels. Here are their respective percentages:
- Europe – 54%
- Americas – 48%
- WHO Southeast Asian Region – 29%
- WHO African region – 22.6%
5. Race and cholesterol are connected—total cholesterol levels vary based on race and ethnicity.
(CDC)
Many things, such as the inevitability of aging, can increase the risk of elevated cholesterol. For example, stats show that between 2015 and 2016, the high total cholesterol prevalence in non-Hispanic white females was at 14.8%, while with Hispanic women, the prevalence was lower—9%.
High Cholesterol Statistics in America
Apart from struggling with a rampant obesity pandemic, the US seems to be facing the same situation with high cholesterol in the future unless it reacts fast. Here are some important facts and numbers you should keep in mind.
6. West Virginia is the state with the highest cholesterol in the US, with nearly 40% of the adult population struggling with this condition.
(American Health Rankings)
On the other hand, Utah is the healthiest state, where 28.6% of the adult population is affected by high blood cholesterol levels. These results come from the CDC and its high cholesterol statistics from 2017.
7. About 28.5 million adults in America have high total cholesterol, statistics show.
(American Health Rankings)
These statistics are frightening because high cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease, which is the number-one cause of premature death in America. Elevated cholesterol levels also increase the chances of having a stroke, which is the fifth most prominent cause of death in the US.
8. The American Heart Association recommends that all 20-year-olds and older adults check cholesterol levels every 4–6 years.
(American Health Rankings)
If your test results indicate raised cholesterol, you must learn what’s considered good food for high cholesterol. Smart food choices include (but are not limited to) beans, nuts, seafood, vegetables, and whole grains. In contrast, greasy and sugar-loaded foods, red meat, and highly processed foods should absolutely be avoided.
The Most Common High Cholesterol Myths and Facts
As we’ve mentioned, the most common is undoubtedly the myth that bodyweight indicates someone’s cholesterol level. But there are a lot more we’re about to debunk now.
9. High cholesterol lab values suggest that high triglyceride levels are not dependent on or indicative of LDL and HDL levels.
(BHF)
What this means is that you can have high cholesterol and normal triglycerides levels, and vice-versa. Triglycerides also narrow artery walls, increasing various health risks.
Food high in cholesterol and triglycerides mainly includes sugary and fatty products and meals. Drinking too much alcohol can also impact triglycerides.
10. High cholesterol facts reveal that not all cholesterol is unhealthy: science differentiates between “good” and “bad” cholesterol.
(CDC)
High-density lipoprotein or HDL is often called good cholesterol. In contrast, low-density lipoprotein or LDL is the infamous bad cholesterol. The good cholesterol first absorbs, then carries that cholesterol to the liver. The liver then disposes of it, flushing it out of the organism.
While elevated LDL levels raise the risk of stroke and heart disease, higher HDL levels reduce it. These are some of the most critical high cholesterol facts to bear in mind.
11. High cholesterol contributes to the occurrence of atherosclerosis, according to the recent cholesterol and stroke statistics.
(American Heart Association)
Cholesterol continually moves through the bloodstream. However, excess LDL sticks to the walls of blood vessels and narrows them. This narrowing and lack of flexibility in arteries can develop into a condition called atherosclerosis.
Furthermore, a blood clot can form in these blood vessels, increasing heart attack, or stroke risk.
12. High cholesterol lab values that reached 240 mg/dL or higher levels boost the heart disease risk by 200%.
(American Health Rankings)
Here’s why these high cholesterol statistics are relevant: elevated levels of bad cholesterol can form plaque within the arteries, which inhibits blood flow and the distribution of oxygen in the body. It can also lead to the clogging of a coronary artery, causing a heart attack. In case of compromised blood flow to the brain, a person can have a stroke.
13. Food high in cholesterol, saturated and trans fats cause the liver to create excessive amounts of cholesterol.
(American Heart Association)
The liver itself produces the cholesterol the human body needs. However, when we eat a particular kind of food, we introduce additional fats, bringing normal cholesterol levels to a tipping point. Food high in cholesterol includes (but isn’t limited to) coconut oil, palm oil, and other tropical oils, often used in baked goods.
14. Most recent research suggests that, for most people, dietary cholesterol isn’t linked to high blood cholesterol levels.
(Healthline)
Dietary cholesterol comes from foods like meat, dairy products, poultry, and so on. Typically, it doesn’t affect blood cholesterol levels—however, the so-called hyper responders or people whose cholesterol levels spike when they consume high cholesterol food.
15. High cholesterol population statistics suggest that it can affect anyone—children, adults, women, and men—even if they’re slim.
(American Heart Association)
There are many myths about high cholesterol. We decided to disprove some of the most wide-spread ones with recent facts about cholesterol. Even though overweight people have higher chances of elevated blood cholesterol, it doesn’t mean that slim people are immune to it.
Regardless of your gender, age, diet, and weight, you should do blood tests regularly to check your cholesterol levels. Nevertheless, exercising, eating healthy, and avoiding harmful substances is always recommended.
16. High cholesterol and hypertension in young adults increase the likelihood of suffering from heart disease in the future.
(NIH)
When it comes to hypertension and high cholesterol, the facts we’re faced with are quite gloomy. Young adults affected by high cholesterol have 64% higher chances of suffering from coronary heart disease at a later point.
High systolic blood pressure increases the risk of heart failure by 37%. In comparison, elevated diastolic blood pressure during young adulthood increases that risk by 21%.
17. In the last 25 years, cholesterol-lowering medication has led to a significant decrease in high cholesterol prevalence.
(American Health Rankings)
Besides medication, people should know what food to avoid when having high cholesterol issues. This includes food with added sugars, red meat, solid fats, and refined grains. Losing weight and exercising also helps. If a person with high cholesterol is a smoker, they should eliminate that habit as soon as possible.
FAQ
What is high cholesterol?
When someone has high cholesterol levels, it means they have excess fatty substances in their blood. This excess of fat, i.e., high cholesterol, can be triggered by several things.
Some people have hereditary predispositions for it, some get it from being overweight, smoking, or drinking excessively. Sometimes, a sedentary lifestyle without enough exercise can cause high cholesterol too.
(NHS)
What percentage of the population has high cholesterol?
The US is one of the leading countries with high cholesterol prevalence. About 95 million Americans over the age of 20 have elevated total cholesterol levels.
Children and adolescents are not as affected—around 7% of the age group have this condition. Lower statistics for children may be a consequence of their healthier lifestyle. It doesn’t involve drinking and smoking, and parents are particularly careful about their kids’ nutrition.
(CDC)
Who is most affected by high cholesterol?
As you’ve already seen from our facts about high cholesterol, adults are the most vulnerable category. The older we get, the higher the chances are of having this condition. Those at the highest risk are 55-year-old women or older and 45-year-old men or older.
They’re also more likely to have heart disease and high blood pressure—a potential danger often related to immoderate consumption of salt. More than 90% of Americans use salt excessively.
(WebMD)
Can you die of high cholesterol?
High blood cholesterol raises the risk of suffering from heart disease or having a stroke, which, as mentioned previously, are among the top five causes of premature death in America (with heart disease unquestionably being the first).
So, high cholesterol can lead to or contribute to these extremely life-threatening conditions. If left unchecked, it can cause many health issues, so regular blood tests are recommended, especially since high cholesterol has no visible symptoms.
(CDC)
What is a normal cholesterol range for adults?
For people aged 19 or younger, total cholesterol levels reaching 170 mg/dL and above are considered to be high. For adults, high cholesterol numbers are those above 200 mg/dL—the healthy total cholesterol range would be between 125 mg/dL and 200 mg/dL.
(Medline Plus)
Is 200 total cholesterol high?
Such total cholesterol levels are considered to be the borderline between healthy and high levels. In fact, anywhere between 200 mg/dL and 239 mg/dL is seen as the in-between zone.
We do need specific amounts of cholesterol in our blood, but reaching these numbers is potentially dangerous. When you do a test, professionals check how much your total cholesterol is right and how much of it is bad cholesterol.
(WebMD)
Conclusion
High cholesterol is no joking matter because it can have severe consequences for one’s health. Although the high cholesterol statistics we’ve shared with you are alarming, they’re not irreparable.
Raising high cholesterol awareness is the first step toward battling the condition in 2022. Doing a simple blood test once in a while can save a life. Adults need to pay special attention to their cholesterol levels because they’re more likely to have it as they age.
High cholesterol lab values can be scary, but they provide us with essential information if we want to take good care of our overall health. Make sure to spread the word, and feel free to leave us a comment below if there’s anything you’d like to add.
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