1 in 3 Adults Have High Blood Pressure or High Cholesterol

A new report by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found 1 in 3 adults have high blood pressure or high cholesterol.

And 80% of adults do not control their blood pressure or high cholesterol, despite having health insurance and access to low-cost treatment.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are major risk factors for heart disease. Every year 785,000 U.S. adults have their first heart attack, another 470,000 have their second (or more) heart attack; according to previous CDC data.

The new report, appearing in Vital Signs, also found 1 in 3 adults do not get treatment for high blood pressure; 1 in 2 adults do not have their blood pressure under control; 1 in 3 adults do not get treatment for high cholesterol; and 2 in 3 adults do not have their high cholesterol under control.

A spokesperson for the CDC says we are failing to prevent cardiovascular disease, which is the number one cause of death in the U.S., more attention needs to be on prevention and better educating people.

LDL cholesterol - or "bad" cholesterol - should be less than 160 in otherwise healthy people. Blood pressure should be less than 120 over 80. The CDC says anything higher than 140 over 90 requires intervention.

Heart disease deaths vary from race to race. In 2004, CDC data revealed African Americans are more likely to die from heart disease (25.8% of deaths) than Hispanics and whites, with 22.7% and 27.5% respectively.

According to the American Heart Association, poor diet, high salt intake, lack of exercise, smoking, alcohol use, and not taking prescribed medications are all risk factors for high blood pressure and high cholesterol.

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High "Good" Cholesterol Helps Men Live Longer

Having high levels of HDL, or "good" cholesterol may help men reach their 85th birthday, claims a new study.
According to the American Heart Association, HDL cholesterol helps remove excess cholesterol from the arteries, lowering the risk of cardiovascular disease; unlike LDL, or "bad" cholesterol which clogs arteries and increases the risk of heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.
Researchers found men with higher HDL were 28% more likely to turn 85 (i.e. 28% less likely to die), compared to men with lower HDL levels.
Published in The American Journal of Cardiology, scientists analyzed medical records of 650 veterans at age 65 and then put them in groups based on their HDL levels. Researchers discovered men with low HDL were 14% less likely to live to 85 years old; 375 study participants survived to 85.
Additionally, data showed that fewer men with higher HDL cholesterol were overweight, drank too much alcohol (not more than 2 drinks per day), smoked, or had cardiovascular disease.
However, the researchers point out that it is difficult to raise HDL levels, saying that a drug eventually needs to be developed.
But some diet experts point to foods like avocados, lentils, peas, oatmeal, soybeans, and niacin containing foods - such as tomatoes, chicken breast, and mushrooms - help raise HDL cholesterol. Naicin (vitamin B3) helps block cholesterol production in the body.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide. In 2004, the World Health Organization says 1.7 million people died from cardiovascular diseases, such as stroke (5.7 million) and coronary artery disease (7.2 million).
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