Heart Disease In Men and Cholesterol

At this point, things are beginning to thin out somewhat. A raised cholesterol level does not cause strokes, but a low cholesterol level may well do. A raised cholesterol level does not increase overall mortality, but a low cholesterol level does. A raised cholesterol level does not cause heart disease in women. What is left? Does a raised cholesterol level cause heart disease in men? Here are two facts with which I fully agree.

Their average blood pressure is 125/77, considerably lower than men in the US. Their average HDL level is 1.1 mmol/I, which is 0.2mmol/llower than the UK. Their average body mass index (BMI) is 23.2, which makes them considerably less obese than British men. The only conventional risk factor where they truly lead the way is smoking, which stands at just over 80 per cent. (Slightly higher than the rate in Japan where, incidentally, the rate of heart disease is 20 times lower. That is right, 20 times.)

The main reason for bringing up the Australian Aboriginals is to compare and contrast their rate of heart disease, and average cholesterol levels. This study has been going on for ages now. It was set up by the who to look at heart disease rates and risk factors around the world.