MONTGOMERY, Ala. (WSFA) – As American Heart Month begins this February, a new nationwide survey reveals a surprising lack of awareness about cholesterol and heart disease, even though heart conditions remain a top killer here in Alabama and across the U.S.
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center commissioned the national survey of 1,006 adults, and the results show many Americans don’t know vital facts about cholesterol, risk factors and advanced heart screenings.
Survey highlights reveal gaps in heart health knowledge
- While 60% of people have heard of statins, the most common cholesterol-lowering drug, 61% didn’t know there are other non-statin medications that doctors can use when statins aren’t enough.
- 73% had never heard of lipoprotein(a), an inherited form of cholesterol that doesn’t respond to diet, exercise or standard therapies and can increase heart risk.
- 67% were unfamiliar with the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score, a heart scan that can reveal early artery plaque before symptoms appear.
Doctors: Know your numbers, even if you “feel fine”
Cardiologists say the lack of awareness matters, because heart disease often has no symptoms until it’s serious. Dr. Laxmi Mehta, director of Preventive Cardiology at the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center, says cardiovascular disease is still the No. 1 cause of death in the country, and it’s affecting people at younger ages.
“Most people don’t know their cholesterol or other heart numbers unless they get them checked,” Mehta said. “You may feel normal, but you could still be at risk.”
Alabama still facing major heart health challenges
Heart disease isn’t just a national problem; it’s a local one too. According to the Alabama Department of Public Health, heart disease has long been the leading cause of death in the state, with thousands of residents affected every year…