Women unaware of heart disease rate

Almost two thirds of women (65%) are not aware that heart disease is the main cause of death among females, according to new research released.

The study also found that more than three quarters (78%) of British women have no idea they are at greatest risk once they have gone through the menopause.

Almost half (47%) of respondents thought the decline in oestrogen as a result of the menopause either had not effect on, or reduced, cholesterol levels.

In fact it often causes an increase in the amount of cholesterol in the blood and 88% of women aged 55-64 have high levels, health food product company Benecol said.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is produced as a normal function of the body to help make cell membranes, insulate nerves and produce certain hormones.

But the problems occur when there are more cholesterol transporters called low density lipoproteins in the blood than the body needs because they dump the excess substance in tissues such as the walls of coronary arteries where it can harm the heart.

Heart disease accounts for 275 deaths in the UK every day, according to the British Heart Foundation. But the research found some 64% of women do not know that high cholesterol is one of the primary causes of the disease.

Benecol has launched a campaign - Women Against Cholesterol - in a bid to raise understanding of the risks. Women will be able to have their cholesterol levels tested for free and receive advice when the campaign tours shopping centres in Bristol, Oxford, Birmingham and Leeds next month.

Dr Rosemary Leonard, GP and women's health expert, said: "It is essential that we help women to understand the influences and risks associated with high cholesterol and heart disease - it is after all, the biggest killer of women in the UK, killing around 50,000 women a year.

"Many women wrongly believe that men are more prone to high cholesterol, when in fact women over the age of 55 have a higher average cholesterol level than men of the same age."

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