Heart Health Risks Rising In Rural America

February is American Heart Month.  Despite recent medical advancements, heart disease is the number one killer of men and women in the U.S. and worldwide.  Sheldon Koenig, president and CEO of Esperion Therapeutics, said rural populations have higher rates of cholesterol than urban people.

“A study from the American Heart Association says cardiovascular conditions like stroke and heart failure are leading to higher death rates. The situation appears worse for people living in rural counties in the U.S., where cardiovascular mortality is rising.”

Koenig knows first-hand how important regular cholesterol testing can be and now takes a treatment to control his cholesterol.  He said cholesterol can be a silent killer.

“High LDL, or bad, cholesterol typically doesn’t produce any notable symptoms," he noted.  "That means people can have significantly high levels without realizing it, potentially leading to serious health complications like heart attacks and strokes. The only way to figure out if there’s potential danger is to know your LDL levels through a blood test.” 

Koenig said says rural residents are often overlooked by the makers of medicines  At Esperion, he says they want to improve heart health for everyone, including people across rural America.

“People in rural areas tend to focus more on the health of their land and livestock than their own health. Uncontrolled LDL cholesterol can lead to a number of significant health risks. During American Heart Month, we encourage all rural residents to learn more about heart health and speak to their health-care providers about their risks.” 

Learn more about Esperion Science by visiting their Website.

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