According to a barometer conducted by OpinionWay for Danacol and the Alliance du Cœur, the French are widely informed of the dangers of hypercholesterolemia. But between feelings of invulnerability, lack of screening and lack of knowledge of concrete solutions, prevention remains insufficient. A situation that worries those involved in cardiovascular health.
A silent disease that progresses in the shadows
Cholesterol doesn’t hurt. It causes no discomfort or visible symptoms. This is precisely what makes him formidable. In France, one in four adults has excess cholesterol. After age 65, this proportion increases to one in two people. However, despite this high frequency, hypercholesterolemia often remains relegated to the background of health concerns.
The mechanism is, however, well known. When LDL cholesterol — often referred to as “bad cholesterol” — circulates in excess in the blood, it gradually accumulates on the walls of the arteries. Over the years, these deposits promote their shrinkage and increase the risk of myocardial infarction or stroke.
According to the data recalled in the press release, up to 80% of cardiovascular diseases could be avoided by acting on the main risk factors, including hypercholesterolemia. And yet, the subject remains underestimated.
The OpinionWay barometer carried out among 1,050 French people aged 35 to 65 highlights a striking reality: 43% of those questioned consider that hypercholesterolemia is still a subject that is too underestimated in our country. A perception which reflects a deeper paradox: the French know the dangers of cholesterol, but this knowledge does not always translate into preventive behavior.
Informed but inactive: the great French paradox
The survey figures paint the portrait of a well-informed but insufficiently mobilized population.
- Thus, 90% of French people surveyed consider excess cholesterol dangerous for their health. Yet, at the same time, 32% say they have never sought testing;
- As is often the case with silent chronic illnesses, the absence of symptoms maintains the illusion of being spared. Nearly three people in ten (29%) do not feel concerned by the subject;
- Added to this is a lack of practical information. More than a third of respondents (36%) admit to not knowing concretely how to reduce their cholesterol.
These results illustrate a phenomenon well known to prevention specialists: knowing about a risk is not always enough to change your habits.
For Philippe Thébault, president of the Alliance du Cœur, the challenge now is to transform awareness into action. In this context, Danacol is joining forces with the Heart Alliance to raise awareness of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases to better prevent and support those affected:
“For more than thirty years, the Alliance du Cœur has been fighting to ensure that cardiovascular prevention is taken seriously in France. Cardiovascular diseases remain the leading cause of death in France. Our partnership with Danacol is part of this logic: supporting concrete proposals, scientifically validated, which allow everyone to act on their cholesterol on a daily basis.”.
Faced with this observation, the question is no longer just about raising awareness, but about helping everyone find simple and sustainable solutions to implement.
From prevention to everyday actions: how to regain control of your cholesterol
The good news is that the French are relatively good at identifying the most effective levers.
- According to the study, 86% consider that a better diet is a relevant way to reduce their cholesterol;
- A third of respondents also cite specific food solutions as a concrete tool for action.
For health professionals, the message remains unchanged: cardiovascular prevention is primarily based on a global approach combining a balanced diet, regular physical activity, smoking cessation and appropriate medical monitoring. In this context, certain foods enriched with plant sterols can constitute a supplement for people affected by hypercholesterolemia.
Danacol recalls in particular that the effectiveness of plant sterols in reducing blood cholesterol has been recognized by the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). According to the data cited in the press release, daily consumption can allow a reduction in cholesterol of between 7% and 10% in two to three weeks within the framework of the conditions of use validated by the European authorities.
Basically, the main lesson of this investigation goes far beyond the question of cholesterol. She reminds us that major cardiovascular diseases do not only occur in hospital departments or medical offices. They are also built, day after day, in lifestyle habits, food choices and screening appointments that we sometimes postpone for too long.
In a country where nearly one in four French people are affected by excess cholesterol, the real challenge is no longer to convince people of the seriousness of the problem. It is now time to transform knowledge into action, before the silence of the disease gives way to its consequences.