#TBT: National Cheeseburger Day & National Cholesterol Education Month

As part of our “Throwback Thursday” blog series, we’re taking a look at a topic that’s currently in the news and tagging it with previous research, videos or commentaries in a relevant way. As the saying goes, “what’s old is new again” – and we hope you enjoy our wonky twist on #TBT.

It’s somewhat ironic that National Cheeseburger Day falls on September 18, during the same month designated as National Cholesterol Education Month. So if you’re jamming to Jimmy Buffett’s “Cheeseburger in Paradise” as you’re grilling a delicious burger, it’s also important to keep in mind a few important health issues. Indulging in a juicy cheeseburger is fine in moderation, but consuming too much saturated fat can result in high cholesterol levels.

The leading cause of death among Americans is heart disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and people with high cholesterol have approximately twice the risk of heart disease as people with optimal levels (lower than 200 mg/dL). The number of American adults (71 million) affected by high cholesterol makes up over a third of the population. That’s why the goal of National Cholesterol Education Month is to teach individuals about how to prevent, manage and monitor cholesterol levels.

This isn’t the first time that the National Pharmaceutical Council (NPC) has called attention to cholesterol issues. In 2001, NPC partnered with the American Heart Association to create a brochure, “A Closer Look at High Cholesterol,” (and our Throwback Thursday pick) that looked at the factors influencing drug spending for the treatment of high cholesterol.

“A Closer Look at High Cholesterol” mentions the (then) most recent guidelines that projected “the number of patients on prescribed low-cholesterol diets is expected to increase from 52 million to about 65 million, and the number of patients prescribed a cholesterol-lowering drug is expected to increase from 13 million to about 36 million.”

The cholesterol guidelines are continuing to evolve. Last November, the American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology released updated cardiovascular prevention guidelines. These guidelines also urge doctors to focus on four major areas: cholesterol, lifestyle, obesity and risk assessment (see the infographic “What Guidelines Mean to You”).

Earlier this week, the National Lipid Association (NLA) released new recommendations about cholesterol to reduce and prevent cardiovascular events. The recommendations shift away from statins, and emphasize a more comprehensive measure of atherogenic cholesterol, which is a substance known to thicken and harden arteries, and cause arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease. The NLA used clinical trial results, epidemiology, and more, to determine the guidelines. 

“A Closer Look at High Cholesterol” is one brochure in a series that NPC published from 2001-2002. Other conditions covered in the series include high blood pressure, diabetes, depression, arthritis, asthma and allergies. If you’re planning to enjoy a cheeseburger today, remember moderation is key!