A medical study has revealed that Australian women have higher level of cholesterol as compared to males. The study looked at nearly 200,000 patients over a five year period.

The study was conducted by medical research group Baker IDI Heart and the Diabetes Institute. It confirmed that almost 80% of women between the ages of 45-64 suffer from high level of LDL or bad cholesterol.

On the other hand, 34% of the women have less than adequate levels of HDL or good cholesterol. This level is not even good enough for heart protection.

It was found that average cholesterol level for middle-aged women was 5.5 as compared to 5.3 for men.

The results of this medical study have alarmed health experts across the country. They are pointing out that this is a wake-up call especially for middle aged women. Experts feel that more awareness needs to be created about the harmful impact of high cholesterol levels on the overall health.

It is well known that there is a close link between heart disease and cholesterol levels. Heart diseases are the largest cause of death in Australian women. Almost three million women in Australia are at a risk due to the higher levels of cholesterol.

Health experts have also stressed that women need to be made aware about the type of diet they should consume to keep their cholesterol levels under control.