Untreated High Levels of Cholesterol causemore Heart Diseasestocity’s Population: City Cardiologists
- 20-25% of heart diseases occur to individuals below 40 years of age
A 35-year-old MBA planned his wedding in his
hometown.Just two weeks before the marriage ceremony, he suffered a major heart
attack and was immediately taken to emergency care. Doctors advised him to
undergo anangiogram. The results that followed not only showed serious
complications in his heartbut also soaring bad cholesterol levels. While he
does not have a family history of any heart conditions or hypertension, however
due to excessive smoking and lack of exercise, the good cholesterol levels in
his body were, gradually leading to the current complication.Over the next few
months, he was prescribed statin therapy amongst other medications. Regular
medication combined with healthy lifestyle (balanced diet and exercise)subsequently
normalized his condition.
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| Dr. R Ravindran |
Commenting on the rise in cases of coronary
heart disease below the age of 40, Dr. R Ravindran, Consultant
Intervention Cardiologist, Assistant Professor of Cardiology and Head of the
Department, SRM Medical College, Trichy said “There has been a rise
in the incidence of heart diseases in young Indians due to their sedentary
lifestyle and unhealthy dietary habits. 20-25% of heart attacks among our
patients, occur in individuals below 40 years of age. We are seeing college-going students between
the age group of 20-25 having heart attacks that is mainly attributable to
smoking. High levels of bad cholesterol combined with low levels of good
cholesterol is an important risk factor for developing heart attacks. In
addition to low cholesterol diet and regular exercise, statins are an important
class of drugs that has been proven to reduce bad cholesterol and heart attacks.
I urge heart patients to adhere to their prescribed medications like statins
and aspirin, which are effective in reducing the number and severity of
subsequent heart attacks.”
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| Dr. Vivek Sundaram |
Dr. Vivek Sundaram, Consultant in
Internal Medicine, Diabetes, and Critical Care at Sundaram Hospital also added, “Increasing levels of
bad cholesterol is a silent manifestation of a more dreadful disease growing
in the body. If cholesterol levels are
abnormal then the risk of developing heart conditions multiplies. High
cholesterol levels have also been linked to diabetes. At my clinic,
90% patients who have diabetes areon cholesterol medication as they have some
form of cholesterol abnormality, either a low good cholesterol i.e. HDL or high
levels of bad cholesterol i.e. LDL and high Triglycerides. This puts people at
an increased risk of a heart attack or stroke.It is recommended to follow a
balanced diet and regular exercise. Currently, statins are the best medicines to
decrease the bad cholesterol levels and significantly lowers your risk of
developing cardiovascular diseases like heart attack.”
Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are the major
cause of deaths in India and high levels of cholesterol is the key reason behind
the high rates of CVD, suggests a 2018 WHO report. The world organization has
set the goal to reduce non-communicable diseases like heart attack and failure
by 25% by 2025 and educate citizens about the ill-effects of high cholesterol -
key to improve the quality of their life. 💢💢
