Air pollution increases risk of heart disease by lowering the good cholesterol

Air pollution increases risk of heart disease by lowering the good cholesterol Air pollution is a reality today and has been a subject of much discussion recently. Several studies have demonstrated the association of poor air quality with diseases such as respiratory and heart diseases, global warming making it a major public health problem of concern. Yet another new study reported in the journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology has highlighted the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases due to traffic-related air pollution and proposed an explanation for the relationship between air pollution and cardiovascular disease. The study says that traffic-related air pollution may increase risk of developing heart diseases via its effects on the good high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The study involving more than 6000 middle-aged and older adults in the United States found that people who live in areas with high levels of air pollution, especially traffic-related air pollution, have lower levels of the good HDL-C. Over a period of one year, those with higher exposure to black carbon, emitted from vehicles, had considerably lower levels of HDL-C compared to those with lower exposure to black carbon. Higher particulate matter exposure over three months was associated with a lower HDL particle number. Compared to men, women had much lower levels of HDL-C. Keep your total cholesterol lower than 160mg/dL. HDL is good cholesterol, keep it more than 40mg/dL. LDL is bad cholesterol and should be kept as low as possible; keep it lower than 80 mg/dL. A 1% rise in bad cholesterol increases the chances of heart attack by 2% and 1% reduction in good HDL-C reduces the chances of heart attack by 3%. (Source: AHA news release, April 13, 2017) Dr KK Aggarwal National President IMA & HCFI

Patients with family history of high cholesterol should be screened early

Patients with family history of high cholesterol should be screened early New Delhi, 27thMarch 2017: A person is said to be suffering from pre-mature heart disease when he is diagnosedwith the condition before the age of 55 years in men 65 years in women. The prevalence of dyslipidemia in these patients is usually found to be as high as in the range of 75-85%, said Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, National President, Indian Medical Association (IMA) and President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Dr RN Tandon – Honorary Secretary General IMA. Dyslipidemia is high levels of cholesterol and/or triglycerides in the blood. About 54% of all patients with premature heart disease and 70% of those with a lipid abnormality have a familial disorder. Hence, it is recommended that the first-degree relatives of patients who have had a heart attack, especially if premature, should be screened for lipid abnormalities. First-degree relatives of a person include brothers, sisters, father, mother or children; second-degree relatives are aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren, nieces, or nephews and third-degree relatives refer to first cousins, or siblings of grandparents. “Screening should begin with a routine lipid profile and if the results of this are normal, then further testing should be done for lipoprotein (a) and apolipoproteins B and A-I. About 25% patients with premature heart disease and a normal standard lipid profile may have abnormal Lp(a) or apo B profile. High apo B levels and reduced apo A-I levels are associated with increased risk of heart disease. Similarly, a high Lp(a) level increases the risk of developing heart disease”, added Dr KK Aggarwal. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder, which runs in families and is characterized by high cholesterol levels, in particular, very high levels of LDL or the bad cholesterol and premature heart disease. Patients with FH are at an increased risk of developing premature heart disease at an earlier age of 30 to 40 years. Heterozygous FH is a common genetic disorder, occurring in 1:500 people in most countries. Homozygous FH is much rarer, occurring in 1 in a million births. Heterozygous FH is normally treated with drugs. Homozygous FH often does not respond to medical therapy and may require apheresis or liver transplant. Heterozygous FH is when the FH gene is inherited only from one parent. If both parents have FH and the FH gene is inherited from both of them, this is homozygous FH. Universal screening at the age of 16 years should be done to detect familial high cholesterol levels. In patients with heterozygous FH, the cholesterol levels are between 350 to 500 mg/dL, and in homozygous, the levels are between 700 to 1,200 mg/dL.

Familial hypercholesterolemia is genetic and can raise the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body leading to several cardiovascular complications

Familial hypercholesterolemia is genetic and can raise the levels of LDL cholesterol in the body leading to several cardiovascular complications Awareness and lifestyle modification can help you combat the potent risk factor. New Delhi, Dec 22, 2016: Familial hypercholesterolemia currently has a prevalence of 1 per 1 million persons. LDL or bad cholesterol is produced naturally in the body however; some people inherit genes from their families that can cause excessive production of LDL. High cholesterol level is a potent risk factor for heart diseases, stroke and hypertension. High cholesterol can accumulate into arteries and vessels and can cause atherosclerotic plaques. Fifty-four percent of all patients with premature heart disease and 70% of those with a lipid abnormality have a familial disorder. Children affected with the disorder are at a risk of sudden cardiac deaths and early coronary events, leading to premature mortality. Padma Shri Awardee Dr. K.K Aggarwal, President Heart Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and National President Elect Indian Medical Association (IMA), stated that, “Patients may develop premature cardiovascular disease at the age of 30 to 40. A person is said to be suffering from premature heart disease when it occurs before 55 years in men and 65 years in women. In premature heart disease, the prevalence of dyslipidemia (high cholesterol levels without symptoms) is 75-85%. Hence, a screening test for lipids is recommended for first-degree relatives of patients with myocardial infarction, particularly if premature. Screening should begin with a standard lipid profile and if normal, further testing should be done for Lp(a) and apolipoproteins B and A-I”. About 25% patients with premature heart disease and a normal standard lipid profile will have an abnormality in Lp(a) or apo B. Elevated apo A-1 and HDL are likewise associated with reduced CHD risk. First-degree relatives are brothers, sisters, father, mother; second-degree relatives refer to aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces, or nephews and third-degree relatives refer to first cousins, siblings, or siblings of grandparents. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder, characterized by high cholesterol, specifically very high LDL “bad cholesterol”) levels and premature heart disease. To detect familial high cholesterol levels, a universal screening must be done at age 16. The cholesterol levels in heterozygous patients are between 350 to 500 mg/dL, and in homozygous, the levels are between 700 to 1,200 mg/dL. “Several lifestyle changes can be adopted to decrease the impact that this risk factor has on your health in terms of cardiovascular and other complications. Good dietary and physical activity habits are crucial to a preventive management approach to familial hypercholesterolemia”, added Dr K.K Aggarwal. Following are some lifestyle tips to manage your risk: • Get regular checkups for cholesterol levels, blood pressure and blood glucose. • Eat a heart healthy diet composed of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products, poultry, fish and nuts. It is best to limit significantly the consumption of sugary beverages, sugary fruits and red meat. • Physical activity is crucial for preventing a variety of lifestyle disorders and the same applies to high cholesterol. Couple your healthy diet to a complementary exercise routine. • Avoid smoking at all cost; exposure to secondhand smoke should also be avoided as much as possible.

Ways to lower your cholesterol

Ways to lower your cholesterol

New Delhi, June 28, 2016: High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. In fact, the higher your blood cholesterol level, the greater your risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack. When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries. Over time, this buildup causes hardening of the arteries so that they become narrowed and blood flow to the heart is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack. Speaking about the same, Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal – President Hear Care Foundation of India (HCFI) and Honorary Secretary General IMA said, “High blood cholesterol itself does not cause symptoms; so many people are unaware that their cholesterol level is too high. Lifestyle changes are imperative given the increasing incidence of high cholesterol in people in the 21st century. There are many ways in which lifestyle diseases can be averted including living an active and healthy life, eating healthy food, staying away from cigarettes and alcohol and finding effective means of stress management. Here are a few steps for using your diet to lower your cholesterol. 1. Consume unsaturated fats and avoid saturated and trans fats. Most vegetable fats (oils) are made up of unsaturated fats that are healthy for your heart. Foods that contain healthy fats include oily fish, nuts, seeds, and some vegetables. At the same time, limit your intake of foods high in saturated fat, which is found in many meat and dairy products, and stay away from trans fats. 2. Get more soluble fiber. Eat more soluble fiber, such as that found in oatmeal and fruits. This type of fiber can lower blood cholesterol levels when eaten as part of a healthy-fat diet. 3. Include plant sterols and stanols in your diet. These naturally occurring plant compounds are similar in structure to cholesterol. When you eat them, they help limit the amount of cholesterol your body can absorb. Plant sterols and stanols are found in an increasing number of food products such as spreads, juices, and yogurts. 4. Find a diet that works for you. When a friend or relative tells you how much his or her cholesterol level dropped after trying a particular diet, you may be tempted to try it yourself. If you do, and after a few months you discover that you're not getting the same benefits, you may need to chalk it up to genetic and physiological differences. There is no one-size-fits-all diet for cholesterol control. You may need to try several approaches to find one that works for you. Although diet can be a simple and powerful way to improve cholesterol levels, its results may differ from one person to another.

Points you must keep in mind if you have a family history of high cholesterol

Points you must keep in mind if you have a family history of high cholesterol New Delhi, May 31, 2016: Typically if someone is diagnosed with cardiovascular ailments when they are below the age of 55 years (men) and 65 years (women) they are believed to be suffering from premature heart disease. “In such patients, the prevalence of dyslipidemia, a condition characterised by high cholesterol levels without any evident symptoms is about 75-85%”, said Padma Shri Awardee Dr KK Aggarwal, President, Heart Care Foundation of India and Honorary Secretary General IMA. Fifty-four percent of all patients with premature heart disease and 70% of those with a lipid abnormality have a familial disorder. Screening for lipids is therefore recommended for first-degree relatives of patients with MI (particularly if premature). Screening should begin with a standard lipid profile, and if normal, further testing should be done for Lp(a) and apolipoproteins B and A-I. Approximately 25% patients with premature heart disease and a normal standard lipid profile will have an abnormality in Lp(a), or apo B. Elevated apo A-1 and HDL are likewise associated with decreased CHD risk. First-degree relatives refer to brothers, sisters, father, mother; Second-degree relatives are aunts, uncles, grandparents, nieces, or nephews. The third-degree relatives refer to first cousins, siblings, or siblings of grandparents. Familial hypercholesterolemia (FH) is a genetic disorder, characterised by high cholesterol, specifically very high LDL (or the bad cholesterol) levels, and premature heart disease. Patients may develop the premature cardiovascular disease at the age of 30 to 40. Heterozygous FH is a common genetic disorder, occurring in 1:500 people in most countries. Homozygous FH is much rarer, occurring in 1 in a million births. Heterozygous FH is normally treated with drugs. Homozygous FH often does not respond to medical therapy and may require apheresis or liver transplant. To detect familial high cholesterol levels, one must do the universal screening at age 16. The cholesterol levels in heterozygous patients are between 350 to 500 mg/dL, and in homozygous, the levels are between 700 to 1,200 mg/dL. Awareness must be created about the fact that food of plant origin has no cholesterol and it is only the food derived from animal by-products which is high in cholesterol. In addition to that trans-fat is more dangerous than saturated fat and it reduces good cholesterol and increases bad cholesterol in the body. People who have family history must not only take treatment but also should make lifestyle changes in order to prevent other associated risk factors of heart disease such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.