Check your cholesterol levels early to combat heart diseases

New Delhi: Health experts warned on Sunday that dyslipidemia, commonly known as high cholesterol, often shows no symptoms but poses a serious threat as a leading cause of heart disease in India. The Cardiological Society of India (CSI) recently issued the nation's first guidelines for managing dyslipidemia, emphasising the importance of early cholesterol checks starting from age 18 to identify cardiovascular disease (CVD) risks sooner in life.

Recent data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) revealed a concerning 12.5% rise in heart attack cases across India in 2022 alone. The 2023 Global Burden of Disease (GBD) report highlighted India's higher age-standardised CVD death rate of 272 per 100,000 population compared to the global average of 235 per 100,000, underscoring the significant CVD burden in the country.

“Hypertension and diabetes have some symptoms but dyslipidemia has no symptom, it is a true silent killer,” said Dr JPS Sawhney, Chairman of the Department of Cardiology at Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi.

“Hence, it is recommended to have the first lipid profile at the age of 18 years when a child goes to college,” said Dr Sawhney, adding that “dyslipidemia is the most powerful risk factor of heart disease”.

The expert explained that “the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol/non-high-density lipoprotein-C (essentially the bad cholesterol) enters into the arterial wall for the formation of plaque (blockage) in the artery”.

Dr Sawhney also pointed out that factors such as hypertension, diabetes, tobacco use, and stress contribute to the buildup of harmful cholesterol in artery walls. “Since high cholesterol has no symptom testing, lipid profile (non-fasting) is the only way to detect its presence. The lipid profile test should be repeated after four weeks of therapy to find out whether the patient has reached its target LDL-C goal according to the risk,” said the noted cardiologist.

He stressed the importance of regular screenings for blood pressure, sugar levels, and cholesterol to detect issues early, enabling timely lifestyle adjustments or medications to prevent fatal heart events. “The new lipid guidelines recommend early cholesterol testing to identify individuals at risk for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) earlier in life. Early detection allows for timely intervention to reduce the risks. Prevention is paramount. We need to address risk factors before symptoms develop,” said Dr Bagirath Raghuraman, Director of Heart Transplant, Narayana Health City, Bengaluru.

Early intervention not only safeguards heart health but also reduces the strain on healthcare resources by minimising the need for costly treatments and hospitalizations associated with advanced CVD, Dr Sawhney added. He called for broader public health initiatives alongside early testing to combat the escalating prevalence of heart diseases nationwide.

“Public health campaigns to educate people about healthy diets, regular exercise, and avoiding smoking are essential. Implementing regular screening programmes in schools, workplaces, and communities can identify individuals at risk and provide necessary interventions. Educating people about new treatments and preventive measures can support heart health,” Dr Raghuraman said.

Agencies