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Indian Cardiology Society issues guidelines on high cholesterol, a ‘silent killer’

Posted on by angelo

Hyderabad :The Cardiology Society of India (CSI) on Thursday released guidelines for the first time in India to help control high cholesterol (also known as dyslipidemia) and manage abnormal fluctuations in blood cholesterol levels.

Dyslipidemia is a condition characterized by high blood cholesterol, high levels of low-density lipoprotein or LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol), high triglycerides, and low levels of high-density lipoprotein or HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). This condition increases the risk of heart disease, including cardiac arrest and stroke, as well as other serious health problems.

CSI President Dr Pratapchandra Rath said cholesterol is like a silent killer and the worst part is that its symptoms are not visible in the initial stages like high blood pressure and diabetes. The guidelines aim to ensure that cholesterol levels in the blood are under control.

Newly published guidelines:

People with a family history of heart or circulatory disease or high levels of total cholesterol in the blood (hypercholesterolemia) should have their lipid profile tested at age 18 or earlier. This test measures the amount of total cholesterol in the blood and the level of good cholesterol.

Know your cholesterol level:

People at low risk should aim to keep LDL-C levels below 100 mg/dL and non-HDL-C levels below 130 mg/dL.

High-risk individuals (diabetes, hypertensive patients) should be careful to maintain LDL-C levels below 70 mg/dL and non-HDL-C levels below 100 mg/dL.

People at greatest risk (stroke victims, heart attack victims, people with chronic kidney disease) should be careful to limit LDL-C levels below 55 mg/dL and non-HDL-C levels below 85 mg/dL.

Maintaining cholesterol levels through proper lifestyle and diet:

  • Sugar and carbohydrates should be consumed in lesser amounts in food.
  • Regular yoga and exercise should be included in the daily routine to maintain heart health.

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