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This month's medical journal headlines scared anyone who took cholesterol medications: "How has statistical deception given the appearance that statins are safe and effective in primary and secondary prevention?" cardiovascular diseases? Another said, "LDL-C does not cause cardiovascular disease (CVD): a comprehensive review of current literature." Indian cardiologists do not use any of these studies and claim that cholesterol is still a major cause of CVD and that statins remain the mainstay of treatment.
Cholesterol is …
The body needs cholesterol: it is a building block of cell membranes and contributes to the production of certain hormones, playing a crucial role in spermatogenesis (the process of sperm production). About 80% of the cholesterol needed by our body is produced by the liver and only about 20% comes from food. Unfortunately, dietary cholesterol still has a bad reputation, but the US has removed this nutrient from the list of "nutrients of concern." Although you do not have to worry about measuring your life in ghee spoons, you need a balanced diet. It is true that cholesterol is a substance that clogs the arteries and may cause a heart attack.
There is a difference…
Dr. VK Bahl, who heads the AIIMS Department of Cardiology in Delhi, explains that high cholesterol levels have been observed early in childhood and that heredity plays a role. High levels of low density (LDL) cholesterol can cause plaque formation in the blood vessels of the heart, known medically as atherosclerosis. Over time, this plaque can harden and if more than 70% of the vessel is blocked, this can lead to cardiovascular disease (CVD). This plaque can also break and damage the heart vessels, resulting in a stroke. However, high density cholesterol (HDL) is good for the body.
There are also other factors …
The Indian Heart Association states that the optimal LDL cholesterol is 100 mg / dL and that the HDL is 40 mg / dL. "People with high LDL are usually asked to change their lifestyle, diet, start exercising, quit and drink wisely. If there is no change even after these interventions and / or if there is a family history of cardiovascular disease, we recommend drugs, especially statins, "says Dr. Suman Bhandari , Chief Cardiologist at Fortis Hospital, Noida.
"There is a mix of risk factors for cardiovascular disease. High cholesterol is one of them. Many unwanted WhatsApp messages have created false information and mislead the public. We have launched many community outreach programs to educate the public, "says Dr. K Kannan, President of the Cardiological Society of India: Chennai Branch.
What has changed …
Heart disease is not caused by cholesterol alone. It's also about exercise, our level of stress, our eating habits, our consumption of tobacco, the amount of alcohol we drink and our lifestyle in general.
"Earlier, the management strategy depended solely on total cholesterol or LDL cholesterol. But now, it all depends on future risk, "says Dr. D Prabhakaran, Vice President (Research and Policy) and Director of the Center for Chronic Disease Control at the Public Health Foundation of India. According to the absolute level of cholesterol, family history, diabetic status, lifestyle, and patients are scored and grouped into low, intermediate and high risk groups.
Low-risk groups are usually asked to change their foot habits, exercise, and then re-examine, while the other two groups receive the required doses of statins.
People with CVD may need to control their LDL at 50 or 70 mg / L, depending on age and other risks, says Dr. JPS Sawhney, head of the cardiology department of the Canadian Cancer Society. 39, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, Delhi. In addition, for 10% of patients with statin intolerance and myalgia (muscle pain usually in the calves), there are drugs.
There is a small risk …
"In a tiny proportion of patients, statins can cause acute liver damage or destroy muscles. But it is extremely rare. Side effects can be managed by simple measures, such as statin removal, dose reduction, replacement with another variant of the statin. However, once you start statin therapy,
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