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LIFE STYLE CHANGES

1. Indians should avoid alcohol intake, even in moderation.

2. Quit tobacco products.

3. Psychosocial stress management is most relevant in today’s lifestyle.

LIFE STYLE CHANGES

1. For substantial health benefits, adults should do at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity (eg. brisk walking/dancing), or 75 minutes a week of vigorous-intensity aerobic physical activity (eg. aerobics, running, walking up hill).

2. A Mediterranean diet can reduce cardiac events by 70%. With a Mediterranean Diet, 90 % of the type 2 diabetes, 80 % of coronary artery disease/heart attacks & 70 % of the strokes can be avoided.

3. An Indo Mediterranean diet includes fruits, vegetables, whole grains like unpolished rice, whole wheat & millets; fatty fish for nonvegetarians and fenugreek seeds, mustard seeds, flax seeds, soybean oil, mustard oil in vegetarians (as sources of omega 3 fatty acids) and nuts.

LIFE STYLE CHANGES

1. Instituting therapeutic lifestyle changes decreases an individual’s chances of developing heart problems and decreases the risk of worsening of heart problems in those who already have it.

2. Regular consumption of fruits and vegetables can decrease an individual’s chances of developing heart problems by 30%.

3. Physical activity reduces the number of small-dense LDL particles, which are an important cause of heart problems in Indians.

4. Life style modification plays an important role in raising HDL-C.

ABOUT LIPIDS

A complete blood lipid profile measures the levels of total cholesterol and other particles such as low density lipoprotein (LDL-cholesterol), high density lipoprotein (HDL-cholesterol) and triglycerides (TG). Of these, HDL is known to be protective against heart problems while high levels of LDL and TGs are associated with development of heart problems such coronary artery disease where the blood supply to the heart is reduced.

A triad of high TG accompanied by low HDL-C levels and high LDL-C, is known as atherogenic dyslipidemia, and is an important cause of coronary artery disease. In India,the dyslipidemia triad is seen in a significant part of the  population with elevated TG in 29.5%, low HDL in 72.3% and elevated LDL  in 11.8%.

Given a high incidence of cardiovascular disease in Indians, we recommend mandatory screening of blood cholesterol profile or lipid profile at the time of college admission and evaluation of the report by a physician. This will help in early identification of young individuals who could be at high risk of developing heart problems in future and for implementation of effective therapeutic strategies.

Everyone should keep LDL-C level around 70mgl/dl in blood for effective prevention of heart diseases irrespective of age??

It is important to understand that every 39 mg/dL (1 mmol/L) reduction in serum LDL-C (bad cholesterol), sustained over a period of five years, results in the following:

• a 10% reduction in all-cause mortality
• a 20% reduction in coronary mortality
• a 24% reduction in nonfatal myocardial infarction, and
• a 24% reduction in need for revascularization procedures.