The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association have issued new guidelines regarding cholesterol. Its focus is timely identification and treatment of heart diseases. Experts say that 80 to 90 percent of heart diseases can be prevented, for this it is important to get treatment on time. It is clearly stated in the guidelines that if cholesterol is not controlled by diet and exercise alone, then medicines should be started sooner than before. According to the new rules, it is important to keep bad cholesterol under control.
It is said in the guidelines that if cholesterol has increased at the age of 30, then you can start medicines at the same age. It has also been told in the guidelines that the lower the level of bad cholesterol in the body, the better it is for health.
What level of LDL (bad cholesterol) is safe?
It has been made clear in the new guidelines that every person’s LDL i.e. bad cholesterol needs to be kept below 100, those who have had a heart attack or stroke need to keep this level below 55 and those who are at risk of heart disease need to keep it below 70. It has been said in the guidelines that now people will have to control their cholesterol only at the age of 30. If it has increased, then medicines will have to be started as per the doctor’s advice, so that heart diseases can be prevented in future.
After cholesterol these factors will also be seen
If someone in the family has heart disease
diabetes
Autoimmune diseases (such as lupus)
South Asian origin (important for Indians)
Not only cholesterol, this test is also important
CAC scan
Lp(a) test
ApoB test
Who need to be more careful?
who are above 40 years of age
diabetes
kidney patients
HIV patient
These things are important to control cholesterol
healthy diet
30 minutes exercise daily
stop smoking
weight control
good sleep
Is this guideline necessary for India also?
Dr. Ajit Jain, in the Department of Cardiology at Rajiv Gandhi Hospital, Delhi, says that heart disease is increasing rapidly in India. Here people are having heart attacks at an early age. In such a situation, the people of India should also follow the new guidelines. If bad cholesterol is not less than 100 then consult a doctor and get treatment. Get your lipid profile test done every three months and take care of your diet. Do not use too much flour and oil in your diet.