World Heart Day 2024: Check your cholesterol levels with a personalised approach to keep heart healthy

How to keep heart healthy: Essential adjustments like improving diet, increasing exercise, and managing stress is crucial (Image: Canva)

Your heart pumps blood throughout your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients to organs and removing waste. A healthy heart is essential for your well-being, as it keeps your body functioning properly. When your heart health declines, it can lead to serious conditions like heart disease, impacting your quality of life.

The World Heart Day is a reminder that caring for your heart is essential for a long and healthy life. Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) remain the leading cause of death globally, with 4.77 million deaths in India alone in 2020. Contributing factors include high blood pressure and diabetes.

Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol (LDLC), often referred to as "bad cholesterol," also plays a crucial role in heart health, according to Dr Preeti Gupta, Professor at Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi. “Elevated levels can lead to plaque buildup in arteries, increasing the risk of heart disease. Recent guidelines from the Cardiological Society of India highlight that each person has different LDLC targets based on their risk profile. For instance, people with severe conditions like heart disease or diabetes should aim for LDLC levels below 55 mg/dL. Setting personalised targets is key to managing heart health effectively,” she adds.

Dr Gupta suggests adopting a tailored approach when it comes to cholesterol management. “Each patient’s LDLC targets and risk factors are distinct, and studies show that 47 percent of patients experience faster recovery when their treatment is customised to their specific needs,” she says.

Why personalised care matters:

Personalised care tailors treatment to each patient’s unique needs, explains Dr Gupta. “Someone with high LDLC and a family history of heart disease might need more than standard cholesterol-lowering treatments. This approach considers factors like genetics and lifestyle to set the right LDLC targets," she says. Often, lifestyle changes aren’t enough, and combination therapy with medications may be required.

LDLC levels play a pivotal role in heart disease, so it’s essential to keep them in check, says Dr Nagendra Boopathy S, Professor of Cardiology, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai. He stresses, “Unfortunately, many patients aren’t aware of their target LDLC levels. Educating patients on their personalised targets not only improves treatment efficacy but also reduces the risk of major cardiovascular events.”

Here are the elements of a personalised heart health plan, suggested by Dr Boopathy:

• Lifestyle changes: Essential adjustments like improving diet, increasing exercise, and managing stress is crucial. For instance, a personalized workout plan can improve cardiovascular fitness without overexertion.

• Regular monitoring of LDLC: Timely screenings of LDLC levels and regular check-ins with a cardiologist are essential to track progress and adjust treatments as needed.

• Medications: Lifestyle changes alone may not be sufficient. Personalised plans determine the right type and dose of medication to meet individual LDLC goals.

• Communication with your doctor: Open communication ensures that patients understand their treatment plans, feel supported, and are more likely to adhere to the regimen.