HEART ATTACK

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body.The body needs some cholesterol to work the right way and makes all the cholesterol we need. Cholesterol is also found in some of the foods we eat. We use cholesterol to make hormones, Vitamin D, and substances that help us digest foods. The body uses cholesterol to help build cells and produce certain hormones and bile salts.

Blood is watery and cholesterol is fatty. Just like oil and water, the two do not mix. So, in order to travel in the bloodstream, cholesterol is carried in small packages called lipoproteins. The small packages are made of fat (lipid) on the inside and proteins on the outside. Two kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol throughout your body. It is important to have healthy levels of both.

Cholesterol forms complexes with proteins in the blood to produce lipoproteins. Lipoproteins come in two forms (1) High Density Lipoprotein (HDL); the good cholesterol with more protein than fat and (2) Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL); the bad cholesterol with more fat than protein.

Cholesterol is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood, abbreviated as ml/dl. Normal range of cholesterol in the blood should be less than 200 mg/dl. High cholesterol of 240 mg/dl or greater in the blood increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, coronary artery disease etc. Too much cholesterol in your blood can build up in the walls of arteries. This is called plaque. High blood cholesterol is diagnosed by checking cholesterol levels in the blood. High blood cholesterol increases the chance of having a heart attack or some other sign of heart disease like chest pain (angina). A blood test called a lipoprotein profile measures the cholesterol levels in the blood and is the recommended test.

LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol is sometimes called "bad" cholesterol.High LDL cholesterol leads to a buildup of cholesterol in arteries. The higher the LDL levelin your blood, the greater chance you have for getting heart disease.

HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol is sometimes called "good" cholesterol. HDL carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver. The liver removes the cholesterol from your body. The higher your HDL cholesterol level, the lower your chance of getting heart disease.

• Total cholesterol
• LDL (bad) cholesterol: the main source of cholesterol buildup and blockage in the arteries
• HDL (good) cholesterol: the good cholesterol that helps keep cholesterol from building up in arteries
• Triglycerides: another form of fat in your blood.

Lipid profile tests have been shown to be good indicators of whether someone is likely to have a heart attack or stroke caused by blockage of blood vessels (hardening of the arteries).

A complete lipid profile involves the measurement of the total cholesterol in the blood, high density lipoproteins (HDL, the good cholesterol), low density lipoproteins (LDL, the bad cholesterol) and triglycerides, another type of blood fat. LDL cholesterol is calculated from the total cholesterol, HDL and triglyceride level Just measuring the total cholesterol can be misleading. Your total cholesterol may be normal despite having low HDL ("good") cholesterol and a high LDL ("bad") levels which may predispose you to heart disease.

Sometimes the report will include additional calculated values such as HDL/ cholesterol ratio or a risk score based on lipid profile results, The lipid profile is used to guide physicians in deciding how a person at risk should be treated. The results of the lipid profile are considered along with other known risk factors of heart disease to develop a plan of treatment and follow-up. age, sex, and other risk factors.

Values for low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol can be calculated from the other three values, providing a good estimate.     

1. Cigarette smoking
2. High blood pressure
3. High blood levels of cholesterol (LDL/VLDL) and triglycerides
4. Low blood levels of friendly cholesterol i.e. HDL
5. Being overweight or obese
6. Uncontrolled diabetes
7. Sedentary habits and a lack of physical activity
8. Diet rich in fried foods, foods of animal origin, milk and dairy products, red meats and heavy alcohol consumption
9. High level of stress
10. A family history for heart disease, hypertension, diabetes .
11. An early menopause in women.

TIPS FOR A HEALTHY HEART

Give up cigarette smoking Participate in a physical activity: Do exercises, walk, run or practice yoga. Keep stress under control. Find ways to cope with stress. Ensure that diabetes and blood pressure are under control. Lose weight if overweight or obese Abstain from trans fats (vanaspati) and products made using trans fats (cakes, biscuits, cookies etc) Curtail intake of saturated fats : palm oil, ghee, butter etc Opt for mono & poly unsaturated oils like olive oil, mustard oil, groundnut oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil etc. Consume lean white meat: chicken without skin, fish (except shell fish, prawns, lobsters) Avoid all read meats like mutton, beef, pork as well as organ meats (kidney, liver, brain) Use skimmed milk

Eat meals balanced in carbohydrates, proteins, fats, vitamins and minerals. Instead of 3 full meals, try changing over to 5 smaller meals. Avoid junk foods like chips, aerated drinks, burgers etc. Opt for baking, boiling, broiling, grilling in place of frying Consume low calorie desserts made using skimmed milk Increase fibre intake by consuming plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole cereals, pulses, sprouts Include oats (porridge) in breakfast Discard yellow yolk of eggs. Reduce intake of salt and sodium. Avoid processed foods since these are high in salt and preservatives. Regularly eat nuts in moderate quantity Consider using supplements after appropriate consultation with Doctor: fish oil capsules, Niacin, anti-oxidants (vitamins E & C, beta carotene, selenium), vitamins B6 & B12, folic acid. If LDL/VLDL cholesterol values remain consistently high, consult Doctor who may prescribe Statin class drugs.