South Asian cardiovascular risk
What is the overall Brown Heart message from the recent South Asian research on heart attack risk, plaque and genetics?
Three recent studies point in the same direction: South Asian cardiovascular risk may begin earlier and may not always be captured by the tools we traditionally use. The studies cover missed risk in first heart attacks, early plaque on CT angiography, and polygenic causes of high LDL. What to do: Know your LDL, ApoB and Lp(a). Know your family history. Control diabetes, blood pressure and smoking. In appropriately selected individuals, consider whether CAC or other coronary imaging can refine risk beyond conventional calculators. Lifestyle must stay front and center. Lifestyle contributes to over 80% of chronic diseases, so never let the focus go away from diet (with a higher focus on a plant-based diet), exercise, stress reduction, meditation and yoga.