Thread by @ETimesLifestyle

With the recent passing of #RajuShrivastav, there
is a paranoia around heart health.

Most celebrities had untimely deaths were fit, healthy and worked out regularly.

So then is there a way to determine one’s risk of heart attack?

Let's find out!

timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/hea…

The cardio C-reactive (hs CRP) protein test.

According to Dr. Bikram Kesharee Mohanty, “In a healthy person, if the hs CRP level is high, it is an indicator that the individual has got more possibilities to have blockages in the heart arteries, heart attack, sudden heart arrest"

Dr. Vivek Chaturvedi adds, “Cardio C-Reactive Protein or HSCRP is a test that has recently come into prominence, and is available as part of various investigation packages. It is a marker of low level chronic or long-standing inflammation."

"hsCRP is only one part of the jigsaw puzzle which is heart health. It shouldn't be considered in isolation. Studies have found that high levels of hsCRP increase the risk even in absence of other heart disease risk factors, but it's still controversial,” Dr Vivek Chaturvedi said

Dr Vivek also adds:

"It is important to remember that any recent infections can cause CRP & hsCRP to become elevated for several weeks. It cannot be interpreted if you had a recent infection or if you have some other autoimmune diseases which can cause CRP to become elevated"

Elevated CRP levels are almost always associated with other risk factors for heart disease including smoking, obesity, inactive lifestyle, high cholesterol, high BP, diabetes, metabolic syndrome (a combination of high BP, high blood sugar abnormal lipid levels, and excess fat).

So regular screening is important post 40.

Dr Vivek says, "What is recommended for everyone starting at the age of 30 is regular BP check, weight measure, sugar & cholesterol measurements. The frequency can be decided on an individual basis depending on the underlying heart risk

Having a healthy lifestyle has also been shown to reduce inflammation & decrease hsCRP.

This includes total avoidance of active & passive exposure to smoking & tobacco; a healthy diet of unprocessed food with high fiber content, maintaining ideal body weight & regular exercise.