Worried to learn that South Asians are more likely to develop heart disease than white Europeans, Om Karavadra, 17, from Leicester’s Beauchamp City Sixth Form, embarked on a voyage of further discovery.
South Asian people are actually almost twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease (CHD) as white Europeans according to an article published last year by the British Heart Foundation (BHF).
When I read first this, I was shocked at the wide disparity and wanted to understand how this could be possible, and what can be done to reduce the risk. So let me take you with me on a journey, heart to heart, to take a closer look at cardiac troubles in South Asians.
First off, South Asians are people who are ethnically from countries such as: India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Nepal, Bhutan.
CHD occurs when arteries are narrowed by a build up of fats, which harden and become plaque. This can restrict blood to the heart and form blood clots, causing a heart attack.
But what factors cause this ethnicity specifically to have such a high risk?
On first glancing at this figure, I decided that perhaps genetics could be the leading factor. According to a Springer Nature Link article published in October, South Asians genetically have overall more triglycerides, or fats, in the blood, consisting of higher LDL particles (“bad cholesterol”) and lower levels of HDL (“good cholesterol”).
Because of these blood fat patterns, South Asians can more easily build up dangerous levels of plaque, which then clogs their arteries.
Even with this breakthrough, I knew that there must be more to the story than being genetically unlucky, as there are many South Asians thriving without any of these heart issues: there must be an external factor at play.
And this is where culture plays a major part.
Let me take you to South Asia, where the weather is hot and curries even hotter! A large factor to the risk of heart disease is diet, and in this part of the world, spicy, oily cuisine is a staple.
Much of the food prepared here is done so in high-heat hydrogenated oils, which have been shown to produce harmful chemicals called neo-formed contaminants (NFCs). According to a study published in 2017 by the University of Edinburgh, some of the substances found in South Asian cooking are linked to CHD ,as they inflame blood vessels and narrow them.
I decided to dig into what simple steps I could take to improve my chances of fighting off heart disease.
Simple habits such as using healthier oils, like extra virgin olive oil, and increasing fibre intake with whole grains can, have a big and positive impact on heart health. This, together with 30 minutes of brisk daily exercise, can help get a heart into tip-top shape, despite genetics.
In conclusion, it is clear that genetics and cultural differences play a role in CHD risk, increasing blood fat and plaque build up. Despite this though, even small daily choices can make a big difference. It is up to to make these differences for ourselves, hand on heart!
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References:
South Asians almost twice as likely to develop coronary heart disease than White Europeans.
Patterns of lipid profile and genetic variations in South Asians
