'It Has To Be Tailored To Them:' Doctors Spread Awareness For South Asian Heart Risks

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Research has shown that genetic and lifestyle factors play a key role in the increased risk of cardiovascular problems in South Asians, who tend to develop diabetes and high cholesterol 10 to 20 years earlier than older people. other ethnic groups. Both conditions are precursors to heart disease.

Despite having a lower body mass index (BMI), South Asians can accumulate unhealthy fat deposits in vital organs, which can lead to diabetes and heart disease. Most heart disease risk calculators do not take into account the increased risk of South Asian patients, and many providers do not adequately assess or aggressively manage their risk factors for heart disease.

UT Southwestern's South Asian Cardiac Program aims to keep patients from falling through the cracks. Our culturally matched preventive cardiologists at UTSW Las Colinas Medical Center examine South Asian patients who are at risk for heart disease or who wish to maintain heart health. We have also started recruiting participants for a clinical trial that will provide access to a cutting-edge imaging test to detect plaque in arteries.

By focusing on patient education, highlighting heart health management tools, and continuing research, we hope to educate the South Asian community about heart disease and empower them to keep their families and loved ones safe. traditions.

Proactive heart care starts with young adults

If you have a strong family history of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, or have lost family members to heart attacks or strokes in your 40s and 50s, you should focus on cardiac care preventatives in their 30s and 40s or even later.

Many South Asians have a genetic predisposition to higher blood sugar, which can increase their risk of developing diabetes. The traditional South Asian diet, although often vegetarian, can contribute to plaque buildup in the arteries of the heart. Many popular dishes are high in saturated fat (ghee, butter), sugar and carbohydrates (lentils, naan).

Certain dietary habits in South Asian culture, combined with a typical Western diet, can have a significant impact on the incidence of obesity, diabetes, heart attacks and strokes. Seeing a preventive cardiologist as a young adult can help prevent such complications. It can also help you adopt a heart-healthy lifestyle and inspire others in your family and community.

Cardiac screening is less about a specific therapy and more about a comprehensive, holistic approach to promoting heart health. That's why we started a clinical research project called South Asia CT Angiography Study (SACTA).

CT angiography is a painless imaging test that can detect plaque in the arteries of the heart. Plaque is a warning sign of a heart attack or stroke, and knowing if you have it can help prevent it to lower your risk. SACTA participants receive a state-of-the-art CT angiogram to use as a baseline to improve their heart health.
 

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