Cholesterol Specialist in Hyderabad
High cholesterol builds silently in your arteries for decades before causing a heart attack or stroke. Treating it early prevents the event — not the aftermath.
Dyslipidaemia (abnormal cholesterol) is present in approximately 25–30% of urban Indians, largely driven by a diet high in refined carbohydrates and saturated fat, combined with physical inactivity. High LDL cholesterol is the primary driver of atherosclerosis — the plaque build-up in arteries that leads to heart attacks and strokes. Dr. Anand provides comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment and lipid-lowering therapy management at Sri Anand Hospital, Chanda Nagar.
Key Points
- LDL cholesterol (bad) above 100 mg/dL in a high-risk patient (diabetes, heart disease) needs treatment.
- HDL (good) cholesterol is raised by exercise, not food — diet mainly affects LDL and triglycerides.
- Statins are the most evidence-based cholesterol treatment — they reduce heart attack risk by 30-40%.
- Indians have a higher risk of heart disease at lower cholesterol levels than Western populations — stricter targets apply.
- Triglycerides above 500 mg/dL carry a risk of acute pancreatitis — this is a medical urgency.
LDL <70
mg/dL target for very high-risk patients (AHA 2023)
Source: AHA/ACC 2023 Guidelines
30-40%
heart attack risk reduction with statin therapy
Source: CTT Collaboration / Lancet
Understanding Your Cholesterol Results
LDL — 'Bad' Cholesterol
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) deposits in artery walls, causing plaque. Target LDL depends on your cardiovascular risk: below 100 mg/dL for moderate risk, below 70 mg/dL for high risk (established heart disease or diabetes).
HDL — 'Good' Cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein (HDL) removes cholesterol from arteries back to the liver. Higher is better. Target: above 40 mg/dL in men, above 50 mg/dL in women. Exercise and weight loss are the best HDL-raising strategies.
Triglycerides
Above 150 mg/dL is borderline high; above 500 is very high. High triglycerides are closely linked to metabolic syndrome, fatty liver, and pancreatitis. Strongly affected by refined carbohydrate intake, alcohol, and diabetes control.
Non-HDL Cholesterol
Total cholesterol minus HDL. Increasingly recommended as a better cardiovascular risk predictor than LDL alone. Target: below 130 mg/dL for most patients, below 100 for high-risk patients.
Familial Hypercholesterolaemia (FH)
Inherited condition causing very high LDL from birth. LDL above 190 mg/dL without diet explanation. Associated with premature heart disease. Requires specialist management with high-intensity statins or PCSK9 inhibitors.
Cholesterol Management at Sri Anand
Cardiovascular Risk Calculation
We use the ACC/AHA 10-year ASCVD risk calculator to determine whether and how aggressively to treat cholesterol — because statin benefit is proportional to absolute risk, not just cholesterol level.
Dietary Intervention
Reducing saturated fat (coconut oil, ghee, palm oil, red meat, full-fat dairy), increasing fibre (oats, legumes, vegetables), plant sterols, and the Mediterranean dietary pattern — all evidence-based approaches.
Statin Therapy
Atorvastatin and rosuvastatin are the first-line, most evidence-backed statins. High-intensity statins (atorvastatin 40–80 mg, rosuvastatin 20–40 mg) for high-risk patients. We monitor liver enzymes and CK.
Add-On Therapy for High-Risk Patients
Ezetimibe (add-on to statin for further LDL reduction), fenofibrate (for high triglycerides), omega-3 fatty acids — for patients with high cardiovascular risk not at target on statin alone.
Lipid Profile Review at 8–12 Weeks
Re-check lipids 8–12 weeks after starting or changing treatment. Adjust dose until LDL target is achieved. Annual monitoring once stable.
Why Choose Sri Anand Hospital?
Treated by: Dr. Anand Karnam · DrNB (Neurology) · Cardiovascular Risk Management
"Cholesterol management is not just about a number — it is about total cardiovascular risk. A 55-year-old diabetic smoker with LDL of 120 needs a statin urgently; a 25-year-old athlete with the same LDL may need only lifestyle advice. Context is everything."
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Sri Anand Child & Neuro Hospital · Open 24/7 · Chanda Nagar, Hyderabad