When it comes to the risk of cardiovascular diseases such as myocardial infarction and cerebral infarction, everyone thinks of cholesterol first. However, inflammation in the body also plays a major role in increasing the risk of cardiovascular disease. C-reactive substance (CRP) produced in the liver is a representative indicator that reflects the degree of inflammation in the body.
Recently, a study investigating the relationship between inflammation and cardiovascular disease in patients taking cholesterol-lowering drugs was published in the international journal The Lancet, which has the highest paper impact index.
The study included 31,245 Americans taking cholesterol-lowering medications. The level of low density cholesterol (LDL) and CRP, which are associated with cardiovascular disease risk, were measured and the incidence of cardiovascular disease and mortality was investigated during follow up for up to 5 years.
As a result of the investigation, an LDL cholesterol level of 90 or higher did not significantly increase the number of cases or deaths from cardiovascular disease compared to those of 60 or lower. In other words, the difference in cholesterol-lowering drug status did not significantly increase the risk of death.
However, when the CRP was 0.45 or more, the risk of cardiovascular disease increased by 31% compared to the case where the CRP was 0.11 or less. Deaths due to cardiovascular disease increased by 168% and overall deaths by 142%. It means you suffer from CRP while worrying about your cholesterol level.
Inflammation in the body can also cause arteriosclerosis and cause cardiovascular disease. Don’t be complacent that you won’t get heart disease because your LDL cholesterol is normal. I need to control it well so that my body does not become inflamed. Avoid getting major and minor infections, and always eat fruit or vegetables that have anti-inflammatory effects.
