UK Asians at Higher Risk of Heart Disease
March 12, 2006 by Lei
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
The British Heart Foundation estimates that South East Asians in the UK are 50 per cent more likely to develop heart disease than the general population. Some of the reasons for this greater risk are:
- One in five UK Asians has been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, which is almost 7 times higher than the general population.
- Higher rates of untreated diabetes.
- Abnormal cholesterol levels.
- High blood pressure.
- Excess weight, especially carried around the waist.
Professor Sudhesh Kumar, of the University of Warwick:
If you are an Asian woman and have a waist circumference of more than 80cm or a man with a waist circumference of 90cm you are at greater risk of heart disease and diabetes and should seek advice from a healthcare professional.
BBC News, March 12, 2006
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