The Alarming Rise of “Bad Cholesterol” in Asia

Bad cholesterol has dropped in Western countries over 40 years but risen in East and Southeast Asia due to diet changes and limited medicine use. A multifunctional device helps people track cholesterol and other health markers at home to manage these risks. High non-HDL cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease and strokes.

To prevent this, people need healthier diets, more physical activity, and better access to medical care. Understanding these trends and utilizing tools like a multifunctional device is important for creating effective health plans that reduce the growing risk of heart problems in Asia.

Why This is Happening

The rise in “bad” cholesterol (non-HDL) in Asia is mostly due to lifestyle changes. Many people today eat more fatty, processed, and high-calorie foods than in the past. At the same time, some people cannot easily get cholesterol-lowering medicines, which makes it harder to control cholesterol once it becomes high.

However, cholesterol levels are not determined only by diet and lifestyle. Research shows that about 70–80% of cholesterol is inherited from family (genetics), while only 20–30% comes from what we eat and how we live. This means that even people who eat healthy food, exercise, and take care of their bodies may still have high cholesterol if it runs in their family.

That’s why regular cholesterol checkups are important, to detect problems early and help prevent heart disease.

Diet Changes: More Animal Fats, Refined Carbs, and Palm Oil

Animal Fats: Eating more fatty meats and dairy increases “bad” LDL cholesterol.
Refined Carbs and Sugars: Foods like white bread, sweets, and sugary drinks can raise triglycerides and lower “good” HDL cholesterol.
Palm Oil: Commonly used in cooking and processed foods, palm oil is high in saturated fat and can increase LDL cholesterol more than healthier oils.

Limited Use of Statins

Statins are medicines that help lower cholesterol. While widely used in wealthy countries, many low- and middle-income Asian countries don’t use them as much because of cost, limited healthcare services, and low awareness. This means people with high cholesterol often don’t get the treatment they need, raising their risk of heart disease.

Rising consumption of unhealthy foods and limited access to medicines have caused cholesterol levels to increase in Asia. To fix this, public health strategies should focus on encouraging healthier diets and making cholesterol-lowering treatments more accessible.

Public Health Implications

Heart related diseases are rising quickly in Asia, and more young people are being affected. This is a serious public health problem that needs fast action and solutions.

Heart Disease Is Increasing in Asia

Heart diseases, also called cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), are rising rapidly in Asia and are now a leading cause of sickness and death. They also cause significant economic problems because many people die or become disabled during their most active and productive years.

Young People Are at Higher Risk

Many young adults in Asia are now at a higher risk of heart disease. If a young person has even one problem like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, smoking, or high cholesterol, they are almost three times more likely to end up in the hospital with heart issues.

What Can Be Done

To address this growing problem, public health strategies should focus on:

Use Monitoring Device: Early monitoring helps detect hidden conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol in young people, allowing for timely treatment and lifestyle changes to prevent serious diseases such as heart problems.
Health Education: This is about helping people realize how their daily habits affect their health. It means learning to eat balanced meals with less sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats, exercising regularly to stay strong, and avoiding smoking or tobacco. By following these habits, people can feel better, stay healthier, and lower their risk of serious diseases.
Better Healthcare Access: Better Healthcare Access means helping people at high risk of heart disease get the care and medicines they need more easily. This includes regular check-ups and early health monitoring to prevent serious heart problems before they happen.
Policy Actions: Governments can help protect public health by creating rules and programs that reduce unhealthy food consumption, limit tobacco use, and control pollution. These actions make it easier for people to live healthier lives and lower the risk of heart disease.

By taking these steps, Asia can reduce heart disease and protect the health of its younger populations.

The Importance of Regular Monitoring

High cholesterol is often called a “silent killer” because it usually doesn’t cause symptoms until it has already harmed the heart or blood vessels. Regular monitoring is key to spotting problems early, especially in places like Asia, where heart disease is increasing. Routine checks can detect high cholesterol before it leads to serious issues.

At-home cholesterol test kits make it easy to track your levels. They give quick results, helping you monitor your heart health regularly. However, these tests should not replace professional medical advice. Sharing your results with a healthcare provider ensures they are interpreted correctly and that you get proper treatment if needed.

Regular cholesterol checks help detect risks early and support better heart health decisions.

Benefits of Regular Monitoring

Early Detection: Early Detection means finding high cholesterol before it causes serious health problems, allowing you to take action through diet, exercise, or medication to lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Better Decisions: Regular health monitoring shows your actual health condition. It helps you and your doctor see if your cholesterol or other levels are too high. This information helps you make informed choices for your health, ensuring your treatment is guided by real results rather than guesswork.
Cost-Effective: Using home test kits can save both money and time. Instead of paying for repeated lab visits and spending time traveling to clinics, you can check your health at home for a lower cost and with less hassle.

Things to Keep in Mind

Accuracy: Accuracy ensures that your test results are correct and dependable. To achieve reliable results, always follow the test instructions carefully.
Full Assessment: Home tests may not check all heart risk factors, so it’s a good idea to consult a doctor for a complete evaluation.

Regular cholesterol checks help catch problems early, lower your risk of heart disease, and keep your heart healthy for the future.

Bioptik EasyMate Plus: Convenient 5-in-1 Health Monitoring

Bioptik’s EasyMate Plus is a multifunctional device that allows easy monitoring of cholesterol along with other important health indicators. It measures glucose, cholesterol, uric acid, hemoglobin, and triglycerides, making it ideal for people with diabetes, high cholesterol, high uric acid, gout, anemia, or high triglycerides.

How It Works

Just place a drop of blood from your fingertip on the test strip, and the results will appear quickly on the screen.

The device shows results very quickly:

Glucose, uric acid, hemoglobin – 6 seconds: Almost instant results.
Cholesterol – 15 seconds: Just a few seconds more.
Triglycerides – 80 seconds: Takes about a minute, but still much faster than a lab test.

Key Features

Complete health check for the whole family: One device to monitor key health markers for the whole family.
Portable and user-friendly: Lightweight, compact, and simple to operate, making testing quick and hassle-free anywhere.
Clear results at a glance: A large LCD screen with green and red light indicators instantly shows whether your results are within a healthy range or require attention.

The EasyMate Plus is designed for self-testing and professional use, offering a fast, accurate, and convenient way to monitor multiple health metrics at home or in a clinical setting.