Ice creams, chocolate fudge, Rasgulla, Halwa, the list goes on, for any person with a sweet tooth. In our country, every meal is incomplete without winding it up with a sweet dish. No matter how hard you try, sometimes it is too difficult to say no to a piece of barfi or a spoon of Kheer, isn't it? I bet, most of you can relate to it. But, have you ever wondered how your favourite bowl of sweetness is going to affect your heart health in the long run? Who wants to think about it while relishing their sweet delicacy, but overlooking the fact isn’t going to negate the risks that it carries along. So, if you are wondering why too much sweetness is bad for your heart, continue reading this blog.

Here are some reasons why you should think twice before eating something sweet, as listed by the best heart surgeon in Mumbai.

• It causes your triglycerides to spike up - The best doctors in India suggest that sugar is loaded with calories and when you take it in high amounts, it gets accumulated in the body in the form of a specific type of fat, commonly referred to as triglycerides. Too much build-up of triglycerides can elevate the risks of serious heart diseases like stroke and heart attack, by promoting arteriosclerosis. High triglyceride levels are usually found in people with any of the following conditions:

1. Type 2 diabetes
2. Pre-diabetes
3. Certain metabolic syndromes
4. Hypothyroidism
5. Underlying genetic conditions

Your triglyceride levels can be assessed with the help of a simple blood test

If your triglyceride levels are lower than 150 mg per dL of blood, the result is normal and you have nothing to worry about.

If your triglyceride levels are anywhere between 150 to 199 mg per dL, you are on the borderline and need to take preventive measures.

If your triglyceride levels are between 200 to 499 mg per dL of blood, it is considered to be high

If your triglyceride levels are above 500 mg per dL of blood, it is considered to be very high and you need immediate medical supervision.

• It can elevate the levels of LDL - Also known as bad cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein is one of the top causes of heart diseases. It has the tendency to stick to the arterial walls and accumulate there, leading to the formation of plaque. This is known to cause atherosclerosis, a condition marked by restricted blood flow due to narrowing or hardening of the arteries. Experts specializing in a heart transplant in Pune suggest that this is one of the widely known reasons for a heart attack in elderly as well as middle-aged people.

As such, it is extremely important to lower your LDL levels by adhering to a healthy lifestyle and refraining from eating sweet foods.

1. If you have an existing heart problem or, are at a high risk of developing the same, it is important to maintain LDL levels below 70 mg per dL.
2. If you have diabetes or multiple heart ailments, focus on maintaining your LDL levels below 100 mg per dL.
3. If you are perfectly healthy otherwise, try to keep your LDL levels below 130 mg per dL of blood.

• It can promote inflammation - Excessive sugar intake is known to increase blood pressure and promote chronic inflammation. You do not necessarily need to be overweight for this to happen. Inflammation can increase the risk of developing plaque and also loosen the plaque in the arteries, causing them to enter the bloodstream. Inflammation is a known risk factor for heart attacks too as it can lead to the formation of clots.

To know more about your heart health or to get it assessed by experts, you can book an appointment with our specialists today.