Former Strictly star Mark Ramprakash reveals father Deonarine’s stroke due to high-cholesterol was a wake-up call: ‘It really hit home’

Former Strictly Come Dancing star Mark Ramprakash has revealed his father Deonarine’s 2012 stroke made him reconsider his own health.

The former cricketer, 53, said doctors discovered his beloved parent, then 70, who thankfully has since recovered, was suffering a whole host of illnesses following his dash to hospital.

As well as diabetes and high blood pressure he also had high cholesterol, which was a likely factor in causing the stroke.

Mark’s father Deonarine is Indo-Guyanese with the star now aware his heritage puts him at a higher risk of inheriting the disease.

He told The Mirror: ‘There’s high cholesterol in the general population, but in particular among people of South Asian heritage, who seem to have more chance of having a stroke or cardiovascular event, so that hit home.’

Taking care: Former Strictly Come Dancing star Mark Ramprakash, 53, has revealed his father Deonarine’s 2012 stroke made him reconsider his own health

Health: The former cricketer said doctors discovered his beloved parent, then 70, who thankfully has since recovered, was suffering a whole host of illnesses following his dash to hospital (pictured with Strictly partner Karen Hardy in 2006) 

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is vital for the normal functioning of the body. But too much can cause it to build up in the arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart, brain and rest of the body.

Mark said that while his own cholesterol levels were ‘OK’ the incident changed his thinking ‘especially at this stage’ in his life.

‘My family’s South Asian heritage, my age and meeting people of a similar age who thought they were OK playing cricket and then suffered cardiac events – it’s had a huge impact on how I view my choices’.

Going on to say: ‘Since then, I have re-established efforts in terms of working out, doing cardio and limiting sugar too, though I do struggle with that. When I go for a coffee, I like something sweet to accompany it and it’s trying to form better habits. It’s not that you can’t have the odd treat – it’s just awareness of intake.’ 

High cholesterol can be genetic but it is also linked to a diet rich in saturated fat, as well as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and a family history of stroke or heart disease. 

Patients have been thrown a lifeline thanks to a new cholesterol-lowering pill that cuts the risk of heart attack and stroke.

The drug, bempedoic acid, was given the green light by NHS spending watchdogs last year after early data showed it was safe and reduced harmful cholesterol by up to 25 per cent.

According to landmark trial results unveiled this weekend, this leads to a 13 per cent lower rate of major cardiovascular events, including fatal and non-fatal heart attacks, and strokes.

Family: Mark’s father Deonarine is Indo-Guyanese with the star now aware his heritage puts him at a higher risk of inheriting the disease

Athelete: Mark said that while his own cholesterol levels were ‘OK’ the incident has changed his thinking ‘especially at this stage’ in his life (pictured in 2012)

When heart attacks alone were looked at, the risk reduction was 23 per cent and patients taking the daily tablet were 19 per cent less likely to need a stent or heart bypass operation.

All 14,000 volunteers in the study were statin-intolerant – suffering muscle pain and weakness which affects a sizeable minority who take the tablets.

Patients in the trial reported no muscle problems and few other side effects from the new pill.

The data was announced to a packed audience of international heart experts at the American College of Cardiology conference in New Orleans.

Cardiologist Professor Kausik Ray, who led the UK arm of the international study at Imperial Clinical Trials Unit in London, said: ‘This is big news – we knew bempedoic acid was safe and reduced cholesterol. Now we know it prevents heart attacks and strokes.’

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death, killing 180 people a day in Britain.

High cholesterol is a key risk factor and affects up to 60 per cent of adults. Experts say statins remain the gold standard for cholesterol-lowering – reducing levels by up to 50 per cent, cutting heart risk in half and costing as little as £20 per patient, per year.

WHAT IS HIGH CHOLESTEROL? 

Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is vital for the normal functioning of the body.

But too much can cause it to build up in the arteries, restricting blood flow to the heart, brain and rest of the body.

This raises the risk of angina, heart attacks, stroke and blood clots. 

Cholesterol is made in the liver and is carried in the blood by proteins.

The first – high-density lipoprotein (HDL) – carries cholesterol from cells to the liver where it is broken down or passed as waste. This is ‘good cholesterol’.

‘Bad cholesterol’ – low-density lipoprotein (LDL) – carries cholesterol to cells, with excessive amounts then building in the artery walls.

High cholesterol can be genetic but it is also linked to a diet rich in saturated fat, as well as smoking, diabetes, high blood pressure and a family history of stroke or heart disease. 

Blood cholesterol is measured in units called millimoles per litre of blood, often shortened to mmol/L.

A healthy adult’s overall level should be 5mmol/L or less, while their LDL level should be no more than 3mmol/L. An ideal level of HDL is above 1mmol/L.

Cholesterol can be lowered by eating a healthy, low-fat diet; not smoking; and exercising regularly.

If these do not help, cholesterol-lowering medication like statins may be prescribed.

Source: NHS  

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