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November 21, 2007
Would you be surprised to learn that you can protect your heart more effectively through taking high-quality nutritional supplements than through taking cholesterol-lowering drugs? This is the message of a book entitled ‘Cholesterol Conspiracy’ written by Ladd McNamara, M.D., a board-certified physician and expert in nutritional medicine. In his 85-page book with 167 references Dr. McNamara explains that most people who die of heart disease have normal cholesterol levels! The most common form of heart disease nowadays is atherosclerosis (damaged arteries which are possibly clogged due to plaque formation).
Heart disease kills 725,000 Americans annually - it is the #1 killer in the US today. An early idea was that cholesterol is the culprit of this disease. Dr. Ladd McNamara sheds light on the history:
- Years ago the idea was that to reduce the risk of heart disease the total cholesterol level needed to be kept below 200 - it did not lower the risk of heart disease.
- The recommendation eventually changed to measuring the ratio of ‘good’ cholesterol (HDL) and ‘bad’ cholesterol (LDL). The initial recommended limit of LDL was 130, was then lowered to 100 (in 2001) and lowered further to 70 (July 2004). These drugs are big business: over $16 billion in profits in 2003. The latest drop doubles the number of people who become candidates for cholesterol- lowering drugs.
- The pharmaceutical companies spend a huge amount of money to influence the public and doctors alike that these drugs are needed and try to suppress scientific information regarding the important role that vitamins and minerals play - Dr. Ladd McNamara compares this behavior to that of the tobacco industry in the past.
Dr. Ladd McNamara convincingly argues that there is no scientific evidence supporting the prescription of statin-cholesterol lowering drugs to an ever increasing number of people and that there is a much more effective solution.
- Studies show that heart disease is caused by oxidized LDL. To understand oxidation think of a piece of metal rusting. If you prevent the oxidation (via antioxidants, i.e., vitamins) the LDL will not stick to the arterial walls and form plaques.
- Homocysteine is a compound in our bodies that oxidizes the LDL and the arterial walls. The oxidized LDL releases C Reactive Protein (CRP) which is a powerful indicator for this inflammation of the arteries. The homocysteine level can be lowered, for example, by the vitamin B family.
The recommendation is to be quite cautious about using cholesterol-lowering drugs which can damage your liver, reduce the amounts of a critical enzyme (Co-Q10) needed for energy production in every cell (especially in the heart!) and has many other negative side effects. Instead, it is recommended to take a high-quality nutritional supplement and keeping your LDL from getting oxidized. You can also ask your doctor to measure your homocysteine level (should be below 6.5) and CRP.
For more information and detailed recommendations please contact Stephie Althouse, Ph.D., at 858-229-3379 or email at Stephiealthouse@yahoo.com
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Stephie Althouse is a Ph.D. chemist who has worked in research and development for 16 years and is the recipient of several prestigious awards. About 2.5 years ago she became very interested in cellular nutrition, i.e., the field that is concerned with providing the correct nutrients to each and every cell in our body to maintain optimum health, prevent chronic degenerative diseases and slow aging. She has counceled many people on improving their health via establishing a high-quality nutritional supplementation program tailored to their needs, and via recommendations for healthier eating and physical exercise. Dr. Althouse works closely with medical doctors who are experts in nutritional medicine - unfortunately, this is still a rare combination. The philosophy of these doctors is not anti-drugs or anti-surgery but instead they recognize that much can be accomplished by looking to nutrition first.
October 31, 2007
1. Try Yoga: Yoga is a great way to reduce stress, which contributes to high blood pressure. But there are some poses in particular recommended for those wanting to level out their blood pressure. These include:
* forward bends like virasana and upavista konasana, which are both sitting postures
* horizontal asanas which allow the heart beat to slow down when they are practised slowly and rhythmically
* asanas like uttanasana and adhomukha savasana
2. Regular exercise: It doesn’t have to be yoga. Any regular exercise like walking, biking or gardening is great for lowering blood pressure. Your physician will be able to give you an exercise plan that suits your heart condition and physical fitness levels. It’s important not to overdo it too quickly. Tai chi is actually an excellent way to reduce blood pressure. Like yoga, it is relaxing, rhythmical, a stress reducer, and has great benefit on the nervous and parasympathetic systems within the body.
Having a regular exercise program may even reduce your need for blood pressure medication.
3. Eat more bananas! Bananas are high in potassium, which is great for reducing high blood pressure. Other dietary improvements include eating more fruit and vegetables generally. Studies have found 8 servings of fruit and vegetables daily to be preferable, with these having a particular benefit for cardiovascular health:
* Lettuce
* spinach
* cauliflower
* cabbage
* broccoli
* swiss chard
* citrus fruits
And when these changes are combined with exercise, there are more significant improvements in blood pressure.
4. Make sure you get your folic acid: A study by the Harvard Medical School looked at the benefits of folic acid on blood pressure, and found it to be highly beneficial, particularly amongst younger women. It seemed to have a protective effect against high blood pressure. Younger women who took at least 1mg of folic acid a day lowered their risk of hypertension by 46%. Older women who had reasonable amounts of folic acid daily lowered their risk by 18%. The study was conducted on 156,000 nurses, 19,720 of whom had high blood pressure.
5. Blessed chocolate: Dark chocolate, and foods and supplements that had high levels of cocoa including chocolate confectionary, cocoa sandwich filling and drinks, have been found to be associated with a lower blood pressure and reduced risk of dying from any cause in a small study conducted on 470 elderly men (they were on average 72 7ears old). The study followed them for 15 years, and those that ate more than 2.3 grams of cocoa a day had lower blood pressure than those that didn’t. Researchers believe it is the flavanol component of cocoa that provides this beneficial effect.
Before thinking this is a green light to eat lots of chocolate, you’ll need about 100 grams of dark chocolate a day to get the blood pressure benefits. That equates to an extra 500 calories per 100 grams, with an average fat content of 30%. Raw cocoa is not well taken by people when it is eaten in large amounts. The calorie and fat considerations need to be taken into account, although there are some chocolate bars out there that have a higher flavanol content.
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For high blood pressure herbs, check this article. For other articles on blood pressure, click here.
September 29, 2007
According to the statistics about heart disease published in 2006 by the Center for Disease Control, 24.7 million adults have been diagnosed with heart disease. This figure is equivalent to 11.5% of the American adult population.
Reversing heart disease may not be possible in all cases, but according to the American Heart Association, most people with cardiovascular diseases, including heart failure, can live full and enjoyable lives, with the right treatment and attention to lifestyle.
The CDC is only one agency that publishes statistics about heart disease. ?Diseases of the heart? is listed as the number one cause of death in the United States. It is important to remember that this figure includes all deaths caused by all of the different diseases of the heart, not just coronary artery disease, which is a narrowing of the arteries that lead to the heart.
For simplicity?s sake, the National Vital Statistics Report, which is responsible for publishing these statistics about heart disease deaths, does not include subcategories in this report. It is impossible to tell how many of these deaths (654,092 in 2004) were caused by coronary artery disease, heart failure or another disease affecting the heart.
Also known as atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease is the focus of some research concerning reversing heart disease.
According to the Health Center at the University of Texas, noninvasive positron emission tomography, a technology developed by Dr. K. Lance Gould allows doctors to see where heart blood flow has been restricted by early cholesterol buildup in the arteries, with greater accuracy than previous technologies, including the stress test.
A treatment program can be designed for the individual to remove the cholesterol from the artery wall, thus reversing heart disease processes. Reversing heart disease takes time, typically 18-24 months and there is some remaining risk of heart attack during this time, but the doctors and researchers at UT believe that treatment can be quite effective. Dietary and lifestyle changes will still be necessary to prevent additional cholesterol build-up, however.
According to statistics about heart disease published by the American Heart Association, 5 million Americans are living with heart failure and approximately 500,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.
Coronary artery disease and heart failure are not the same conditions, but untreated coronary artery disease can lead to heart failure. These and other statistics about heart disease indicate that coronary artery disease leads to heart failure about 20% of the time, which is distressing, since the latest technology can be effective at reversing heart disease and preventing its progression to heart failure.
Some doctors and researchers believe that coronary artery disease and many other diseases can be linked to inflammatory responses within the body. Being overweight can cause inflammation all over the body. Improper diet can lead to inflammation. Type II or adult onset diabetes, one of the many risk factors for heart disease, is believed to be linked to inflammation. All of this research supports the importance of proper diet, regular exercise and weight control.
Some researchers have reached the conclusion that natural anti-inflammatories may be safer and more effective than anti-inflammatory drugs, because natural anti-inflammatories target a number of inflammatory responses, while synthetic anti-inflammatories may target only a single inflammatory molecule.
The mangosteen — an exotic fruit from Southeast Asia, not to be confused with the common mango — has been shown in scientific research to contain a very potent anti-inflammatory, a Cox-2 inhibitor, as well as numerous vitamins, minerals and anti-oxidants that can prevent blood clots; reduce bad cholesterol and support overall function of the heart.
Patient reports indicate that it helps control diabetes; lowering blood sugar levels and reducing the need for insulin. Mangosteen products may also help those who need to get up and take a walk, by increasing energy and improving blood flow. There is no magic health elixir for preventing or reversing heart disease, but mangosteen may help.
The statistics for heart disease may be depressing, but even more depressing is the fact that 66.3% of all Americans over the age of 20 are overweight, another risk factor for developing heart disease.
So, in summary, see your doctor, follow good dietary and lifestyle habits, and perhaps try a natural anti-inflammatory like the editors at restore-your-health.com.
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Mike Leuthen is cheif editor of http://www.restore-your-health.com Visit us to learn more about what you can do to prevent coming a statistic of heart disease.
September 26, 2007
In recent decades an enormous amount of research has been done to find out what the risk factors are for heart disease. We know a lot more now about the best ways to keep your heart healthy. Your genetics do play a part, but even if genetically you’re predisposed to heart disease, you can still follow a few simple guidelines and greatly reduce your risk of a heart attack.
Most of us are well aware that smoking is a major cause of lung cancer. But did you also know that it’s extremely bad for your heart? The smoke contains chemicals that irritate the circulatory system. This can lead to inflamed arteries, and I’m sure you can see how that’s bad for your heart. So if you want a healthy heart, throw the cigarettes in the bin.
Some other risk factors for heart disease, which I know I never would have guessed, are gum disease and tooth decay. Yes, that’s right, there’s a link between dental hygiene and arteriosclerosis, a major cause of heart disease. So the better care you take of your mouth, the healthier your heart will be. Gingivitis is caused by a type of bacteria, and if that bacteria travels to your heart, it can cause serious complications. Make sure you brush your teeth at least twice a day and floss daily, to help keep your heart healthy. Also, make sure you get regular dental checkups. Get cavities filled immediately, and do your best to keep your teeth healthy, as missing teeth can also indicate your heart’s in trouble.
A little more obvious is the fact that what you eat has a big effect on the health of your heart. It’s good to eat foods that are high in omega-3 fatty acids, including olive oil, walnuts and cold-water fish. Whole grains are another really good food, so forget the baked potatoes and white bread. Add in some fresh vegetables, particularly tomatoes and eggplants. You don’t have to skip dessert, either - a good serve of blueberries will do wonders for your heart.
Finally, one of the best things you can do to keep your heart healthy is exercise. It’s great for burning off that excess fat, particularly around the stomach area. Carrying fat on your belly is really hard on your heart. The fat also secretes harmful proteins into your bloodstream, and guess where they end up - your heart. Find a form of exercise you enjoy and persist with it. You can choose from running, swimming, biking, or even walking. Even walking 5 miles a day can burn 500 extra calories. You don’t even have to do it all at once, take a few shorter walks and you’ll still enjoy the benefits.
Having a healthy heart isn’t difficult, but it does require that you make some basic changes to your lifestyle. If you persist with these changes, your heart will thank you.
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If you want to read more about having a healthy heart, click over to Jo’s site at http://www.heartdiseaseinfozone.com
September 3, 2007
CT heart scans are booming in popularity. With over 300 scanners nationwide, over one million Americans have now been scanned since the introduction of this technology 10 years ago.
In some cases, lives have been saved. People with high scores (e.g., over 1000) can end up with lifesaving procedures like bypass surgery or stents.
But what about the majority of people who don?t have a life-threatening score?
Too often, people in this very large group are prescribed a cholesterol drug and patted on the back with advice to cut the fat in their diet. According to several recent studies, that?s a recipe for failure. Do nothing, and you can expect your score to increase 30% per year. Take a cholesterol drug and cut your fat, and you can still expect your score to grow 30% per year!
Surely there?s a lot more you could do to gain control over your score.
Here?s our list of 5 easy yet crucial steps you can take that tip the odds in your favor that you will not just stop your score from increasing, but perhaps even reduce it.
1. Take fish oil
Fish oil is among the few breakthrough discoveries of the past 20 years that has altered the course of cardiovascular illness, slashing risk of death, heart attack, and stroke. The mis-guided advice of the 1980s that polyunsaturated oils were healthy has left us appallingly overloaded with omega-6 fatty acids, and omega-3 supplementation from fish oil has become increasingly important.
The 11,000-participant GISSI-Prevenzione trial brought any remaining naysayers to their knees. Participants taking fish oil experienced 30% reduction in cardiovascular death and an astounding 45% reduction in sudden death.
Fish oil provides anti-inflammatory benefits, plaque-stabilizing effects, and corrects many genetic and acquired causes for heart attack. Fish oil helps correct the triglyceride and small LDL abnormalities triggered by metabolic syndrome, the collection of pre-diabetic abnormalities now afflicting 59 million Americans. Fish oil also accelerates clearance of abnormal fat particles in the blood that persist after eating. All of this adds up to a dramatic reduction in cardiovascular ?events? and greater control over coronary plaque. In our heart disease reversal program, we start with 4000 mg of standard fish oil capsules per day provide 1200 mg of omega-3 fatty acids, EPA + DHA.
2. Take vitamin D
Imagine over half the adults in the U.S. were toothless and had open skin sores covering their bodies from vitamin C deficiency, or ?scurvy. Well, that?s the situation, though less graphic, with vitamin D. Deficiency is rampant in the U.S., particularly in northern climates where sun exposure is in short supply for long periods. It?s not uncommon even in southern climates, given indoor workplaces and lifestyles. Vitamin D deficiency has been implicated in osteoporosis, prostate and colon cancer, hypertension, multiple sclerosis, and heart disease.
The higher your heart scan score, the more likely you are deficient in vitamin D. Consider taking a minimum of vitamin D 1000 units per day. Even better, have your doctor check a blood level (25-OH-vitamin D3) and the dose can be adjusted accordingly. In our heart disease reversal program, most women require 2000 units per day, most men 3000 units per day to achieve the desirable blood level of >50 ng/ml.
3) Boost your HDL cholesterol to 60 mg/dl
Raise this simple value to 60 mg/dl or greater, and you will have accomplished a huge improvement in a whole constellation of health effects.
This is because HDL is a gauge of many things: body weight, your body?s ability to respond to insulin, potential for hypertension, and the presence of hidden causes of heart disease, especially the dreaded small LDL. The higher your HDL, the less likely other undesirable phenomena are present. HDL is the blood particle that is responsible for regression, or shrinkage, of plaque. The more, the better.
Boost HDL by losing excess weight, reducing processed carbohydrates like breads and breakfast cereals, exercise, 4?8 oz of red wine per day, and fish oil. Raise it even further by considering niacin (vitamin B3), 500?1000 mg. (Discuss niacin use with your doctor.)
4) Have a colorful lifestyle
Deeply colored foods are rich in flavonoids, naturally-occurring substances that pack broad, powerful health effects and include blood pressure-reducing and anti-inflammatory benefits.
Add more deeply colored foods to your day, especially blueberries, pomegranates, plums, black grapes, spinach, green peppers, and red wine. Drink green tea whenever possible. Use cocoa powder (unsweetened) in your protein shakes or add a daily two-inch square of dark chocolate. Add capers, fresh basil and other herbs to your salads and dinner dishes. All are rich in naturally-occurring flavonoids, destined to become health champions of the 21st century. Among their myriad benefits, flavonoids are natural artery relaxing agents and add another healthy dimension to your heart scan control program.
5) Substitute raw nuts for unhealthy snacks
Dump the chips, pretzels, and crackers. Replace them with raw almonds, walnuts, and pecans. (Not ?party mix?, ?honey-roasted?, mixed nuts, etc., all no better than other unhealthy snacks.) Raw and whole (unshelled) are the keys, bought bulk in most supermarkets or health food stores. This simple substitution reduces LDL cholesterol 20 points, reduces blood sugar, reduces small LDL, raises HDL, and boosts your energy level. Don?t sweat the fats?the monounsaturated fat in raw nuts are the source of much of the benefit. One-quarter to one-half cup per day provides maximum benefit.
Stopping your heart scan score from increasing may be among the most powerful ways to sharply reduce, perhaps even eliminate, risk for heart disease in your lifetime. There?s no single strategy that guarantees you stop your heart scan score from increasing―it?s all your efforts combined, followed consistently over time.
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Dr. William Davis is a cardiologist and expert in reversal of heart disease. He is author of ?Track Your Plaque: The only heart disease prevention program that shows you how to detect, track, and control coronary plaque.? Dr. Davis also makes his book, ?What Does My Heart Scan Show?? available for free at www.trackyourplaque.com.
August 31, 2007
Health experts believe that the prevention of heart disease, particularly arteriosclerotic heart disease, is possible. To be sure, some risk factors are uncontrollable, such as sex, age and genetics; but there are a number of dietary and lifestyle changes that can reduce the risk.
Arteriosclerotic heart disease may be referred to as arteriosclerosis and is characterized by a thickening of and loss of elasticity of the blood vessel walls.
Atherosclerosis, which is a very similar and often confused term, is defined as a form of or a stage of arteriosclerotic heart disease, in which plaque builds up on the inner lining of the blood vessel walls. The prevention of heart disease focuses primarily on preventing this build up of plaque.
Plaque that is found in the arteries of the heart is referred to as atheroma. This plaque is composed of an inflammatory accumulation of macrophage white blood cells. It is believed that increasing amounts of LDL or bad cholesterol begin circulating in the blood stream, with dietary changes and habits that begin in school age children and are often carried over into adulthood.
Current research indicates that LDL cholesterol irritates and damages the lining of the blood vessels, leading to the inflammatory responses that cause the plaque. It is apparently a very slow process. It is quite possible that efforts for the prevention of heart disease should begin at a very early age.
Some of the suggestions from the American Heart Association for the prevention of heart disease include controlling childhood obesity and improving the nutritional value of the typical child?s diet or the typical ?school lunch?. Fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean sources of protein, such as fish or chicken, which is not fried or breaded, are heart healthy choices.
The best tests for detecting early arteriosclerotic heart disease are not commonly used or widely accepted. They are typically not covered by health insurance plans and often the disease is not detected until symptoms appear. According to data collected in 2004, a heart attack or sudden death is often the first symptom of arteriosclerotic heart disease. Thus, the yearly check-up is extremely important.
While doctors typically do not perform extensive tests for the early stages of heart disease, they do typically check weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels. These are the best indicators that the medical community has at this time. Additionally, a simple blood test for C-reactive protein, produced by the body during the inflammatory process, can indicate that inflammation of the arteries is present.
High blood pressure, high levels of LDL cholesterol or C-reactive protein circulating in the blood stream, along with obesity, age and heredity are all risk factors for the development of arteriosclerotic heart disease. Blood sugar levels also play a role, uncontrolled diabetes, particularly Type II or adult onset diabetes is currently considered a risk factor.
However, adult onset diabetes appears to be related to improper diet, lack of exercise and obesity, as well. While reducing age or changing parents is not possible, controlling the other risk factors can help with the prevention of heart disease.
According to the most recent research, it appears that using a combination of approaches for the prevention of heart disease is more effective than a single approach. Among these approaches are: making dietary changes, losing weight (particularly around the abdomen), reducing blood sugar levels to low normal and taking certain dietary supplements.
Controlling blood pressure and lowering LDL cholesterol may be achieved through dietary changes or prescription medications may be necessary. The same is true for reducing blood sugar levels. The dietary supplements that may help with the prevention of heart disease include anti-oxidants, the B-vitamins and folic acid.
Mangosteen puree, a dietary supplement, contains the most antioxidants available from a single source. These antioxidants destroy free radicals that can cause cellular damage leading to arteriosclerotic heart disease.
Mangosteen is an exotic fruit from Southeast Asia, and should not be confused with the more mundane mango. Mangosteen is an excellent source of B-vitamins and folic acid which helps lower homocysteine, an amino acid found in meat. High blood levels of homocysteine are related to the early development of arteriosclerotic disease.
In addition, the mangosteen contains natural anti-inflammatory properties which may be helpful for the prevention of heart disease.
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Mike Leuthen is chief editor of http://www.restore-your-health.com Visit us on the web to learn more about how to prevent heart disease and to ask the editor questions.
May 2, 2007
In the last few years, medical scientists have had divergent opinions regarding the actual efficiency of common cholesterol-lowering medications. A series of experiments and clinical trials conducted in the past had revealed that commonly prescribed cholesterol medications such as statins were actually unable to effectively prevent the development of coronary disease and other conditions associated with high blood cholesterol levels. By contrast, other research findings suggested that statins were effective in lowering cholesterol and preventing heart disease. Judging by the differentiated results obtained in the past, medical scientists have inclined to believe that the potency and the efficiency of statins may be influenced by various factors such as patients? age, gender and even racial provenience.
The findings of most experiments and studies conducted in the past were very confusing. Paradoxically, it seemed that even if commonly prescribed statins were effective in lowering blood cholesterol, these medications didn?t actually prevent the occurrence of heart disease. These findings have determined doctors to doubt the overall benefits of commonly prescribed cholesterol-lowering medications. Intrigued by the apparent inconstancy of statins and similar cholesterol-lowering drugs, medical researchers have recently conducted more elaborate clinical studies in order to reveal whether such medications actually work or not.
Recent study findings have finally unveiled the mystery regarding the fluctuant efficiency of such drugs. After they have carefully analyzed the results of recently conducted experiments, medical scientists have concluded that statins are most effective when they are administered to patients who benefit from permanent medical monitoring. While most hospitalized patients who receive cholesterol-lowering treatments with statins experience major improvements of their blood cholesterol values, people who receive the drugs outside the hospital appear to be less responsive to such forms of treatment. Thus, in order to maximize the effects of statins, patients who receive the drugs need frequent medical care and evaluation. Although people who receive these cholesterol-lowering drugs don?t actually require hospitalization, they should receive medical guidance and frequent examinations over the entire duration of the treatment in order to maximize the effects of statins.
After interpreting the findings of recent clinical studies and experiments, medical scientists have infirmed the suspicions regarding the inefficiency of commonly prescribed statins. Researchers have proved that as long as they are administered in appropriated dosages, statins are indeed effective not only in lowering cholesterol, but also in preventing heart disease and other conditions linked with high blood cholesterol levels. Medical scientists explain that the main reason for the controversial and confusing results obtained by previous research is actually inappropriate usage of statins.
In order to obtain the best results, treatments with cholesterol-lowering drugs need to be individualized and differentiated according to the patients? needs. Thus, people confronted with high blood cholesterol levels should be administered statins in individualized doses and only after elaborate medical examination. In addition to an initial cholesterol test, people who follow cholesterol-lowering treatments should receive frequent lipoprotein profiles over the entire duration of the treatments and a few months after completing the prescribed courses of medications.
If you want to find great information about many cholesterol subjects like high cholesterol, low cholesterol diet or many more please visit us at http://www.cholesterol-info-guide.com/
Most people are unaware of the fact that having abnormal blood cholesterol levels seriously jeopardizes one?s health. High blood cholesterol is a major cause of heart disease, rendering people very susceptible to suffering heart attack. Actually, the higher your total blood cholesterol level, the higher your risk for developing coronary disease and suffering a heart attack. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among the population of the United States. Statistics indicate that there are more than one million cases of heart attack reported in the United States each year. Around 500.000 Americans die each year as a consequence of heart disease. Most cases of heart disease and heart failure among the American population are solely caused by inappropriate blood cholesterol levels. This is a very disturbing fact, as coronary disease due to high blood cholesterol can be effectively prevented and treated in present.
Apart from coronary disease, people with high blood cholesterol levels are also very exposed to developing peripheral vascular disease, arthritis and in some cases, diabetes. People with high blood cholesterol levels are also prone to suffering stroke and permanent brain damage. All these conditions are linked with inappropriate blood flow and poor oxygenation of the organism, consequences of abnormally high blood cholesterol levels.
Cholesterol is a fatty, wax-like substance produced by the liver. In normal amounts, cholesterol is benefic for the organism, supporting the activity of blood cells and aiding the body in producing hormones such as testosterone and estrogen. While in small amounts cholesterol is benign for the human body, fulfilling a series of vital roles inside the organism, in large amounts it seriously affects one?s overall health. When in excess, cholesterol accumulates in the bloodstream, sticking to the interior walls of arteries and obstructing normal blood flow. Clogged with cholesterol deposits, the arteries eventually become hardened and narrow, slowing down blood flow. When cholesterol accumulates inside the coronary arteries, it prevents blood flow from reaching the heart, depriving the heart valves from vital nutrients and oxygen supplies. Complete blockage of the coronary arteries causes the heart to stop functioning, resulting in a heart attack.
In order to prevent the occurrence of heart disease and other conditions associated with high blood cholesterol levels, it is very important to regularly have your cholesterol numbers checked. If your blood cholesterol values are higher than average, you should address to your physician in order to receive the appropriate treatment. In addition, you will have to follow a cholesterol-lowering diet and make a few lifestyle improvements in order to keep your cholesterol levels in check. Corroborated with proper diet and a physically active lifestyle, cholesterol-lowering medications greatly reduce the risk of developing a wide range of life-threatening conditions linked with high blood cholesterol levels.
Doctors recommend all people with ages over 20 to have their cholesterol levels measured regularly. Young adults and middle age people are advised to have their cholesterol levels measured every 5 years, while older adults need to have their cholesterol levels measured at least once every 2 years.
If you want to find great information about many cholesterol subjects like low cholesterol diet, cholesterol levels or many more please visit us at http://www.cholesterol-info-guide.com/
Heart disease is considered to be the leading cause of death in most countries around the world. A major risk factor of coronary disease, cholesterol accounts for more and more victims among the American population these days. Recent statistics indicate that there are around 100 million people confronted with high blood cholesterol levels in the United States alone, an estimated 52 percent of the total population having borderline high blood cholesterol values (200 ? 239 mg/dL) and around 21 percent having seriously high blood cholesterol values, exceeding 240 mg/dL.
An even more disturbing fact is that about a quarter of the annual heart disease overall cases due to high blood cholesterol levels are registered among children. While in the past cholesterol problems were primarily linked to old age, predominantly occurring among older adults, nowadays high cholesterol levels are registered among children as young as 5 years old. Due to bad dietary habits, weight problems and physical inactivity, increasingly high numbers of children are nowadays becoming victims of coronary disease, atherosclerosis and various other serious conditions linked with high blood cholesterol levels.
Although cholesterol problems are highly preventable and reversible, overwhelmingly large numbers of children die as a result of cholesterol-associated diseases. Several post-mortem medical investigations have revealed conclusive signs of cardiovascular problems in children as young as 3 and even in babies! The results of several autopsy studies recently conducted in the United States indicate that more than half of the children with ages between 10 and 15 present a certain degree of arterial damage or signs of advanced atherosclerosis.
Surprising or not, the main reason for the growing numbers of abnormal cholesterol levels among children is bad diet. Very few children these days eat right or respect eating schedules, rendering such categories very exposed to cholesterol problems and eventually serious cardiovascular affections. While the food industry holds a major part of the blame, deliberately participating to a phenomenon of mass poisoning by carelessly promoting and supporting the commercialization of unhealthy food products, another part of the blame is held by parents, who often indulge in satisfying their siblings? every culinary preferences without being aware of the consequences.
Although it is painful to admit this fact, parental neglect is one of the reasons for today?s children?s health problems. Nowadays, it seems that parents are more preoccupied with their work than with the health and wellbeing of their children. Very few parents these days make time for preparing healthy, home-cooked meals, preferring fast food, processed food products and other quick alternatives over a balanced diet. Nevertheless, today?s parents don?t seem to bother educating their children about the risks of inappropriate dietary choices, becoming too permissive when it comes to fulfilling their children?s trifles.
As a parent, you are main responsible for taking measures in preventing the occurrence of cholesterol problems in your children. In order to avoid the occurrence of cholesterol problems and reduce the risks of heart disease in your children, you should frequently have their cholesterol levels measured and take action in keeping their cholesterol values in check. Make sure that your children respect healthy diets, free from fast food and other unhealthy, fat and cholesterol-rich food products and introduce more healthy and nutritious foods in their diets. Educate your children to respect well-established meal schedules and don?t allow them to replace home-cooked meals with unhealthy supermarket foods.
You should encourage your children to practice a certain sport, as lack of physical exercise has a major negative effect on one?s health, greatly contributing to the occurrence of cholesterol problems and increasing the risk of heart disease. Remember that high cholesterol in children, as well as adults is most often the result of inappropriate diet and physically inactive lifestyle. Make improvements in these areas and you will be able to effectively prevent and overcome cholesterol problems and various other related conditions.
If you want to find great information about many cholesterol subjects like low cholesterol recipe, low cholesterol food or many more please visit us at http://www.cholesterol-info-guide.com/
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