October 14, 2008
Cholesterol Reducing Vitamins and Drugs
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Having an abnormally high cholesterol level can put one at risk of developing heart disease. It won’t be an instant thing; heart disease can gradually develop as a person ages and as one continues to maintain a very high cholesterol level. If you plan to live well over your years, then lowering your cholesterol levels at the earliest time possible will be able to help you achieve your goal.
There are certain medications available in the market today that aim to lower cholesterol levels. They are grouped in different classes most notable of which are HMG-CoA Inhibitors or otherwise known as “statins”. The drugs belonging in this group try to block the enzyme HMG-CoA, which functions as one of the steps required to convert fat into cholesterol. Statins are known to be the most effective cholesterol lowering agent to date and have become a great help to people requiring drastic reduction of their cholesterol levels.
There are also cholesterol lowering drugs called bile acid sequestrants that work by binding itself with the bile produced by the human liver. Bile is the substance that aids in the digestion system and in the absorption of fats in the intestine. Bile acid sequestrants prevent the formation of cholesterol by preventing bile acid from digesting fats.
There are also vitamins that help lower cholesterol levels. Most prominent among them is Vitamin B3 or niacin. Niacin is one of the eight water-soluble B vitamins that help the body convert carbohydrates into glucose which is used in the body for energy. The B vitamins are also important in the breakdown of body fat and protein as well as in the aid in making the nervous system, skin, eyes, hair, mouth, and liver healthy. Niacin also helps the body in getting rid of toxic and harmful chemicals.
Niacin has also been found to increase the effects of other cholesterol reducing drugs. But such an effect would only be possible if niacin is taken in large doses. But people are also warned to be careful of trying to lower their cholesterol levels by taking in large doses of Niacin. Large amounts of this B vitamin can cause flushing of the skin due to dilating blood vessels as well as other side effects such as itching, headaches, nausea and muscle cramps.
Other vitamins and substances also credited in helping the body lower its cholesterol levels is Lecithin and vitamins C and E. Lecithin works by allowing fats and cholesterol to be dispersed from the body and help prevent fatty buildup in the arteries. Vitamins C and E have also shown to help in trying to help prevent heart disease by protecting LDL cholesterol from damage. Although LDL cholesterol is also known as the “bad” cholesterol, most cardiologists believe that only damaged LDL contributes to the increasing risk of heart disease.
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October 8, 2008
What you can do to lower your cholesterol
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Experts say that people who are over 20 years of age should pay more attention to their cholesterol level and advise them to do everything they can to lower their levels of ?bad? cholesterol. Despite the so many claims that you can lower your cholesterol level through low cholesterol diet plans, lifestyle changes, and monitored medication, more and more people who suffer from this condition still fail to lower their cholesterol level.
Although it is sometimes hard to stick with the needed requirements to be able to lower your cholesterol levels, it is still possible to get the result that you want by following these easy ways to lower to cholesterol:
1. Make sure you know where you stand by getting your levels checked regularly. Visiting your doctor and getting your cholesterol levels checked regularly is very important to achieving optimum health for good. Since high cholesterol is related to cardiovascular disease, make sure that you know your numbers so you can rearrange your diet and change lifestyle habits as well. Knowing your cholesterol level will also help you decide what kind of diet plan you should follow and if you need medication and treatment already. Knowing your starting point will also help you monitor your progress toward healthy cholesterol levels. If you know your exact cholesterol status then you can also do something to combat it by learning to quit cigarette smoking and excessive eating of high cholesterol foods.
2. Understanding the basics and learning everything you can about the condition. If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol levels, the first thing to do is to understand the situation fully and acquire more information about the condition. By conducting your own personal research on the condition will also make you knowledgeable about initial lifestyle changes you can do to lessen the problem and you will also have an idea what other treatments options available. Knowing everything about cholesterol, its types, kinds, and health risks will also make you understand that the case is not really hopeless if you are in the right track.
Finding and getting more information about the condition will also make you realize that there are so many things that you can do. You can get more information from a registered dietician, local centers for nutrition, local hospital or public health department, and from a consultation with your attending physician or health care provider.
3. Watch your weight and get rid of extra pounds if needed. Monitoring your weight is one of the best ways to combat high levels of cholesterol. If you think you are overweight for your age and height, then you should be contemplating on slimming down to be able to decrease your high cholesterol level. Since being overweight disrupts a person?s normal metabolism of dietary fat, experts say that people who weight more than they should shout start planning on a healthy lifestyle and diet to lose weight safely.
But, before having a drastic change in your diet and lifestyle, make sure that you visit your doctor first to access your overall health. Doing this may prevent further damage especially if you have to undergo certain medications.
4. Get physical, do regular physical activities and exercises more often. The wonders of exercise are indeed very essential in lowering high cholesterol levels. Doing regular physical activities can also help raise the good cholesterol levels and lose weight as well. There?s really no need for high-intensity workouts, regular brisk walking or jogging can help the body boost HDL cholesterol and also beneficial for the heart.
5. Make a commitment and stick to that commitment. The best way to lower cholesterol levels is to be able to develop the discipline to stick to your goal. You can also lower your cholesterol level by acquainting yourself what are the good and the bad fat and its sources, by discovering the wonders of fiber in cutting down cholesterol, by taking in good multivitamins, by freeing yourself from lots of stress, and by exploring and considering treatment options when all else fails.
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October 5, 2008
Know about Cholesterol Ratio
By admin
While considering your cholesterol level, in majority of the cases you are provided with your total blood cholesterol level, however, something more is required to understand the clear picture of your health. You should know about LDL, HDL and most importantly about cholesterol ratio. As common practice suggests, the diagnostic tests take into account four factors, namely, total blood cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides.
Now, in majority of the cases, cholesterol ratio is defined as the value retrieved from the total cholesterol level divided by the HDL level. Additionally, few researchers and doctors also consider cholesterol ratio as per dividing LDL by HDL. American Heart Association (AHA) considers 3.5:1 as the optimum ratio for total blood cholesterol to HDL and always recommends keeping this ratio lower than 5:1. For LDL to HDL the ratio should be lower than 3:1.
Calculation of Cholesterol Ratio
Cholesterol ratio is also referred to as cardiac risk ratio. If it is greater than 7:1, it is assumed as a warning. Now we look at it in more details. Say, your total cholesterol level and HDL level are 200mg/dL and 50mg/dL respectively. Then your cholesterol ratio is 4:1. You can get this ratio by simply dividing the former value by the later one. Ideally, your cholesterol ratio may be within 3:1, however, below 5:1 ratio is good for maintaining a healthy balance.
Higher ratio difference implies higher risk for developing heart problem, whereas lower difference ensures lower risk for the same. Quite obviously, high level of total cholesterol and low level of HDL heightens the ratio, which is absolutely undesirable. On the other hand, higher HDL and lower total cholesterol lower the ratio value, which is truly desirable.
Blood Cholesterol Ratio and Cardiovascular Risk
The HDL to LDL ratio and total cholesterol to HDL ratio are more relevant compared to total blood cholesterol level in terms of diagnosing the potential risk for coronary heart disease, heart attack, arteriosclerosis, and other cardiovascular disorder. For example, if someone has LDL to HDL ratio less than 2.5, that implies he is in safe condition. But if the ratio becomes higher than 3, it may turn out to be an indicator for possible complications.
On the other hand, total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio is beneficial in analyzing probable risk for atherosclerosis. The best defined ratio is lower than 4:1. In fact, some health practitioners recommend using total cholesterol to HDL ratio instead of total cholesterol level. The LDL to HDL ratio is considered as a pure ratio and perfect. This LDL to HDL cholesterol ratio is thought to be a better marker for cardiovascular complications.
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October 5, 2008
Understanding Cholesterol Numbers
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Your complete lipoprotein profile consists of cholesterol numbers including total cholesterol (TC), low density lipoprotein (LDL), high density lipoprotein (HDL) and triglyceride (TG) levels. Cholesterol numbers are very crucial to every human being. In fact, every individual after their 20 years of age should check their cholesterol level in a five years interval, if not otherwise recommended by doctors. The blood test signifying the cholesterol numbers is known as lipoprotein profile. This blood test is arranged by following a 10-12 hours of fasting.
Significance of Cholesterol Numbers
Cholesterol numbers are beneficial because they encode the level of different types of cholesterol in a quantifiable fashion. If it is not possible for you to find out the complete lipoprotein profile, understanding cholesterol numbers concerning total cholesterol level and HDL cholesterol level can offer you the essential idea about the status of the cholesterol content in your body. If your total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol numbers are more than 200mg/dL and less than 40mg/dL respectively, you should consult your doctor for a lipoprotein profile to be done.
Cholesterol numbers imply whether the individual is at risk for developing coronary complications in recent days or not. In fact, it helps in understanding the intensity and probability of the risk. For example, total cholesterol level less than 200mg/dL is desirable while 240mg/dL or higher is absolutely non-desirable and may pose a serious threat on health condition. On the other hand, the borderline condition is identified with cholesterol numbers lying between 200-239mg/dL.
For low density lipoprotein, the cholesterol numbers are assigned into 5 categories – optimal, near optimal or above optimal, borderline high, high and very high. The categories are identified with <100mg/dL, 100-129mg/dL, 130-159mg/dL, 160-189mg/dL and 190mg/dL respectively. Higher HDL is good for health, whereas higher LDL can lead to serious health complications. High HDL number may often balance high LDL number.
Factors Influencing Cholesterol Numbers
There are quite a few factors that can affect the cholesterol level in the body, hence the numbers. These are diet, age, gender, heredity, weight and physical activity. Among all these factors you can not simply do anything with age, gender and heredity. But of course you can manage the other factors by simply maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Apart from that, there are few other environmental factors such as smoking and excessive amount of alcohol consumption may pose a serious threat.
For women, the LDL level continues to rise in the post menopause phase. High blood cholesterol can be a familial characteristic. In such a case, the genetic structuring may lead to increasing amount of cholesterol production than normal. A healthy fat-free and cholesterol-free diet and regular exercise can benefit for not developing such complications
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October 5, 2008
High Cholesterol Levels Can Put You At Greater Risk Of Heart Diseases And Strokes
By admin
Most people have heard about how much cholesterol they have, and been rather worried when they hear that they might be having high cholesterol levels, and the reasons for these fears are sound and worth taking seriously, because if you have high cholesterol, you would be at greater risk of suffering from heart attacks, heart diseases as well as from strokes. It thus behooves you to maintain proper cholesterol levels, so that you are less at risk with regard to your overall health.
Measured In Milligrams
Cholesterol can be measured in milligrams, and there are several factors on which the cholesterol levels can be based upon such as your race, gender, health, age as well as family history and even on the fact that you are a smoker or have high blood pressure, or are obese or overweight and even when you are diabetic, and the type of exercises that you perform.
You need to worry about two different types of cholesterol that are LDL (low density lipoprotein) or bad cholesterol, and HDL (high density lipoprotein) or good cholesterol, and to ascertain the different cholesterol levels, your doctor would test you so that information is obtained with regard to LDL and HDL cholesterol levels.
Some people may have cholesterol levels that are not more than two hundred milligrams, and they will not be at much risk of developing heart diseases, though when the cholesterol levels rise above two hundred milligrams, it is considered as being a borderline high case provided it does not exceed two hundred and thirty-nine milligrams.
A level above two hundred and forty milligrams is considered as high cholesterol and at these levels you would be twice more at risk of contracting heart diseases as compared to the lower cholesterol levels. Other determinants with regard to risk factors for your medical health include the level of HDL in your body, and low HDL levels are nothing to be concerned about, while high HDL levels are a reason for concern.
Normal cholesterol levels are dependent on a number of factors including genes, culture and even age and of course, the level should be below two hundred milligrams to not have anything to worry about. As far as LDL cholesterol levels go, the normal range is below one hundred and thirty, while if it rises to above one hundred and sixty, it is considered as being high. In the case of HDL cholesterol levels, normal is about thirty-five while optimum level is anything over sixty milligrams.
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October 5, 2008
Understanding Cholesterol Level
By admin
Cholesterol is produced by our liver.
It is a fatty and waxy substance which is required to protect nerves, construct cell tissues and make certain hormones. Cholesterol is very important to our health, although excess amount of cholesterol level brings negative impact to our overall system. If you go to check your cholesterol level, it is estimated in milligram per deciliter of blood (mg/dL).
While determining whether you are at high risk with your cholesterol level, the doctor may take into account other factors such as family history, age, sex, high blood pressure, and smoking habits. During the diagnosis, a complete lipoprotein profile will reveal the details regarding total blood cholesterol level, HDL (good) cholesterol level, LDL (bad) cholesterol level, and triglyceride level.
Total Blood Cholesterol Level
If your HDL, LDL and triglyceride level are within the desirable limit and you have your total blood cholesterol level less than 200mg/dL, this means you are at low risk for developing coronary heart diseases. If you are diagnosed between 200-239mg/dL for your total cholesterol level, you are at borderline-high risk condition.
At this time, doctors will thoroughly examine the LDL, HDL and triglyceride level and ratio. It may happen that your LDL can be balanced by the HDL count. If you have your total cholesterol level of 240mg/dL or more, you are at higher risk for developing coronary heart disease twice more likely than people having cholesterol at their desirable level.
HDL (good) Cholesterol Level
HDL is good and higher level of HDL is better for health. Men having HDL less than 40mg/dL and women 50mg/dL are at risk for developing C. HDL level more than 60mg/dL offers safeguard against developing cardiac complications.
On average, men and women have HDL of 40-50mg/dL and 50-60mg/dL respectively. Smoking and obesity may result in low level of HDL. In order to increase and maintain a perfect HDL level, one should strictly avoid tobacco smoking, must maintain healthy diet and practice exercise on regular basis. If someone has higher triglyceride level, he typically has a lower level of HDL and consequently is at higher risk for heart attack and stroke.
LDL (bad) Cholesterol Level
If you have a lower LDL level, that means you have at lower risk for developing heart problems. Typically less than 100mg/dL implies an optimal level of LDL while 190mg/dL may pose a serious threat on health. While determining appropriate treatment plan for someone having higher level of LDL, doctors first take into account the other risk factors as well.
It greatly varies person to person. If a healthy level of LDL is applicable to you; that does not mean it will be suitable in a same way for your neighbor. So it is highly recommended adhere the treatment plan as suggested by your doctor so that it can work for you in the best suitable fashion.
Triglyceride Level
Triglyceride is a kind of fat that is produced within our system. Typically people with higher triglyceride level have a higher level of total cholesterol in addition to high LDL and low HDL. Normally, your triglyceride level should fall below 150mg/dL.
If you are having your triglyceride level higher than 500mg/dL, you are certainly at risk. The risk factors identified for developing higher triglyceride level are obesity, physical inactivity, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and high carbohydrate diet. Additionally, genetic disorders ma
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October 5, 2008
Side Effects of Zocor and Other Drugs for Cholesterol Treatment
By admin
Zocor, generically known as simvastatin, is used as a cholesterol lowering drug that helps in blocking cholesterol production in the body. It aids in lowering low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol level as well as total cholesterol level in the body. High cholesterol may lead to different critical health complications including heart attack, stroke, and cardiovascular disorders. Although Zocor helps in protecting body from these types of complications, there are significant side effects of Zocor like other drugs for treating cholesterol.
Side Effects of Zocor
Many drugs offer side effects including Zocor for treating cholesterol which are simply hard to avoid. In rare conditions, Zocor may lead to such conditions that may turn into collapsing skeletal muscle tissue, which may eventually lead to kidney failure. The common symptoms are unexplained muscle pain, tenderness, muscle weakness, fever or flue symptoms and dark-colored urine. Doctors strongly discourage having Zocor and other cholesterol drugs for potential side effects especially at the time of pregnancy. Using Zocor during this time may lead to cause birth defects and may profoundly affect the fetal development in an adverse fashion.
If you are on Zocor medication while not following a well-planned low cholesterol diet, it is very unlikely that Zocor will be of any help in minimizing your LDL and total cholesterol level. In such case, like any other cholesterol drugs Zocor will offer side effects only without any kind of specific benefits. The common symptoms for Zocor include muscle pain, muscle weakness, nausea, constipation or diarrhea.
Other Significant Influencing Factors
Zocor should not be used if you are pregnant or suffering from kidney disease. If you have diabetes, hidden thyroid, or muscle disorder, you should not take Zocor prior consulting with doctor. In fact, it is always recommended to take doctor’s advice prior taking Zocor like any cholesterol drugs to avoid side effects. If you are planning to become pregnant, you must discuss it with your doctor. In case if you are using this medication, you are strictly advised to undergo effective form of birth control. Till date no sufficient data have been found in support of whether cholesterol drugs like Zocor have any side effects on breast feeding practices, but you should not consume Zocor without informing it to doctor if you are breast feeding your baby.
Zocor and other cholesterol drugs may interact adversely in some conditions. For example, if you are taking Zocor and at the same time you are having diet rich in fat and cholesterol, you certainly do not get any benefit from Zocor. You should abstain from taking alcohol when you are on Zocor medication because alcohol increases triglyceride level. In fact, alcohol has a strong adverse effect on kidney function if you are on Zocor medication during that period. In fact, grapefruit and grapefruit juice may pose harmful side effects if used with Zocor.
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October 4, 2008
Facts Worth Learning About Cholesterol
By admin
There is both good and bad cholesterol which means that it is important to be able to distinguish between each type and knows how it affects a person’s health and knows the ways and means to lower it in case such is required.
The different types of cholesterol are LDL and HDL and the former is a bad type because when there is excess of it in a person’s blood it will build up in the inner walls of his or her arteries which can end up causing the blocking of the arteries and thus causes atherosclerosis that is not a desirable condition.
HDL In High Quantities Will Prevent Heart Attacks
However, the good form of is HDL, which when present in high quantities will actually aid in preventing heart attacks, though when the level of HDL is low, it can put the person at risk of experiencing a heart attack.
There is another aspect to cholesterol and that is triglyceride, which is a type of fat that is obtained from the food that you eat and which is also produced in the body, and when there is a high level of triglycerides, you are at risk of having high total cholesterol in which you can get high LDL as well as low HDL, which is bad for your health.
In order to test your level, you may need to take a test that is aimed at measuring your lipoproteins which are sorted according to their density. In case of high density, the ratio of proteins compared to fat will be high and high density lipoproteins or HDL is the good cholesterol which does the work required to help unblock your arteries and which also helps in getting rid of unwanted fat from the body.
On the other hand, low density lipoproteins or LDL which along with very low density lipoproteins or VLDL and triglycerides make up the bad , which in high numbers will cause your arteries to be clogged and results in a heart attack as well as other diseases related to the heart. Of course, bad as well as good will vary from one person to another and the main factors that affect how much of it you may have are being overweight, diets with plenty of saturated fats as well as cholesterol and absence of sufficient exercises as well as hereditary conditions.
Also, cholesterol will also go up as a person becomes older and to control the level of it in your body it is advised to eat healthy foods and take plenty of exercises.
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October 4, 2008
What to eat to lower your cholesterol
By admin
High cholesterol levels are slowly killing off the population. The increasing prevalence and risk of hypertension and heart disease in Americans are ringing the alarm bells in the country’s health sector. Health officials are desperately trying to find ways to combat the rise and make people aware of the eating lifestyle and exercise lifestyle that they are imbibing.
The truth about cholesterol
Although cholesterol is mainly the culprit in the increase in high blood pressure in the body, not all cholesterol that we take in is essentially bad. In fact, small amounts of cholesterol is being used by the body in the production of bile salts and in the transformation of Vitamin D. Cholesterol also plays a role in the balancing of hormones especially in women.
There are two kinds of cholesterol, the good and the bad as the lay people will like to clal them. The bad cholesterol or the LDL is the kind that is often found in saturated fats and trans fatty acids. These are taken into the body through foods that are pre-packed and prepared such as potato chips, canned goods, etc.
LDL cholesterol adheres to the walls of the arteries. High levels of LDL can form plaques in the arterial walls that may eventually cause clogging in the passageway of the blood. This slows down the blood flow, which in turn makes it hard for the heart to pump. This scenario describes the initial stages of hypertension and coronary heart problems.
What to eat
The good cholesterol HDL on the other hand lower the levels of LDL in the body by helping transport the LDL to the liver where it is excreted. HDL cholesterol can be found in fishes as well as in nuts.
Other foods that can lower the cholesterol levels are fruits and vegetables. These foods do not contain that much cholesterol so whatever you have, you will not be adding to its levels.
Another great thing about veggies and fruits is the fact that they are great sources of fibers that the body also need to combat the increase in LDL cholesterol. Berries, fruits that are citrus and carrots are just some of the fruits that you can count on.
Another food that can dramatically reduce the levels of cholesterol in the body is the soya. Fiber-rich food, soya as well as almonds and plant sterols figure in a landmark study conducted by University of Toronto that reduced the cholesterol levels of the participants by as much as 20 percent. Eating oats, olive oil and barley are also great ways to lower LDL.
Another great source of cholesterol are foods that are really oily. To lower one’s LDL, one must consciously avoid foods that are deep-fried. If you have to eat fried foods, make sure that the oil that you use is made out of vegetable.
Never use butter as this is rich in saturated fats. Instead, use margarine as a substitute. Try to also steam, braise, boil or bake your food. You will find that they are tastier and healthier.
Not just the food
There are many factors that contribute to the rise of cholesterol levels in the body. In addition to one’s eating lifestyle, there is the age, the gender, the family history and of course the amount of physical activity that the person does.
Exercise is fairly important in keeping LDL cholesterol at bay. What is more, it strengthens the body’s resistance as well as improves blood circulation.
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