Archive for April, 2009

Concise, Simple, and Important Info in ‘What is Cholesterol’

Friday, April 10th, 2009

You may recognize with the term of cholesterol. ‘What is cholesterol’ in fact? That kind of query probably dances in your mind recently. It is reasonable since loads of people today think that cholesterol is harmful for them. Do you also think the same way? If you do, then you must identify further info in ‘what is cholesterol.’ Take a look at the following discussion.

In any info in what is cholesterol you must know that cholesterol is eminent to yield vitamin D, build cell walls and create bile salts to aid the digestion of fat. Hence, if cholesterol does all these things then why should we be anxious about a surplus of cholesterol?

Too much anything is not good for you. The same condition occurs to in cholesterol. Hence, from the info in ‘what is cholesterol’ you will also find that you must avoid consuming food that may trigger your cholesterol.

The Good and the Bad in What Is Cholesterol Info

When asking the inquiry ’what is cholesterol’ you might be astonished that there is in reality cholesterol which is considered as good cholesterol. Animal products that we frequently eat, for example meat and dairy have plenty of what is considered bad cholesterol. Whole grains, vegetable and fruits on the other hand don’t have cholesterol.

In ’what is cholesterol’ info you must also identify that a hardening of the arteries can occur when there is too much bad cholesterol in your body. The bad cholesterol will trigger you to build up of plaque that will block the arteries and reduce blood flow. Good cholesterol conversely will carry excess cholesterol back to the liver to be expelled.

Causes of Cholesterol in ’What Is Cholesterol’ Info

When you ask about ’what is cholesterol,’ the culprit of high cholesterol will come to mind. There are enormous factors that will make an individual more likely to have high levels of cholesterol. The older you are, the more likely you are to progress high cholesterol.

Just like many other illnesses, high cholesterol levels can be inherited. If there is a history of high cholesterol in the family then you should be examined. It does so to view whether you have high cholesterol levels as well or not. The quantity of physical activity that you do will also have an effect on the levels of cholesterol in your body. Exercising will aid to keep good cholesterol levels up.

In the end, if earlier you don’t identify much about ‘what is cholesterol,’ and think that all cholesterol is bad for your health; you should correct your opinion. It does so since you have recognized that there is also cholesterol which is required by your body. What to do next is consuming foods that keep you away from bad cholesterol but improve your good cholesterol at the same time.

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Reasons for Elevated Triglyceride Levels

Saturday, April 4th, 2009

What really generates dangerous cholesterol levels? Is modern junk food the primary factor? Or is there a deeper underlying issue? Although a junk food diet has a major influence, reasons for high cholesterol problems are much more complicated. The first step is to confirm what is cholesterol. The truths about the cause of high cholesterol are not solely the result of poor eating habits.

Cholesterol molecules are fatty substances occurring normally in the human cardiovascular system and can plug up arteries when the concentration is too high. Ongoing narrowing of arteries restricts blood flow to the heart potentially causing heart attacks or strokes.

Heredity is another critical element that you cannot control. Genetic tendencies determine the manufacture of high cholesterol.

Your cholesterol DNA comes from your parents, automatically passed on to succeeding generations. Ironically, your ancestors have given you the curse of high cholesterol, or not, as the case may be. A serious genetic disease believed to cause high LDL levels is called familial hypercholesterolemia which starts at birth often leading to heart attack at an early age.

Age and sex are other major risk factors affecting cholesterol levels. As early as young adulthood, men often have HDL levels historically lower than females. Unfortunately, bad LDL levels generally increase for both sexes as they grow old. Older women usually have levels surpassing men after age 55.

The standard high-calorie American junk food diet, consisting mostly of foods high in cholesterol, contributes to elevated cholesterol numbers. But as noted before, diet is but one of many contributing factors. Deeper investigation requires a closer examination of the foods we eat.

Everyone knows that fast food has high levels of saturated fats directly related to obesity and any number of other health issues. Saturated fats are a tremendously detrimental to health which raise LDL or bad cholesterol levels more than any other food ingredient.

The contribution of Triglycerides is not as well known. High triglyceride levels heighten the danger of cardiovascular disease. The range of concern begins between 150 mg/dl to more than 200 mg/dl (any number above this is dangerously high) and may require prescriptions. Major risk factors for dangerous Triglyceride levels are excess weight, smoking, inactivity, family history, some diseases and pharmaceutical side effects, and lastly, a high carbohydrate intake.

How can you fight back? First, eat the proper diet. Reduce highly saturated fats as much as is possible because LDL levels are dangerously affected. Don’t gorge yourself at meals. Exercise regularly. Interestingly, benefical HDL levels increase with a consistent and effective exercise routine.

As you can see, the cause of high cholesterol can be as straight forward as being overweight and sedentary. Regardless of your high cholesterol causes, consult your physician and develop a healthier lifestyle to lower your high cholesterol before tragedy strikes.

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Information on Prescribed High Cholesterol Medication

Friday, April 3rd, 2009

Despite being bombarded by relentless commercials for cholesterol lowering medications, does anyone truly comprehend more about how these products work than before these high cholesterol treatments were shown on TV? Sure, you might be able to recall a few of the most easily recognizable ones, but, do you feel comfortable with your current level of knowledge about these medications? It is with this in mind, that this article will focus on not only what constitutes a high cholesterol medication, but also how and why some drugs affect people differently.

The most popular drugs prescribed to reduce cholesterol levels are known as Statins. These pharmaceuticals are usually known by their trade names, but the technically correct chemical names are fluvastatin, simvastatin, pravastatin, louvastatin, and atorvastatin. Notice that the names of the chemical compounds end with statin? That identifies them as members of the as statin family. The way that statins work is by inhibiting the HHG-CoA reductase enzyme which is controls how much cholesterol is manufactured in the body. These drugs have demonstarted a positive impact by reducing the incidences of both heart attacks and deaths from heart disease. Due to life saving benefits that the drugs have shown on lowering LDL levels, this type of medications is still the most prescribed by doctors for their patients with high cholesterol levels.

Statins can help lowering high triglyceride levels and actually increasing good HDL readings in many people. HDL is the common abbreviation for High Density Lipoprotein.

What kind of side effects are possible for patients taking Statins? Most people tolerate the treatment with few problems. Many have no noticeable side effects. Unlucky ones usually suffer from gastrointestinal issues like upset stomach, constipation, and abdominal pain with gas and cramping. Such typical symptoms are usually mild and may even disappear once your system adjusts to the medication.

Do more serious side effects exist? As with any statin medication, there are some patients who suffer uncomfortable, or even dangerous, problems with statins. Common side effects are elevated liver values, muscular pain and discomfort, physical weakness, and general soreness. Discolored, dark urine sometimes results and should be reported immediately to the prescribing doctor.

Are there any other pharmaceutical products that are classified as high cholesterol medication? Another type is called as Bile Acid Sequestrants. Sounds pretty awful, huh? Despite the name, these medications work by binding with bile acids that contain cholesterol. This happens in the intestines and is passed out of the body in the stool. In some cases, doctors prescribe a Statin drug to work concurrently with your Bile Acid Sequestrant. Impressive test results have been found. LDL cholesterol levels have been reduced nearly 40 percent or more, using both types of drugs together. Colesevelam, Colestipol, andCholestryamine are the three major Bile Acid Sequestrants sold at this time. They come as both powder or tablets.

Another type of high cholesterol medication is called Nicotinic Acid, commonly called niacin or water soluble vitamin B3. Niacin (nicotinic acid) is used to to lower cholesterol and triglycerides. Vitamin B3 can decrease lipoprotein levels. in other words, Niacin (nicotinic acid) can help reduce bad cholesterol and high triglyceride levels. However, the typical doses required are not normally found in a regular daily diet. Niacin can also interact with other drugs and should be watched closely by your physician to properly identify any potentially bad reactions like niacin flushing or heart palpitations.

This quick overview of the most common cholesterol medications shows that each high cholesterol treatment has its own pluses and minuses. It is impossible to accurately predict whether any specific medication, or combination of medicines, will work effectively and safely in every patient. Some medications work better in conjunction with others rather than alone. Finally, remember that at least one high cholesterol medication that is available to help you in your fight to defeat high cholesterol levels. In your efforts to achieve good cholesterol numbers, be sure and work closely with your family doctor or cardiologist to determine which high cholesterol medication is most effective for you.

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