Chronic Statin Therapy Associated With Reduced Postoperative Mortality

January 26, 2011 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Statin drugs were first introduced to lower blood cholesterol concentrations; however, research is now discovering other benefits. A new study from France, published in the January 2011 issue of Anesthesiology, is the first to analyze the impact of preoperative chronic statin therapy on postoperative adverse events in surgical patients…

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How to Reduce/ Lower Cholesterol Levels in Blood & Improve Health

January 16, 2011 · Posted in cholesterol foods · Comment 

Help and advice in lowering cholesterol levels in the blood. Cholesterol, the artery clogger. Doctors now say that anybody over the age of 20 years old should get their cholesterol levels checked

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The Difference Between HDL and LDL Cholesterol

July 31, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

There is a soft waxy substance found in fats that are in the blood stream and all of your bodies cells, it is called cholesterol. It is used to form cell membranes, hormones, and needed for other things, that’s why it is an important part of the health of your body. But too much or too little cholesterol in the body can cause health concerns. Cholesterol can not be dissolved in the blood so it is transported by lipoproteins.

There are two different kinds of lipoproteins that transport cholesterol throughout the body called Low density and high density lipoproteins. LDL cholesterol is circulated in the blood and can slowly build up plague on the walls of arteries. It can cause a clot to form and block the blood flow to the heart and cause a heart attack. If the clot blocks the blood from the brain it is a stroke.

HDL cholesterol carries about one fourth of the blood cholesterol. It mostly carries it away from the arteries and into the liver where it is removed from the body as a toxin. HDL cholesterol is better known as the good cholesterol. It is referred to as this because it seems to protect the heart.

As there are 2 different main kinds of cholesterol there is also 2 main ways to get cholesterol. The liver produced some cholesterol and food that is consumed contains cholesterol. There is food that doesn’t have cholesterol in it as well. Normally the liver makes all the cholesterol that the body is going to need. Therefore you don’t need to consume any cholesterol. Trans fats and saturated fats raise the blood cholesterol. The liver does remove some of the excess cholesterol but the body is still taking in more than it needs.

People who have high cholesterol levels need more excess cholesterol removed from the body. Getting regular exercise can actually increase HDL cholesterol in some people. It can also help control weight, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Things like power walking, jogging, and swimming are great exercise. Even things like yard work; house work, cleaning, and grocery shopping are getting exercise.

Smoking has a great affect on your body. It is one of the risk factors for heart disease. You can change or treat it though. Smoking does however lower your HDL Cholesterol levels and increases the risk for blood clots. Moderate use of alcohol has been linked with higher levels of HDL Cholesterol, but the other risk f actors of drinking still don’t make it a great preventative. It can raise blood pressure, cause obesity, stroke, and cancer.

Some of the foods that should be avoided to prevent excess cholesterol in the body are beef products, veal products, pork products, egg, egg yolk, turkey products, fish oil, fish products, lamb products, chicken products, and processed meats.

Mostly all meat products will raise cholesterol levels. So will any fast food, and junk foods.

Alterative Health Supplements has a product that will lower cholesterol levels in your body. Cholestasys will promote elimination of cholesterol from the body and reduces the level of cholesterol that the liver produces. It will balance your level of cholesterol to a healthy level and give you an increased energy level as well and a feeling of overall well being. It has no negative side effects and it safe to use.

>Steven Johnson is interested in maintaining a vital, active, and healthy lifestyle. For more information on pet health products, as well as other life-enhancing nutrients please visit his website Alternative Health Supplements.

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Control Cholesterol Naturally

March 25, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Blood Cholesterol is produced by our body for several purposes.In some people it is produced more than is required by our body,especially when the diet contains saturated fats. Saturated fats in the diet force the body to make too much cholesterol. The cholesterolmay become high when our diet is rich in saturated fats that are found only in animal products. Plant foods do not contain any cholesterol, but the animal foods are loaded with cholesterol and fats. Most of the fast foods are very rich in fats, monounsaturated fats. If youeat lot of meats and fast foods, then the chances are that you have high cholesterol. You should get your blood cholesterol checked. Remember that without your blood cholesterol report, you can not know if you have high cholesterol.

Blood cholesterol can be both good and bad. There are two types of cholesterol: LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol & HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol. The LDL cholesterol is knownas “bad cholesterol” because it gets deposited on the walls of thearteries as plaque, and restricting the flow of the blood. The HDL cholesterol, known as the “good cholesterol” helps remove the plaquefrom the arteries. Both the types of cholesterol are produced by ourbody for certain functions and are always present in our blood. The problem arises when the cholesterol is produced more than is required by our body. The following are the desirable levels of cholesterol in adults:

Total Cholesterol: below 200 mg/dlLDL cholesterol: less than 130 mg/dLHDL cholesterol: more than 35mg/dL

HDL cholesterol of less than 35mg/dL is a risk factor for heart disease, even if your total cholesterol is within limits. Both LDL and HDL cholesterol can be improved with regular exercise and eating low fat cholesterol friendly foods.

To take better care of your heart and reducing your risk for heart attack, you must understand the complete facts about cholesterol and howto control cholesterol.

Note that you do not always need to take medication to lower cholesterol. There are several natural heart friendly foods that are good for controlling cholesterol without any medication. Good eating habits and some exercise can control your cholesterol and triglycerides naturally.

You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines orelectronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (clickable) and references and copyrightinfo.

Copyright 2004 P. Mehta http://www.fatfreekitchen.com

Author: P. Mehta
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Controlling Your Cholesterol

February 6, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Cholesterol. You see it on practically every food package you buy but do you even know what it does, what exactly is it and how much of it is safe? First, let us take a look at what exactly cholesterol is. Cholesterol is a sterol contrary to what every one calls it – fat. Cholesterol contains no calories meaning the body does not benefit from it because no energy comes from eating it. So what does cholesterol do anyway? It forms an essential part of the cell membranes in the body. It is a vital component of the myelin sheath which provides insulation to the nerves in the brain.

Cholesterol is vital in the structure of cells in the central nervous system and the brain. Aside from that, cholesterol is used by the body to create bile acids. Bile acids are needed for proper digestion.

Cholesterol is also found in the cell membranes of animals but this is not found in plants. Plant cell membranes are mainly composed of fiber so if you see a food package of vegetable oil stating “no cholesterol” that is total bull since there is no cholesterol in plants to begin with. Knowing that cholesterol is essential to our lives and it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to eat a lot of foods containing it since our bodies create just the right amount of cholesterol we need.

Now how come there is what we call “bad cholesterol”? To give you a detailed explanation you must read on. First off, cholesterol enters our bodies through saturated fats found in animal sources like poultry, liver, meat, egg yolks, butter, and cheese. Once inside the body, it travels to the liver where the body makes cholesterol. From the liver, it is transported to the body’s cells by LDL (low density lipoproteins). Now if a cell has enough cholesterol it would of course refuse more thus the excess LDL stays in the blood. Cholesterol is thus deposited in the walls of arteries which causes atherosclerotic plaque. Plaque that builds up causes the arteries to become narrower and leads to reduced blood supply to vital organs that are in your body. That explains “bad cholesterol.”

How about the “good cholesterol”? These are called the HDL’s or high density lipoproteins. They act as a vacuum cleaner in the bloodstream that picks up the excess cholesterol in the bloodstream and sucking along cholesterol with it. After acting as a vacuum cleaner, the HDL’s bring the excess cholesterol back to the liver. The liver in hand converts this to bile which is then excreted into the intestines. The way your liver handles the cholesterol in your body is determined mainly by genetics. That’s when diet comes into play. It may be a complicated process but this helps us understand two important things:

  • Any diet that increases LDL and cholesterol while lowering HDL is bad.
  • While diet that decreases cholesterol and yet increases HDL is good.

So allow me to give you ways to control your cholesterol intake for a healthy body because every 1% reduction in the total blood cholesterol equals to a 2% reduction risk of heart attack.

  1. Consume less fat. Your total daily fat intake should be below 20% of your daily calories. If you consume about 2,250 calories in a day then consume no more that 450 calories of fat. That would make your total daily cholesterol intake to be less than 300 milligrams.
  2. Consume the right fats. Food low in saturated fats and high in essential fatty acids are what you should include in your diet. A source such as plant and seafood is a good example. Animal sources are high in saturated fats so keep the intake of such to less than 10% or 7% which is better. Always make it a habit to check the package label for the grams of saturated fat per serving. Eat more seafood such as fish which contains omega 3 fatty acids which are essential in lowering blood fat levels plus reduces the risk of blood clots.
  3. Stay away from cholesterol containing products. As mentioned above, too much cholesterol increases the bad cholesterol. Eat more of plant products. Cut back on animal food sources or better yet turn vegetarian. Studies have shown that vegetarians have reduced fat intake by 26% thus reducing blood cholesterol level in just 6 weeks.
  4. Consume foods that lower cholesterol. Plant foods mainly lower blood cholesterol and follows is a list of these plant products:
    • Soy Protein. Studies have shown that soy protein lowers blood cholesterol at an average of 32 milligrams, LDL cholesterol at 22 milligrams and total fat concentrations at 10%. It increases HDL, the good cholesterol as well. A plus for soy protein is that it contains “isoflavones” which is proven to reduce the risk of some cancers.
    • Soluble Fiber. Fiber acts as an intestinal broom that sweeps cholesterol out plus slows absorption of cholesterol from animal food as well.
    • Nuts. Nuts, especially walnuts have been proven to lower cholesterol by 12%. This is due to the combination of fiber, vitamin E and vitamin B content of walnuts. But still, nuts are high in fat so make sure you don’t eat too many.
    • Garlic. A clove of garlic a day may help lower cholesterol but do avoid powdered supplements of garlic.
    • Alcohol. Now don’t just gulp down a bottle! A healthy dose of alcohol is only 1 to 2 drinks in a day which raises HDL cholesterol.
  5. Get fit. Getting rid of the excess body fat you have can increase the levels of HDL. Exercise would also aid in increasing the levels of HDL and reducing the levels of LDL in the body.
  6. Relax. Yes, you read that right. Being in stress stimulates the release of stress hormones like adrenaline that in turn increases blood cholesterol levels. So in short, relax. Relaxing will lower your blood cholesterol level.
  7. Do not smoke.
  8. If you’ve got kids then make sure they grow up with seafood and a plant based diet. They’ll grow up with healthier hearts and lower cholesterol levels.

Author: Hoby Brennan
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High Cholesterol Level: Risk Factors, Treatment Options

December 31, 2009 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat (lipid) made by the body. About 80% of cholesterol is made by the body, the other 20% comes from the diet. Cholesterol is a building block for cell membranes. Our body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones (e.g., progesterone, estrogen, testosterone), vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat.

Many foods contain cholesterol and high intake of these foods can increase the level of cholesterol in the blood. Having too much cholesterol in the blood is not a disease in itself, but high cholesterol (hypercholesterolemia) can cause the formation and accumulation of plaque deposits in the arteries. Plaque is composed of cholesterol, other fatty substances, fibrous tissue, and calcium. When it builds up in the arteries, it results in the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis) in the major vascular systems.

Narrowing of the arteries around the heart (coronary heart disease) can prevent the heart from getting as much oxygen-rich blood as it needs, increasing the risk of a heart attack. Decreased blood flow to the brain can cause a stroke, and less blood flowing to the lower limbs may result in exercise-related pain or even gangrene.

Having a high cholesterol level does not cause symptoms and does not make you feel sick. If there is a huge excess, some people develop soft, yellowish skin growths called xanthomas, usually in the area near the eyes. Most people find out they have high cholesterol when they have their blood cholesterol measured as part of a medical check-up.

Types of Cholesterol

Cholesterol is not soluble in water and doesn’t mix easily with blood. In order to be able to travel in the bloodstream, the cholesterol made in the liver is combined with protein and other substances. This cholesterol-protein package is called a lipoprotein. Lipoprotein then carries the cholesterol through the bloodstream.

Lipoproteins can be high density (HDL), low density (LDL) or very low density (VLDL), depending on how much protein there is in relation to fat.

LDL (low density lipoprotein)

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is called the “bad” cholesterol. About 70% of cholesterol is transported as LDL. This is mostly fat and not much protein. LDL causes cholesterol to be deposited in the arteries. High levels of LDL are associated with an increased risk of coronary heart disease.

HDL (high density lipoprotein)

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is called the “good” cholesterol. It carries cholesterol from the body’s tissues back to the liver. About 20% of cholesterol is transported as HDL, which is mostly protein and not much fat. HDL cholesterol may help protect against atherosclerosis by preventing cholesterol from depositing on arterial walls as it circulates in the bloodstream.

Risks factors

There are several factors that may contribute to high cholesterol level in the blood:

  • Genetic predisposition. People are at a higher risk of high cholesterol if they have a direct male relative aged under 55 or female relative aged under 65 affected by coronary heart disease.
  • Diet high in saturated fat. Saturated fat and cholesterol come from animal foods such as beef, pork, veal, milk, eggs, butter, and cheese.
  • Sedentary lifestyle. Lack of exercise may increase LDL cholesterol and decrease HDL cholesterol. Regular physical activity may lower triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol levels.
  • Overweight. Excess weight may modestly increase your LDL (bad) cholesterol level.
  • Age and sex. Cholesterol generally rises slightly with increasing age, and men are more likely to be affected than women.
  • Drinking alcohol excessively. Drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle.
  • Diabetes. Diabetes is a significant risk factor for all cardiovascular diseases.
  • Smoking. This applies not only if you smoke, but also if you live or work every day with people who smoke.

Treatment options

Lifestyle changes such as changing diet, managing weight, increasing exercise, and quitting smoking are the first steps to improving blood levels of cholesterol. If these changes are not enough, your physician might recommend cholesterol-lowering prescription medication.

Medications to improve blood cholesterol levels include:

  • Statins – are the most widely used, and also the most powerful medications for lowering LDL cholesterol. They work by reducing the production of cholesterol in the liver. Statins not only lower blood LDL cholesterol levels, they also modestly increase HDL cholesterol levels and modestly decrease triglyceride levels. These medications are usually well tolerated, have few side effects, and are taken once or twice a day. Currently, six statin drugs are available: atorvastatin (Lipitor), fluvastatin (Lescol), lovastatin (Mevacor), pravastatin (Pravachol), simvastatin (Zocor), and rosuvastatin (Crestor).
  • Bile acid sequestrants – these drugs bind with cholesterol-containing bile acids in the intestines and are then eliminated in the stool. They typically lower cholesterol by 10 to 20%. Small doses of sequestrants can produce useful reductions in LDL cholesterol. Cholestyramine (Questran, Questran Light), colestipol (Colestid), and colesevelam (WelChol) are the 3 main bile acid sequestrants currently available. Bile acid resins are mainly used in young adults with hypercholesterolemia or in combination with another cholesterol-lowering medication.
  • Cholesterol absorption inhibitors – are a new class of cholesterol lowering agents approved in 2002. Drugs in this class work to lower blood cholesterol levels by absorbing excess cholesterol in the intestines and thus blocking cholesterol’s entry into the bloodstream. Ezetimibe (Zetia) is the first drug in this class. Ezetimibe reduces LDL cholesterol by 18-20%. It is probably most useful in people who cannot take statins or as an additional drug for people who take statins but who notice side effects when the statin dose is increased. Adding ezetimibe to a statin is equivalent to doubling or tripling the statin dose.
  • Nicotinic acid or niacin - this water-soluble B vitamin improves all lipoproteins when given in doses well above the vitamin requirement. Nicotinic acid lowers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, while raising HDL cholesterol levels. Niacin also widens blood vessels, making flushing and hot flashes frequent side effects.
  • Fibrates – these cholesterol-lowering drugs are primarily effective in lowering triglycerides and, to a lesser extent, increasing HDL cholesterol levels. These drugs include fenofibrate (Tricor) and gemfibrozil (Lopid).

Author: Yury Bayarski
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