Man offers burly men, supermen; God counters with shepherd boy’s and blind men

April 3, 2011 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Thomas Yanoti America loves their heroes big! Both human heroes and sandwich heroes! Our cholesterol count and our adoration for the biggest of the big reveals our ineptitude towards just judgment!For as today’s Mass readings reveal, those of us… April 03, 2011

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Five Things You Need To Know About High Cholesterol

October 1, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

This article explains five important things that you need to know about high cholesterol.

1. Your High Cholesterol Can Be The Death Of You

High cholesterol is the most significant risk factor for coronary heart disease. What this means to you is that if your cholesterol level is high, it’s likely that you will eventually be diagnosed with coronary heart disease, and it may even result in your death. To prevent this, find out now whether you have high cholesterol. If your cholesterol level is high, you can take steps to lower it.

2. Your Body Does Need Some Cholesterol

The body uses cholesterol for many purposes, including the creation of cells, vitamins, and hormones. All animals, including humans, have cholesterol in their bodies. Without cholesterol, your body could not function properly. However, too much cholesterol can be hazardous to your health.

3. How Much Cholesterol Do You Have? How Much Is Too Much?

If you don’t know your blood cholesterol level, you need to find it out. Your doctor can order a blood test that will measure the cholesterol in your blood. Blood cholesterol is reported in mg/dL, or milligrams per deciliter. So if your cholesterol level is 800, that means you have 800 milligrams of cholesterol in every tenth of a liter of blood. It also means you are at grave risk for coronary heart disease!

Most doctors now agree that a total cholesterol level below 200 is most desirable. A level over 240 is thought to place you at very high risk for coronary heart disease. A level between 200 and 240 is considered moderately risky and you should probably try to lower it.

4. There’s Cholesterol. And Then, There’s Cholesterol

The total cholesterol count is made up of three different kinds of cholesterol: LDL cholesterol, also known as bad cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, or good cholesterol, and VLDL cholesterol (which isn’t considered that important). Doctors recommend that you keep your LDL cholesterol level below 100 mg/dL, and HDL cholesterol level above 40 mg/dL.

5. You Can Reduce Your High Cholesterol

If your total blood cholesterol level is too high, your first priority should be to reduce it to a level below 240, or better yet, below 200. If you have done that and your LDL level is still above 100, you should try to reduce that level to below 100. Finally, you should try to increase your HDL level to above 40.

To reduce total cholesterol, doctors and nutritionists recommend eating less fat, eating more of certain foods (like oatmeal, for example) and getting more aerobic cardiovascular exercise.

Author: Ed Vickerry
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Cholesterol Facts – Cholesterol Reduction Treatment

June 13, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

With all the news and warnings about the dangers of high cholesterol, many people view cholesterol as a “bad” substance that should be eliminated completely from our lives. In truth, cholesterol serves some important functions in the body. In order to understand how cholesterol affects the body, one must first understand what cholesterol is.

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is attached to the fats in our bloodstream and is present in all of the cells of the body. Cholesterol comes from food that we eat, as well as being manufactured directly by the liver. Cholesterol is an important regulator in the bloodstream, as it helps to regulate the formation of many cells as well as hormones. However, to have too high or too low of a cholesterol count in the blood can be a very dangerous factor, often leading to a heart attack or a stroke. Although cholesterol is prevalent in the blood stream, it cannot dissipate in the blood. The cholesterol maneuvers throughout the body attached to lipids (fats).

There are two main types of cholesterol. The first type is called LDL cholesterol, and the other is HDL cholesterol. LDL cholesterol, otherwise known as low-density lipoprotein, is considered the “dangerous” cholesterol. LDL cholesterol can build up on the artery walls. Over time this plaque build-up blocks blood flow, reducing circulation and causing stress and damage to the heart. This raises blood pressure, and eventually leads to heart disease or a heart attack. Individuals that have higher levels of LDL run a much higher risk of having heart disease. Although LDL is affected by genetics, there are several precautions that individuals can take towards keeping safe LDL levels.

The other form of cholesterol is HDL, or high-density lipoprotein. HDL is considered the “good” cholesterol. HDL cholesterol is important for the body to have as this type of cholesterol helps filter out LDL cholesterol from the lining of the arteries, as well as transporting fat in the bloodstream (triglycerides) to the liver so that it can be excreted from the body. It is believed that even having high levels of HDL is safe, as it can help protect one’s heart from a heart attack or stroke. Low counts of HDL could potentially lead to a heart attack and stroke, however this is rare for people eating a western-style diet, which is typically high in both forms of cholesterol.

Most of the cholesterol in our bodies comes from the foods we eat. Foods high in fats, particularly saturated and trans fats, contribute to high levels of LDL cholesterol. Meat and dairy products are the main sources of LDL cholesterol, while leafy vegetables, fruits, and nuts are more nutritious alternatives that have higher levels of HDL cholesterol. While genetics does play a role in cholesterol levels, a change in diet is the most effective way to lower dangerous cholesterol levels, and reduce your risk of heart disease and associated health problems.

Certain natural substances found in Vasacor, including plant sterols, fish oils, and policosanol have been shown in numerous clinical studies to be highly effective in promoting healthy cholesterol levels, particularly when combined with a healthy diet and exercise. If you are concerned about your cholesterol levels, now is the time to make a change, and Vasacor can help.

The Article is Originally Published Here: Cholesterol Facts

Learn More:
Vasacor Cholesterol Treatment – Vasacor helps to reduce LDL (Bad Cholesterol) levels and improve HDL (Good Cholesterol) levels.

Cholesterol Reduction – a Doctor’s Guide

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Lower Your Cholesterol and Live Longer

March 8, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

Cholesterol is formed from two different sources, as it is both created in the liver and derived from the different foods that we consume. There are also two different forms of cholesterol, LDL and HDL. LDL cholesterol is considered to be the bad form of cholesterol because it has a tendency to build up inside the walls of arteries, which can lead to inflammation and the formation of clots, and eventually even heart disease.

HDL cholesterol, however, helps to transport LDL bad cholesterol out from the blood vessels, and back into your liver where it can be processed properly and then eliminated. Both LDL and HDL cholesterol come together to form what is your total cholesterol count, along with your triglycerides. Generally, you should be aiming for a high HDL, and a low LDL in order to make your heart the healthiest.

For many people, genetics can easily be blamed for unhealthy cholesterol numbers

However, this is not always the case because many people also have unhealthy cholesterol numbers thanks to a diet which is high in saturated fat which is converted into cholesterol in the body. But for most people, it is actually a combination of both of these things which creates the unhealthy cholesterol level in their bodies.

When it comes to high in saturated fat foods, which cause your bad cholesterol level to rise, the typical suspects are foods which are high in animal fats, such as whole-milk dairy products, pork, lamb, veal and beef among others.

There are also foods which are naturally high in cholesterol, such as the yolk of an egg, but it is still debatable whether this cholesterol is actually bad for you or not. Cutting back on these foods, or eliminating them from your diet all together is generally the recommended course of action if you are dealing with high cholesterol.

The process of lowering your blood cholesterol begins with diet modification

By lowering how much saturated fat you consume, and increasing the amount of soluble fiber foods you consume, you can reduce your cholesterol. Foods which are high in soluble fiber, like oatmeal, strawberries, citrus fruits, peas and Brussels sprouts can bind to the cholesterol which is present in your intestines, which helps the body excrete them. Additionally, these soluble fiber foods are also typically low in both fat and cholesterol, in addition to being packed with heaps of healthy nutrients and vitamins.

Another great way for you to begin the process of lowering your bad cholesterol levels is to lose a small amount of weight. 10 pounds is typically enough to start showing an improvement in your cholesterol level, because excess weight can significantly raise your LDL cholesterol level, and could possibly be lowering your HDL cholesterol as well.

Finally, if you are a smoker you should be aware of the fact that smoking can significantly reduce your HDL cholesterol level, so your heart health may be significantly boosted by quitting. Within a few weeks or months, you will notice that your HDL cholesterol level is rising, which will improve your cholesterol level and the health of your heart.

There are a variety of different ways to treat problems with high LDL cholesterol levels, and there are five different groups of drugs which are used to lower cholesterol levels. Typically, someone with high cholesterol will take one of these drugs from two of these different categories in order to achieve effective treatment.

Statins: These drugs help to prevent the liver from creating new cholesterol. Some of the drugs in this category include Atorvastatin, which is better known as Lipitor, Fluvastatin, which is better known as Lescol, Rosuvastatin which is better known as Crestor, and Simvastatin which is better known as Zocor.

Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors: These drugs help to prevent the absorption of cholesterol in your small intestines. Some of the drugs in this category include Ezetimibe, which is better known as Zetia, and Vytorin which combines Zetia with a statin Simvastatin fibrate like gemfibrozil or fenofibrate.

Bile Acid Binding Resins: These drugs work in the intestines in order to bind to cholesterol, aiding your body in the process of excreting it. Some of the drugs that are in this category include Cholestyramine, which is known as Questran and Prevalite, Colestipol which is better known as Colestid, and Colesevelam which is better known as WelChol.

Niacin: Niacin is a form of vitamin B, and it may work by decreasing the production of cholesterol in your liver, but it is not totally clear yet how therapeutic doses of Niacin actually reduce cholesterol. There are several brand names for this form of Niacin, including Niaspan and Advicor, which actually combines the Vitamin B Niacin with a statin called Lovastatin.

Because your cholesterol levels contribute so heavily to the health of your heart, it is imperative that you maintain health levels in order to live a long, healthy life. If you continue to maintain a high LDL bad cholesterol level, the heart of your health will deteriorate, and you will find years shaved off your life. Maintaining a healthy level of cholesterol is an easy task as long as you understand the impact that cholesterol has on your body and how you can control it.

If you cannot control your blood cholesterol by yourself through exercise and proper nutrition, you should consult a doctor to find the right medication cocktail which will do the trick.

Author: Sabel Todd
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