Taking Niacin Does Not Prevent Heart Problems

May 26, 2011 · Posted in cholesterol foods · Comment 

Giving a high dose of niacin to people with heart disease who are already taking a cholesterol-lowering statin does nothing more to prevent heart attacks and strokes, U.S. government researchers …

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Medicare Patients Aren’t Taking Advantage Of Some Newly Free Tests

April 26, 2011 · Posted in high blood pressure and cholesterol · Comment 

Washington, DC, United States (KaiserHealth) – Despite tough economic times, there are some things the government can’t give away.

Starting this year, seniors enrolled in Medicare no longer have to pay for more than a dozen tests and other services to help prevent or control cancer and other costly and debilitating diseases. These benefits, which also include an annual wellness exam, are part of the new federal health-care law.

But big crowds aren’t lining up for free mammograms or colonoscopies, although early data indicate that the free wellness checkup is luring patients.

Advocates say details about the new benefits haven’t reached enough seniors, and Medicare’s information about it isn’t easily accessible and can be confusing.

“Our hope is that by waiving cost-sharing and making preventive care more affordable, more beneficiaries will get it,” said Jonathan Blum, deputy administrator at the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

At a senior center in Reston, roughly 35 people recently attended a “Medicare 101″ meeting that provided information about the free services.

Howard Houghton, director of the Fairfax County senior health insurance information program, said he warned the seniors not to delay calling their doctor. “You want to do it sooner than later because this law might get repealed,” he said. “The law might change, so why take a chance?”

Even doctors have had some trouble figuring out what tests and exams are free and for which patients. Medicare is now paying all costs for most services that earned top ratings from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, an advisory group of medical experts. But if patients receive those services more often than recommended or don’t have risk factors to qualify for the tests, they can be charged a co-payment. In some cases, seniors may still have to pay for an office visit, even if the screening or test they receive is free.

To help clear things up, the American Medical Association issued a two-page guide for doctors. That’s in addition to e-mails that Medicare has sent to physicians and their professional associations.

Steven Schwartz, a family physician in Kensington who also teaches at Georgetown University’s medical school, said his group practice developed its own checklist of the preventive services and is contacting Medicare patients who haven’t had a wellness exam.

In 2008, when co-payments were required for many of the tests and screenings that are now free, only a minority of traditional Medicare beneficiaries in the District, Maryland and Virginia received them.

For example:

  • Fewer than 4 percent took advantage of the one-time “Welcome to Medicare” physical exam.
  • Fewer than 10 percent were tested that year for diabetes.
  • Only 36 to 41 percent of women received mammograms.
  • Only 12 to 15 percent of women got bone density tests.
  • Fewer than 20 percent of men received prostate cancer screenings.
  • And even though the flu shot was available for free before 2011, fewer than half got one.

A list of which preventive services are now free and other information are included in the “Medicare & You” handbook (available at www.medicare.gov or at 800-MEDICARE), the user’s manual sent to all 48 million Medicare beneficiaries. A 48-page Medicare guide on preventive benefits is also available online at www.medicare.gov.

But Joe Baker, president of the nonprofit Medicare Rights Center, said seniors usually read the handbook only when they have questions about a benefit. “If they haven’t heard about it, they’re not going to look for it,” he said.

One reason why seniors may not pay attention to the changes is that they have purchased a supplemental insurance policy or a Medicare Advantage managed-care plan that already offers some preventive health services without additional charges.

But cost isn’t the only reason that seniors may not be receiving preventive health services. Some people worry about whether procedures will be uncomfortable, and many are afraid of hearing bad news.

“It’s human nature to put off things that aren’t pleasant,” she said.

Blum thinks that attitude may be changing. In just the first three months of this year, almost 300,000 seniors nationwide received the new free wellness exam.

“Based upon what we’ve seen so far, we are very optimistic that we will have a greater proportion of beneficiaries who will take advantage of the preventive benefits,” said Blum.

– Provided by Kaiser Health News.

Article © AHN – All Rights Reserved

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Study: Taking many standing breaks good for heart, waist

January 12, 2011 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 
David Goodhue – AHN News Reporter

Brisbane, Australia (AHN) – Shedding some inches from your waistline could be as simple as standing up a few times more each day, according to a new study.

Researchers with the University of Queensland in Australia said that taking plenty of breaks from sitting at a desk or in front of the television may be beneficial to the heart and help people lose unwanted pounds. The researchers said in a statement that it is not the duration of standing that counts, as much as it is the number of times a person stands up during the day.

Prolonged periods of sedentary time, even if people also spend time vigorously exercising, are linked with worse indicators of cardio-metabolic function and inflammation, including larger waist circumferences, lower levels of “good” cholesterol, higher levels of C-reactive protein and triglycerides, or blood fat.

But the researchers said that even in people who spent long hours sitting around an office or home, if they took more breaks and stood up many times a day they had lower levels of C-reactive protein and smaller waistlines.

A report on the study is published in the online version of the European Heart Journal.

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Why Is Taking A Cholesterol Test Very Important

May 8, 2010 · Posted in cholesterol · Comment 

High cholesterol levels can be a sign of potential heart disease. High levels of HDL cholesterol can be a warning sign of hardening of arteries that can result in heart disease or a heart attack. Even though high cholesterol is a very serious and fatal condition, there are no symptoms to warn you if you are having high cholesterol levels.


To know your cholesterol levels you must take a cholesterol test. As high cholesterol levels can be life threatening, and coronary heart disease is a common occurrence when you have high levels of bad cholesterol you should get a cholesterol test regularly.


Cholesterol is made of two main types: HDL, or the good cholesterol which actually helps prevent heart disease and LDL or bad cholesterol which will clog your arteries and cause heart disease if present in high levels in your body. The right level of cholesterol should be 200mg/dl of LDL or less and at least a minimum of 40mg/dL of HDL or more.


Cholesterol test is done through a blood test that will tell you the levels of both types of cholesterol in your body. This test can be done at the hospital. There are also home test kits for cholesterol testing available. However, tests done in the hospital are more reliable and you should go to the hospital for your first cholesterol test.


If your cholesterol test result show that your bad cholesterol level is too high, your doctor can advise you on how to lower it. He will probably advise you to change your diet and do more exercise. If you cholesterol levels are very high or you have other medical condition like diabetes, he may prescribe you with cholesterol lowering medication. Most doctors recommend that anyone over the age of 20 should take a cholesterol test once every five years.


The Cholesterol Test Kit


Today there is a way to test your cholesterol levels without having to leave your home. A home cholesterol test kit can be purchased from any drug store. This home test kit consists of the tools required to conduct an accurate cholesterol test. With only a couple drops of your blood you will be able to tell the cholesterol levels present in your body in ten minutes time.


The home cholesterol test kit is FDA approved and is available over the counter for you to purchase and use when needed. It has a 97% accuracy rate and is very easy. The home cholesterol test kit cost about $25 for a pack of two test kits. Some cholesterol test kits are sold with only one test strip but the two tests package is more economical. Everyone who wants or needs to keep check their cholesterol level regularly without having to go to a hospital can use the handy cholesterol test kit.


Home Cholesterol Test Kit May Not Always Be Accurate


Although nowadays you can get all kinds of home kits for many medical problems, some of the results from the tests carried out by these kits may not be very accurate. However, the fault may not lie with the test kit itself, but it may lie in the way it is used. The home cholesterol test kit too seldom gives accurate results because it is usually administered wrongly.


That is the reason why doctors do not like to rely on the results of home cholesterol test. If you go for treatment for high cholesterol level, your doctor will ask you to take another test from the lab. The doctor will only proceed with treatment after they get the lab tests results.


The home cholesterol test kit may be useful if you can get your a physician to administer it for you. This is so that after the test is done, he can interpret the results for you. This is why it is better to take a lab test rather than simply buying a home cholesterol test.


Any home cholesterol test done with a home test kit should be repeated in the doctor’s lab for double confirmation, so that if your cholesterol home test results are actually not accurate, you will know it before you undergo any form of cholesterol lowering treatment.


If you do prefer a home cholesterol test kit than going to the hospital for a cholesterol test, you should still consult your doctor and have the test repeated before taking any form of drugs or medications.

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit Cholesterol Lowering Food to learn more about home cholesterol test and high cholesterol symptom.

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