The Great Cholesterol Myth Busted

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Cholesterol Fact Sheet: The Facts that could save your life

September 7th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Although our bodies need a small amount of cholesterol to remain healthy, a lot  of this waxy fat-like substance can in fact cause an increased of problems in our bodies. Most literature that features cholesterol information points out that too much cholesterol in our system many lead to the hardening of the arteries that leads to our heart. According to these medical cholesterol fact sheets, when the arteries leading to our heart harden, coronary heart disease may possibly increase. If you do not wish to end up with a faulty heart, you should learn more about the effects of too much cholesterol in your body.   Where do you find reliable materials about cholesterol? The best way to learn more about cholesterol is to talk to your doctor. Ask your doctor for some cholesterol fact sheet material that you can read. Aside from asking for cholesterol fact sheet from your doctor, you can also do some research either online or offline. There is plenty of information about cholesterol on the Internet so all you need to do is launch a search.  What Types Of Cholesterol Are There   According to studies, there are at least four known types of cholesterol. The low-density lipoproteins (LDL), also known as the bad cholesterol, are the primary culprit for coronary diseases. Most cholesterol fact sheet material will tell you that this type of cholesterol is potentially dangerous to your heart and you should avoid this type of cholesterol as much as you can. The higher the level of the LDL in your blood, the higher your risk of coronary heart disease. While LDL is bad, high-density lipoproteins (HDL) are good. According to experts, HDL helps the body get rid of the bad cholesterol. To stay healthy and strong, you need to eat more food that contains HDL and less food that contains LDL. Fruits, vegetables and whole grain contain plenty of HDL.  

Another type of cholesterol is the very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL). According to many cholesterol experts, the VLDL is just as bad as the LDL. Like the LDL, the VLDL is composed mostly of fat and have too little protein. The VLDL is also known to carry triglycerides into the blood stream. Triglycerides usually form when there are excess sugars, calories or alcohol in the body. Like the LDL and VLDL, triglycerides can have some negative effects on the body. Triglyceride deposits in the blood can cause hardening of the arteries that may lead to some fatal heart diseases.

 

What Types Of Medication For High Cholesterol Are There

September 2nd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Have your tried everything to try and reduce your cholesterol with little to no achievement then it could be time to explore the option of medication for high cholesterol. Medications for high cholesterol are used when a patient has not responded well to lifestyle and dietary changes. You will find that there is a large variety of medications and they all do different things. All the medications have different probable side effects.

Your doctor can decide what the best medication for you is. They will look at your family history and other factors such as developing heart disease. But remember that medication alone should not be used to reduce your cholesterol levels also make sure that you change your life style habits

Statins

Statins are very accepted medication for high cholesterol. They work to lessen your body’s capability to create LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, in addition to triglycerides. This medication may in addition help to increase good cholesterol somewhat. Unfortunately there are side effects to taking the drug. You may experience diarrhea, constipation, stomach pain, muscle soreness and it is not advisable to take this medication with grape fruit juice. Some people take this drug with no complaints but you should discuss any side effects you experience with your doctor right away.

Bile Acid Binding Resins

This is one of the medication for high cholesterol that work to reduce LDL levels but a side effect may be that you experience an increase in triglycerides. Other side effects associated with this drug are bloating, gas, nausea and constipation.

Cholesterol Absorption Inhibitors

This medicine does precisely what the name says. It inhibits your body’s capability to soak up cholesterol from the food you eat. This will decrease LDL levels as well as slightly decrease triglyceride levels. Your HDL levels may also increase somewhat though continued exercise and consumption of polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats is advised to keep increasing HDL levels.

Fibrates

These drugs do not decrease the level of LDL cholesterol in your body. Instead it will lower the level of triglycerides and increase the level of HDL cholesterol in your body. There is a risk of developing gallstones, nausea and stomach pain in terms of side effects.

Niacin

Niacin is one of the uncommon medications for high cholesterol that are available over the counter. It is however desirable to seek prescription niacin to obtain the correct dosage. The benefits of this medication are that you will be able to up your HDL cholesterol while decreasing your LDL and triglyceride levels. Some of the more serious side effects include high blood sugar, peptic ulcers and gout.

Low Cholesterol Food Plan – Not As Hard As You Many Think

August 26th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

A low cholesterol food plan is not difficult to come by. The foods in the plans have low levels of cholesterol which are required in a diet for those who need to reduce their cholesterol levels. The reason why people need to change to a low cholesterol food plan is because their health is in danger due to high levels of cholesterol represent. People who have high cholesterol levels are more at risk at having heart disease, liver disease and many other illnesses that come with high cholesterol numbers. 

a blood chemistry test that shows how much cholesterol is present in the blood and that is how your cholesterol levels are determined . A low cholesterol food plan is great for maintaining the cholesterol numbers for each person. Depending on how susceptible you are to having heart disease and other sicknesses, medication to aid the reduction of you cholesterol levels could be prescribed by your doctor. Your doctor may also recommend that you go on a low cholesterol diet and exercise. 

Vegetables and Fruits 

 Fruit and vegetable could be the two of the healthiest food groups available for people who have high cholesterol. Not only are these low cholesterol food plan but they also contain high levels of essential vitamins, minerals and fiber necessary for a well functioning body and overall well being. We need several servings of these kinds of low cholesterol food plan in order to reach the recommended daily allowance we need to function well and be healthy. 

Another thing that makes fruits and vegetable favorable low cholesterol food plan is due to their low calorie content as well. This means that there is a reduce risk of calories turning into useless fat when not used. 

Lean Meats 

Lean meats are those meats that have no fats or marbling. These low cholesterol food plan have high protein content as well as minerals and micronutrients that help the body manage and control high levels of bad cholesterol. Included in these kinds of meats are turkey, chicken fish and some pork. These low cholesterol food plan are also an excellent aid to our metabolism and helps to build muscles. 

Seeds and Nuts 

These kinds of low cholesterol food plan are often rich n Omega 3 which makes them very good for managing bad cholesterol. Seeds and nuts are also high fiber which makes them great for flushing out and cleaning the digestive tract from any deposits that may have accumulated. Beware though that you many need to do some research regarding which are good for you and which are not as not all seeds and nuts are low cholesterol food plan. A low cholesterol food plan will actually help individuals make themselves healthier as well as become less prone to diseases associated to high levels of cholesterol.

Keeping Your Cholesterol Under Control

August 22nd, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

You would have all heard about cholesterol and the recommendations of changes in diets and prescribe medication associated with it. But the truth is that many people don’t understand cholesterol and its purpose in our body. To control your cholesterol you first need to know how it works.

Cholesterol is a lipid (fatty acid) that resides in the cell membranes of the human body.  Most cholesterol is actually synthesized in the body, but a good proportion of it is ingested as a section of food.

You have good cholesterol and bad cholesterol and the two kinds need to be differentiated between: Bad cholesterol, or LDL, has been associated to cardiovascular disease, heart attack and stroke if consumed at unhealthy levels.Good cholesterol, HDL, is responsible for important bodily functions.  HDL cholesterol helps to construct and maintain cell walls and performs other cell maintenance.

Controlling Cholesterol Through Diet: What Can You Do About It?

There are quite a few ways you can control your blood cholesterol levels.  Cholesterol is not dissolvable in blood, so it now and again needs a helping hand.  Most of these are basic routine changes that can have an enormous and helpful result on your cholesterol levels. The first is to look at controlling cholesterol through diet.

The most apparent ways are to select your diet carefully.  Foods that are high in fat have an inclination to lift cholesterol.  Do not cut out fats totally from your diets.  Look at selecting specific foods that are low in saturated fat but have a good amount of unsaturated fat.  The body physically requires a small amount of fat for key body functions.

Lean red meat and fish are both good choices and should be incorporated liberally into your diet.  They are high in protein, which helps to build muscle, and relatively low in fat content.  It’s also simple to choose dairy products that are low in fat, and such an alteration will make controlling your cholesterol much easier.

If after changing your diet or your cholesterol levels are often too high then it is advisable to consult your doctor. You can know control cholesterol with the many drugs that are avaiable.  And remember that with any new drug, it’s important to notify your healthcare professional about any additional medications that you are taking at the time.

The side effects of controlling cholesterol through drugs tend to be relatively mild, and will generally cease after your body adjusts to the new medication.

Do You Need A Cholesterol Meter

August 18th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

People will regularly visit their doctors every six months to make sure that they are fit and health and in the process they also have their cholesterol levels check to see if they are normal or not. In case you have high cholesterol levels you may be advised by your doctor to take a few steps with which to bring the cholesterol levels down to normal and this in turn will mean making more trips to see your doctor. Did you know though that there is a way in which you can check your cholesterol more frequently and this means that you can reduce your doctors visits.

More Accurate Than Litmus Testing

In fact, you can check your cholesterol levels in quite a few different ways and at home and without needing to visit your doctor. To start with, you could use home cholesterol kits and there are also cholesterol meters available. In fact, a cholesterol meter works very much in the same way as do blood glucose monitors and it is also a lot more accurate than trying to read litmus test results.

To use a cholesterol meter requires taking a drop of blood that is then put on a test strip that is then inserted into the cholesterol meter that in turn will output a certain number that shows what your total level of cholesterol is. Though using a cholesterol meter is convenient, you must realize that it should not be used daily or too frequently because a person’s cholesterol levels do not change on a daily basis and in fact, it is better to test the levels after at least a week.

Also, the findings of the cholesterol meter will only show you the total level of cholesterol in your blood and won’t actually tell you about your LDL and HDL levels of cholesterol. Thus, to find these levels you would have to visit your doctor who will perform fasting tests to determine these cholesterol levels in your blood.

In any case, finding a suitable cholesterol meter with which to do the testing is not all that difficult given the fact that there are numerous options available in terms of makes and models, and there are also many online sources where you will be able to find one that will suit your needs and budget. Among the better-known makers of the cholesterol meter are names such as Accutrend and Kernel Intl. Corp.

So, if you need to simply know about total cholesterol levels in your blood, why waste time and money and effort in visiting your doctor, when you can just as well buy a cholesterol meter and find out the levels at home at your own convenience and also as often as you want.

Connections Between High Cholesterol And Zoloft

August 14th, 2008    Subscribe To Our Feed

Pfizer introduced Sertraline hydrochloride, more commonly known commercially as Zoloft, in 1991. Although Zoloft is most commonly prescribed for people suffering from clinical depression, it has several other applications, including the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorders, social anxiety disorders and panic attacks in adults and children. By 2007, it had become the most prescribed antidepressant in the United States.

Zoloft is considered to be one of the most effective antidepressants on the market, offering relief with side effects that are much less severe than those of its peers. Compelling research suggests that it works better than even Prozac, its closest competitor. The side effects of Zoloft may include nausea, insomnia, diarrhea and certain sexual side effects. On the plus side, Zoloft will not cause weight gain in patients and has only very mild effects on cognition.

A Lesser-Known Side Effect

While the well-known side effects of Zoloft are relatively mild compared to the usefulness of the drug, there is one other side effect that has begun to get widespread exposure. Recently, Zoloft has been found to be the cause of high cholesterol. Zoloft and its competitors make a habit of spelling out the most noticeable side effects in explicit details, but they have neglected to mention a side effect that many people won’t notice immediately. Indeed, the only people who will notice Zoloft’s effect on their cholesterol are the ones to whom it matters most.

Cholesterol is important to the body because it is responsible for the maintenance of cell walls. Other research suggests that cholesterol may well function as an antioxidant. Despite its importance to the human body, cholesterol can have very damaging effects if it is consumed irresponsibly.

high cholesterol has been linked with a likelihood of cardiovascular disease, which makes the connections between high cholesterol and Zoloft that much more disconcerting. Cardiovascular disease is often acknowledged as the cause of heart attacks, stroke and peripheral vascular disease. All of these things are extremely dangerous and in some cases life-threatening. If you or your family has a tendency towards heart disease, you owe it to yourself to avoid high cholesterol and Zoloft .

high cholesterol and Zoloft is a combination that people should avoid at all costs. The risks and harmful effects that high cholesterol represents are well documented, but Zoloft’s role in this trend is fairly new. You owe it to yourself – and your friends – to spread the word about high cholesterol and Zoloft. It could save a life.

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Copyright © 2008 The Great Cholesterol Myth Busted

Credits: Work From Home | Matteo Turchetto | Andreas Viklund