Tag Archives: HDL

Heart Disease Symptoms

The many symptoms of heart disease vary greatly from one person to the next. The reality is some people may experience a myriad of symptoms while others may only experience a small amount of heart disease symptoms or even just one or two symptoms. One or more of these symptoms can occur at the same time depending from person to person where as several may have no symptoms what so ever. The most common symptoms occur in the case of a heart attack. The usual symptoms include pain in the armpits, toothache, and even arm pain.

One or more of these symptoms may occur at the same time depending from person to person where as some may have no symptoms what so ever. This refers to chest pain, one of the major warning signs of a heart attack. Any chest pain needs to be checked out by a doctor as soon as possible. Heart disease symptom recognizing is usually hard as many of these symptoms can be caused by many other different factors as well; this is probably one of the main causes why some people walk in emergency rooms sometimes too late to be able to be helped.

Fatigue is also one of the many familiar symptoms of heart disease. Fatigue or lethargy is fundamentally the inability of the body to carry on functioning at typical levels. This is particularly true if the pain subsides when you rest. If you have any of these symptoms call your doctor and follow her advice. If you cannot reach your doctor, go to the hospital. There is nothing in existence that can replace reducing stress, regular exercise, and an optimum heart diet. If you expect a heart problem to be reversed in this lifetime, a complete 180 degree turnaround is what it’s going to take.

Early heart disease symptoms, which can be overlooked due to the patients age, are a non-injury related thickening of the Achilles tendon, and a condition known as hyperlipoidemia, or an excise concentration of fats in the blood. Frequently finding yourself feeling week or dizzy without any obvious cause could also be a symptom of disease of the heart. Heart disease prevention lies in maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping a good diet. One should be particularly careful if high cholesterol, diabetes, and other problems run in the family. Some heart diseases are triggered by these factors.

Every heart disease has different symptoms, but many of them have similar symptoms. In most cases, it depends on the severity of your heart’s condition as to whether you can identify any symptoms. Nowadays, people can already avoid heart disease through education and learning about keeping our hearts healthy. Experts suggest that people should only be occasional eaters with fast foods products and rich foods.

Showing high levels of cholesterol, particularly when levels of HDL are low, is listed as another risk factor for congestive heart disease. Another problem is atherosclerosis. This occurs when there are plaque deposits caused by the buildup of cholesterol and far in the arteries.

Insider Secrets Of Preventing And Reversing Heart Disease

If you are reading this, it is possible that you or someone you know or love may need help for their heart! Here’s to a healthy heart!

EAT FISH TWICE A WEEK

Heart disease is quite uncommon among people who eat lots of fish. Certain unsaturated fatty acids unique to fish are thought to be responsible for this protective effect. Eat at least four ounces of fish a week. Best: Rich, oily species like bluefish, mackerel, tuna and Salmon, but before you ingest whatever kind of fish you choose, you would be wise to make sure that fish is not contaminated with any chemicals. Whether you realize it or not, our environment has been compromised over and over. What about fish-oil supplements? There’s little evidence that they’re beneficial.

ALCOHOL AND ASPIRIN

Study after study has proven that an occasional drink raises levels of HDL cholesterol (that is your “good cholesterol”). Men whose HDL is below 30 should consider having one or two drinks daily (one if you’re a woman). One drink equals a glass of wine, a shot of distilled spirits or 12 ounces of beer. A sip of alcohol or one drink a day for women, can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease, especially when in combination with healthful eating habits, (more is not recommended) because too much alcohol raises the risk of other diseases that affect your liver or causes cancer. Low-dose aspirin therapy-one-half tablet a day-is proven to prevent heart attacks in those who have heart disease. Aspirin may also be beneficial for individuals at risk for heart disease. That includes men over 50 and postmenopausal women. There’s no evidence that preventive aspirin therapy is beneficial to people with healthy hearts. Word of Caution: If you’re allergic to aspirin, have ulcers or are prone to digestive bleeding, aspirin therapy is not for you. Consult your physician as to other alternatives.

CONSIDER TAKING ANTIOXIDANTS

Cholesterol damages arteries when it has been oxidized, via a chemical reaction analogous to rusting. Fortunately, the body has enzymes that prevent oxidation by “mopping up” the unstable molecules (free radicals) that cause oxidation. Three antioxidant nutrients – vitamins C and E and beta-carotene – give this natural defense system a big boost, especially when taken in combination. Sufficient levels of beta-carotene can easily be obtained by eating green and yellow vegetables, and vitamin C is abundant in citrus fruits. But it’s hard to get much vitamin E from dietary sources, so start taking a daily supplement but research what quantities are enough for you, or ask your physician.

WHAT ABOUT OTHER SUPPLEMENTS?

There’s been much less research on chromium than on the “big three” antioxidants. But in one study, volunteers took 200 micrograms of the mineral three times a day. Results: Levels of protective HDL cholesterol rose by 16%. That translates into 20% reduction in the risk for heart disease. If your HDL levels are below 30, and it cannot be raised via weight loss, exercise or moderate alcohol consumption, ask your doctor about taking, chromium supplements.

Important Note for Diabetics:

Glucose tolerance factor (GTF) seems to be safer than the more popular supplement, chromium iodinate. In another study involving more than 15,000 physicians and researchers, it was found that those whose blood contained high levels of the amino acid homocysteine were more likely to have a heart attack. Homocysteine seems to damage artery walls and promote clotting. To keep homocysteine levels down: take a daily supplement containing vitamins B-6 and B-12 and folic acid.

MEDICAL TESTS AND LAB -WORK-UP

Your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar should be checked each time you have a physical exam. However, if you are diabetic, a blood profile and A1C should be checked every three months. Moreover, you should have an electrocardiogram with each check-up. Stress tests aren’t necessary unless you’re having chest pains or other heart disease symptoms.

Benefits Of Eating Garlic

Recent findings on the power of garlic to fight cancer and cardiovascular disease, as well as its anti-inflammatory and antiviral properties, give garlic the bona fide characteristics to elevate it to Superfood status.

Throughout the history of civilization, the medicinal properties of garlic have been prized, and it’s been used to treat an array of ailments, including atherosclerosis, stroke, cancer, immune disorders, cerebral aging, arthritis, and cataract formation.
Garlic’s power as a heath promoter comes from its rich variety of sulfur containing compounds. Of the nearly one hundred nutrients in garlic, the most important in terms of health benefits seems to be the sulfur compound allicin-an amino acid. Allicin is not present in fresh garlic. It’s formed instantly when cloves are crushed, chewed, or cut. Allicin seems to be responsible for the super-biological activity of garlic as well as its odor.

In addition to allicin, a single clove of garlic offers a slew of compounds with potential health benefits, including saponins, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, selenium, polyphenols, and arginine. In addition to these compounds, garlic is a good source of vitamin B6 and also of vitamin C. As with most whole foods, garlic’s antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities are probably due to the sum of the whole rather than a single agent.
A number of studies have shown that garlic has an important impact on risk factors for cardiovascular disease. It has been demonstrated that those who make garlic a regular part of their diets enjoy lowered blood pressure and decreased platelet aggregation, as well as decreased triglycerides and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. Garlic also may increase HDL (“good”) cholesterol. Consuming one half to one clove of garlic daily lowers LDL cholesterol levels by approximately 10 percent, partially by decreasing cholesterol absorption.

Garlic extracts have also been shown to decrease blood pressure. In one study, a 5.5 percent decrease in systolic blood pressure and a slight decrease in diastolic pressure were noticed. While these are modest decreases, they could still lead to a significant lessening of the risk for stroke and heart attack. The end result of all of these benefits is a lowered risk of atherosclerosis and heart disease as well as a reduced risk of heart attack and stroke. Garlic oil has been shown to decrease total and LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels as well.

Garlic’s primary positive effect on cardiovascular disease comes from its sulphur compounds, but the effects of vitamin C, B6, selenium, and manganese can’t be ignored. Garlic’s vitamin C-the body’s primary antioxidant defender-protects LDL cholesterol from oxidation. It’s the oxidation of LDL cholesterol that begins the process that damages blood vessel walls. Vitamin B lowers levels of homocysteine, a substance that can directly damage blood vessel walls. The selenium in garlic fights heart disease, while it also works to protect against cancer and heavy metal toxicity. Manganese works on a variety of antioxidant defences, and studies have found that adults deficient in manganese have lower levels of the “good,” or HDL, cholesterol.

A number of studies have reported on garlic’s ability to fight cancer, although further research is needed to clarify the precise role of garlic in this battle. Several population studies have shown a link between garlic in the diet and a decrease in the risk for colorectal and gastric cancer, and one clove of garlic daily may decrease the risk of developing prostate cancer. Recent reviews of more than thirty-five studies report some protective effect against cancer in about 75 percent of the published articles.

Two recent studies have shown that garlic can be a potent antibiotic. Particularly impressive was that garlic was effective against strains of pathogens that have become resistant to many drugs. One study demonstrated that garlic juice showed significant antibacterial activity against a host of pathogens, even including antibiotic-resistant strains such as ciprofloxacin-resistant staphylococci.

The second study, conducted on mice, found that garlic was able to inhibit a type of staph infection that’s become increasingly resistant to antibiotics and increasingly common in hospitals. This type of staph infection has become a potential danger for health care workers, as well as for people with weakened immune systems. Sixteen hours after the mice were infected with the pathogen, garlic extract was fed to them. After twenty-four hours, garlic was found to have provided protection against the pathogen and to have significantly decreased the infection.

Effectively Managing Blood Lipid Levels

The term blood lipid is synonymous with fat, and in fact most blood lipid molecules found floating around in our blood stream are primarily fat. These molecules play an important role in providing us with energy and are the primary building blocks for a number of compounds including bile, vitamin D, testosterone, and estrogen.

As you can see managing blood lipid levels is not as much about doing away with them completely as it is finding a way to balance their benefits and risks.

What are the risks if we fail to manage blood lipid levels?

The most obvious one is high cholesterol leading to atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is process where the smooth interior lining of the arteries and veins becomes damaged leading to the accumulation of plaque deposits. Over time blood lipid particles floating by in the blood start to accumulate eventually culminating when calcium and fibrous tissue start to form causing hardening and narrowing of the artery. When this happens in the arteries surrounding the heart it is known as coronary artery disease, which is single largest cause of heart attack.

Are there any genetic conditions that make managing blood lipid levels difficult?

The answer is yes, and if you have any of these three genetic condition such as hypercholesterolemia, hyperlipidemia, or hypertriglyceridemia your blood lipid levels will be dangerously high primarily due to the overproduction of cholesterol by the liver. These conditions are very dangerous requiring more aggressive blood lipid management methods often including prescription medications such as statins or prescription strength niacin.

How do lipoproteins factor into my management plan?

Blood fats, including cholesterol, are transported through the blood stream by the lipoproteins HDL and LDL. HDL molecules are lean, being composed of primarily protein whereas LDL molecules are primarily fat. It just makes sense that finding ways to keep LDL low and HDL high would be one of the best ways to manage blood lipid levels.

Three helpful management tools for blood lipid levels

*Stay active: As the aging process takes hold and aches and pains become more severe it is easy to fall into a state of semi inactivity. But if you are really serious about lowering blood lipid levels and thus reducing your chances of atherosclerosis and heart disease then you must find creative ways around your maladies. Your doctor is one of the best resources you have to accomplish this. Examples he might suggest are pool aerobics, walking, or even something as simple as gardening.

*Watch your diet: Many blood fats such as triglycerides are very sensitive to diet. Be sure to eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables all the while keeping saturated fat and cholesterol to a minimum. One last important point is that some research suggests that increasing the consumption of polyunsaturated fat foods such as fish and avocados are essential to lowering triglyceride levels.

*Supplements can help: The latest research continues to support the idea that supplements can play a pivotal role in lowering blood fat levels. Three that have been getting a lot of press recently are vitamins B12 and B6, omega 3 rich fish oil, and of course safe and effective natural cholesterol reduction supplements.

Acai Berry With Heart Medications

Can acai berry mend a broken heart? If the broken heart pertains to a heart disease that continues to be one of the leading causes of deaths, acai may help tame it before it becomes a full blown killer.

Heart diseases encompass a variety of conditions relating to the cardiovascular system. It may involve the ability of your heart to pump out blood, its valves, your blood vessels, and more instances that compromise the function of your heart.

Below are some of the most common heart conditions that warrant urgent attention:

Myocardial Infarction or heart attack
It happens when the cells of the heart die due to the disruption of its blood supply. The formation of cholesterol plaques contributes a great deal to the blockage of the coronary blood vessels. When the blood flow is compromised, there is no delivery of oxygen to the tissues, leading to cell death.

Hypertension or high blood pressure
When it requires more force to get the blood flowing, you get a high blood pressure. It makes the heart work harder to pump blood effectively to all organs in the body. Hypertension can be due to other coexisting diseases such as diabetes, kidney problems, arteriosclerosis, etc. Genetics play a significant role in primary hypertension.

Arteriosclerosis
It involves the blood vessels, particularly the arteries, and its ability to deliver blood to the organs. The arteries in this case have hardened due to the build up of plaques from fatty substances. This makes the vessels less flexible which makes it harder for blood to flow. When the plaques break apart, they travel in the bloodstream towards smaller arteries, where they may cause a complete blockage. This is how it contributes to heart attacks, stroke, and common heart conditions.

High Cholesterol
Chlolesterol makes up a part of the bodys lipids. It is vital to the structure of cells, and in the production of hormones and energy. When the levels go up, it creates problems in the blood vessels. The arteries are hardened and blocked. In turn, the blood pressure rises just to be able to push adequate blood for delivery to the organs. When the heart doesnt receive adequate amount of blood supply, heart attack can occur.

Heart Failure
The heart functions to pump blood into the body. When it fails, it doesnt mean that it has stopped beating. It just lost its ability to function efficiently, affecting all organs in the long run. The blood goes back to the lungs instead of pushing it forward. Breathing becomes laborious. Fluid accumulates in the dependent portions of the body like the feet.

How Can Acai Save You From A Broken Heart?

Acai berry (Euterpe oleracea), a superfood from the Amazon, offers hope for those with heart problems.

Acai is rich in fatty acids, giving it the oily feel. It contains 2 essential fatty acids called Omega 6 (Linoleic acid) and Omega 9 (Oleic acid). The Omega 6 is a polyunsaturated essential fatty acid that lowers both LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol) levels. The Omega 9, which is a monounsaturated, essential fatty acid, helps lower only the LDL, while maintaining a good level of HDL.

Acai is also unusually rich in beta-sitosterol, which is a phytosterol that competes with dietary cholesterol for absorption, hence reducing blood cholesterol. The high fiber content of acai berries may likewise reduce bad cholesterol levels.

The dark pigmentation of acai is attributed to anthocyanins, which are potent antioxidants. Even in trace amounts, anthocyanins effectively protect against LDL oxidation. The anti-oxidant properties of acai help heal the cell membranes and linings of arterial wall and help protect the integrity of smaller blood vessels. This prevents the development of arteriosclerosis and the subsequent increase in blood pressure.

Free radicals can speed up the process of arteriosclerosis and aggravate ischemia (the lack of oxygen supply to an organ). With the rich anti-oxidant content of acai, the damaging effects of the free radicals are taken cared of.

Be careful when choosing among the many acai supplements available in the market. The juice form uses other ingredients and preservatives, with only little concentration of acai. It has undergone the irradiation which is something you may want to avoid. The pill form, on the other hand, contains 100% acai, without preservatives. It has not undergone any procedures known to harm your health.

Can I Take Acai Together with my Heart Medications?

With early prevention, acai can lessen your need for expensive heart medications. However, if maintenance drugs should be used, no data has been found as to the drug-drug or drug-food interactions with acai and the common heart conditions.

Be cautious when taking medications containing anti-coagulants or blood thinners because acai contains vitamin k, which exerts the opposite effect.

Potassium is abundant in acai, so you might as well be careful with drugs reacting to potassium:
ACE-inhibitors which are used for the treatment of hypertension. Examples are captopril, enalapril, lisinopril. Potassium levels may increase further with ACE inhibitors especially those with diminished kidney function.
Potassium-sparing diuretics like spironolactone, triamterene, or amiloride may increase potassium levels in the blood.
Heparin which is a blood thinner, used for the prevention of heart attacks. Potassium levels may be further increased with concomitant use of acai, aside from with the antagonistic effect of vitamin K present in acai.
Beta blockers such as metoprolol and propranolol that are used to treat high blood pressure can potentially increase blood potassium levels when mixed with acai.

The high amount of calcium in acai may create potential reactions with certain medications:
Beta-blockers. Calcium may interfere with the blood levels of beta-blockers and vice versa.
Calcium-channel blockers are a class of anti-hypertensives. Calcium may reverse the therapeutic effects of calcium-channel blockers, although studies are conflicting.
Digoxin is used to treat irregular heart rhythms. Calcium may make this drug ineffective.
Anti-cholesterol drug, particularly bile acid sequestrants such as cholestyramine, colestipol, and colesevelam, may interfere with calcium absorption and increase loss of calcium in the urine.

Anti-oxidants in general, are not advised to be taken along with most chemotherapeutic agents that act by producing free radicals to kill the tumor.

There are no documented effects of the above drugs interacting with acai berry supplements, only possible risks. Nonetheless, caution must be taken to avoid untoward reactions.