Understanding Cholesterol and Heart Health
Richard asked:
If you have a better idea of what cholesterol is and how you can manage it in your life, this information will lead to better heart health, and all round better feeling of well being. Cholesterol is a waxy like substance that is found in the walls of all your body cells, from your nervous system to your liver and in your blood stream as well. Your body uses this cholesterol to make necessary hormones, bile acids, vitamin D and other vital substances that your body needs to survive. There are good and bad types of cholesterol as well
Where does the Cholesterol in your body come from?
Your body manufacturers all the cholesterol your body requires from the foods you eat. This cholesterol will circulate in your bloodstream in packages known as lipoproteins, which consist of fat inside and protein on the outside. Cholesterol which is a fatty substance does not mix with the blood, just as oil does not mix with water. Your blood carries it to the parts of the body where it is required as mentioned above
Your Body has 2 Types of cholesterol in your body, both good and bad!.
Your body carries two types of cholesterol one which is good for your health and the other bad… These are known as low density lipoprotein or LDL which is the bad cholesterol which carries cholesterol that builds up in your body tissues including your heart arteries. Most cholesterol in your blood at any given time is the LDL cholesterol. The higher the levels are of LDL cholesterol in your blood stream; the higher your dangers are of contracting heart disease. So remember LDL is the bad cholesterol and you don’t want high levels of this type in your body.
The good Cholesterol in your body is called HDL cholesterol. This cholesterol carries cholesterol away from your tissues to your liver where it is harmlessly removed from your body by natural secretion. Low levels of HDL increase heart disease. Healthy levels of HDL are good for you. Do not get mixed up between the two.
Why are high levels of LDL Cholesterol bad for your body?
Too much cholesterol in your blood leads to blocked and clogged up body tissues including your heart arteries. This build up is called plaque and as a result your arteries become less flexible. You may have heard the term atherosclerosis; which is hardening of your arteries and as you know the end result can be a heart attack. It is not just your heart blood vessels that can suffer from too much cholesterol, but any of the arteries in your body as well. If your coronary artery becomes blocked by too much plaque you will suffer angina because your blood is unable to get the oxygen it needs or the nutrients to the heart muscle. Hardening of the coronary artery is called coronary heart disease which you may likely by now have heard somewhere or another. This form of heart disease is becoming common in the western world due to high cholesterol in the blood from; Yes; and you guessed it; from unhealthy eating habits!
The risk factors.
Certain risk factors nothing can be done about regarding heart diseases and cholesterol levels. These factors where risks of heart disease are increased, are age groups for men and women over 45, which are ages that will increase the likelihood of coronary heart disease from atherosclerosis. Family history of early heart disease is also a factor that must be taken into consideration. The lack of regular exercise and bad eating habits increase the risk of heart disease from cholesterol as well. Most fast foods are prepared in unhealthy fats which is a high risk factor more than anything else as well…
How to lower your risks of high cholesterol.
Perhaps you have heard some of these tips before but it is prudent to go over them again for your information:
1 Avoid foods with high animal fat content. Trim excess fat off meat
2. Eat Lots of fruit, vegetables, and fiber for your health
3. Eat less salt in your diet and limit salty snacks and foods.
4. Lose some weight if you are carrying too much according to your BMI (Body Mass Index)
5. Regular sensible exercise in moderation and plenty of fresh air.
6. Stay calm and avoid stressful situations.
7. Limit your alcohol intake to a sensible level.
8. Smoke less, or give up altogether if possible.
Other treatments that can be used if your doctor has found you to have unhealthy levels of cholesterol are certain drugs called ‘statins’ that will control the rate which your body produces cholesterol. These drugs increase HDL and lower the bad LDL cholesterols. See above about what we mentioned about the good and bad cholesterols.
Watch your diet and eat healthily
Choose healthy fats like olive oil, avocado pears, peanut butter, unsalted nuts and fish oils. Try and limit intakes of salt, polyunsaturated fats, sunflower oils, soft margarines and salad dressings like mayonnaise. (Some newer soft low cholesterol margarine is available on the market that is completely safe to use nowadays though).
Watch out particularly to avoid eating too much animal fats on meats, eat less eggs, cheese, fatty meats, butter, and ice creams and of course take out foods. Naturally you can eat any of the above as long as you are sensible about it. Everyone tells you to eat more fiber, and by now with this advice it should be a given. If you are not eating enough greens or fresh vegetables then take some sort of antioxidants or supplements. Cut down drinking of alcohol to one or two drinks a day.
There is some great advice and diets that have been designed to help people with high cholesterol reduce these high levels. With a little research you will find the right ways to control your cholesterol.
More Heart Health Information Here
Caffeinated Content
If you have a better idea of what cholesterol is and how you can manage it in your life, this information will lead to better heart health, and all round better feeling of well being. Cholesterol is a waxy like substance that is found in the walls of all your body cells, from your nervous system to your liver and in your blood stream as well. Your body uses this cholesterol to make necessary hormones, bile acids, vitamin D and other vital substances that your body needs to survive. There are good and bad types of cholesterol as well
Where does the Cholesterol in your body come from?
Your body manufacturers all the cholesterol your body requires from the foods you eat. This cholesterol will circulate in your bloodstream in packages known as lipoproteins, which consist of fat inside and protein on the outside. Cholesterol which is a fatty substance does not mix with the blood, just as oil does not mix with water. Your blood carries it to the parts of the body where it is required as mentioned above
Your Body has 2 Types of cholesterol in your body, both good and bad!.
Your body carries two types of cholesterol one which is good for your health and the other bad… These are known as low density lipoprotein or LDL which is the bad cholesterol which carries cholesterol that builds up in your body tissues including your heart arteries. Most cholesterol in your blood at any given time is the LDL cholesterol. The higher the levels are of LDL cholesterol in your blood stream; the higher your dangers are of contracting heart disease. So remember LDL is the bad cholesterol and you don’t want high levels of this type in your body.
The good Cholesterol in your body is called HDL cholesterol. This cholesterol carries cholesterol away from your tissues to your liver where it is harmlessly removed from your body by natural secretion. Low levels of HDL increase heart disease. Healthy levels of HDL are good for you. Do not get mixed up between the two.
Why are high levels of LDL Cholesterol bad for your body?
Too much cholesterol in your blood leads to blocked and clogged up body tissues including your heart arteries. This build up is called plaque and as a result your arteries become less flexible. You may have heard the term atherosclerosis; which is hardening of your arteries and as you know the end result can be a heart attack. It is not just your heart blood vessels that can suffer from too much cholesterol, but any of the arteries in your body as well. If your coronary artery becomes blocked by too much plaque you will suffer angina because your blood is unable to get the oxygen it needs or the nutrients to the heart muscle. Hardening of the coronary artery is called coronary heart disease which you may likely by now have heard somewhere or another. This form of heart disease is becoming common in the western world due to high cholesterol in the blood from; Yes; and you guessed it; from unhealthy eating habits!
The risk factors.
Certain risk factors nothing can be done about regarding heart diseases and cholesterol levels. These factors where risks of heart disease are increased, are age groups for men and women over 45, which are ages that will increase the likelihood of coronary heart disease from atherosclerosis. Family history of early heart disease is also a factor that must be taken into consideration. The lack of regular exercise and bad eating habits increase the risk of heart disease from cholesterol as well. Most fast foods are prepared in unhealthy fats which is a high risk factor more than anything else as well…
How to lower your risks of high cholesterol.
Perhaps you have heard some of these tips before but it is prudent to go over them again for your information:
1 Avoid foods with high animal fat content. Trim excess fat off meat
2. Eat Lots of fruit, vegetables, and fiber for your health
3. Eat less salt in your diet and limit salty snacks and foods.
4. Lose some weight if you are carrying too much according to your BMI (Body Mass Index)
5. Regular sensible exercise in moderation and plenty of fresh air.
6. Stay calm and avoid stressful situations.
7. Limit your alcohol intake to a sensible level.
8. Smoke less, or give up altogether if possible.
Other treatments that can be used if your doctor has found you to have unhealthy levels of cholesterol are certain drugs called ‘statins’ that will control the rate which your body produces cholesterol. These drugs increase HDL and lower the bad LDL cholesterols. See above about what we mentioned about the good and bad cholesterols.
Watch your diet and eat healthily
Choose healthy fats like olive oil, avocado pears, peanut butter, unsalted nuts and fish oils. Try and limit intakes of salt, polyunsaturated fats, sunflower oils, soft margarines and salad dressings like mayonnaise. (Some newer soft low cholesterol margarine is available on the market that is completely safe to use nowadays though).
Watch out particularly to avoid eating too much animal fats on meats, eat less eggs, cheese, fatty meats, butter, and ice creams and of course take out foods. Naturally you can eat any of the above as long as you are sensible about it. Everyone tells you to eat more fiber, and by now with this advice it should be a given. If you are not eating enough greens or fresh vegetables then take some sort of antioxidants or supplements. Cut down drinking of alcohol to one or two drinks a day.
There is some great advice and diets that have been designed to help people with high cholesterol reduce these high levels. With a little research you will find the right ways to control your cholesterol.
More Heart Health Information Here
Caffeinated Content
All About Heart Health
Sharon Stajda asked:
The heart is a muscle, it is as small as a fist, and its main function is to pump blood to the entire body. This blood supply is responsible for taking nourishing oxygen to cells that enable each cell to perform its bodily function. In turn the spent blood is returned with harmful carbon dioxide to be expelled via the lungs. This miraculous muscle is literary what keeps us alive and breathing.
The healthy adult body contains about 2 gallons (5 liters) of blood. This blood supply is constantly circulated through the body, via heart, arteries to capillaries to the veins. One entire cycle takes about 60 seconds.
If any part of the circulatory system suffers due to disease, the heart will ultimately be put under greater stress and in time become damaged, and unable to do its job. If the heart is unable to function properly the body will become vulnerable to a variety of health problems.
There are several risk factors that can increase ones chances of developing coronary heart disease. Many of these risk factors can be treated or controlled, some factors are uncontrollable. It is every important to become well acquainted with the risk factors of heart disease. One of the best ways to prevent coronary heart disease is to decrease ones controllable risk factors through life style changes.
There are uncontrollable risk factors that are unavoidable, and out of ones control.
Age: Risk of heart disease increases over the age of 45 in males, over 55 in females.
Family History: Children of parents that developed heart disease before the age of 55 have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
Racial and ethnic background: Mexican Americans, African Americans, American Indians, all have greater risk of developing heart disease than Caucasians.
Risk Factors that can be controlled with life style changes are as follows:
Smoking: Cigarette smokers are at greater risk than pipe and cigar smokers. All forms of tobacco are proven to be detrimental to the hearts health.
Studies have provided good documentation that Second hand smoke is also known to be detrimental to heart health.
Physical Inactivity: Inactivity puts a person at higher risk of developing heart disease.
Overweight or Obesity: Persons that have an excess of body fat are at a higher risk than persons of normal weight.
High blood pressure: blood pressure readings higher than 140/90 increase risk of heart disease.
High Blood Cholesterol: A blood cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dl or higher puts one at risk to develop heart disease.
One must keep in mind that the fewer risk factors one has, the lesser chance of developing heart disease. Two or more risk factors indicate a good possibility that one may be pron to develop heart disease. It is clear that some of the risk factors listed can be avoided with life style changes.
A good place to began, develop a good exercise routine. The hardest part of exercising is getting started. Chose an exercise that is low impact, and make sure to consult your doctor before getting started. Once you have a good exercise routine, you might be surprised how much you enjoy it? Walking is a great way to get your exercise, just 30 minutes three times a week will give good results. Naturally it would be more beneficial to walk every day.
Diet is also very important when promoting a healthy heart life style. It is very important to consult a doctor before starting any new diet. Your doctor will take all risk factors that are affecting you as an individual into consideration, considering problems such as increased cholesterol, high blood pressure, a need to lose weight. Your new diet should be personally geared to assist you with getting that healthy heart you desire.
Last of all, but not least, if you smoke, stop. Smoking is considered the worst risk factor one can have. This fact is backed by a multitude of scientific studies. Studies that give way to substantial evidence that smoking will ultimately lead to poor heart health.
Caffeinated Content
The heart is a muscle, it is as small as a fist, and its main function is to pump blood to the entire body. This blood supply is responsible for taking nourishing oxygen to cells that enable each cell to perform its bodily function. In turn the spent blood is returned with harmful carbon dioxide to be expelled via the lungs. This miraculous muscle is literary what keeps us alive and breathing.
The healthy adult body contains about 2 gallons (5 liters) of blood. This blood supply is constantly circulated through the body, via heart, arteries to capillaries to the veins. One entire cycle takes about 60 seconds.
If any part of the circulatory system suffers due to disease, the heart will ultimately be put under greater stress and in time become damaged, and unable to do its job. If the heart is unable to function properly the body will become vulnerable to a variety of health problems.
There are several risk factors that can increase ones chances of developing coronary heart disease. Many of these risk factors can be treated or controlled, some factors are uncontrollable. It is every important to become well acquainted with the risk factors of heart disease. One of the best ways to prevent coronary heart disease is to decrease ones controllable risk factors through life style changes.
There are uncontrollable risk factors that are unavoidable, and out of ones control.
Age: Risk of heart disease increases over the age of 45 in males, over 55 in females.
Family History: Children of parents that developed heart disease before the age of 55 have a higher risk of developing heart disease.
Racial and ethnic background: Mexican Americans, African Americans, American Indians, all have greater risk of developing heart disease than Caucasians.
Risk Factors that can be controlled with life style changes are as follows:
Smoking: Cigarette smokers are at greater risk than pipe and cigar smokers. All forms of tobacco are proven to be detrimental to the hearts health.
Studies have provided good documentation that Second hand smoke is also known to be detrimental to heart health.
Physical Inactivity: Inactivity puts a person at higher risk of developing heart disease.
Overweight or Obesity: Persons that have an excess of body fat are at a higher risk than persons of normal weight.
High blood pressure: blood pressure readings higher than 140/90 increase risk of heart disease.
High Blood Cholesterol: A blood cholesterol levels of 200 mg/dl or higher puts one at risk to develop heart disease.
One must keep in mind that the fewer risk factors one has, the lesser chance of developing heart disease. Two or more risk factors indicate a good possibility that one may be pron to develop heart disease. It is clear that some of the risk factors listed can be avoided with life style changes.
A good place to began, develop a good exercise routine. The hardest part of exercising is getting started. Chose an exercise that is low impact, and make sure to consult your doctor before getting started. Once you have a good exercise routine, you might be surprised how much you enjoy it? Walking is a great way to get your exercise, just 30 minutes three times a week will give good results. Naturally it would be more beneficial to walk every day.
Diet is also very important when promoting a healthy heart life style. It is very important to consult a doctor before starting any new diet. Your doctor will take all risk factors that are affecting you as an individual into consideration, considering problems such as increased cholesterol, high blood pressure, a need to lose weight. Your new diet should be personally geared to assist you with getting that healthy heart you desire.
Last of all, but not least, if you smoke, stop. Smoking is considered the worst risk factor one can have. This fact is backed by a multitude of scientific studies. Studies that give way to substantial evidence that smoking will ultimately lead to poor heart health.
Caffeinated Content
Heart Health Information Everyone Should Know
Steven A Johnson asked:
Your heart is located in the middle of your chest just slightly to the left. It’s about the size of your fist and it sends blood to every part of your body like a pump. The right side of your heart receives the blood and pumps it to the lungs and the left side receives the blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body. The heart beats by filling the heart with blood and then contracting to move the blood along.
There are four main chambers in the heart. The atria are the two chambers on top. They are the ones that fill with blood the returns from the lungs and body. The ventricles are the chambers and the bottom. These chambers pump the blood out into the body and lungs. The septum is a wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart. There is also one valve in each of the chambers; they are called the mitral, tricuspid, aortic, and pulmonary valves. They let the blood flow from the atria to the ventricles by closing one valve and then opening another. The blood that your heart pumps moves through your arteries and veins. These blood vessels are attached to your heart. Arteries carry blood away from the heart and the veins bring it back.
There is few easy things you can do to keep your heart healthy. Exercising helps keep your heart healthy. Try to get at least 30 minutes a day or an hour is even better. Five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and avoid sugary and fatty foods. Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels so quit if you are a smoker. Eating less salt will lower blood pressure levels, so don’t add it to your foods and cook less with it. Watch your weight, try to stay at a weight the is proper for your age and height. Relax, stress can but pressure on your heart. And lastly, get a yearly check up.
Keeping your heart healthy can prevent risks of getting heart disease. heart disease is the number one problem for men and women in the states. Heart disease is also called cardiovascular disease. the disease has a number of problems that go with it like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chest pain, heart attacks, strokes, and hardening of the arteries.
Many people don’t even realize that they have heart disease until they experience chest pains, stroke, or heart attack. A person who has heart disease might have to take medicine or go in to surgery. There is some supplements that can be taken that can help to prevent heart problems. Alternative Health Supplements offers some all natural supplements that can support and maintain a healthy heart as well as promote good blood vessel health and function. Some doctors can prescribe medications too; they might recommend taking a blood thinner.
Some of the surgery involved in heart disease, angioplasty is done to help blocked vessels by using a balloon like tool in the artery. Atherectomy cuts plaque out of an artery so the blood can flow easier. Pacemakers are a device that is put in the body to keep the heart beat regular. Valve replacement is done if there is a valve that is damaged. And Bypass surgery takes a part of the artery from another part of the body and uses it to direct blood around a blocked area. These surgeries can prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Caffeinated Content for WordPress
Your heart is located in the middle of your chest just slightly to the left. It’s about the size of your fist and it sends blood to every part of your body like a pump. The right side of your heart receives the blood and pumps it to the lungs and the left side receives the blood from the lungs and pumps it to the body. The heart beats by filling the heart with blood and then contracting to move the blood along.
There are four main chambers in the heart. The atria are the two chambers on top. They are the ones that fill with blood the returns from the lungs and body. The ventricles are the chambers and the bottom. These chambers pump the blood out into the body and lungs. The septum is a wall that separates the left and right sides of the heart. There is also one valve in each of the chambers; they are called the mitral, tricuspid, aortic, and pulmonary valves. They let the blood flow from the atria to the ventricles by closing one valve and then opening another. The blood that your heart pumps moves through your arteries and veins. These blood vessels are attached to your heart. Arteries carry blood away from the heart and the veins bring it back.
There is few easy things you can do to keep your heart healthy. Exercising helps keep your heart healthy. Try to get at least 30 minutes a day or an hour is even better. Five servings of fruits and vegetables a day and avoid sugary and fatty foods. Smoking damages the heart and blood vessels so quit if you are a smoker. Eating less salt will lower blood pressure levels, so don’t add it to your foods and cook less with it. Watch your weight, try to stay at a weight the is proper for your age and height. Relax, stress can but pressure on your heart. And lastly, get a yearly check up.
Keeping your heart healthy can prevent risks of getting heart disease. heart disease is the number one problem for men and women in the states. Heart disease is also called cardiovascular disease. the disease has a number of problems that go with it like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, chest pain, heart attacks, strokes, and hardening of the arteries.
Many people don’t even realize that they have heart disease until they experience chest pains, stroke, or heart attack. A person who has heart disease might have to take medicine or go in to surgery. There is some supplements that can be taken that can help to prevent heart problems. Alternative Health Supplements offers some all natural supplements that can support and maintain a healthy heart as well as promote good blood vessel health and function. Some doctors can prescribe medications too; they might recommend taking a blood thinner.
Some of the surgery involved in heart disease, angioplasty is done to help blocked vessels by using a balloon like tool in the artery. Atherectomy cuts plaque out of an artery so the blood can flow easier. Pacemakers are a device that is put in the body to keep the heart beat regular. Valve replacement is done if there is a valve that is damaged. And Bypass surgery takes a part of the artery from another part of the body and uses it to direct blood around a blocked area. These surgeries can prevent heart attacks and strokes.
Caffeinated Content for WordPress