Testing It Up

A study conducted by Marianne Benn, MD, PhD, of Copenhagen University Hospital in Denmark and colleagues, linked elevated levels of non-fasting triglycerides, not cholesterol levels, to an increased risk of ischemic stroke, as shared in a feature on MedPage Today.

Stroke prevention guidelines that are currently in place give advice on managing cholesterol, but not non-fasting triglycerides.

The Danish study determined that the hazard ratio for ischemic stroke in women whose triglyceride levels were at 5 mmol/L or higher was 3.9 (95% CI 1.3 to 11.1, P for trend <0.001), when compared against women with levels below 1 mmol/L. Among men, the hazard ratio for those with high triglyceride levels was 2.3 (95% CI 1.2 to 4.3, P for trend =0.001).

According to the researchers, “Elevated nonfasting triglycerides are markers of elevated levels of cholesterol in lipoprotein remnants thought to be atherogenic in the same way as low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, by accumulation in the arterial wall.”

The Danish team conducted an analysis of data from the Copenhagen City Heart Study, in order to see whether there was a link between non-fasting triglycerides and ischemic stroke. The study’s participants consisted of 7,579 women and 6,372 men, with measurements of cholesterol and triglycerides at baseline between 1976 and 1978.

Higher levels of cholesterol, however, were not linked to an increased risk for ischemic stroke among women, based on the results of the study. An association was found among men, but only in those whose cholesterol was 9 mmol/L (HR 4.4, 95% CI 1.9 to 10.6).

One of the things that have gone hand-in-hand with modernization, at least in as far as managing health issues is concerned, is taking medication. It may not be wholly incorrect to say that there are a number of people who have made a habit of turning to pills for practically anything – and doctors who have built practices out of prescribing away. While medical breakthroughs have undisputedly saved countless lives, depending on drugs may not be the right option for everyone.

In a feature on The Huffington Post, Dr. Mark Hyman, best-selling author and founder of The UltraWellness Center, shared his two cents regarding controlling cholesterol levels, and how strong drugs are not the be-all and end-all of cholesterol management. He wrote: “Drugs don’t treat the underlying causes of chronic illness… The causes of chronic disease are rooted in what we eat, how much we move, how we face stress, how connected we are to our communities and toxic chemicals and metals in our environment.”

Dr. Hyman then shared several tips to keep cholesterol levels in check, without the aid of cholesterol-specific drugs. The first two had something to do with establishing various parameters that can be associated with cholesterol levels, starting with getting the right cholesterol tests. He also suggested checking for metabolic syndrome, by determining whether you have a fat belly, and measuring LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels, among others.

He also suggests what is actually the obvious: leading a healthy lifestyle by eating a healthy diet, exercising, and getting good quality sleep. Hyman also recommended using supplements to support healthy cholesterol particle size, and working with a doctor to determine whether it will be beneficial to use high-dose niacin or vitamin B.

The leading cause of death in American adults is heart disease, and based on the data in a report released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about half of American adults – 45% – are at risk for developing heart disease, as shared in a feature on ABC News.

Nearly half of American adults are suffering from either one, a combination of two or all three of the following chronic conditions: high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes. About 3 percent suffer from all three conditions, while 13 percent suffer from two. The report also indicates that nearly 1 in 7 adults have one or more of these conditions still undiagnosed.

Dr. Steve Nissen, Chairman of the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic, shares: “These findings are disturbing and reflect the cumulative effects of the modern American lifestyle.”

Dr. Rosemarie Hirsch, the Chief of Analysis Branch at the National Center for Health Statistics, shares that these conditions may have been brought about by dietary changes made by Americans starting about forty years ago.
So what should be done? Prevention strategies are deemed as important. Dr. Lori Mosca, Director of Preventive Cardiology at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, shares that even a 5-10 lb weight loss can lower blood pressure and improve the levels of cholesterol and blood sugar.

Americans are encouraged to be aware and have their blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels checked. It is also advisable to eat sensibly and watch the amount of food and salt that one takes in, as well as to be physically active.

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There are a number of horror stories out there about athletes abusing steroids and the health complications that can arise from steroid abuse. Indeed, steroids can be dangerous if used improperly and without the right knowledge.

There are many possible side effects associated with the wrong use of steroids. One common side effect is the natural balance of hormones in the body being inhibited. This can impair some functions of the body and can lead to breast development in men and developing masculine characteristics in women. It can also worsen problems with acne as well as cause sterility in both men and women.

Steroid abuse can also create problems with how the liver breaks down the nutrients that we ingest. It can also play havoc with our body’s cholesterol levels and accelerate hereditary balding. Other side effects associated with steroid abuse include enlarged prostate glands, stunted growth in children and problems with kidney functions.

For full version of this article, please visit “What Happens When You Use Steroids?“.

Cholesterol is an important building block of the body. The body needs it to perform certain functions. However, too much cholesterol in the body can lead to a number of serious ailments such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer and Alzheimer’s.

It is important to monitor the levels of cholesterol in your body. You can do that by watching what you eat and by using various testing methods. Common methods used for testing cholesterol levels include laser eye cholesterol testing, which is a non-invasive method that measures cholesterol by how light is scattered from the eye surface. Another method is digital cholesterol testing, which is a portable blood testing system for complete lipid profiling. And yet another popular method is thin-layer chromatography, which is used to test cholesterol in food before you eat them.

High cholesterol levels in the body can be dangerous and must be treated immediately. It is important to consult a doctor to bring down your cholesterol levels and to stay healthy.

For full version of this article, please visit “Different Cholesterol Testing Methods“.

Steroids, known for their various street names, come in several types and can have several effects on the body. The steroid types the public would be most familiar with are the female sex hormones in birth control pills, the male sex hormones in androgen-anabolic steroids, and corticosteroids in drugs used to treat diseases.

The steroids used in body building are androgen-anabolic steroids. They can be taken orally or can be injected. Their anabolic effects promote cell growth while their androgenic effects lead to the development and maintenance of masculine characteristics. However, they can also cause a number of harmful side effects such as elevated blood pressure, increase in bad cholesterol, premature baldness and liver damage.

As thus, if you want to use steroids in body building, you must make sure that you do your research first. Consult with your doctor and have your doctor monitor your steroid use so that it does not harm your health.

For full version of this article, please visit “Common Steroid Pills (Types & Side Effects & Symptoms of Use)“.

Do you know that you can buy an at home test that will enable you to keep tabs on your heart health? There are products on the market that allow you to test your cholesterol levels, something that is very important when it comes to heart health, right at home.

You can keep tabs on your cholesterol so that you do not have it running out of control. This can end up causing a problem when it comes to the heart as high cholesterol is one of the precursors to heart disease. By keeping track of your cholesterol with a home cholesterol  test, you can toss away some fears that you may have about your heart health.

You can also make sure that you are the first to know if your cholesterol rises over 200, the number that distinguishes the border between high cholesterol and normal cholesterol levels. This simple at home test can be used for a healthy heart assessment.

Higher cholesterol levels in middle age even when considered borderline elevated, have been shown to increase the chance of developing Alzheimer’s 30 years later according to a study which was published in the journal of Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. The study  considered 9,844 men and women whose glucose levels were established between 1964  and 1973 when the subjects were between 40 and 45 years of age. When reviewed between 1994 and 2007 469 had developed Alzheimer’s and 127 had contracted vascular dementia( a form of dementia caused by poor blood flow to the brain and the second most common form after Alzheimer’s).

When people with cholesterol levels beneath 200 were compared with those with levels of 240 and above it was shown that those with higher levels were 57% more likely to develop dementia 30 year later.  The results are quite terrifying when the rates of those with high or borderline cholesterol are considered, a number that is still rising and is estimated to be in the range of 100 million Americans alone.

A declaration emblazoned across the box of Cheerios – one of the America’s favorite cereals – is causing a lot of buzz. The familiar yellow box says that it can lower cholesterol by 4% in 6 weeks – and according to a feature by Denise Dador at ABC7 people are actually choosing to buy using this claim as a deciding factor.

Enter the Food and Drug Administration. Apparently, making such a claim is a violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act, and they sent a letter to Cheerios manufacturer General Mills to that effect. It is saying that the claim is improperly marketing the cereal as a drug. The feature also said that the FDA is curious about the way the cereal’s cholesterol-lowing information is presented by the company on both the product’s packaging and on their website; General Mills is looking forward to a discussion with the FDA. The company said further that their soluble fiber health claim has been approved by the FDA for 12 years.

Samantha Heller of Health Magazine was quoted as saying that whole grains assist in lowering cholesterol due to its high fiber content, and that it contains vitamins, minerals, proteins and anti-oxidants. Obviously, at least to me, it is because of this property that the ad is on that box of Cheerios in the supermarket.

The move has caused a flurry of reactions from Obama administration critics, and honestly, I cannot see what the fuss is about. When you come to think of it, regardless of the kind of advertising that would be used by Cheerios, I would not think that anyone will think that a box of cereal is a cholesterol-lowering drug. Common sense will tell us that if we lead healthy lifestyles and try to eat food that’s good for us, we effectively either prevent the onset of diseases or lower our risk for developing them.

So, why the fuss really?

Including blueberries in your diet may be a good way to reduce the occurrence of risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Factors such as the accumulation of belly fat, high cholesterol and high blood sugar can be reduced with the inclusion of blueberries in the diet, regardless of the kind of diet a person has. This was reported during the Experimental Biology conference in New Orleans last Sunday.

Darkly-pigmented fruits and vegetables, such as blueberries, are rich in anthocyanins, naturally occurring phythochemicals. It is to this fact that scientists attribute the blueberry’s health benefits. E. Mitchell Seymour, a research scientist with the University of Michigan, revealed to Reuters that a long-term study conducted on Women’s Health showed that women who had high-anthocyanin diets showed a reduced risk for developing heart disease.

The study seems to work along this premise — that since anthocyanin in the diet contributes significantly to the reduction of risk for heart disease, then, by extension, the anthocyanin-rich blueberry will be able to do the same.

Seymour and his team conducted a study using overweight rats. Some of them were fed freeze-dried blueberry powder as part of a low-fat diet while another group was also fed blueberry powder, but this time, as part of a high-fat diet. There were also rats that were not given blueberry powder at all.

After ninety days, it was observed that rats that were given blueberry powder had less abdominal fat as well as lower levels of cholesterol and triglycerides when compared with those who were not given blueberry powder. The rats fed with blueberries also showed improvements in blood sugar level as well as in how their bodies used insulin, both of which can help prevent diabetes.

While it was observed that the benefits of blueberries are more significant when it is made part of a low-fat diet, the same effects were seen in the rats that were given blueberries as part of a high-fat diet. The benefits, however, were not as pronounced in the latter.

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