According to the American Medical Association journals, heart failure affects nearly 5 million Americans each year, with more than 300,000 people dying of this fatal disease. While the statistics may sound grim, there are many ways to educate yourself and simple lifestyle modifications can be made that will prevent you from becoming one of them.
How do you know if you are at risk for heart failure? Smoking, eating diets high in fatty foods or cholesterol-rich foods and not exercising enough are lifestyle causes that may contribute to heart disease. You have probably heard that genetics can play a part as well, but health experts stress the importance of minimizing risk through smart lifestyle choices. If you're not sure what you should be eating, then a simple trip to the dietician or logging onto a website like sparkspeople.com can help get you on track, alerting you to problems in your existing diet. It helps to have a motivational exercise buddy too, so find one and get to the gym or take daily walks around the block just to keep yourself in tip-top shape. Staying healthy doesn't have to be a hassle or a compromise.
To check if you may have heart health problems, your general practitioner can run several tests to be sure. Many people avoid getting tested in advance because they fear invasive pokes and prods, but most of these screening tests are very non-invasive. For instance, one test, which is a "stress test," has you walking on a treadmill for a specific interval of time through several intensity levels, while an IV-injected tracer moves through the blood, indicating possible obstructions or strain. Another test, the EKG, simply monitors your heart rhythms through electrical wires with adhesive ends stuck to your chest, arms and legs. An "Echocardiogram" is simply an ultrasound image taken of your chest, which is as painless as a photograph. Most people are familiar with the usual hypertension/blood pressure test done with a cuff around your bicep. The most invasive test, which is recommended for people with a genetic predisposition, is the "Catheriterization," which is a small tube inserted into the artery, which may open an obstruction or insert dye to see where the problem spots are.
If you've been diagnosed with heart failure, then you'll need to adjust your diet considerably. An overwhelming amount of evidence suggests the importance of Omega-3 fatty acids, which are found in fish oil supplements. Dr. James O'Keefe of the Mid America Heart Institute in Kansas recommends at least 1 gram of fish oil per day and as much as 4 grams for people with high triglyceride levels. "Research shows that this dosage lowers triglyceride levels by 20 to 50 percent," he explains. In addition, you'll be trading in eggs for oatmeal, red meat for fish and hummus instead of chip dip.
As we get older there are critical numbers that start to weigh to a great extent upon us. We have to worry about our weight, levels of cholesterol, as well as our blood pressure. Things we may have ignored our entire lives now all of a sudden they have significant importance. However these are things that should never have been ignored. A lifetime of mistreatment on the body renders merely unfavourable things when left unchecked.
Your cholesterol level is without question all-important if you wish to stay in good health and your body functioning the right way. High levels can lead to heart attacks as well as stroke, both things you do not want to have to contend with. Being mindful about your cholesterol level is not simply for the aging. It is something both younger people and older people must be concerned with as well as be aware of if they want to conduct a healthy life. In this article we will go over the basics of cholesterol and hopefully you will realize just how important a healthy level is to your body as well as peace of mind.
What is bad cholesterol?
LDL cholesterol is bad. All cholesterol is carried by lipoproteins but the low-density lipoproteins moves in the blood stream and allows the cholesterol to begin to accumulate. If there is too much LDL then the cholesterol begins building up on the walls of the arteries. It begins to form plaque which makes the arteries hard and not as flexible. When clots form and block the artery a heart attack or stroke can occur.
What types of medicines are given for high cholesterol?
Obviously the first choice of physicians is exercise and a healthy diet low in trans fats. But when that does not work or there is a high level of LDL present then medications must be brought in to help. There are many different types of medicines currently being used to treat high cholesterol. The goal of each type of medicine is to lower the amount of LDL present in the blood stream and to help remove blockage and build up that has occurred. Some of these medicines are statins, bile acid resins, and nicotinic acid and fibric acid derivatives.
In what way is the obstruction from the arteries withdrawn?
The first stage is through medicines but if there is a measurable narrowing or obstruction in the artery or blood vessel then a slightly more invasive operation is essential. The actual processes might vary but one frequent method is done through the use of a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is entered into the artery and then naviagted to the closure where the build up of plaque has taken place. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the procedure is minimally invasive and most patients are able to going home on that very day.
What is the normal range for a healthy cholesterol level?
The American Heart Association has guidelines established for what is considered a healthy range of cholesterol levels. A total cholesterol level of 200 mg/dL is considered to be a desirable level since it puts you at a lower risk of having heart disease. Here is the trick though. It is not just about total cholesterol. Your HDL levels should be over 60 mg/dL and your LDL should be lower than 100 mg/dL. Mg/dL means it is measured in milligrams per deciliter of blood.
To discover more click here Cholesterol Drugs and more information at Cholesterol Guidelines in addition to Controlling High Cholesterol
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