US Life Post » Heart Disease

Looking for High Cholesterol Natural Remedies? Here Are 3 to Get You Started

Joe Dungait — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 09:09:33 +0000

With a growing number of people looking to take care of their health through natural methods these days, then it stands to reason there is a growing demand for high cholesterol natural remedies. This is probably due in no small part to the fact that statin drugs that have been traditionally used to treat cholesterol levels have so many side effects which are bad for you, means that many people will ultimately want to use a safe alternative. Of course there are different forms of high cholesterol natural remedies, however here are three that can give you a head start in controlling your cholesterol levels.

1.Garlic – Garlic is known to have many wonderful health properties and balancing cholesterol levels is one of them. Garlic actually contains something known as allicin, and it is this property that actually helps to keep cholesterol levels under control. A lot of people might shy away from eating garlic because of the fact that it can leave quite a strong smell on your breath, however you can actually get garlic in the form of supplements which overcomes this problem.

2.Artichoke – Artichoke leaves contain a substance called cynarin. This substance has been proven to be beneficial in helping to reduce cholesterol levels. During the 1970s clinical research was carried out on the substance and a test was performed on 143 patients that had high cholesterol. The subjects were given artichoke leaf extract daily for six weeks, and at the end of that period it was discovered that their total cholesterol levels had dropped by 10 – 15%. Just like garlic, artichoke leaf extract is available as a supplement.

3.Naturally Blended Supplements– Although the two supplements that we have already covered are potent and can help to balance cholesterol levels, there are what is known as naturally blended supplements which contain a variety of ingredients that are even more potent in the way that they not only reduce the bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol, but also help your body to excrete any excess cholesterol that remains. The key ingredients to check for in these kinds supplements include but are not limited to policosanol, theaflavins and phytosterols. Policosanol in particular is very effective and has been clinically proven to be as good at reducing bad cholesterol levels as statins but without the nasty side effects.

Hopefully you will find that one of those three high cholesterol natural remedies will be the one that works for you. And, in an ideal world one of them will do the trick for you because ultimately they present a better scenario for long-term health than having to go on a lifetime prescription of statin drugs; even more so when you consider some of the side effects of them can be health conditions such as heart failure, cancer and they are even linked with Alzheimer’s disease.

If you would like todiscover more about high cholesterol natural remedies, and more about a cholesterol controlling supplement that actually works, then please visit my website where I cover this in detail. You can find the site at http://www.clobbercholesterol.com

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Heart Disease is Killing Women – Facts You Should Know

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:38:03 +0000

Heart disease is the number 1 killer of women in the United States today. 1 out of 4 women will die each year in the U.S. from heart disease. It is estimated that one half of women who have heart disease or die from a heart attack do not know that they have a heart problem. Even now, with more studies coming out about women and heart disease women are not acknowledging that there is such a risk to them. Many still think that breast cancer is a bigger risk but it is not.

Misconceptions about women and heart disease include;

1. Women don’t really get heart disease.
2. When women have symptoms, the symptoms are the same as men.

The symptoms can be very different and not as severe, such as the crushing chest pain like their male counterparts. Some of the symptoms can include shortness of breath, a feeling of dread or anxiety, not sleeping well at night or having repeated episodes of indigestion. Many times the women will be treated with anti-anxiety medications and the true diagnosis of heart disease will be missed.

Women present to the hospital with the same symptoms of men less than 50% of the time. More often mental stress is the culprit, not linked to any immediate physical activity as with men. Blood vessels are smaller and the build-up of plaque is sometimes missed on heart tests because of the small nature of it. Women are twice as likely to die in the year following a major heart attack then men.

Listed below are the risk factors for heart disease, there are the uncontrollable factors and controllable factors. The risk factors that are uncontrollable are;

1. Family history of heart disease or stroke
2. Increasing age
3. Post-menopausal or having had your ovaries removed

The risk factors that are controllable are;

1. Smoking
2. High blood pressure
3. Increased total cholesterol level or decreased HDL (your good cholesterol)
4. Diabetes
5. Increased CRP (this value could reflect blood vessel inflammation)
6. Use of birth control pills (especially if combined with smoking)
7. Obesity
8. Sedentary lifestyle

In addition, the last factor is more prevalent for women because in general they tend to be the caretakers and typically do not take enough time to exercise and take care of themselves or feel guilty when they do.

Many women, who have been diagnosed with heart disease, relate that each woman needs to be her own advocate and to trust your instincts. If you think something is just not right about how you are feeling pursue it until you get some answers.

Reflecting on the above information, the next step is to look at ways to keep our hearts healthy and to understand heart disease as well as knowing what can cause our hearts to have problems.

Some heart health tips include;

1. If possible know your family history. This is important for overall health.

2. Stay active. Some type of cardio exercise is a necessity. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day 3 days a week. If you cannot perform cardio because of joint problems, swimming is an excellent form of exercise. Make sure you also include some resistance training, lifting weights and isolated muscle exercising 3 days a week. You could do these on the off cardio days. Remember that the goal is to keep fit. Anything is better than nothing.

3. Follow a good nutritional plan. Most people should cut their portions in ½. Eat foods that are high in anti-oxidants, lower in hydrogenated fats, enough protein and the good carbohydrates such as vegetables, fruits and whole grains.

4. Maintain your blood pressure within a normal range. On average it should not be higher than 130/90 but each person is different and some people may have higher numbers than 130. But the idea is that it be checked regularly and your doctor should be seen if it is high or uncontrolled.

5. Understand your cholesterol and get blood work at least once a year. As a guideline these are levels that are acceptable;

6. Treat yourself well. Think positive, don’t dwell on the negative in life and be able to ventilate feelings of anger, frustration or other negative emotions through meditation, bio-feedback, yoga or simply talking to someone.

7. Try to sleep on the average 7 hours/night.

8. Do not smoke. If you are smoking, stop.

9. Suggested supplements could include;

Vitamin B
Vitamin C
Beta Carotene
Selenium

All of the above are anti-oxidants and could keep the lining of your arteries healthy and more flexible.

Other therapies to consider:

- Niacin which stops your body from producing excess amounts of cholesterol.

- B6, B12 and folic acid which could control the build-up of homocysteine levels which could be as significant as elevated cholesterol.

- Fish twice weekly for the omega 3 fatty acids which reduce the formation of blood clots and decrease triglycerides. If you are concerned about mercury poisoning or don’t like fish, there are good fish oil capsules on the market that are not fish tasting or odorous.

- Phytosterols (plant sterols) which block cholesterol from getting into the bloodstream.

So ladies, practice good eating habits, exercise and listen to your heart.

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Heart Disease in Children – A New Gene Discovered

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:38:02 +0000

Heart disease is serious and affects children, as a percentage of born on 2500, is due to a severe cardiac malformation: The Noonan syndrome which leads, inexorably, to hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, because very often death.

The solution to this serious problem, which seriously attentive to the health of children, appears on the horizon and is represented by a gene isolated in Italy by Istituto Superiore di Sanità captaincy from Mark Tartaglia in collaboration with researchers from the Mount of Bruce Gelb Sinai School of Medicine in New York and published in the August issue of Nature Genetics.

The gene responsible for the disease is called RAF 1 and its identification will allow to catalog the patients most at risk, and this will also suggest, in a short time, any medications that can actually speak on the condition. The research was funded with the support of Telethon from a project that also saw the collaboration of the United States.

Although they speak little, the Noonan syndrome, is second only to Down’s syndrome, for being associated with cardiovascular disease and has certain features that allow physicians to locate it with ease. In fact, children suffering from this disorder have characteristic features such as short stature and alteration of the shapes of eyes, ears, nose, mouth and neck, not always on dimorfismi are all together.

The study, recently carried out, compared with similar scientific work of the past, has the characteristic of continuing the path made by scientists over 5 years ago, when studying the Noonan syndrome, had isolated the first gene, which was followed by two other genes further, reaching the identification, which would seem to act in the most complete, with the discovery of the gene Raf 1st

Since this gene appears to affect development and cell differentiation in the subject concerned, the greatest damage would occur at the level of the heart muscle that will fall ill to the point of interference on normal activities of the body that would increase the thickness dramatically affect up to of all its functions. There are also less aggressive forms of Noonan’s syndrome and are those for which it is provided drug therapy, while in more severe cases, the only way forward now is a heart transplant.

The discovery of this new gene will allow for the research to the study of drugs to cope with the disease even in the most serious as the teacher refers Marco Tartaglia, “I heart defects are the leading cause of death in early childhood. 4 So far we have identified genes involved in Noonan syndrome, but for 35 percent of patients the origin of the disease remains unanswered. The next steps will be designed to identify these disease genes, the molecular understanding of the causes and development of new therapies. We have in the yard lines of research very promising, but some are still awaiting funding.”

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Your Heart – Managing Your Mouth Helps Manage Your Heart

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:38:02 +0000

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) claims the life of one American every 37 seconds according to the American Heart Association’s 2009 Heart and Stroke Statistical Update. CVD includes an assortment of diseases that are often used (or misused) in reference to the general term “heart disease”. Among those are Atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries caused by Arteriosclerosis, calcium deposits, and/or Atherosclerosis fat deposits), Heart Attack (sudden death of part of the heart), Stroke (damage to part of the brain caused by lack of blood oxygen or leakage of blood outside the vessel walls), Arrhythmia (abnormal rhythm or rate of heart beat), Angina (heavy, tight squeezing pain in the chest), Hypertension (high blood pressure), Congestive Heart Failure (weak heart pumping action causing a buildup of fluid lungs and other body tissues).

There are risk factors for CVD that one can’t control. These include age, gender, and family history. Roughly 80% of the people who die of heart disease are 65 and older, but it is the leading cause of death for all Americans over the age of 35. And those with a parent with heart disease are at a higher risk of developing the disease themselves. There are risk factors, however, that everyone can control and of which we have heard about for many years – stop smoking, eat more fruits and vegetables, eat less fat, exercise, limit alcohol. Some of these lifestyle changes may feel painful and best efforts can be sabotaged by setbacks. One risk factor, that is linked to increase chances of Cardiovascular Diseases, and has just become more evident in the research findings, is Periodontal Disease.

This information is not currently widespread due to the relative newness of the research. There has been growing evidence, although up until recently, inconclusive, that a strong link was present. Now, according to the American Academy of Periodontology, “Researchers have found that people with periodontal disease are almost twice as likely to suffer from coronary artery disease as those without periodontal disease.” (http://www.perio.org/consumer/mbc.heart.htm) The researched explanation can get very technical and often only understandable to a professional in the medical field. However, an attempt will be made to simplify and summarize the information in order to provide an understanding of the cause and effect relationship between Periodontal Disease and Cardiovascular Disease. Periodontal Disease is a bacterial infection of the gums.

This infection causes two things to happen. One, the inflammation increases the levels of C-Reactive Protein (CRP) in the body. CRP is released by the body in response to an injury or infection. A 2002 study published by The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that increased levels of CRP are strong predictors of Cardiovascular Diseases. Second, studies published in the Journal of Periodontology have pointed to the likelihood that bacterial infections promote plaque in arteries. Over time, arteries are hardened and narrowed leading to the increased risk of heart attack. Periodontal Disease is a chronic infection of the soft tissue around the teeth. Periodontal Disease is one risk factor that can be managed successfully by individuals. Although oral surgical procedures may be necessary for severe cases, most treatment plans require sound oral hygiene. The American Dental Association recommends brushing teeth twice a day, flossing once a day, and professional cleanings twice a year.

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Aspirin May Be Helpful For Peripheral Artery Disease – More Research Needed

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:38:01 +0000

Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease, is a well known term. Most people are aware of the risks associated with heart disease, as well as stroke. But, very few are familiar with peripheral artery disease (PAD). When atherosclerosis affects the arteries in the lower extremities, it is termed peripheral artery disease. Atherosclerosis is known to most as the development plaque on the inside of the artery walls. Atherosclerosis is actually a complex inflammatory process involving the smooth muscle within the artery walls, calcium deposits and build up of lipids such as cholesterol and triglycerides. Atherosclerosis can affect the arteries in the brain, the heart or the legs and the result is decreased blood flow to the affected area.

In it’s initial stages, atherosclerosis does not cause any symptoms and most people have some form of atherosclerosis, even at a young age. Once the plaques within the arteries build, the arteries narrow and the blood flow is restricted. Blood brings oxygen and important nutrients to cells throughout the body and when blood flow is restricted, the cells are starved for oxygen and nutrients. As atherosclerosis progresses, the artery walls become injured and the body responds with both inflammation and clotting. This combination further narrows the artery walls and may cause plaques to break off and travel downstream. The plaques lodge in smaller vessels and completely block flow to an area. This can result in a stroke, a heart attack or gangrene, depending on the area or blockage.

Reduced blood flow in the lower extremities is seen in diabetics and individuals who smoke. Smoking accounts for almost 75% of all cases of peripheral artery disease. Without adequate blood flow to the feet, small cuts and scrapes become extremely difficult to heal. Individuals with PAD are more susceptible to infection because the body’s immune response is delayed. As the arteries thicken and become calcified, the immune cells and other nutrients have difficulty crossing the artery walls to the surrounding tissues. Individuals with peripheral artery disease are at risk for ulcers, infections, gangrene and amputation.

Very little research has been done on peripheral artery disease. A recent meta-analysis identified only 18 trials which included 5269 participants with peripheral artery disease. The researchers found that 8.9% of the 2823 patients taking aspirin had cardiovascular events (these included heart attacks, both fatal and non fatal as well as nonfatal strokes) compared to 11% of the 2446 participants in the control group. Aspirin therapy was associated with a reduction the number of nonfatal strokes, but there was no association between aspirin and reductions in deaths associated with cardiovascular events. Although aspirin was associated with a reduction in nonfatal cardiovascular events and nonfatal stroke, the reduction was not significant. There was no evidence of an increased risk of bleeding with aspirin.

The authors of this study concluded that patients with peripheral artery disease treated with aspirin had a decrease in cardiovascular events and nonfatal stroke, but the reduction was not statistically significant for cardiovascular events. Additional studies of aspirin therapy in peripheral artery disease are needed to further establish the benefits and risks.

Berger JS et al. Aspirin for the Prevention of Cardiovascular Events in Patients With Peripheral Artery Disease. A Meta-analysis of Randomized Trials. JAMA. 2009;301(18):1909-1919.

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Statins – Just a Few Questions

admin — Sat, 16 May 2009 06:38:01 +0000

Statins are drugs designed to bring down cholesterol. Recently, it was found that one cholesterol lowering drug may actually contribute to plaque formation. Merck and Schering said that not only did Zetia fail to slow the accumulation of fatty plaque in the arteries, it actually seemed to contribute to plaque formation. Research on pravastatin appearing in the Journal of the American Medical Association (December 18, 2002;288:1998-3007,3042-3044) shows that the drug does indeed lower cholesterol, but does not reduce the risk of death or heart disease in those with moderately high cholesterol and high blood pressure.

While that is bad enough, especially considering the fact that the manufacturers delayed releasing this information, there may be worse news when it comes to cholesterol lowering drugs. Statin drugs not only block the formation of cholesterol, they block the formation of other substances as well. One thing that is inhibited by them is the formation of CoQ10.

CoQ10 is an extremely important substance to the body. A study published in the journal Diabetes Wellness (May 2005;11(5):4) showed that giving coenzyme Q 10 to patients who take statins reduces muscle pain. Subjects received either 400 IU of vitamin E or 100 mg. of coenzyme Q 10. Eighteen of the 21 subjects receiving the coenzyme Q 10 (90%) experienced pain relief; this compared to three patients out of 20 in the vitamin E group. Co Q 10 levels decrease after taking a statin drug. In the June, 2000 issue of Archives of Neurology a study was published that showed a reduction in coenzyme Q 10 levels after the subjects took 80 mg. of a statin drug. The mean blood level of Co Q 10 in the 34 participating subjects went from 1.2 mcg/ml to .62 mcg/ml.

Patients who experience muscle soreness on these drugs are advised to discontinue-they may be experiencing rhabdomyolysis, which is a breakdown of the muscles. The heart is mostly muscle and has high contents of CoQ10. One five-year study, involving 126 patients showed improvement in congestive heart failure patients-without any adverse effects. Another study showed that coenzyme Q-10 supplementation improved blood pressure, reduced left ventricular hypertrophy and improved exercise capacity in heart patients.

An article appearing in The Lancet (1998;352(Suppl. 1):39-41) notes that the incidence of heart failure has dramatically increased in the last three or four decades. The prevalence of heart failure has increased by 70% between 1990 and 2000. Since statins adversely affect muscle and deplete CoQ10, it can make you wonder if there is a connection between statin use and heart failure.

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Muscle Up Ubiquitous Heart Energy

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 15:36:59 +0000

Heart disease and stroke are the number one and number three killers of Americans. Forty-five percent of all deaths in the United States are due to these “silent killers.” Heart disease and stroke also lead to pre-mature death. The main culprit is atherosclerosis, which is a hardening of the artery walls.?It has been proven that in most cases atherosclerosis is a disease of diet and lifestyle.

We will review natural treatments, lifestyle recommendations, spiritual views and modalities, and finally exercise. These are basic recommendations, however if you have any concerns you should check with your doctor first.

Natural Treatments are:

??*** Garlic,

? ?** Chromium,

? ?** B12, folic acid, B6,

? ?** Vitamin C in higher doses,

? ?** Grape Seed Extract,

? ?** Vitamin E,

? ?** Flaxseed Oil.

?ifestyle Recommendations are:

? ?** Do not smoke,

? ?** Consume less saturated fat and cholesterol,

? ?** Drink plenty of water,

? ?** Consume vegetables, grains, fruits, legumes, raw nuts and seeds,

? ?** Get regular exercise including aerobics,

? ?** Exercise your attitude to relieve anxiety.

Spiritual Views:

The heart brings about the action that will signal the body/mind to heal in a chain reaction. You need the willpower to believe something with your heart and take responsibility for it. If you have knowledge of energy anatomy you know that according to Eastern understanding from the top of our heads and down, there are seven distinct kinds of energies.

These energies are known as “chakras” and they are extremely essential to our spiritual and physical development. Since we are talking about the heart we will concentrate on the fourth chakra. The heart of course is the center of the human body, and it is the stimulus of all emotions–hatred,love, envy, kindness, jealousy, anger. etc. Heart energy is very powerful because it has the ability to destroy or create. We need heart energy to heal our cell tissue. Therefore in order to heal we really need to put our hearts into it. Rabbi Scnhuer Zalman said “A broken heart is not the same as sadness. Sadness occurs when the heart is stone-cold and lifeless. On the contrary, there is an unbelievable amount of vitality in a broken heart.”

If we allow ourselves to be guided by our heart we will come alive in the moment, with an on rush of love, compassion, kindness, and dignity for ourselves and others. If we tune into the voice inside our heart, healing will become a spiritual journey.

Exercise “heart savers“:

The most positive effect of exercise is to the heart core muscle and the blood vessels. The more active we are the less likely we are to suffer from heart disease or die of a heart attack. All of our muscles make demands on the heart, however, as?body muscles strengthen they do not signal the heart to pump as hard. The heart gets the most protection if our leg muscles are strong because they are the largest and hardest working of the whole body. Because arm muscles are attached to the waist and chest they make demands on the heart too. Aerobic exercise is very important, in fact it is the one activity that helps the heart the most. Set forth on a fast walk outside and keep it up for thirty minutes.

?f you don’t like walking outside, purchase a treadmill with a flexible running deck. This will be easier on your joints. You do not have to spend a tremendous amount of money. Department stores have some sturdy brand name treadmills for a good value. Or, try a floor model. Sometimes these are sold at half price especially when new models come in. Also make sure you have a sneaker or athletic shoe with the proper support combined with the appropriate size and?weight cotton sock. Foot sense is absolutely pertinent to a comfortable walking or jogging program. So start moving and remember: “Put your heart into it.”? ?/p>

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Fat Necks May Be a Risk Factor For Heart Disease

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:24:03 +0000

When a physician assesses your risk for heart disease, weight is most certainly a consideration, and often a waist measurement will be taken. But a recent study points to fat necks being a risk factor for heart disease also.

If you have too much fat, especially in the waist area (known technically as visceral adipose tissue), you’re at higher risk for health problems like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes; not to mention heart disease and stroke.

These factors are the measurements of choice in determining the risk of heart disease.

Now, there’s a new study, just presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association that suggests using a person’s neck size may be just as accurate as waist measurement for determining heart disease risk.

Your heart health may not depend so much on how heavy you are, but rather on where the fat in your body is stored.

“It’s very interesting that neck circumference was associated with [higher measures of] heart disease risk,” said Dr. Vijay Nambi, a cardiologist at the Baylor College of Medicine, who was not involved with the research. He feels that if these results hold up after further study, then it may well change the way doctors assess your heart disease risk.

Earlier work has suggested that neck circumference could be linked with health problems like diabetes, insulin resistance or hypertension.

The team evaluated more than 3,300 men and women (average age 51) who were offspring of the original subjects who took part in the Framingham Heart Study, a decades long project of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute and Boston University.

Average neck circumferences were 40.5 cm for men; 34.2 cm for women.

As neck measurements went up, so too did risk factors for heart disease.

They suggest that those with bigger necks may be displaying a “crude measure” of upper body fat, associated with heart disease risks.

The research found that those with trim waistlines appeared at greater risk if they had larger necks.

The risk was defined as having low levels of “good” cholesterol (under 40 mg/dl for men; 50 mg/dl for women), or higher levels of blood sugar (under 100 mg/dl is okay). The “bad” cholesterol didn’t seem to be impacted by increasing neck size.

And while the larger necklines increased the risk no matter what the waistline measurement, if the neck and waist were both larger than average, the heart disease risk was compounded.

Said another way… the danger is independent of how fat your stomach is.

“What you don’t want is fat around your liver or heart, and this can happen even if you look fine on the outside,” says professor Jimmy Bell, of the MRC Clinical Sciences Centre.

Measuring the neck is a whole lot quicker and easier than the CT scan needed to measure visceral adipose tissue, the deep lying fat that surrounds your inner organs and is of such concern to doctors.

It may be that the fat in both neck and gut is of concern, and could each contribute to your risk of heart disease.

While neck measurements will likely never be used on their own, they offer some intriguing possibilities.

Remember too that in the end, it doesn’t matter where the fat is located – neck or waist – carrying more than you should is not good for your heart.

You need to take steps to reduce the demands you’re placing on this very vital organ by making healthier lifestyle choices.

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Where to Buy Cholesterol Treatments Online

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:24:03 +0000

Cholesterol is essential for the normal functioning of our body but when its levels rise in the circulation it can lead to atherosclerosis. It was the originated from the Greek word chole meaning bile and steros which means solid. In medical language high levels of cholesterol in the blood is known as Hypercholesterolemia where you can find higher levels of LDL and HDL in low amounts.

This condition has a slow onset and eats up human heart inch by inch. There are the precursors of cardiovascular diseases. If treatment is not taken in the initial stages, it can turn dangerous. Many of them do not understand the seriousness of the illness and keep on postponing the medication. Faulty food habits, improper living styles and genetic factors are the leading causes of this ailment.

Are you a victim of this illness? If yes, do not delay in treating yourself. There are many medications available in the market nowadays claiming to cure cholesterol completely. It is important to keep your diet under control along with exercises so that you can achieve the best results. Cholestasys is a natural product which is useful for treating cholesterol effectively. It is an antioxidant and nutritional in nature. Along with controlling the blood cholesterol levels, it increases your energy levels and helps in leading a healthy and active life. It is a natural blend of herbs and completely risk free.

There are many other products like cordyceps capsules; Black sesame seed extract pills and Jiaogulan Tea available in the market. All these products could not give the desired effect to the public like Cholestasys. They key ingredients like cayenne, niacin, garlic, plant sterol complex, guggul and policosanol makes cholestasys special and different. Each of these herbs has great effect on blood and its components. Cholestasys is the best product if you want to treat your illness safely and effectively.

You can purchase this product without a prescription. It is easy and simple to consume and available in the form of capsules. There are many sites like micronutra.com, cljhealth.com, and cholestasys.biz which will help you in purchasing Cholestasys. Shop online for your product and treat your illness from its root.

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A Closer Look at High Cholesterol Treatments

A Third of Americans Have High Triglyceride Levels

admin — Thu, 14 May 2009 08:24:01 +0000

So what are triglycerides and does it matter if you have high triglyceride levels?

Beyond keeping track of your blood pressure and cholesterol, there’s another number to you need to know – triglycerides.

These fatty particles in your blood are very important to your heart health, but they don’t get all the attention cholesterol does.

Yet about one third of American adults have triglyceride levels that are considered either borderline or too high, according to a report by the Centers for Disease Control that’s just been published in the Archives of Internal Medicine.

If you’ve had your cholesterol tested, you were probably told that triglycerides at levels of 150 – 199 milligrams per deciliter are borderline high; over 200 milligrams per deciliter are too high.

Note: Cholesterol levels are measured in milligrams (mg) of cholesterol per deciliter (dL) of blood in the U.S. and some other countries, while Canada and most of Europe measures cholesterol in millimoles per liter of blood.

Very high triglyceride levels can cause inflammation of the pancreas.

Men are more likely than women, and Caucasians at greater risk than African Americans or Mexican Americans to have high triglycerides.

If you have other risk factors for heart disease you need to take your risks seriously and do something about them.

This is especially true if your waist measurement is over 40 inches (101.6 centimeters) if you’re a man, more than 35 inches (88.9 centimeters) if you’re a woman – this body shape makes you more likely to develop heart disease.

If you’re too heavy, too inactive, drink too much or eating lots of saturated fat you likely have higher triglyceride levels. It seems that the body stores extra calories as triglycerides and keeps them stored in your fat cells.

Hormones then release the triglycerides to give you energy between meals. Of course if you’re eating more calories than you burn, like so many of us do, you’ll probably have high triglycerides (known technically as hypertriglyceridemia).

Cholesterol testing involves a simple blood test, known as a lipid panel, or lipid profile to check your cholesterol levels – the total number, as well as LDL and HDL cholesterol and these often sadly overlooked triglyceride levels.

The best way to fight back against high triglycerides is to lose the extra weight – which only comes from eating right and being more active.

Swapping healthy fats for unhealthy ones, especially if your triglycerides are between 155 and 500 milligrams per deciliter is a smart move.

You’ll also want to eat more soluble fiber found in foods like oatmeal, beans, fruits and veggies.

Only when lifestyle changes aren’t enough, prescription medications like statins, fibrates, niacin and fish oil that may also be helpful – discuss these options with your doctor.

You should know that high cholesterol has no symptoms, but genetics (close family members with high cholesterol or heart disease) might make you more prone to having it, even if you do everything right when it comes to diet and exercise.

If this is you, you want to get a baseline cholesterol test by age 20 (or as early as you can), and follow-ups every five years afterward.

Catching the problem early gives you the best chance to treat conditions right off the bat and retain your health.

Dr. Barge Nordestgaard of the University of Copenhagen in Denmark, who’s done research linking high triglycerides to cardiovascular disease but wasn’t involved in the CDC studies, believes that high triglyceride levels are as dangerous as high cholesterol to your heart health.

If your number is higher than it should be, now is the time to make the changes to bring high triglyceride levels down.