Heart Disease- Harnessing Risks Factors
Nobody really plans for heart disease in their old age but when it happens, they usually are resigned to it because that is what happens as you age. The number one health concern for public health is heart disease and an alarming rate increase is being seen for the young to middle age population.
Plenty of health information is available. The first line of defense is education of the risk factors and then taking steps for some positive life style changes. While some insurance companies do not allow for routine lab tests to access risks, Preventative Medicine guidelines suggest that lipid tests be done annually and up to five times a year if abnormal. The cost of a lipid panel is relatively inexpensive so paying cash is not only a reasonable thing to do, it may be essential. Patients need to consider that medicine is not discretionary expense. Alternative medicine approaches the problem of heart disease with proper nutrition and a few supplements considered essential for healthy aging. The more of the following risks listed below available, the more critical it becomes for a proactive approach to health:
- Family history of early heart disease–father or brother stricken before age 45 -mother or sister stricken before age 55
- High blood pressure (above 140/90 mm Hg)
- Obesity (more than 20% above ideal weight)
- Cigarette smoking
- Male, 45 years or older
- 8. Female after menopause without estrogen replacement therapy
- Physical inactivity -10,000 t0 11,000 steps per day is suggested
THE TEN FACTORS you need to harness and keep in mind to access when dealing with heart disease are as follows:
- Low HDL plus subclasses if above risks are in play
- Excess LDL plus subclasses if at risk
- Excess Triglycerides
- Elevated CRP (C Reactive Protein)
- Excess insulin
- High Glucose/Diabetes
- Low free Testosterone
- Excess fibrinogen
- Excess Homocysteine
- Hypertension
Additional Considerations- While heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, the leading cause of disability is stroke. Homocysteine may cause more stokes than heart attacks.
Keep your blood cholesterol low by eating foods low in total fat, saturated fat, and cholesterol. . Exercise regularly (at least 3 times per week for 30 minutes each time). . Maintain a healthy weight. Quit smoking. Limit alcohol intake to no more than 2 drinks per day.
Common Terms
TC: Total cholesterolis a measure of the total amount of cholesterol in your blood at a given time. Your body needs cholesterol to function properly, but too much can clog arteries and cause a heart attack. Less than 200 mg/dL is 240 mg/dL and over increases the risk of developing heart disease.
HDL: High density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, is called “good” cholesterol because it helps to clear excess cholesterol from the arteries. The higher this number, the better. An HDL of 60 mg/dL or more is beneficial and considered a negative risk factor; an HDL of 35 mg/dL or less is considered a risk factor for heart disease. However, there are five subsets of HDL, and only two are really effective at scavenging. Fish oil and niacin has been found beneficial in altering ratios of the subsets to a more optimum level.
TC/HDL ratio, is a comparison of total cholesterol to your HDL cholesterol. The lower the ratio, the less risk yc developing heart disease. A ratio of 4.5 or less is desirable.
LDL: Low density lipoprotein is the “bad” cholesterol because it contributes to the buildup of deposits in your arteries. About 60-70% of the cholesterol in your blood is in the form of LDL. An LDL level of less than 130 mg/dL is ideal. Persons with a history of congestive heart disease should maintain an LDL level less than 100 mg/dL.
Triglycerides are composed of fatty acids and glycerol, which provide energy for the body. Small amounts of triglycerides always circulate in the blood; the amount increases for several hours following each meal. Gradually, if the body processes fat efficiently, the level of triglycerides will decrease. Fasting blood levels of triglycerides below mg/dL are considered normal; a level between 200 and 400 mg/dL is borderline-high. Levels over 400 mg/dL may have underlying physiological cause.
Suggested nutritional supplements to consider will be addressed in a future article.
Suggested Reading: “The Heart Disease Breakthrough, The 10-Step Program that Can Save Your Life” by Tomas Yannios, MD
Today’s Quotes: “Every therapeutic cure, and still more, any awkward attempt to show the patient the truth, tears him from the cradle of his freedom from responsibility and must therefore reckon with the most vehement resistance.” Alfred Adler
http://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/
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Tags: Add new tag, HEALTH INFORMATION, HEART ATTACK PREVENTION, HEART DISEASE, HEART RISKS
