INTRODUCTION: Cholesterol is a lipid (A greasy organic compound that is not soluble in water.) found in the cell membranes of all tissues, and is carried in the blood plasma of all animals. It is also considered a sterol (a combination steroid and alcohol) and is more abundant in tissues which either synthesize more of it or have more abundant densely-packed membranes, for example, the liver, spinal cord and brain and is NOT soluble in blood, but is transported in the circulatory system bound to one of the varieties of lipoproteins. Cholesterol is needed in the membranes of mammalian cells for normal cell function, and is either synthesized or derived from the diet, in which case it is carried by the bloodstream in low-density lipoproteins.

It is minimally soluble in water; it cannot dissolve and travel in the water-based bloodstream. It is primarily found in animal fats: all food containing animal fats contains cholesterol; food that does not contain animal fats either contains none or negligible amounts. It’s a waxy, fat-like substance that can build up on the walls of your arteries (blood vessels that transport blood from the heart to other areas of the body) and plays an essential part in the formation of cell membranes, some hormones, and vitamin D.

DISEASE: Large amounts of low density particles (LDL) are strongly associated with the presence of arterial disease within the arteries. By contrast, having small amounts of large particles (HDL) has been independently associated with arterial disease progression within the arteries. In other words too much LDL or too little HDL is associated with arterial disease. This disease process can develop into myocardial infarction (heart attack), stroke and peripheral vascular disease.

It is recommended that you have your cholesterol levels tested more frequently than 5 years if a person: has total levels of 200 mg/dL or more, is a man over age 45 or a woman over age 50, has HDL (good) cholesterol less than 40 mg/dL, or other risk factors for heart disease and stroke. A campaign is under way to teach women that heart disease isn’t just for men.

It’s estimated that 70-million americans have at least one type of heart disease. Recent results from the Women’s Health Initiative Dietary Modification Trial showed that eating a low-fat diet for 8 years DID NOT prevent heart disease, breast cancer, or colon cancer, and didn’t do a lot for weight loss, either.

What is becoming clearer and clearer is that bad fats, meaning saturated and trans fats, increase the risk for certain diseases while good fats, meaning mono-unsaturated and poly-unsaturated fats, lower the risk. In a study of over 80,000 female nurses, Harvard researchers actually found that increasing cholesterol intake by 200 mg for every 1000 calories in the diet (about an egg a day) DID NOT appreciably increase the risk for heart disease. Recent research by Harvard investigators has shown that moderate egg consumption–up to one a day–DOES NOT increase heart disease risk in healthy individuals. People with diabetes, though, should probably limit themselves to no more than two or three eggs a week, as the Nurse’s Health Study found that for such individuals, an egg a day might increase the risk for heart disease.

LEVELS: According to the lipid hypothesis, abnormally high cholesterol levels (AKA hypercholesterolemia) and abnormal proportions of LDL and HDL are associated with cardiovascular disease by promoting atheroma development in arteries (atherosclerosis). Since high LDL contributes to this process, it is termed “bad cholesterol”, while high levels of HDL (“good cholesterol”) offer a degree of protection against heart disease. Abnormally low levels are termed hypocholesterolemia. As has been said, high levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart disease and your levels tend to rise as you get older. In the 1960s and 70s, scientists established a link between high blood levels and heart disease.

Some forms of fat are clearly good for cholesterol levels and others are clearly bad for them. While it is well known that elevated blood levels are associated with an elevated risk for heart disease, scientific studies have shown that there is only a weak relationship between the amount of cholesterol a person “eats” and their blood cholesterol levels or chance for heart disease.

For some persons with high levels, decreasing the amount in the diet has a small but helpful impact on blood cholesterol levels. While it’s true that egg yolks have a lot of cholesterol–and, thus may slightly affect blood levels–eggs also contain nutrients that may help lower the chance for heart disease, including protein, vitamins B12 and D, riboflavin, and folate. Saturated fats raise total blood levels more than dietary cholesterol because they have a tendency to boost both good HDL and bad LDL. Trans fats are even worse than saturated fats because they raise bad LDL and lower good HDL.

In studies in which poly-unsaturated and mono-unsaturated fats were eaten instead of carbohydrates, these good fats decreased LDL levels and increased HDL levels. Logically, most of the influence that fat intake has on heart disease is due to its effect on blood cholesterol levels. In other words, low-fat diets seem to offer no apparent advantages over diets with fat levels near to the national average.

CONCLUSION: Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like material that is found in all cells of the body and is also found in some of the foods you consume. It is recommended by the American Heart Association to test cholesterol levels every 5 years for persons aged 20 years or older. There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have elevated blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test. You are likely to have high levels if members of your family have it, if you are overweight or if you consume a lot of fatty foods. You can lower your cholesterol by exercising more and eating more fruits and vegetables. You also may need to take medicine to lower it.

Tags: kidney and heart disease, heart disease, ischemic heart disease

INTRODUCTION: Heart disease is a number of abnormal conditions that affect the heart and its blood vessels. Also called cardiovascular disease, it primarily affects older persons and indicates that there are problems with the heart and arteries.

It has become the #1 cause of death in the USA, is a major cause of disablement, doesn’t go away, but by working with your MD, you can live longer and feel better. Types of cardiovascular disease include: Coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type and is the number one cause of heart attacks.

In 2003, almost two times as many women died of cardiovascular disease (both heart disease and stroke) than from all cancers combined. The older a woman becomes, the more likely she is to develop cardiovascular problems; however women at all ages should be concerned.

African American and Hispanic American/Latina females are more prone to get heart disease because they tend to have a greater number of risk factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, elevated blood pressure, and diabetes than White females. Women of color are also more likely to die of the disease.

Having diabetes raises your chances of getting heart disease and high levels of triglycerides are linked to the disease in some people. Also Being overweight increases your risk. Chest or arm pain or discomfort can be a symptom of cardiovascular disease and a warning sign of an actual or impending heart attack.

If your father or brother had a heart attack before age 55, or if your mom had one before age 65, you’re more likely to get heart disease. Birth control pills can present risks for some women, especially women older than 35, women with elevated blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol and those who smoke.

Almost 700,000 people die of heart disease in the U.S. each year. You can find out more about heart disease by contacting the National Women’s Health Information Center at 1-800-994-9662.

The risk of coronary disease can be decreased by taking steps to prevent and control those factors that put people at increased risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attack. The very best ways to prevent heart disease are to control your blood pressure, diabetes or a higher than normal cholesterol level and, if you smoke, STOP SMOKING.

CHOLESTEROL: What does a elevated cholesterol level have to do with heart disease? Cholesterol can block your arteries and keep your heart from getting the blood it needs. People with elevated blood cholesterol or high blood triglycerides frequently have no symptoms, so have your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked regularly. If your levels are high, talk to your MD about what you can do to lower them. You may be able to reduce your levels by eating better and exercising more, if not, your doctor may prescribe drugs to lower and bring it under control.

When there is excess cholesterol in your blood, it can build up on the walls of your arteries, forming plaque and causing blood clots. There are basically 2 types of cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is frequently called the “bad” type because it can block the arteries that carry blood to your heart. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is called the “good” type because it takes the bad cholesterol out of your blood and stops it from building up in your arteries.

All women 20 years of age and older should have their blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked at least once every five years. If you are overweight, losing weight can help reduce your total cholesterol and LDL (“bad cholesterol”) levels.

Try to consume more foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. Skim (fat-free) or low-fat (1%) milk and cheeses, and low-fat or nonfat yogurt, Fruits and vegetables (try for five a day), Cereals, breads, rice, and pasta created from whole grains (such as “whole-wheat” or “whole-grain” bread and pasta, rye bread, brown rice, and oatmeal), Limit consumption of organ meats (liver, kidney, brains), Egg yolks, Fats (butter, lard) and oils, Packaged and processed foods.

There are two diets that may help lower your cholesterol: Heart Healthy Diet and Therapeutic Lifestyles Changes (TLC) Diet. Exercise can help lower LDL (“bad cholesterol”) and raise HDL (“good cholesterol”). If your doctor has prescribed medicine to lower your cholesterol, take it exactly as you have been told to.

CONCLUSION: Heart disease is not contagious – you can’t catch it like you can the flu or a cold. It is a general term that refers to a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions that affect one or more of the components of the heart. The symptoms you describe to your doctor will help to decide if you need to be tested for heart disease. Your doctor will also check if you have any conditions that can increase your chance of getting the disease.

These conditions include: elevated blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol level, menopause in women, family members who have had heart disease at a young age. If you have cardiovascular disease, your angina can be treated by treating the heart disease. Following a healthy diet and maintaining a normal weight level plus a regular exercise program can aid you in avoiding heart disease.

Tags: heart disease in woman, cause of heart disease, cure for heart disease