TheWellnessLiving Health Tips

Overweightness and obesity are associated with many hemodynamic, structural, and histopathologic alterations in the kidney and with metabolic and biochemical changes that predispose to these abnormalities. Consequent to these disorders, these individuals are more likely to develop chronic kidney disease and end-stage renal failure. Overweight and obese people are more prone to develop albuminuria and, for at least some types of kidney disease, a greater amount of albuminuria and more rapid progression of renal failure. These individuals are more likely to develop diabetes mellitus and hypertension. Diabetic nephropathy, hypertensive nephrosclerosis, focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis, renal cell carcinoma, and urate and calcium oxalate urolithiasis are the more common kidney and urological diseases reported in obese people. Preliminary data indicate that many of the clinical and nephropathologic manifestations associated with obesity can be reversed or ameliorated with reductions in body fat induced by dietary energy restriction or surgical procedures that reduce intake and gastrointestinal absorption of calories.

Do I have a genetic predisposition to obesity or kidney disease? Find out with a DNA test for genetic predisposition - Click here to learn more

Since most information we know from studies of middle aged people, researchers are working today to learn more about cholesterol and how cholesterol-lowering therapy works for women, young and old.

Cholesterol in women

Heart diseases are considered an appropriate killer as the main cause of death in the world for both sexes, although mainly aimed at older women. For a period of 10 days, scientists have conducted a study to examine effects during treatment for lowering cholesterol.

Assumption that occurred in women may be equally is untrue and dangerous. Thus, risk factors, e.g. diabetes, is often the case for coronary artery disease in women, and less frequently in men, also women respond differently to treatments, tests carried out on men may have unanticipated effects in women. According to studies, both women and men are healthy from the moment they decide to follow a cholesterol-lowering treatment.

Cholesterol in young

Durable diet habits and exercise are necessary for young. That means it is particularly important for children to eat healthy to practice a sport and not to smoke. Risk factors are family history, early heart disease or high cholesterol.  Children are not “miniature adults”, which is why their treatment differs from that of an adult. If high cholesterol levels, experts recommend a diet in two steps, which consists of a healthy diet and exercise. Only if these steps did not give favorable results, should followed drug treatment.

Children who have extremely high cholesterol levels, usually due to a genetic disorder, they need a treatment based on medicines to prevent stroke at a very early age. In this case, a study in 2004 showed that statin-based drugs are effective and do not present any risk to children from families with hypercholesterolemia.

Cholesterol in the elderly

Generally, severe heart problems occur in people who have turned 65. Many tests show that low level of HDL is, in particular a factor risk for this group. For example, according to a study by the National Institutes of Health, conducted on 2500 women and 1400 men, aged 70-90 for 6 years, participants who had HDL levels below 35mg/dL were about three times more likely to die from a heart disease than those who had high HDL levels.

Therefore, it is important that older people who have heart problems or diabetes, talking with their physicians about options they have to follow a cholesterol control treatment, according to their preferences.

With the age, type II diabetes is more likely to occur when a person is overweight or have high blood pressure (hypertension) and a sedentary lifestyle. If you include in your diet 2-3 times per week, the fish may be our most effective weapon against anemia, depression, cardiovascular, arthritis, neurodegenerative diseases (Parkinson’s). Because of high quality protein and fat it contains, the fish is so healthy and recommended.

Prevents heart disease – While 15-20 years ago, was recommended more freshwater fish, lean meat, now things have changed. Oily ocean fish (salmon, tuna, herring, mackerel) in clean and rich in healthy fats (omega 3 fatty acids). The modern diet, intake of these acids is lacking, and the consequences are the emergence of chronic diseases, type II diabetes, obesity, premature aging, and cancer. Eating fish prevents heart disease, as essential fatty acids may prevent fat deposits on blood vessel walls. Omega 3 fatty acids have anti-inflammatory effect, so fish is a mean to combat rheumatoid arthritis. Frequent consumption of fish prevents heart attacks.

Fish meat is easier to digest than other meats. But depends on the dish. If you want to eat fried fish is recommended to use olive oil, palm oil and rapeseed oil. But the best is boiled or grilled fish. Not to be contaminated with carcinogenic substances contained in wood or coal smoke, the fish will be prepared on the grill with hot air convection.

Fatty fish has a lower calorie content than other meats: herring has 167 calories/100g, mackerel only 83 calories and tuna calories/100g reach up to 160. Regarding cholesterol, salmon contains 50 mg, 80% edible part. Swordfish is one of the most valuable fish in terms of food, edible part is 98%, of which 17 g protein, 35 mg cholesterol, and only 100 calories. Also, fish is also a reliable source of iron, calcium, sodium, potassium, phosphorus, and zinc.

The sense and nonsense of direct-to-consumer genetic testing for cardiovascular disease. Neth Heart J. 2011 Feb;19(2):85-88 Authors: Janssens AC, Wilde AA, van Langen IM Expectations are high that increasing knowledge of the genetic basis of cardiovascular disease will eventually lead to personalised medicine-to preventive and therapeutic interventions that are targeted to at-risk individuals on the basis of their genetic profiles. Most cardiovascular diseases are caused by a complex interplay of many genetic variants interacting with many non-genetic risk factors such as diet, exercise, smoking and alcohol consumption. Since several years, genetic susceptibility testing for cardiovascular diseases is being offered via the internet directly to consumers. We discuss five reasons why these tests are not useful, namely: (1) the predictive ability is still limited; (2) the risk models used by the companies are based on assumptions that have not been verified; (3) the predicted risks keep changing when new variants are discovered and added to the test; (4) the tests do not consider non-genetic factors in the prediction of cardiovascular disease risk; and (5) the test results will not change recommendations of preventive interventions. Predictive genetic testing for multifactorial forms of cardiovascular disease clearly lacks benefits for the public. Prevention of disease should therefore remain focused on family history and on non-genetic risk factors as diet and physical activity that can have the strongest impact on disease risk, regardless of genetic susceptibility. PMID: 21461037 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

Blood pressure is the force exerted on the arteries by blood circulating through them. Expression of blood pressure is by combining figures for systolic, recorded during heart muscle contraction and diastolic blood pressure, occurring during heart muscle relaxation (eg 130/85 mmHg). Hypertension means the pressure of blood flowing through arteries. Typically, blood is pumped into the arteries of the heart rhythm (the left ventricle), which develops a certain pressure to be able to send blood into the arterial tree all in all organs. Its pumping pressure can be measured and is called systolic pressure. The next moment, the left ventricle relaxes and gets a quantity of blood in the arteries and is maintained, this time a smaller pressure called diastolic pressure. Hypertension usually occurs when blood vessels narrow, which makes blood flow more difficult, thus causing the heart to work more hard. Although the pressure depends on several individual characteristics, data from industrialized countries suggest that blood pressure rises progressively during life. High blood pressure, or hypertension, is defined by a systolic blood pressure of at least 140 mmHg and a diastolic blood pressure of at least 90 mmHg – 140/90 mmHg. Primary hypertension, represents 90-95% of all cases. Secondary hypertension is caused by another specific condition, such as kidney disease, hormone syndromes, certain treatments and pregnancy. We know that are involved in the development of hypertension both genetic, and environmental factors.