TheWellnessLiving Health Tips

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.

How to protect your heart!

Annually, cardiovascular diseases kill about 17 million people. According to specialists, healthy diet, avoid sedentary lifestyle and smoking cessation can reduce by 80% the number of deaths caused by cardiovascular disease. According to data provided by WHO, in our country, cardiovascular mortality rate is 61% of total deaths compared with 37% EU average

Check your blood pressure at least once a year! – Cardiovascular disease is ranked as the cause of death in Europe, both in women and men, according to the European Charter of cardiovascular health. Incidence and consequences of cardiovascular disease can be reduced through early diagnosis, proper management of the disease, recovery and prevention, including advice on lifestyle organization

The main risk factors are hypertension, smoking, high cholesterol. At least 20% of hypertensive patients who present to a medical not know they have hypertension, their blood pressure is even in higher values. For this reason, blood pressure check is required at least once a year, even in the absence of disease manifestations.

Attention to diet! – Lifestyle is a word with many implications: nutrition, smoking, mode of activity (stress), rest periods, exercise, psychological aspects.

It is known that excess pounds are a risk factor for many diseases, and this rule applies in the case of cardiovascular diseases. Above the normal weight is an important risk factor for heart, blood pressure rises, as happens with triglycerides and bad cholesterol (LDL) and good cholesterol (HDL) decreases. Clinical studies show that each kilo lost is important, reducing the risk of heart disease and stroke attack.

As for diet, Dr. Andrew warns that food is medicine, do not cure but works on long term with a prophylactic effect. It indicated to reduce salt consumption, consumption of animal fats and fiber, fruits and vegetables. It is very important to exercise, at least 30 minutes a day.

Having an electrocardiogram – ECG – EKG

How it works? An electrocardiogram, usually is done by a specialist, but the results are interpreted by a doctor: an internist, family physician, cardiologist, anesthesiologist or surgeon.

Often the ECG equipment is portable, thus the test can be done almost anywhere. If you are admitted / to the hospital your heart may be continuously monitored by ECG system, this process is called telemetry.

During ECG’s

1. You will be stretched on a bed or table. On hands, legs and chest will be placed small discs of metal (electrode). A special cream for ECG will be on the skin to form a barrier between skin and electrodes and to improve management of electrical impulses, but in most cases do not require cream.

2. Electrodes attached to the skin are connected to a machine that reproduces the work of the heart on paper. If is used an old device, the electrodes will be moved at intervals during the test to measure the heart’s electrical activity from different areas of the chest.

3. During the test you are asked / to breathe normally, and sometimes you will be asked / to keep your breath. During the test should not talk.

4. In men who have more hair on his chest, a small area must be erased in order to make contact with the electrodes.

5. After you finish the test and you remove the electrodes might feel a little pinch. Electrodes are used to transfer an image of the heart electrical activity, which will be reproduced on paper.

There is no trouble while an electrocardiogram is done. Thus, this test is performed safely, and mostly there is no reason which don’t allowe you to make an electrocardiography. Usually, a complete test lasts between 5 and 10 minutes.

What to think ?

1. Sometimes test results are normal even though you suffer from a cardiovascular disease.

2. An electrocardiogram can not predict when you will have heart attack.

3. First, an EKG done during a heart attack may look normal or unchanged from a previous ECG. For this reason, the test should be repeated every few days to see the differences.

4. There are other types of electrocardiograms (telemetry, ambulatory).

5. Sometimes EKG abnormalities appeared to be only observed during exercise or while symptoms are manifested.

6. Some doctors believe that people older than 35 years should do this test before they develop cardiovascular disease.

Cholesterol: the key to heart disease

In fact, treatment to lower cholesterol in the category of people who have been diagnosed with heart problems who have such symptoms, is extremely beneficial to the health of the individual. Persons who had a heart attack or heart disease are prone to angina pectoris, peripheral arterial problems, abdominal aortic aneurysm or carotid artery disease, or those who had surgery, may be affected 7 times faster than others.

A lot of studies have shown that those already suffering from heart disease are successful in terms of cholesterol-lowering treatment. No matter what method they choose, they will increase their chances of avoiding a heart attack or other diseases.

Indeed, according to a study done in 1999 on the treatment of revascularization suggests that statin-based treatment – used in an aggressive treatment for lowering total LDL – is as effective as angioplasty in helping people to avoid a heart attack, palpitations, sudden stings. In this study, 314 people with diseases of the coronary artery were randomly chosen to make a treatment daily with their medication. After 18 months, those taking statin (inhibitor reducers) no longer needed a surgical intervention.

Following these trials, specialists recommend aggressive treatment for lowering cholesterol for all categories of persons who survived a heart attack, but also those who have LDL levels greater than 100mg/dl. Moreover, experts note that 70mg/dL LDL in people who have heart problems, is not a good. To control cholesterol, besides medicines should follow a healthy lifestyle, which include a diet and exercise.

New researchs revealed that statin therapy has other effects besides lowering cholesterol, such as improving the functioning of blood vessels narrow. Also, other positive effects that statin may be observable over the body after 30 days of treatment.

Despite the records that a treatment to lower cholesterol is safe and effective in people with heart disease, most people who deserve and need to do a treatment, do not do it. This situation arises because some doctors recommend a wrong medicine, and some patients are treated by the ear.