Heart Health

High Cholesterol Information
By Jason Hunter

The heart is a very impressive organ; it beats an average of one hundred thousand times a day. There is two to three ounces of blood that flows through your vascular system with every beat. The vascular system consists of some sixty thousand miles of arteries, veins and capillaries.

However, no matter how impressive the heart is, its efforts will not do much good if the great vascular highway is clogged up. Unfortunately, millions of people have a build-up of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the arteries that hamper the flow of blood and promote the development of blood clots. Over a long period, it can lead to heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases of the vascular system.

Cholesterol itself is not harmful. Actually, this waxy substance plays a big role in our health and well-being. The body produces cholesterol daily to manufacture cell membranes, bile acids, a range of sex hormones, and vitamin D. Cholesterol only becomes a problem when it rises to unhealthy levels in the blood.

There are two types of cholesterol:

Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is the dangerous one. When high levels of LDL are present in the blood, it promotes the development of a dense, fatty layer called plaque on the artery walls. Over the years, the plaque gets thicker and makes it harder for blood to flow through the arteries. Plaque is also a promoter of blood clots that can slow or stop the flow of blood. Try to keep your LDL level below 100.

High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is the good one. It is responsible for removing the excess LDL from the blood and transferring it to the liver for discarding. Try to keep HDL above 40.

To avoid trouble, do your best to keep your total cholesterol level, which is the sum of HDL, LDL, and other blood fats, below 200.

Seeking professional care

As you know, uncontrolled high cholesterol can be a serious health problem. If possible, try to have your cholesterol tested at least every six months. If your total cholesterol reading is above 200, your physician may want to test you every three months, while he or she works with you to try to get it within a healthier range.

Unfortunately, many doctors put their patients on cholesterol lowering medications before trying to lower the numbers through natural means. You can have success with a combination of diet, nutritional supplements and lifestyle changes.

High cholesterol is one of the lifestyle diseases that can be cured and reversed naturally. Therefore, try to find a natural health oriented physician to treat this condition. Most cholesterol lowering drugs take months to lower your cholesterol levels only a few points, while people who use diet and lifestyle changes could drop their levels by a whopping 100 points in a matter of weeks. Cholesterol lowering medication also does damage to the liver.

Find out how to lower your high cholesterol naturally without harmful drugs:

Natural Remedies For High Cholesterol -or- Cholesterol Natural Remedies

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jason_Hunter

Heart Health

Heart Healthy Living During an Economic Crisis
By Kirsten Whittaker

Even before the full force of the economic downturn became part of the nightly news, the levels of stress Americans were feeling about our finances were pretty intense making heart healthy living more difficult.

The American Psychological Association completed a survey called Stress in America, released in October 2008 (with data collected as late as September, just as the stock market was heading downward) found a full 46% of us were already worried about providing for our families basic needs.

Money was a concern for 72%, work for 68%, housing for 47% and job insecurity by 34%.

What's worse, more of us are reporting physical symptoms from all that stress compared to a year ago. The sleepless nights and a shorter fuse. The wrangling and worry are chipping away at our health.

At these unhealthy (and constant) stress levels, coupled with eating fat and calorie laden foods and dropping workout sessions to take on more hours at work, we're all taking a pretty big chance with the health of one of our most vital organs - our heart.

What can you do to help yourself?

One of the first, best things you can do is to take better care of your body by eating a healthy diet that gives you the 5 servings of fruits and vegetables experts recommend we eat each day.

Cooking foods at home, instead of using prepared ones or eating out, can help you save money and give your body good-for-you basics at the same time.

Food closer to it's natural state is almost always more affordable than a prepared alternative - think salad in a bag vs. the old fashioned head of lettuce, tomatoes, radishes and such. Convenience is expensive, and it isn't always good for us.

But diet is only one part of the heart health picture.

You also need to know the risks your body has for heart disease.

- Do you have a family history of heart disease?
- What are your cholesterol numbers?
- Do you have low enough LDL (bad) cholesterol and high enough HDL (good) cholesterol?
- And what about your blood pressure, is it high or low?

Recognize too that the heart is a muscle, and like other muscles, to stay strong and healthy it must be exercised and exercised regularly. Even just half an hour of walking a day is a good start.

Almost as important, finding a way to manage your stress level is another key to keeping your heart healthy.

You need a positive outlet for all that nervous energy - rigorous workouts or cleaning, meditation or relaxation breathing, hobbies or laughter - all are great for reducing the stress in your life.

The American Psychological Association also offers some wonderful, common sense tips for managing your stress level during these uncertain economic times.

During times when money is tight, you might be tempted to put off your healthcare or cut your gym memberships.

But doing this hurts you more in the long run as you feel bad for longer than you have to, and end up spending more time and money getting yourself well (or in healthy shape) again.

If you're having trouble affording your prescription medications, talk with your doctor.

Often the pharmaceutical companies have programs to help patients get the medicine they need at no cost, or the doctor might be able to supply samples to help you out.

Good heart health also comes, as we all know, from not smoking, and avoiding second hand smoke as much as possible.

Smoking, beyond the expense, greatly increases your risk of heart problems, as well as other dangerous diseases. Quitting now will start you on the road to reduced risk and saving some money too.

It's easy to allow the bad news to take over and sabotage your health. The trick is to remember this isn't the first time we've faced tough times, and it probably won't be the last.

We may not be able to control what happens in the economy or the world around us, but we can control the toll it takes (or doesn't take) on our heart and our health and ensure we stick to heart healthy living.

Next just head on over to the Daily Health Bulletin for more health tips showing you effective ways for heart healthy living and get 5 free revealing health reports.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Kirsten_Whittaker