Comment from: Midwife, Female (Patient)Published: May 24
I have had success lowering my cholesterol by consuming raw, whole goat's milk. It contains the bacteria acidophilous, which can reduce cholesterol. I had too many side effects with medications.
Comment from: Dotty M, 55-64 FemalePublished: February 15
I am a 57-year-old female who was diagnosed with high cholesterol four years ago. The doctor prescribed Zetia for a year with no significant change. Then he prescribed Lovastatin, checked my liver levels in one month, and I had very little decrease in LDL and overall cholesterol levels. It was a little scary. I have always eaten OK and exercised a lot. So, after checking on alternative options, I did two things in the last three months. I went on Weight Watchers and lost 18 pounds and started taking red rice yeast, twice a day, 600 mg in the morning and at night. My LDL dropped 70 points to 111 and my overall cholesterol dropped 42 points to 206! And my liver levels are normal! I am so pleased and look forward to my next lab work and doctor's visit in April! I can't wait to see my results then!
Comment from: Btv, 45-54 Female (Patient)Published: December 20
My cholesterol was 249 in March. I was 223 pounds. I exercised three to four times a week and greatly reduced the amount of meat I ate. I also increased veggies and green spinach. I drank smoothies with bananas apples and orange juice. I lost 33 pounds. My cholesterol on 12/20/10 was 165. I'm proof that diet and exercise and no meds can work.
Comment from: Jeff, 55-64 Male (Caregiver)Published: April 14
I have tried Lipitor (40mg) and Crestor (40 mg) to lower my cholesterol. They worked in lowering ALL of my cholesterol, including my HDL level, which I cannot afford to do. Niaspan in combination with Lipitor worked the best, but I had a hard time tolerating the 500 mg of Niaspan.
Comment from: Mrs H., 55-64 Female (Patient)Published: January 14
By reducing my cheese intake, (cheese fan) and only using Logicol, Proactive or Rice Bran oil (this being the better one) and taking 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar in a tumbler of water 10 mins before breakfast and dinner, I reduced my cholesterol from 5.6 to 4.7 in one month. I do eat healthily: fruit, homemade muesli and tea for breakfast, salad lunches, with 1 slice wholegrain bread, and meat and 3 veg for dinner. Meats include, fish 1-2x weekly, chicken 2x, meat 2x, and one day with only vegetables. I walk daily, plus exercise, and tennis 1x weekly. Exercise is a must for a healthy lifestyle.
Comment from: Nan, 65-74 Female (Patient)Published: November 17
Atorvastatin caused insomnia in the form of waking at regular intervals throughout the night and not feeling tired at all. Simvastatin slowly caused me to have difficulty clearing my throat. After two years of being on it, I found it difficult to engage in conversation at all as I was constantly clearing my throat. Eventually, my throat was swollen, painful and bruised. I stopped taking statins for my cholesterol last March and am now able to speak without constantly clearing my throat, although it still feels tight and congested with mucus.
Comment from: Bob, 45-54 Male (Patient)Published: August 12
After taking Lipitor for several months, I was having cognitive difficulties. I was having trouble staying in my lane on the freeway, and I felt tired all of the time. I was unable to really get mentally engaged in meetings at work. I was worrying that I was losing my ability to think and be employed. On a hunch, I stopped the Lipitor. I started feeling a little better every day. It took months to somewhat recover. My doctor switched me to Zetia. I experienced the same problems, but not as severe. I stopped taking it also. Both drugs did improve my cholesterol readings, but the decline in mental ability is not worth it. Over all, it's taken a very long time (about two years) for me to start feeling mentally sharp again.
Comment from: Dev, 45-54 Male (Patient)Published: October 13
I used to take one raw pulp of Garlic per week. It keeps my LDL level near normal level more than three years. But I walk 6 Km per day. Apart from that, I'm mostly on a vegetable diet. Taking more Garlic will lower your blood pressure. Keep monitoring your LDL and BP.
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Hypothyroidism is any state in which thyroid hormone production is below normal. Normally, the
rate of thyroid hormone production is controlled by the brain at the pituitary.
Hypothyroidism is a very common condition and the symptoms of hypothyroidism are
often subtle.
Liver cancer is the fifth most common cancer in the world and the majority of patients with liver cancer will die within one year as a result. Patients with associated cirrhosis caused by chronic hepatitis B or C infections, alcohol, and hemochromatosis are at the greatest risk of developing liver cancer. Many patients with liver cancer do not develop symptoms until the advanced stages of the tumor which usually makes prognosis poor. The combination of an imaging study (ultrasound, CT, or MRI scans) and an elevated blood level of alpha-fetoprotein will most effectively diagnose liver cancer, while a liver biopsy can make a definitive diagnosis. Medical treatments, including chemotherapy, chemoembolization, ablation, and proton beam therapy, are not very effective. Surgical removal of the tumor or a liver transplant may be most effective in certain cases.
Blood clots can occur in the venous and arterial vascular system. Blood clots can form in the heart, legs, arteries, veins, bladder, urinary tract and uterus. Risk factors for blood clots include high blood pressure and cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, and family history. Symptoms of a blood clot depend on the location of the clot. Some blood clots are a medical emergency. Blood clots are treated depending upon the cause of the clot. Blood clots can be prevented by lowering the risk factors for developing blood clots.
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. The two types of diabetes are referred to as type 1 (insulin dependent) and type 2 (non-insulin dependent). Symptoms of diabetes include increased urine output, thirst, hunger, and fatigue. Treatment of diabetes depends on the type.
Liver disease can be cause by a variety of things including infection (hepatitis), diseases such as gallstones, high cholesterol or triglycerides, blood flow obstruction to the liver, and toxins (medications and chemicals). Symptoms of liver disease depends upon the cause; however, common symptoms may include nausea, vomiting, upper right abdominal pain, and jaundice. Treatment depends upon the cause of the liver disease.
Angina is chest pain that is due to an inadequate supply of oxygen to the heart muscle.
Angina can be caused by coronary artery disease or spasm of the coronary
arteries. EKG, exercise treadmill, stress echocardiography, stress thallium, and cardiac
catheterization are important tests used in the diagnosis of angina.
Dementia is a significant loss of intellectual abilities such as memory capacity, severe enough to interfere with social or occupational functioning. There are different criteria classification schemes for dementias such as cortical, subcortical, progressive, primary, and secondary dementias. Other conditions and medication reactions can also cause dementia. Dementia is diagnosed based on a certain set of criteria. Treatment for dementia is generally focused on the symptoms of the disease.
Heart attack happens when a blood clot completely obstructs a coronary
artery supplying blood to the heart muscle. A heart attack can cause chest pain, heart failure, and electrical
instability of the heart.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a ballooning or widening of the main artery (the aorta) as it courses down through the abdomen. The most common cause of aortic aneurysms is
"hardening of the arteries" called arteriosclerosis.
Impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction, is a common
problem among men characterized by the consistent inability to sustain an
erection sufficient for sexual intercourse or the inability to achieve
ejaculation, or both. Impotence can have emotional causes but most often it is
due to a physical problem.
Insulin resistance is the diminished ability of cells to respond to the action of insulin in transporting glucose (sugar) from the bloodstream into muscle and other tissues. Causes of insulin can include conditions such as stress, obesity, metabolic syndrome, and steroid use. Some of the risk factors for insulin resistance include fatty liver, heart disease, strokes, peripheral vascular disease, high cholesterol, and smoking. Treatment for insulin resistance are lifestyle changes and if necessary, medication.
Rhabdomyolysis is a rapid deterioration and destruction of skeletal muscle. Some of the causes of rhabdomyolysis include severe burns, muscle trauma, coma, seizures, electrolyte imbalance, medications (statins), viruses, bacteria. Treatment of rhabdomyolysis depends on the cause.
Cushing's syndrome, sometimes referred to as hypercortisolism, is a hormonal disorder caused by prolonged exposure to high levels of the hormone cortisol. Symptoms may include obesity, thinning arms and legs, a rounded face, and increased fat around the neck. Some causes of Cushing's syndrome is from taking glucocorticoid hormones such as prednisone for inflammatory diseases. Treatment for Cushing's syndrome depends on the cause.
Heart disease (coronary artery disease) is caused by a buildup of cholesterol deposits in the coronary arteries. Risk factors for heart disease include smoking, high blood pressure, heredity, diabetes, peripheral artery disease, and obesity. Symptoms include chest pain and shortness of breath. There are a variety of tests used to diagnose coronary artery disease. Treatment includes life-style changes, medications, procedures, or surgery.
Obesity is the state of being well above one's normal weight. A person has traditionally been
considered to be obese if they are more than 20 percent over their ideal weight.
That ideal weight must take into account the person's height, age, sex, and
build.
The main features of metabolic syndrome include insulin resistance, hypertension (high blood pressure), cholesterol abnormalities, and an increased risk for clotting. Patients are most often overweight or obese. Lifestyle modification such as the Mediterranean diet, exercise, and quitting smoking are the preferred treatment of metabolic syndrome.
When a portion of the brain loses blood supply, through a blood clot or embolus, a transient ischemic attack (TIA, mini-stroke) may occur. If the symptoms do not resolve, a stroke most likely has occurred. Symptoms of TIA include: confusion, weakness, lethargy, and loss of function to one side of the body. Risk factors for TIA include vascular disease, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Treatment depends upon the severity of the TIA, and whether it resolves.
Renal artery stenosis is a narrowing of the diameter of the renal arteries. When the renal arteries narrow, the result is restricted blood flow to the kidneys, which may lead to impaired kidney function and high blood pressure (referred to as renovascular hypertension (RVHT). Renal artery stenosis can occur in one or both kidneys. The primary cause of renal artery stenosis is atherosclerosis. Risk factors for renal artery stenosis include high blood pressure, high cholesterol levels, age, cigarette smoking, and diabetes. Symptoms of renal artery stenosis include high blood pressure that does not respond to treatment, severe high blood pressure in individuals younger than 30 or greater than 50 years of age. Renal artery stenosis is diagnosed with imaging and functional tests. Treatment for renal artery stenosis include medication or surgery.
Iron is a mineral our bodies need. Iron deficiency is a condition resulting from not enough iron in the body. It is the most common nutritional deficiency and the leading cause in the US. Iron deficiency is caused due to increased iron deficiency from diseases, nutritional deficiency, or blood loss and the body's inability to intake or absorb iron. Children, teen girls, pregnant women, and babies are at most risk for developing iron deficiency. Symptoms of iron deficiency include feeling weak and tired, decreased work or school performance, slow social development, difficulty maintaining body temperature, decreased immune function, and an inflamed tongue. Blood tests can confirm an iron deficiency in an individual. Treatment depends on the cause of the deficiency. Proper diet that includes recommended daily allowances of iron may prevent some cases of iron deficiency.
Cholesterol is the most common type of steroid in the body. The treatment of elevated cholesterol involves not only diet but also weight loss, regular exercise, and medications. By understanding your cholesterol profile you can better manage your cholesterol levels.
Characteristics of binge eating disorder include eating more quickly than usual, eating until uncomfortably full, eating a lot of food despite not being hungry, eating alone due to embarrassment, and feeling disgusted by overeating. Depression may be a cause of binge eating disorder. Risks of binge eating include weight gain, diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and some cancers.
Heart disease, particularly coronary artery disease is the leading cause of heart attacks. Women are more likely to die from a heart attack than men. High cholesterol, high blood pressure, obesity, and high triglycerides are contributors to heart disease. Some of the common symptoms of a heart attack in women include chest pain, shortness of breath, nausea, feeling faint or woozy, and more. Heart disease can be prevented by lifestyle changes and controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol, weight, and diseases such as diabetes.
Heart attacks are the major causes of unexpected, sudden death among men and women. A heart attack is also a significant cause of heart failure. Learn the risk factors for heart attack such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and other heart conditions. Lowering your risk factor, lifestyle changes, and in some cases medication are the most effective way of preventing a heart attack.
A heart attack is a layperson's term for a sudden blockage of a coronary artery. This photo essay inlcudes graphics, pictures, and illustrations of diseased heart tissue and the mechanisms that lead to coronary artery disease, and possible heart attack.
eye. Read about symptoms, signs, diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis.
Coats' disease is a rare eye condition that typically progresses to vision loss or blindness in one eye. Gradual vision loss is usually the first symptom, followed by a cloudy white or yellow pupil due to the presence of a cataract. Treatment focuses on limiting the blood vessel progression and may involve cryotherapy or laser photocoagulation.
Vitamins and exercise can lower your risk for heart attack and heart disease. Folic acid, vitamins, and homocysteine levels are interconnected and affect your risk for heart disease or heart attack. Antioxidants and exercise also play a key role in heart attack and heart disease prevention. Lower your risk factors for heart disease and heart attack by lowering cholesterol, lowering blood pressure, diabetes prevention, and smoking cesssation.
Fast food consumption and lack of exercise are just a couple of causes of childhood obesity. Health effects of childhood obesity include type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, high cholesterol, asthma, sleep apnea, gallstones, fatty liver disease, GERD, depression, and eating disorders.
Disease prevention in men includes routine screening tests that are part of basic prevention medicine. Take an active role in your own health care and discuss screening tests with your doctor early in life. Age of screening and timing of screening depends upon the condition being assessed.
Disease prevention in women includes screening tests that are a basic part of prevention medicine. All screening tests
are commonly available through your general doctor. Some specialized tests may be available elsewhere.
Insulin is a hormone that is produced by the beta cells, which are cells that
are scattered throughout the pancreas. The insulin produced is
released into the blood stream and travels throughout the body. Insulin is an
important hormone that has many actions within the body. Most of the actions of
insulin are directed at metabolism (control) of carbohydrates (sugars and starches), lipids (fats), and proteins. Insulin also is important in regulating the cells of the
body including their growth.
Insulin resistance (IR) is a condition in which the
cells of the body become resistant to the effects of insulin, that is, the
normal response to a given amount of insulin is reduced. As a result, higher
levels of insulin are needed in order for insulin to have its effects. The
resistance is seen with both the body's own insulin (endogenous) and if insulin
is given through injection (exogenous).
If you think you have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 immediately.
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I have had success lowering my cholesterol by consuming raw, whole goat's milk. It contains the bacteria acidophilous, which can reduce cholesterol. I had too many side effects with medications.
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