Heart/Cholesterol

The term heart failure is misleading. It sounds like the heart just stops beating or "fails." But in fact, heart failure is a long-lasting (chronic) condition in which the heart becomes less and less able to pump effectively. As a result, blood moves too slowly through the body -- it pools in the heart, backs up in the veins, and often too little gets pumped through the lungs and out to the tissues, depriving the body of oxygen. This situation can cause a host of unpleasant and sometimes life-threatening symptoms. Because every cell in the body relies on a constant supply of fresh, oxygen-rich blood to function, people with heart failure may feel tired, short of breath, and debilitated.

Heart failure is not a disease. Rather, it's a set of symptoms or a condition brought on by any number of other underlying problems or diseases. The No. 1 culprit is coronary artery disease or simply, heart disease. When the arteries that carry blood to the heart muscle (coronary arteries) are blocked by deposits of fat and cholesterol, parts of the heart muscle become starved for oxygen and die. Heart attacks, a sudden and complete blockage of blood flow to the heart muscle, can lead to heart failure in much the same way. The scar tissue left behind after a heart attack is another leading cause of heart failure.

Q: What warning signs should I watch for, and when should I call my doctor?

Alert your doctor any time you notice a change in your body or your symptoms, but be especially aware of the following signs of potential trouble:

Chest pain. Go to the emergency room immediately. Heart attacks can be especially devastating for people with heart failure.

Weight gain. Report the change, even if it's only a pound or two.

Increasing Symptoms. Tell your doctor if you've felt more fatigued than usual or become short of breath more easily.

Q: What can I do to live better with heart failure?

A: Focus on these essential areas to feel your best and stave off symptoms:

Quit smoking. No, it's not easy, but your doctor may be able to help. There are tools available today that can ease the process and help you become smoke free with little if any discomfort or anxiety.

Exercise. You probably don't feel like it. You may think it's impossible or "dangerous." But rest assured, it will help. Ask your doctor what's appropriate for you, then do as much as you can. Even short walks can help strengthen your heart and reduce your symptoms.

Eat right and stay slim. A diet that's low in salt, fat, and alcohol, and full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean meats can make a difference. Arteries clogged with cholesterol make your heart work harder. So does carrying around excess fat. Maintain a healthy weight and eat a variety of healthy foods to feel, and look, your best.

Work with your doctor. To get the most benefit from your health care, you need to take an active role. Visit your doctor regularly, and bring a pen and pencil to jot down notes. If you're unsure of something you've been told, don't hesitate to ask for clarification. You can write down any questions you have ahead of time and bring them along. Here are some samples: What exercises are safe for me to do? Are there signs that I should stop? What do these various medicines do? What side effects can I expect?

Manage Your Stress. There's mounting evidence that stress and depression can make heart failure worse. Support groups, one-on-one counseling, hobbies, volunteer work, meditation, and attending religious services are only a few of the numerous avenues you can pursue to help manage stress and combat depression. If you're experiencing anxiety or sadness, let your doctor know.

Q: Is there a cure?

A: Because heart failure is not a disease, doctors don't speak of "curing" it. But that doesn't mean it can't be successfully treated, or even completely reversed. Changing your lifestyle habits can make a big difference, and a variety of treatments are available to help ease symptoms.

BRT Treatments Can Help!!!!!!!!

Most people do not know that the heart produces a hormone. Any organ or gland that has the capability of producing a hormone must also have receptor sites (receiving sites) for certain hormones to attach to. A hormone's job is to carry a message from one part of the body to another. It regulates, coordinates and controls an extraordinary number of your body's functions. Chemicals that interfere with the normal functioning of this complex system are known as "endocrine disruptors." Disruption of the heart can occur in various ways. For example, some chemicals may mimic a natural hormone, "fooling" the body into over responding to the hormone. Other chemicals may block the effects that a hormone has on the heart and can also prevent it from delivering it's message to parts of the body where this message needs to be received. The message that the heart wanted delivered never completes it's mission. This can allow for the heart to skip beats or have a total lack of heart rhythm. Still other chemicals may directly stimulant or inhibit the heart, leading, to over or underproduction of hormones. There are very specific EDs that attack the heart much more than other organs. Fortunately, we now have Body Restoration Technique (BRT) which allows us to be able to check for these specific heart disruptors and remove them as well. This allows us to make sure that the heart's hormones are in the correct balance and is able to function more normally. Sometimes, treating the underlying condition will reduce or even eliminate heart disease symptoms. Having said this, we are not in any way stating that you should bypass the medical doctor's diagnostic and treating methods. If the endocrine disruptors happen to be your main problem, having them removed from your body will only help your medical doctor out and the diagnostic tests may even improve. This team approach will only help you out in the long run.

What is high cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a type of fat (lipid) and is an essential nutrient your body needs for many important functions, such as producing new cells. If you eat too many foods high in saturated fat and cholesterol or you have an inherited condition, the cholesterol levels in your blood may climb to unhealthy levels. This increases your risk for hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis, which in turn can lead to life-threatening illnesses, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), heart attack, or stroke. Your body gets cholesterol from two sources: from the foods you eat and from your liver. Although many foods contain cholesterol, your liver actually produces up to 80% of what you need.

A blood test can determine if you have high cholesterol.

A total cholesterol level of less than 200 mg/dL (5.17 mmol/L) is desirable.

200 mg/dL to 239 mg/dL (5.17 mmol/L to 6.18 mmol/L) is considered borderline-high cholesterol.

240 mg/dL (6.21 mmol/L) or higher is considered high cholesterol.

What are LDL and HDL cholesterol and lipoproteins?

Cholesterol travels through your blood attached to a protein. This cholesterol-protein package is called a lipoprotein. Lipoproteins are either high-density, low-density, or very low-density, depending on how much protein there is in relation to fat.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL). LDL is called the "bad cholesterol" because it can cause cholesterol buildup and blockage of your arteries. (See an illustration of a blocked artery.) LDL is mostly fat and only a small amount of protein. At normal levels, it carries cholesterol from the liver to other parts of the body where it is needed for cell repair and other activities. When LDL cholesterol is elevated, it and other substances build up in the walls of the arteries and form a plaque (atherosclerosis). Over time, plaque may cause the arteries to harden and narrow. Blood flow to the body's tissues and the heart muscle is reduced (ischemia). At times, the plaque may rupture and a blood clot may form in the narrowed artery, blocking blood flow. This ultimately can lead to damage or death of tissues (heart attack or stroke). By lowering LDL cholesterol, you can reduce your risk of atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, and other complications.

An LDL level of less than 100 is considered optimal.

An LDL level of 100 to 129 is considered near optimal or above optimal.

An LDL level of 130 to 159 is considered borderline high.

An LDL level of 160 to 189 is considered high.

An LDL level of 190 and above is considered very high.

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). HDL is sometimes called the "good cholesterol" because it helps prevent cholesterol from building up in your arteries. It is mostly protein and only a small amount of fat. HDL cholesterol helps clear the bad cholesterol from the body by picking up leftover cholesterol from the bloodstream and carrying it back to the liver for disposal. If you are at risk for heart disease, it may be beneficial to raise your HDL cholesterol levels. Low HDL cholesterol increases the risk of coronary artery disease. High levels of HDL appear to help protect against atherosclerosis, heart attack, stroke, and other complications.

An HDL level of 60 or higher is desirable.

An HDL level over 60 reduces the risk of heart disease, even if LDL or total cholesterol is high.

An HDL level of 40 to 60 is considered acceptable.

An HDL level below 40 is considered low. Low HDL is considered a major risk factor for coronary artery disease in people who also have high total cholesterol levels.

Triglycerides/very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL). Triglycerides are another type of fat, which is carried in the blood by very low-density lipoproteins. Only a small amount of triglycerides is normally found in the blood; most are stored in fat tissue. VLDL is similar to LDL cholesterol in that it contains mostly fat and not much protein. A high triglyceride level along with a high LDL cholesterol also can increase the risk of heart attack. A triglyceride level of 150 to 199 mg/dL is considered borderline high. A triglyceride level of 200 mg/dL is considered high.

What causes high cholesterol?

Several things can cause high cholesterol. Risk factors for high cholesterol can be broken down into those you can control and those you cannot. There are also secondary causes of high cholesterol, such as medications and medical conditions. Cholesterol problems mainly come from eating too much sugar and refined carbohydrates. But what about the person who is eating well yet still have cholesterol problems? We found this problem is a liver imbalance from Endocrine Disruptors slowing the flow of good and bad cholesterol.

Controllable risk factors include some medical conditions, such as diabetes, and diet. Being overweight, smoking, not exercising, and eating a diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol can cause high LDL, low HDL, and increased triglycerides.

How will I feel if I have high cholesterol?

Generally, high cholesterol is a "silent" condition that rarely causes its own symptoms. As a result, it is hard for many people to recognize their high cholesterol as a health problem. Preventing and treating this condition requires a range of healthy lifestyle changes, including eating a low-saturated-fat, balanced diet and getting regular exercise. Such lifestyle changes can be difficult to make without symptoms to motivate you.

You may, however, have symptoms from a serious illness caused by high cholesterol, such as atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a narrowing of your arteries that can lead to coronary artery disease (CAD). Unfortunately, by the time you feel the symptoms of CAD, such as chest pain, the arteries in your body are usually severely diseased already. Your first symptom of high cholesterol could also be a heart attack or a stroke.

How will a health professional diagnose my cholesterol?

A doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician's assistant will use one of two blood tests to check your cholesterol:

A nonfasting cholesterol test will show your total cholesterol and high-density lipoproteins (HD, or "good cholesterol").

A fasting cholesterol test, which is also called a lipid profile, will measure your LDL ("bad cholesterol"), HDL, and total cholesterol. It will also measure very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL).

Your doctor may start with a nonfasting cholesterol test and then recommend a lipid profile, based on your results.

Who can treat my high cholesterol?

Once you know your cholesterol levels and risk factors for coronary artery disease, your doctor will consider the cause of your high cholesterol while developing a treatment plan.

How can I lower my cholesterol?

There are two basic ways of lowering your cholesterol: modifying your lifestyle or taking medications. Your doctor may first recommend you make lifestyle changes by modifying your diet, losing weight, and exercising. If you cannot lower your cholesterol to safe levels with lifestyle changes, your doctor may prescribe medications along with your new diet and exercise plan. The goal in either case is to lower your LDL ("bad") cholesterol, raise your HDL ("good") cholesterol, and lower triglycerides.

What lifestyle changes will I have to make?

Dietary therapy, combined with regular exercise and weight loss, if needed, is the cornerstone of treatment. Diets designed to lower your cholesterol are called dietary therapy or medical nutrition therapy because this approach is more than just "going on a diet."

As a part of your dietary therapy, you will learn that not all fats are created equal. There are several different types of fat, each of which has a different effect on your cholesterol.

Exercising and losing weight are also critical. They can increase your "good" HDL cholesterol and lower your "bad" LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Losing weight can also help lower blood pressure. Most health experts recommend that you exercise for a minimum of 30 to 45 minutes, most days of the week.

Another critical lifestyle change you can make is to stop smoking cigarettes. Smoking decreases "good" HDL cholesterol and changes LDL cholesterol so that it promotes the buildup of deposits on the walls of your coronary arteries. It also increases the risk of heart disease.

The liver is the main organ that regulates and rids the excessive cholesterol in the body. By cleaning the liver of EDs, one can greatly improve cholesterol levels. The adrenal gland is the second area we address with BRT regarding cholesterol. The adrenals do control sugars and the storage of sugars. We have gotten great success with cholesterol also strengthening the adrenal glands, mainly the cortisols.

Healthworx, Inc.
Health & Wellness Center	303-989-5740

Lakewood chiropractor, chiropractor in Lakewood, CO