Diabetics often have additional health issues caused by high blood glucose levels. High glucose levels damage blood vessels, which can lead to atherosclerosis, which starts with damage to the insides of arteries, as well as high blood pressure. As...
Cholesterol is a substance that is needed for the proper functioning of the body. It is forms a part of cell membranes and some hormones. However, high blood levels of cholesterol can cause certain diseases.
It is important to obtain all the vitamins and minerals your body needs on a daily basis. However, what you may not know is how much each individual vitamin and mineral can help improve your health. Vitamin D gains most of its reputation in bone...
High cholesterol has many health repercussions, contributing to conditions such as heart disease, heart attack and stroke. Although it may not directly create tingling and numbness in your extremities, it may be an indirect cause of these stroke...
The term "heart disease" encompasses problems related to the function of the heart and cardiovascular system such as arrhythmias, diseases of the blood vessels, heart infections and heart defects. Cholesterol plays a part in the type of heart...
Coronary artery disease, the most common form of heart disease, is the leading cause of death in the United States in both men and women. The American Heart Association’s “Heart Disease and Stroke Statistics 2010 Update” reports...
Change the way you eat in order to treat atherosclerosis, a disease in which plaque made up of fat and cholesterol coats the walls of your arteries and blocks the blood flow. Cut out fatty foods, including many processed foods, and eat fresher,...
Along with obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure and high cholesterol, cigarette smoking is one of the leading causes of heart disease in America. According to the Surgeon General, cigarette smoking causes diseases in nearly every organ of the...
Atherosclerosis is a form of cardiovascular disease and one of the primary causes of fatal events such as heart attack and stroke. Several risk factors have been established for atherosclerosis, including smoking, cholesterol level and family...
Niacin is one of the water-soluble B vitamins, B-3. It plays a role in helping chemical reactions in the body, and it is needed for the maintenance of cellular function and therefore good health. Higher doses are sometimes used to treat elevated...
The hearts anatomy consists of four chambers divided by four valves. Each valve is a one-way valve that ensures blood flows in one direction only. The aortic or mitral valves are the most commonly affected by disease. Patients present with a...
Hyperlipidemia -- excessive fat content of the blood -- is most frequently caused by a diet high in fats but can also be passed down through family genes. This is an insidious disease, meaning hyperlipidemia may be not show signs or symptoms. A...
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heart disease and stroke are two leading causes of death for Americans. In 2007, heart disease killed 616,067, and stroke killed 135,952. These two potentially fatal diseases affect the...
Heavy smoking is a dangerous habit that can cause conditions that affect the heart, lungs and other major organs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, male smokers are 23 times more likely to develop lung cancer and female...
Diabetes mellitus type 2 is typically a chronic, adult-onset disease that is caused when production of the hormone insulin is inadequate or the body becomes insensitive to it. Insulin is needed to transport dietary glucose from the blood into the...
Flax seed refers to a small brown seed produced from the blue flowers of flax, a plant in the Linaceae family. A review in the October 2009 issue of "Applied Physiology, Nutrition and Metabolism" reports 100 g of whole or ground flax seed...
Calcium EDTA serves as an important chelating therapeutic agent, a chemical solution used to treat heavy-metal poisoning. It contains two important components: calcium and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid, a man-made amino acid that latches to...
Cholesterol is a waxy, yellow chemical that your body needs for hormone production and cellular production and to cover nerves, FamilyDoctor.org explains. Your liver is capable of making all the cholesterol you need, but you can also get...
The American Heart Association defines anticoagulants as medications that delay blood clotting. There are two common anticoagulants, warfarin (Coumadin) and heparin. Anticoagulants are often referred to as blood thinners, though they do not...
Cardiovascular disease is an umbrella term the medical community uses to describe a multitude of heart diseases, including coronary artery disease. It describes conditions leading to chest pain, heart attacks and stroke, all of which share the...
Two types of dietary cholesterol exist - the "good" and the "bad" kind. The good kind is HDL, or high density lipoprotein. This type of cholesterol, present in such heart-healthy foods such as cold-water fish and canola oil, actually helps remove...
Diabetes is a lifelong condition of hyperglycemia, which is an elevated blood glucose (sugar) level. Glucose is the main source of energy for the body. However, it requires insulin in order to be absorbed into the cells and utilized. When glucose...
Atherosclerosis is a condition involving plaque formation within your arteries. Plaque, notes the American Stroke Association, is a combination of fatty substances, cellular debris, cholesterol, calcium and other materials. Atherosclerosis, or...
Arteries in your brain are responsible for delivering oxygen and nutrients you need through your bloodstream. When one of these arteries becomes clogged or bursts, you experience a stroke. Blood will cease to flow through the affected artery and...
Many people mistakenly believe that eating a high-fat meal translates into high fat in your blood. Your body stores excess calories as body fat from any source, whether carbohydrates, proteins, or fat. However, one high-fat meal doesn't directly...
Turmeric (curcumin) is a popular food coloring that gives Indian curry its golden-yellow hue and distinctive flavor. Curcumin has been regarded as a medicinal herb for thousands of years. It has been used in Chinese medicine to treat wounds, skin...
Coumadin is a brand name for warfarin, an anti-coagulant that helps to thin your blood. This medication is used to treat cardiovascular disorders. Both Coumadin and vitamin B-12 may play a role in the treatment of atherosclerosis. Although there...
While cholesterol itself is not 'bad,' some types can cause adverse health effects in the body, notes the American Heart Association. Cholesterol is a wax-like substance that the body requires for healthy function; the liver and other cells...
Cholesterol in and of itself does not cause pain. However, when your cholesterol levels rise above healthy levels, it can contribute to heart disease, stroke and a number of other diseases. These conditions are what cause the pain, an indication...
Atherosclerosis is a disease that inflames and constricts arterial blood vessels, at times obstructing circulation and requiring surgical intervention. Learn more about atherosclerosis, causes and symptoms, in this health video.
