According to the American Heart Association, an estimated 98.6 million Americans have been diagnosed with high cholesterol. Cholesterol is considered high when it reaches 200 mg/dl or higher and is a major risk factor for heart disease. The first...
High cholesterol is one of the leading risk factors for developing heart disease which is the leading cause of death among adults in the United States. Fortunately your risk can be decreased by simply lowering your overall cholesterol level. Drug...
High cholesterol is bad, but cholesterol alone is not to blame. Cholesterol becomes attached to lipids called lipoproteins. Exactly hich lipoproteins it attaches to is where the real problem lies. High-density lipoproteins (HDL) carry cholesterol...
You need calcium for strong bones and teeth. This essential mineral helps muscles and blood vessels contract and expand, aids in the secretion of hormones and enzymes and is important in the relay of impulses within the nervous system. A...
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that one in every six adults suffers from high blood cholesterol levels, which remains a significant risk factor for heart disease, the No. 1 cause of death in the United States. Although...
Welchol is a brand name of the prescription drug colesevelam. It is part of the class of drugs known as bile acid sequestrants or bile acid binding resins. It is available in tablet form and is used to treat high cholesterol.
Your muscles, nerves and bones all rely on vitamin D to develop properly and maintain their normal function. As an adult, even if you get the recommended 600 to 800 international units of vitamin D daily, you may still be at risk of developing a...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance that our bodies need to keep us healthy. Good cholesterol helps keep bad cholesterol from building up in arteries. High levels of bad cholesterol can clog arteries and increase the risk of heart attack and stroke....
Your body requires the waxy substance cholesterol to support functions such as cell building, but having high cholesterol levels might result in health decline. Whether your high cholesterol levels are inherited or a direct result of dangerous...
Many medications may interfere with your body's ability to absorb iron. Not being able to properly absorb iron may lead to anemia. Common symptoms of anemia include fatigue and weakness, which happens because blood cells aren't getting enough...
High blood cholesterol is a major risk factor for heart disease -- the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Approximately 102.2 million people in the U.S. have a total cholesterol level greater than 200 mg/dL, a level...
Unhealthy cholesterol levels are a major risk factor for heart disease, heart attacks and stroke. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the U.S., according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, and lowering blood cholesterol...
High serum total and LDL cholesterol levels are risk factors for cardiovascular disease. They can increase risk of complications and mortality in patents with heart disease. The American Heart Association says doctors can use drug therapy in...
Food is fuel for the body. However, excess food converts into triglycerides and stores in fat cells throughout the body. As the body needs more energy, hormones trigger the release of triglycerides from the fat cells. Excess triglycerides remain...
Lifestyle changes such as changing your diet, exercising regularly and losing weight are enough to bring cholesterol levels into a healthy range, for some people. If you have medical conditions or family history that is concerning, your doctor may...
Doctors prescribe Zetia to help manage high cholesterol. You can take Zetia alone or along with other cholesterol-reducing medications such as Mevacor (lovastatin), Zocor (simvastatin), Pravachol (pravastatin), Baycol (cerivastatin), Lipitor...
According to the Mayo Clinic every cell in your body contains cholesterol. Your body uses this waxy, fat-like substance to produce healthy cells and some hormones. Although cholesterol is found in a number of foods, your body makes all it needs to...
Cholesterol-lowering medications called statins often cause diarrhea as a side effect. Another type of medication used to lower cholesterol, called colestipol hydrochloride and sold as Colestid, decreases rather than increases diarrhea. Colestid...
If you are on medications, you need to be aware of how different supplements or components of your diet may affect the way your medications work in your body. When it comes to fiber, some medications may increase the need for soluble fiber, while...
Welchol, the brand of colesevelam, is an antilipemic classified as a bile acid sequestrant. The medication is available with a doctor's prescription for the treatment of high LDL level, which the bad cholesterol. Welchol may be used alone or with...
Cholesterol is a fatty material regularly found in greasy foods. Eating fast food meals and frozen TV dinners while not getting enough exercise can quickly lead to cholesterol buildup in the blood vessels. Sometimes, family history predisposes...
Whenever you add a supplement to your diet, you always want to first discuss it with your doctor. Even a benign supplement like a multivitamin can interact with certain medications. Cod liver oil is a multivitamin supplement given for its high...
You have more than one type of cholesterol, each requiring a different medication, or combination of medications, to effectively lower your cholesterol levels. It is never a "one size fits all" situation, and in some cases, your doctor may need to...
According to a survey by the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 47 percent of people who took a dietary supplement chose one containing antioxidants. Researchers think antioxidants---which include beta-carotene, a form of...
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance produced naturally by your body to help form cells and hormones, according to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute. Two main types of cholesterol exist; LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good...
A high cholesterol level can contribute to the hardening and thickening of your arteries, which puts you at an increased risk of heart disease. If you have a high cholesterol level, it is vital that you make changes in your life to help lower your...
Triglycerides are fats that circulate in the blood and are available for conversion to energy. Levels above 150 mg/dL, or milligrams per deciliter, are considered elevated, and may increase the risk for a heart attack or stroke. High triglycerides...
Reducing high cholesterol levels is an important way to protect the heart against coronary atery disease, heart attack and other serious medical conditions. While some people may benefit from more exercise and a more healthful diet, others need...
Approximately 17 percent of adult Americans have high cholesterol, reports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. If you are among them, you face a greater risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke than those with healthy cholesterol...
