Cholesterol refers to the waxy substance that is found in the lipids (fats) of your blood. High cholesterol increases the risk of heart disease because it causes fatty deposits to form in the blood vessels. These fatty deposits make it difficult...
Cinnamon has been used for thousands of years and continues to be popular today as a spice, flavoring agent, aromatic and herbal supplement. Cinnamon is also used to treat a variety of ailments, such as type 2 diabetes, but scientific evidence is...
Cholesterol refers to the waxy substance found in blood fats, or lipids. Although the body requires cholesterol to build healthy cells, high cholesterol can increase the risk of heart disease, warns MayoClinic.com. High cholesterol can cause fatty...
Traditional Chinese medicine has used red yeast rice for hundreds of years to promote good health. This supplement helps to lower your cholesterol, reducing your cardiovascular risk. Before using red yeast rice for heart disease, discuss your...
Cholesterol is a waxy substance produced by the liver and found in certain foods. Cholesterol travels throughout the bloodstream in little packages called lipoproteins, which are made up of blood fats called lipids and proteins. Triglycerides are...
Congenital heart disease describes a defect in the structure of the heart or its vessels that occurs during fetal development. Congenital heart disease can be either mild or severe, and treatment options depend on the type and severity of the...
Hypothyroidism is a serious condition that causes an insufficient production of thyroid hormone. Among other things, this can have a significant effect on your metabolism. Therefore, a proper diet and exercise routine can prove to be effective in...
Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, and it currently affects 2.2 million Americans, according to the American Heart Association. The irregular, rapid heart rate associated with atrial fibrillation...
Lexapro is a brand name in the United States for escitalopram oxalate, a prescription antidepressant medication that is used to treat symptoms of depression or anxiety in diagnosed individuals. This antidepressant belongs to the class of drugs...
Restless legs syndrome is a condition that causes a strong urge to move the legs as well as causing unusual sensations such as tingling, aching, crawling and itching. The symptoms may also affect the arms. The urge to move the extremities occurs...
The time it takes to lower your cholesterol depends on a number of factors, all of which vary for every person. Most important is your understanding of the changes you must make, the guidelines in place to make them and why these guidelines are in...
Folic acid is one of the B vitamins. Because it is water soluble, a source is needed every day. It is found in many foods including fortified breakfast cereals, peas, brussel sprouts, fruits and many others. Folic acid is needed for many cell...
Calculating your cholesterol ratio can provide useful information about your risk for heart disease. According to the American Heart Association, some physicians and cholesterol technicians use the ratio of total cholesterol to HDL, or high...
Heart palpitations are abrupt increases in heart rate, most often accompanied by sensations of pounding or fluttering. While occasional heart palpitations are common and rarely require treatment, significant or frequent changes in heart rate may...
Diet and exercise are words you hear all the time. Become educated on the benefits of diet and exercise as a way to understand why eating a healthy diet and participating in a regular exercise program should be a personal goal of yours. When you...
The coronary arteries are the two blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. The right coronary artery brings blood to the right side of the heart and the left coronary artery brings blood to the left side of the heart. In a healthy individual,...
The American Heart Association recommends, starting at the age of 20, that all Americans have a cholesterol test, otherwise called a fasting lipoprotein panel, every five years. A fasting lipoprotein panel, performed through a blood test, provides...
High blood pressure is one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that high blood pressure affects nearly one out of every three people in America. This equates to 31 percent of...
The American Heart Association estimates that 23.1 percent of men and 18.3 percent of women in the United States smoke. Smoking can cause serious health problems, including heart disease, stroke and cancer. Fortunately, many treatment options...
Pulmonary heart disease, or cor pulmonale, is a condition where the right side of the heart fails, caused by long-term high pressure in the right ventricle and pulmonary arteries. In a normal heart, the right side pumps blood under lower pressure,...
Smoking cigarettes can cause a variety of ailments to the lungs, heart and other vital organs. When you smoke, harmful chemicals enter the lungs and penetrate the blood, eventually causing destruction to surrounding tissue. According to the...
If you have coronary heart disease, a cardiac rehab program can offer you a structured opportunity to reduce your risk of heart attacks, relieve recurring chest pain and improve your overall health. Heart rehab program options vary, but most use a...
Grapefruit seed extract is an herbal supplement sold to treat infections such as fungal nail infections. In its purest form, grapefruit seed extract consists of only seeds and pulp -- the remains left over after a grapefruit has been juiced....
Cholesterol is a substance produced in your liver that you need for a variety of vital purposes, including hormone production, protection of your nerves and formation of cell walls throughout your body. If you have a disorder called familial...
The hibiscus flower has a tangy taste and is a popular ingredient in many teas that you may drink, but it also has a wide range of medicinal uses, such as digestive ailments, liver disorders, and fever. Hibiscus is also being tested for possible...
Complementary and alternative medicine is slowly moving westward, and modern medicine is finally taking notice. Touted for its immune-boosting properties for thousands of years, the medicinal root of the astragalus plant shows promise for the...
Heart bypass surgery, also called coronary bypass surgery, is performed to restore blood flow to your heart when a section of an artery in your heart is blocked. If you have heart disease, bypass surgery is one of multiple potential treatment...
Hibiscus sabdariffa is a woody, shrub-like plant native to Africa, Europe and Asia. It is also known as roselle, rosella, sorrel and flor de Jamaica. The leaves of the plant enhance pork, chicken or fish dishes in Indian cuisine, and the flower...
According to the America Heart Association's statistics on heart disease, about 1.3 million Americans have coronary artery disease (CAD). More than half of those die before getting adequate medical treatment. The Framingham Heart Study and the...
