Zetia is the brand name for the drug ezetimibe. It is the first of a new class of cholesterol-lowering medications. Zetia is not a statin. Statins lower cholesterol by preventing the liver from synthesizing new cholesterol, while Zetia lowers...
Congestive heart failure affects 4.8 million people in the United States and there are half a million new cases annually, according to the "5-Minute Clinical Consult." Congestive heart failure is a disease that occurs when the heart can no longer...
Blood lipid levels play a significant role in the health of individuals. High-density lipoproteins help to remove the buildup of plaque in the bloodstream. Low-density lipoproteins contribute to the buildup of plaque in the bloodstream that causes...
Lipids are fatty acids that supply the body with a secondary source of energy when other reserves are used. They are stored in the cells and in fatty tissue and come from food. High levels that circulate in the bloodstream in the form of...
Fish oil tablets containing the fatty acid omega-3 are often recommended as a natural way to improve your health. The American Heart Association acknowledges that, although eating fish two times a week is the preferred method of getting adequate...
Lisinopril, often sold under the brand name Prinivil, is a prescription medication used to treat high blood pressure. Although lisinopril is generally safe, it may cause side effects and interactions with other medications. Lisinopril may possibly...
Plaque is a substance made up of fat, cholesterol and calcium that builds up in the coronary arteries that supply the heart with oxygen-rich blood, according to the National Heart, Blood and Lung Institute. A buildup of plaque increases risk of...
Niacin, or vitamin B3, is a water-soluble nutrient belonging to the B complex family. The term "niacin" is used to describe two chemically different substances, nicotinic acid and nicotinamide. Both of these compounds can be converted in your body...
Pravastatin is a prescription drug that lowers levels of blood cholesterol and other lipid compounds, such as triglycerides and low density lipoproteins, also called LDL cholesterol. Pravastatin was developed by Bristol Myers Squibb and marketed...
Cholesterol is the precursor molecule for steroid hormones, several vitamins and is found in cell membranes, where it is responsible for permeability of the cell. Even though cholesterol is necessary for cellular functions, an increased level in...
In 1961, when scientists working on the Framingham Heart Project sponsored by the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute first identified cholesterol as a risk factor for heart disease, they probably had little notion how important that...
Although your body needs cholesterol to make steroid hormones, bile salts and vitamin D, too much cholesterol can lead to coronary artery disease. Doctors sometimes prescribe statin drugs to lower blood cholesterol levels. Natural remedies, like...
Lipid disorders, or dyslipidemias, affect the levels of various forms of fat in the bloodstream. These disorders may arise due to inherited abnormalities or develop over time. Lipids travel through the blood, coated in proteins to make them...
Coenzymes and vitamins share a close relationship that is vital for good health. Coenzymes occur naturally within the body. Like vitamins and minerals, they aid and support many essential life processes. If your diet includes plenty of fruits and...
Nearly 65 years of clinical research has furnished ample evidence that lipids, or fats, in your bloodstream can impact your health in significant ways. In 1961, 13 years after the Framingham Heart Study was launched, scientists determined that a...
Niacin is a water-soluble vitamin belonging to the B-complex family. The term "niacin" actually applies to two different compounds -- niacinamide and nicotinic acid -- both of which are converted in your body to a physiologically active molecule...
Flaxseed, sometimes called linseed, comes from the flax plant. It has been used for medicinal purposes since the time of the ancient Egyptians, primarily for its ability to add bulk to stools and produce a laxative effect. Today, flaxseed is used...
Hyperlipidemia is a condition caused by increased levels of cholesterol and triglycerides. Your cholesterol contains two different types of lipids. LDL or low-density lipoprotein is your bad cholesterol that can clog your arteries. HDL or...
Triacylglycerols, or triglycerides, are molecules your body uses to transport and store fatty acids. Fatty acids are a valuable source of energy for your cells, and they serve as the precursors for sex hormones, cholesterol, vitamin D and other...
Triglycerides are a form of lipid, or fat, created by combining one molecule of glycerol with three fatty acid molecules. According to "The Merck Manual of Diagnosis and Therapy," triglycerides make up more than 95 percent of the fat in your diet,...
Triglycerides are the primary form of fat, or lipid, found in your blood, and they serve as the principal form of fat storage in your body. A high serum triglyceride level is believed to contribute to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the...
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that taking progesterone alone will lower your triglycerides, a type of artery-clogging fat that increases your risk for heart attacks and strokes. If you take estrogen together with progesterone, a...
When you eat a meal, glucose levels in your blood increase. This stimulates the pancreas to a release a hormone called insulin. Insulin then helps glucose to transit from blood into the cells. Inside of the cells, glucose is used for generation of...
Almost every time you open a magazine or turn on a television, you're likely to be reminded to eat less fat. Fifty years ago, scientists involved with the Framingham Heart Study determined that a high blood cholesterol level increased a person's...
Insulin is a hormone produced by your pancreas whenever your blood glucose rises, such as following the consumption of a meal. Insulin stimulates the cells in your muscles, liver and fat tissue to absorb glucose from your bloodstream, which...
Triglycerides are a type of lipid that your body uses to store fatty acids and to transport them from place to place. Fatty acids are needed for energy production and as substrates for synthesizing cholesterol, hormones, vitamins and immune...
Abnormalities in lipid levels, known as dyslipidemia, are associated with an increased risk for heart disease. High total and LDL cholesterol, high triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol have all been identified as independent risk factors for...
Fats, or lipids, are a major source of energy from your diet. According to the U.S Department of Health and Human Services, few Americans obtain less than 20 percent of their total calories from fat. Compared to carbohydrates and proteins -- the...
Many women equate aging with wrinkles. Skin aging is related to damaging molecules known as free radicals that affect the structure of skin cells, according to "Skin Therapy Letter." Antioxidants provide protection against free radical damage and...
