Hyperlipidemia

Hyperlipidemia, also known as dyslipidemia or high cholesterol is a condition for abnormally high levels of fats (lipids) in the blood, which include cholesterol and triglycerides. Lipids typically include cholesterol levels, lipoproteins, chylomicrons, VLDL, LDL, apolipoproteins, and HDL

The most common type of hyperlipidemia is high cholesterol or hypercholesterolemia, means the patient have too much non-HDL cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol in his blood.

The imbalance of cholesterol in the blood caused by a combination of having too much LDL cholesterol and not enough HDL cholesterol to clear it up. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol assists in regulating cholesterol levels to prevent imbalances that would increase the risk of atherosclerotic vascular disease.

Too much cholesterol (200 mg/dL to 239 mg/dL is borderline high and 240 mg/dL is high) is not healthy because it can create roadblocks in the artery highways where blood travels around the body. This condition increases fatty deposits in arteries and the risk of blockages.

Hyperlipidemia can be very serious if it is not controlled. If high cholesterol is untreated, it will be letting plaque accumulate inside of the blood vessels. Other forms of hyperlipidemia include hypertriglyceridemia and mixed hyperlipidemia, in which both cholesterol and triglyceride levels are high.

Foods that have cholesterol, saturated fat, and trans fats can raise your blood cholesterol level. These include: cheese, egg yolks, fried and processed foods, ice cream, pastries, red meat
Hyperlipidemia

HDL

Blood cholesterol

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the walls of cells in all parts of the body, from the nervous system to the liver to the heart.

Cholesterol is steroid, essential for life. It is structural component of plasma membrane and in the insulating layer of myelin wound around neurons, precursor of the synthesis of steroid hormone and vitamin D.

Cholesterol is transported through the blood stream by lipoproteins. There are two different types of lipoproteins: LDL or low-density lipoproteins and HDL or high-density lipoprotein.

Blood cholesterol level has a lot to do with the chances of getting heart disease. High levels of cholesterol in the blood (high blood cholesterol) can be serious because it can cause fatty deposits, called plaque, to build up in arteries, making blood flow more difficult.

High blood cholesterol is a serious condition that increases the risk for heart disease, the number one killer of Americans—women and men.

What Affects Cholesterol Levels?
*Diet: Saturated fat and cholesterol in the food can make blood cholesterol go up.
*Weight: Losing weight can help lowering LDL and raise HDL.
*Physical activity: Regular physical activity can lower LDL.
Blood cholesterol

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance found in the walls of cells in all parts of the body, from the nervous system to the liver to the heart. Cholesterol is a lipid that has multiple functions. It is of great importance for cell membrane structure and function in vertebrates.

Cholesterol is an amphipathic sterol present in higher animals. It’s a waxy lipid and distributed in body tissues. Cholesterol can be toxic in the form of polar lipid. Its molecular formula is C27H46O and molecular weight is 386.65354.

The body uses cholesterol to make hormones, bile acids, vitamin D, and other substances. Metabolites of cholesterol viz. bile salts, steroid hormones and oxysterols, fulfill important biological functions.

Cholesterol travels within the body by forming a complex with some proteins which are termed as lipoproteins. Two main kinds of lipoproteins carry cholesterol in the blood:
*Low density lipoprotein, or LDL (bad cholesterol)
*High density lipoprotein, or HDL (good cholesterol)

If there is too much cholesterol in the blood, some of the excess can become trapped in artery walls. Over time, this builds up and is called plaque. The plaque can narrow vessels and make them less flexible, a condition called atherosclerosis or “hardening of the arteries.”

High blood cholesterol is one of the major risk factors for heart disease. A risk factor is a condition that increases the chance of getting a disease. In fact, the higher blood cholesterol level, the greater risk for developing heart disease or having a heart attack.
What is cholesterol?

Familial dyslipidemic hypertension

Familial dyslipidemic hypertension (FDH), was defined as an observation of two or more siblings who both have hypertension and lipid abnormalities diagnosed before age 60.

These lipid abnormalities include HDL–cholesterol below the 10th percentile, triglycerides above the 90th percentile, or LDL cholesterol above the 90th percentile.

This syndrome occurs in about 12% of individuals with essential hypertension and in 1% to 2% of the general population. Hypertension and diabetes appear to increase coronary heart disease risk in part by causing an abnormality in lipid metabolism. Most affected are patients with FDH and noninsulin dependent diabetes mellitus.

In 16-year follow-up from the time of diagnosis of FDH, the NHLBI twin study showed that dyslipidemia and hypertension produced a coronary mortality rate four times higher than either dyslipidemia alone or hypertension alone.
Familial dyslipidemic hypertension

Healthy eating diet for people with high cholesterol

Being health conscious is more important now than ever before. When people neglect their body by eating high fat foods and not exercising people will run the risk of a whole host of health issues, including obesity and heart disease. Many people don't pay any attention to what they eat until their doctor tells them that their cholesterol level is too high. In most cases, if it's only moderately high the physician will suggest one of the diets for high cholesterol. If it's alarmingly high, medication may also be prescribed to lower it quickly.

One reason people are a little standoffish about the medications used to lower bad cholesterol is because some of them are allegedly causing liver damage. This is why doctor may simply tell to change the way people eat. A diet to lower cholesterol can be really effective if the person is serious and sticks to it. Although we have to change the way we view food, and give up certain foods, the benefits are well worth it.

Common sense plays a big part in healthy meal planning. If we're trying to get in better shape, there are many fatty foods that we need to avoid. Diets for high cholesterol suggest staying away from things like red meat and heavy cream sauces. Eggs are also another source of cholesterol so be sure to limit the number we eat each week.

Whole grain foods are something we'll need to get used to when we want to follow a meal plan like this. They have a positive impact on cholesterol in a short period of time. It's easy to make the change to whole grains and many of the diets for high cholesterol suggest eating whole grain cereals and making sandwiches from seven grain bread.

Fruits and vegetables are really the staple of any diet that is designed for optimum health. Fruit flavored yogurt is also found in many diets for high cholesterol but do be careful to avoid any that are sweetened with sugar.

Drink a lot of water each day. This is a good rule of thumb for everyone. If get tired of plain water, try adding a little juice of lemon or lime to it. Once we adjust our palate and become accustomed with the new way of eating, for sure we’ll never want to switch back to the French fries and burgers.
Healthy eating diet for people with high cholesterol

Celery and blood pressure

Celery is an excellent source of antioxidant nutrients such as vitamin C, beta-carotene and manganese. Celery contains calcium blockers and other plant chemicals that help prevent and treat arrhythmias and other compounds that help lower blood pressure and cholesterol.

Celery is high in apigenin, a chemical that expands the blood vessels and may help prevent high blood pressure. Celery is a traditional Asian folk remedy for high blood pressure.

In 1992, Minh Le, the father of a University of Chicago medical student was diagnosed with high blood pressure. His doctor prescribed standard antihypertensive medication.

Celery leaves

In the book The New Healing Herbs, Le ignored his doctor’s advice and began eating a ¼ pound of celery a day. Before long, his blood pressure dropped from 158/96 to 118/82.

Researchers at the University of Chicago Medical Center have found that very small amounts of a compound in celery, 3-n-butyl phthalide, can lower blood pressure in animals by 12-14 percent and cholesterol by about 7 percent.

It’s known in scientific circles that phthalide relaxes the muscles and arteries that regulate blood pressure.
Celery and blood pressure

Strawberries and blood cholesterol

Cholesterol is a lipid so it has very low solubility in water and blood. It is commonly associated with cardiovascular disease and its routine measurement is used to measure it potential health risk.

High blood serum cholesterol levels are often correlated with excessive plaque deposits in the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

Strawberries have a compelling health story that features emerging evidence of their ability to lower the risk of various disease: high blood cholesterol associated vascular disease, including coronary artery disease; chronic inflammation. Strawberries contain salicylates, the same compounds used to make aspirin.

Researches also believe these compounds may discourage the formation of unwanted blood clots.

At the University of Toronto, studies examining specific dietary effects related to lowering blood cholesterol that people adhere to prescribed diet more faithfully and have reduced cholesterol levels when strawberries are included in daily meals.

Omega fatty acids, the only fat group which have been claimed as having beneficial medicinal effects on metabolism. Strawberry is one of the richest omega 3 sources among the fruits. Omega 3 fatty acids in strawberry dilate the blood vessels, decrease the cholesterol and bad cholesterol, protect from arteriosclerosis and hypertension.

Strawberries also contain vitamin P, also known as rutin. It is a valuable blood thinner and it increases the strength of blood vessel, plus promotes circulation. Fresh strawberries will promote reduced blood pressure. Strawberries and blood cholesterol

Avocado and blood cholesterol

Avocado and blood cholesterol
Avocado is a very dense fruit, packed with nutrients. It is especially rich in vitamin A. It also contains plenty of B vitamins, especially, folic acid, calcium, iron, 9 essential amino acids and a mountain of potassium.

The avocado has shown to benefit circulation, lower cholesterol and dilate blood vessels. It’s true that avocados are high in fat – one reason they’ve earned the nick name “butter pear.” But it’s primary fat, monounsaturated oleic acid ((also concentrated in olive oil), acts as an antioxidant to block LDL cholesterol.

In 1996 study in Mexico showed that from 45 subjects who ate avocados every day for just one week experienced an average of 17 percent drop in total blood cholesterol. They cholesterol ratio also changed in a healthy way: Their LDL (low density lipoprotein) and triglycerides dropped significantly while their HDL (high density lipoprotein) levels climbed.

Avocados are also rich in beta-sitosterol which was shown to reduce cholesterol in human studies. Beta sitosterol is a widely prescribed anti-cholesterol drug that interferes with cholesterol absorption, but has serious side effects. Avocados have four times the amount found in oranges that had previously been cited as the richest fruit source of beta sitosterol.

Avocado has been found to have three times the amount of glutathione than in any other fruit. Glutathione is a powerful antioxidant shown to block thirty different carcinogens and to block the proliferation of the AIDS virus in test tube experiments. Studies have revealed a strong correlation between increased glutathione intakes (from food) an decreased risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer.
Avocado and blood cholesterol

Atherosclerosis and Food Diet

Atherosclerosis and Food Diet
Atherosclerosis is used to describe several pathological processes occurring in a number of arteries and is responsible for coronary heart disease, stroke and diseases of the peripheral circulatory system. Atherosclerosis is a disease characterized by deposition of a fatty material on the walls of the arteries. Their material consists essentially of cholesterol, triglycerides fats, fibrous tissue and red blood cells. As the deposit continues to build, it restricts blood flow through the artery. When the coronary artery is involved, heart attack and death may follow.

Human studies have indicated a link between atherosclerosis and diet exists. The intake of saturated fat s and cholesterol increases the likehoods of having elevated serum cholesterol which is associated with arthrosclerosis. Other factors in addition to diet are associated with the occurrence of atherosclerosis. Among them are obesity, hypertension, diabetes, sedentary living, cigarette smoking, and high blood cholesterol levels. The latter may be cause by diet or be of hereditary origin. Although diet does appear to be involved, it must be emphasized that its relative importance in contributing to atherosclerosis is not entirely clear. Since cholesterol, a sterol found in all animal tissues, eggs, milk and other foods of animal origin, is a component of the atherosclerosis deposit, it has been reasonable to hypothesize that foods high in cholesterol can contributed to atherosclerosis. Such food may increase the level of cholesterol in the blood. But other components of diet especially large quantities of saturated fats and sugars – also can result in high levels of blood cholesterol.

Furthermore, some investigators find that high levels of blood triglycerides correlate even more closely with coronary disease than do high levels of blood cholesterol. High levels of blood triglycerides also result from the consumption of large quantities of saturated fats and sugars. Whereas consumption of large quantities of saturated fats can increase levels of both cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood, liberal quantities of polyunsaturated vegetable oils tend to decrease blood cholesterol.
Atherosclerosis and Food Diet