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High Cholesterol

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Facts about High Cholesterol:

Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that is made in the body by the liver. Cholesterol forms part of every cell in the body and serves many vital functions. Our bodies need cholesterol to maintain healthy cell walls, make hormones, make vitamin D and make bile acids (which aid in fat digestion).

High levels of cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of heart disease. Your cholesterol levels tend to rise as you get older. There are usually no signs or symptoms that you have high blood cholesterol, but it can be detected with a blood test. You are likely to have high cholesterol if members of your family have it, if you are overweight or if you eat a lot of fatty foods.

Sources:
eHealthMD: http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/lowercholesterol/LC_whatis.html
MedlinePlus: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/cholesterol.html

Types of Cholesterol:

The three main types of cholesterol complexes used to transport cholesterol include:

· Low density lipoprotein (LDL) -- which is referred to as "bad cholesterol"

· High density lipoprotein (HDL) -- which is referred to as "good cholesterol"

· Very low density lipoprotein (VLDL).

People may refer to these lipoprotein complexes as different cholesterol types. However, the cholesterol inside them is the same -- the complexes are just different in how much other stuff they are transporting and where they transport it to.

For example, LDL is almost all cholesterol and transports cholesterol to the tissues that need it. VLDL has a lot of triglycerides along with cholesterol, and its main function is to transport triglycerides to the cells that need it. HDL also is mostly cholesterol, but this cholesterol complex is considered good because it picks up the extra cholesterol that was dropped off by the LDLs and brings it to your liver. This way, your liver can repackage it to use it later, or simply get rid of it.

Sources:
eHealthMD: http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/lowercholesterol/LC_whatis.html
eMedTV.com: http://cholesterol.emedtv.com/high-cholesterol/types-of-cholesterol.html

What are the causes of High Cholesterol?

Several drugs and diseases can bring about high cholesterol, but, for most people, a high-fat diet and inherited risk factors may be the main causes. Your doctor will rule out the possibility that you have an underactive thyroid or kidney or liver disease.

Heredity: Your genes influence how high your LDL (bad) cholesterol is by affecting how fast LDL is made and removed from the blood.

Weight: Excess weight may modestly increase your LDL (bad) cholesterol level. If you are overweight and have a high LDL cholesterol level, losing weight may help you lower it. Weight loss especially helps to lower triglycerides and raise HDL (good) cholesterol levels.

Physical activity/exercise: Regular physical activity may lower triglycerides and raise HDL cholesterol levels.

Age and sex: Before menopause, women usually have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. As women and men age, their blood cholesterol levels rise until about 60-65 years of age. After about age 50 years, women often have higher total cholesterol levels than men of the same age.

Alcohol use: Moderate (1-2 drinks daily) alcohol intake increases HDL (good) cholesterol but does not lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.

Mental stress: Several studies have shown that stress raises blood cholesterol levels over the long term. One way that stress may do this is by affecting your habits.

Sources:
eMedicineHealth: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/high_cholesterol/page2_em.htm
National Heart Lung and Blood Institute:
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Hbc/HBC_Causes.html

What are the symptoms of High Cholesterol?

High cholesterol does not make you feel sick. It is usually found during a routine cholesterol and triglycerides test, a blood test that measures cholesterol levels. You may first discover it when you are diagnosed with a condition that is caused in part by high cholesterol, such as coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke, peripheral arterial disease, or inflammation of the pancreas.

Some people with lipid disorders, such as familial hypercholesterolemia, may have other distinct symptoms such as deposits of excess cholesterol that collect in the skin. These cholesterol deposits can also cause bumps in tendons in the hands or feet.

If you have a routine blood test during a physical exam or while attending a health fair or screening at a shopping center, your blood may reveal a high total cholesterol level, which would require further testing to determine your LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels (this is known as a lipid panel).

The National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines suggest that everyone aged 20 years and older should have their blood cholesterol level measured at least once every 5 years. It is best to have a blood test called a lipoprotein profile to find out your cholesterol numbers.

Sources:
eMedicineHealth: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/high_cholesterol/page3_em.htm#High%20Cholesterol%20Symptoms
WebMD: http://www.webmd.com/cholesterol-management/tc/high-cholesterol-symptoms

What treatments are available for High Cholesterol?

Making gradual and permanent changes in your diet and lifestyle can help you lower your cholesterol levels. Not only will these changes reduce your risk for developing heart disease, but they will also reduce your risk for other serious conditions such as high blood pressure, cancer, stroke, and diabetes.

The main lifestyle changes to help you lower your cholesterol levels are:

· Reduce fat and cholesterol in your diet.

· Eat more foods rich in carbohydrates and fiber, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.

· Increase your level of physical activity.

· Maintain a healthy body weight.

If following a low-saturated fat, low-cholesterol diet, increasing your physical activity, and losing weight have not lowered your risk for developing coronary heart disease after about 3 months, your doctor may consider prescribing a cholesterol-lowering medication:

Statins: Statins lower LDL cholesterol levels more than other types of drugs. Statins inhibit an enzyme, HMG-CoA reductase, that controls the rate of cholesterol production in the body. These drugs lower cholesterol by slowing down the production of cholesterol and by increasing the liver's ability to remove the LDL cholesterol already in the blood.

Bile acid sequestrants: These drugs bind with cholesterol-containing bile acids in the intestines and are then eliminated in the stool.

Cholesterol absorption inhibitors: This new class of drugs was approved in late 2002. The drug inhibits cholesterol absorption in the gut and has few, if any, side effects.

Nicotinic acid or niacin: This water-soluble B vitamin improves all lipoproteins when given in doses well above the vitamin requirement. Nicotinic acid lowers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels, while raising HDL cholesterol levels.

Fibrates: These cholesterol-lowering drugs are primarily effective in lowering triglycerides and, to a lesser extent, increasing HDL cholesterol levels.

Hormone replacement therapy: The risk of heart disease is increased in women after menopause. The increasing risk may be related to loss of estrogen that comes with menopause.

Sources:
eMedicineHealth: http://www.emedicinehealth.com/high_cholesterol/page6_em.htm#Medical%20Treatment
eHealthMd: http://www.ehealthmd.com/library/lowercholesterol/LC_best.html

HerbaCal High Cholesterol Testimonials:

· Mary Gelb said, "I started taking Herbalife products 6 weeks ago. I take Formula 1 & 2, Cell Activator, Niteworks, and Schizandra. Nine years ago my Doctor put me on Zocor (a cholesterol lowering medication). After 39 days on Herbalife products, my annual physical came due and I saw my Doctor again. As soon as the Doctor saw my total cholesterol (157) and LDL (95) readings he told me that I did not need to be taking medication any longer."

· Gary Zeiger tells Herbacall, "Before I started on Herbalife, my cholesterol was in the upper 300's. I was able to bring it to: 204, HDL 15, LDL 157 by diet alone in 2/00 and my doctor put me on Lipitor. In 3/02, my Chol was 142, HDL 29, LDL 93 and I started Herbalife. in 10/02: Chol is 121, HDL 31, LDL 64 and my doctor removed me from Lipitor and said "whatever you are doing with Herbalife, keep doing it". So, what am I doing? The Ultimate program (though I am not very religous about the shakes since I do not have a weight problem). Plus, I add HerbalLifeline 1 tablet 3x/day and 1 Cardio-Toconox at Bedtime. Oh, did I mention I am OFF Lipitor?? YEAH!!!"

· Chandler Barnes said proudly, "I had started the ultimate program for weight loss, and on routine blood work my total cholesterol had dropped from 220 to 172! My HDL (the good guys) had stayed the same at about 90. I love ThermoBond!"

· Want more information and more Herbalife testimonials?

Visit HerbaCall.com for more detailed information on many health conditions, news, and research links. HerbaCall has many testimonials on Diabetes and other conditions. Herbalife products can help calm your digestive system!