Diet alone WILL NOT lower cholesterol. Many are not aware of a sub-type of cholesterol called apo a. That are at best only transiently responsive to diet.
This type of cholesterol needs a medication, and no amount of dieting or exercise will lower this type of cholesterol.
Now, Iam going to go into the mechanism of action for this type of cholesterol.I will try to make this simple and not go into the long terms associated with this genetic cholesterol.
An independent risk factor for artery clogging cholesterol(atherosclerosis).
Lipoprotein a(LPa. This type of cholesterol carries a another sub type of cholesterol called apo B (When apo B is elevated it is considered a risk factor for heart disease)there is a molecular bridge that forms between apo a apo B and this leads to cholesterol build up on the arteries.
To explain, Mechanism of Action it is
Just the way things work.
Signing off for now
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
WHAT IS LIPOPROTEIN a?
Lipoprotein a is sub-type of low density lipoprotein. This genetic type of lipoprotein is not tested for when a cholesterol panel in ordered. Usually what is done is Total Cholesterol with LDL and HDL.
This panel is not enough to diagnose the sub-type of cholesterol that leads to early heart disease and stroke.
So, look into your family history for those who have had early heart disease and stroke. This is your first clue and asked to be tested for this genetic sub-type.
I was told I had this type of cholesterol all my life and never knew it until I had this problem with my carotids
To understand how this type of cholesterol works on the bodies arteries. An understanding of how this type of lipid competes with the bodies ability to break down clots is necessary.
Our bodies have a unique way of breaking down clots(this is called the fibrinolytic system). This system is compromised when lpa competes on the arteries lining with a substance called plamsminogen(plamsminogen is what breaks down clots) without it, the body is placed in a hypercoaguable state(prone to clotting).
I will go into more at a later posting on this mechanism of action.
Stay well
Laura
This panel is not enough to diagnose the sub-type of cholesterol that leads to early heart disease and stroke.
So, look into your family history for those who have had early heart disease and stroke. This is your first clue and asked to be tested for this genetic sub-type.
I was told I had this type of cholesterol all my life and never knew it until I had this problem with my carotids
To understand how this type of cholesterol works on the bodies arteries. An understanding of how this type of lipid competes with the bodies ability to break down clots is necessary.
Our bodies have a unique way of breaking down clots(this is called the fibrinolytic system). This system is compromised when lpa competes on the arteries lining with a substance called plamsminogen(plamsminogen is what breaks down clots) without it, the body is placed in a hypercoaguable state(prone to clotting).
I will go into more at a later posting on this mechanism of action.
Stay well
Laura
HOW I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CHOLESTEROLS LPa(a low density lipoprotein)
Some may have read my story before,but because of some technical problems I'm recreating my story.
Two years ago I was instructing some students in the clinical laboratory when a piece of glass went into my eye. I went to the eye doctor and he said I had a corneal abrasion.
I thought this might be a good time to visit my family doctor for a check up, when he placed the stethoscope on my neck he told me he wanted me to have an ultrasound of the carotids. This test came up positive with a 50 to 70% occlusion in the carotids.
Needless to say I was in a panic mode. I had the surgery that was necessary for opening the carotids and I left the hospital with all my facilities.
When I went back for a check up, my family doctor told me I had a good chance of having artery blockages in my heart.
Now, I'm still dealing with the carotids, and was not ready to hear my heart might have problems. I literally ran from the office,saying, we are not going to do this. When I got home, I began to think about my family history. My father's sister died in her earlier 60ties. I remembered her eyes had these raised pieces of skin. I was told they were cholesterol deposits.
I just finished studying for a specialty in my field. Iam a Medical Technologist with a specialty in hematology and a BS degree in clinical laboratory sciences.
I went to my books and this where I found the genetic cholesterol called apolipoprotein a.
I live near a city that has two very large medical communities, and found a doctor who specializes in lipids.
I was tested and diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia. I inherited one gene from my parents, so Iam considered to be Heterozygous for the disease.
I will go into my treatment at a later posting.
Stay well,
Laura
Two years ago I was instructing some students in the clinical laboratory when a piece of glass went into my eye. I went to the eye doctor and he said I had a corneal abrasion.
I thought this might be a good time to visit my family doctor for a check up, when he placed the stethoscope on my neck he told me he wanted me to have an ultrasound of the carotids. This test came up positive with a 50 to 70% occlusion in the carotids.
Needless to say I was in a panic mode. I had the surgery that was necessary for opening the carotids and I left the hospital with all my facilities.
When I went back for a check up, my family doctor told me I had a good chance of having artery blockages in my heart.
Now, I'm still dealing with the carotids, and was not ready to hear my heart might have problems. I literally ran from the office,saying, we are not going to do this. When I got home, I began to think about my family history. My father's sister died in her earlier 60ties. I remembered her eyes had these raised pieces of skin. I was told they were cholesterol deposits.
I just finished studying for a specialty in my field. Iam a Medical Technologist with a specialty in hematology and a BS degree in clinical laboratory sciences.
I went to my books and this where I found the genetic cholesterol called apolipoprotein a.
I live near a city that has two very large medical communities, and found a doctor who specializes in lipids.
I was tested and diagnosed with familial hypercholesterolemia. I inherited one gene from my parents, so Iam considered to be Heterozygous for the disease.
I will go into my treatment at a later posting.
Stay well,
Laura
Monday, November 30, 2009
CHOLESTEROL AND GENETIC ISSUES WOULD LIKE TO CLARIFY THE MEANING OF DIVERTICULOSIS
In a previous post I mentioned to be careful when eating nuts as there are people who have intestional problems and nuts can be caught in pouches of the intestine.
The meaning of the following words are cited in Dorland's Medical dictionary
Diverticulosis The presence of diverticula
Diverticula A blind pouch
Diverticulitis Inflammation of a diverticulum ( the plural of divertiiculum is diverticula)
The essence of what I wanted to convey was to be careful when eating nuts as they can cause inflammation to the diverticulum.
Sometimes we find a food that is being touted for it's health benefit and forget that there may be reasons why we should not partake of this healthy food.
Hope this clarifies the meaning of the above conditions.
The post stated the cholesterol lowering effects of eating nuts and there health benefits.
The meaning of the following words are cited in Dorland's Medical dictionary
Diverticulosis The presence of diverticula
Diverticula A blind pouch
Diverticulitis Inflammation of a diverticulum ( the plural of divertiiculum is diverticula)
The essence of what I wanted to convey was to be careful when eating nuts as they can cause inflammation to the diverticulum.
Sometimes we find a food that is being touted for it's health benefit and forget that there may be reasons why we should not partake of this healthy food.
Hope this clarifies the meaning of the above conditions.
The post stated the cholesterol lowering effects of eating nuts and there health benefits.
Sunday, November 29, 2009
HYPERTENSION A RISK FACTOR FOR CHOLESTEROL AND GENETIC CHOLESTEROL
Whether you have high cholesterol or genetic cholesterol the risk factors are the same. A good definition of blood pressure is the rate of flow of blood through the arteries. This can be equated to tires on a car what happens when you put too much air in the tire. This tire puts pressure against the walls and with all this pressure the tire will burst. This is a rather simplified explanation,but you can visually see what happens to the tire, it is not so easy to see what happens in the body to our arteries.
Blood pressure is the force of pressure placed against the arteries walls,and it is in our health's best interest to make sure our blood pressure is kept low.
Who is at risk
People with close blood relatives
who have it
People over 35 years of age
Overweight people
Africian americans
People who use too much salt
People who use too much alcohol
Woman who take birth control pills
Inactive people
Pregnant women
The reason why blood pressure elevates is not known and there is no known cure, but there are ways in which we can control this silent killer. Yes silent, the only way one knows when their blood pressure is high is to have it tested.
It is called the silent killer for this reason. So, be sure to get it checked, you can have it done anywhere, many grocery stores and malls have devices installed whereby you can take the readings yourself.
What is a normal blood pressure? This needs a little explanation.There are two numbers that are given the top number is the systolic number and should not be over 140mmhg(this is the number that represents the heart beating). The buttom number is the dystolic number and this is the heart at rest and should not go over 90mmhg.
If ones blood pressure consistently goes over 140 and 90 , then it is time for medications.
If you are monitoring your blood pressure bring your readings to your doctor and he will evaluate the readings and let you know if medication is required.
The above is being an advocate for your own health
Stay Healthy,
laura
Blood pressure is the force of pressure placed against the arteries walls,and it is in our health's best interest to make sure our blood pressure is kept low.
Who is at risk
People with close blood relatives
who have it
People over 35 years of age
Overweight people
Africian americans
People who use too much salt
People who use too much alcohol
Woman who take birth control pills
Inactive people
Pregnant women
The reason why blood pressure elevates is not known and there is no known cure, but there are ways in which we can control this silent killer. Yes silent, the only way one knows when their blood pressure is high is to have it tested.
It is called the silent killer for this reason. So, be sure to get it checked, you can have it done anywhere, many grocery stores and malls have devices installed whereby you can take the readings yourself.
What is a normal blood pressure? This needs a little explanation.There are two numbers that are given the top number is the systolic number and should not be over 140mmhg(this is the number that represents the heart beating). The buttom number is the dystolic number and this is the heart at rest and should not go over 90mmhg.
If ones blood pressure consistently goes over 140 and 90 , then it is time for medications.
If you are monitoring your blood pressure bring your readings to your doctor and he will evaluate the readings and let you know if medication is required.
The above is being an advocate for your own health
Stay Healthy,
laura
CHOLESTEROL AND GENETIC ISSUES SAYS THANKS TO OUR TROOPS VIA XEROX
I was just sent this email and in this season of joy and happiness it would be nice to send our troops a thank you card. I know not all are in favor of what is being done in other counteries but as a mother and grandmother Iam sure our troops would be delighted to know that we are thinking of them. So, xerox has a web site www.let's say thanks.com. It is not hard to do once you go on the web site with a click of a few buttons it will be sent.
God Bless our Troops and the USA
Stay healthy
Laura
God Bless our Troops and the USA
Stay healthy
Laura
PHYTOSTEROLS AND CHOLESTEROL LOWERING
What are the good fats that are needed to replace the bad fats? The good fats are those that are polyunsaturated and monounsaturated.
Where do these good fats come from? The good fats are those that are plant based and not of animal origin. The animal orgin come from the meats that we eat. These are the fats that are considered artery clogging and lead to atherosclerosis.
What are phytosterols and phytoesterols?
The phytosterols, lets break the word down.
Phyto meaning plant based
Sterol is a solid alcohol orginiating from vegetables, and they have properities similiar to fats.
The sterols are being touted for there ability to lower low density lipoprotein(ldl).They can be consumed by substituing the daily fat intake. but must replace the saturated(animal fats) in the diet. They are fats and care should be taken not to exceed 8gms of fats daily(especially if you are watching your fat intake).
Cholestoff is a product that is manufactured, and can be bought at most pharmacy type stores, if you are going this route it is the best way to obtain your intake of phytosterols, and not add many calories to your diet. Cholesttoff provides the 2gms. that is recommended.
As with any supplement that you take make sure you check with your family physician before going this route.
PS. Iam going to try and rewrite all the posts that I have lost. So, like I, be patient, as not being patient caused my loss of material.
Hopefully my stress reducing fish will be back soon.
STAY HEALTHY
Laura
Where do these good fats come from? The good fats are those that are plant based and not of animal origin. The animal orgin come from the meats that we eat. These are the fats that are considered artery clogging and lead to atherosclerosis.
What are phytosterols and phytoesterols?
The phytosterols, lets break the word down.
Phyto meaning plant based
Sterol is a solid alcohol orginiating from vegetables, and they have properities similiar to fats.
The sterols are being touted for there ability to lower low density lipoprotein(ldl).They can be consumed by substituing the daily fat intake. but must replace the saturated(animal fats) in the diet. They are fats and care should be taken not to exceed 8gms of fats daily(especially if you are watching your fat intake).
Cholestoff is a product that is manufactured, and can be bought at most pharmacy type stores, if you are going this route it is the best way to obtain your intake of phytosterols, and not add many calories to your diet. Cholesttoff provides the 2gms. that is recommended.
As with any supplement that you take make sure you check with your family physician before going this route.
PS. Iam going to try and rewrite all the posts that I have lost. So, like I, be patient, as not being patient caused my loss of material.
Hopefully my stress reducing fish will be back soon.
STAY HEALTHY
Laura
CHOLESTEROL AND GENETIC SITE ISSUES
As you can tell my site has had a few problems. I am not going to go into what happened, but I am hoping google will help me out and give me a christmas gift of the posts that were dismantled.
Now for cholesterol issues. My last issues dealt with the disease that contributes to too little cholesterol,called abetalipoproteinemia. In this disease the carrier for cholesterol is not able to manufacture cholesterol.
I found the reason for this is the inability for cholesterol to build or synthesize in the cell,and has an inherent error.
I got to thinking and remembered a story about a little boy whose parents defied medicine and came up with an oil that was able to reverse the damage done by his medical condition.
He had a leukodysterphy in this condition the body does not have the correct molecular structure to protect the bodies myelin. Myelin is the sheath that protects the nerves. This disease is devastating in that the life span of those who have it, is altered . It is carried by the mother and effects primarily males in the family.
This oil has to be given before symptoms appear,by doing so, the disease does not effect the body and the majority of the children who receive this oil do not go on to develop the disease.
Could this oil be beneficial to those who have too much cholesterol or a genetic variant. Maybe so.
Ten years ago when I was in Italy. The guide who escourted me through Italy, her father was a physician. Said, a teaspoon of olive oil a day will keep the arteries clear.
I hope that research will continue and the medical community look into the benefits of this treatment. It just seems to be too simple of a treatment.
Before you embark on this avenue make sure you check with your physician. In the disease for Abetalipoprotenemia the treatment is to restrict triglycerides and supplement with vitamins A K D E.
The role of vitamin E in this disease in unknown. If you remember a few years back. Vitamin E was touted as a vitamin to take it protected the arteries, and then the medical community said this was not a good course of treatment and I remember my mother was taking Vit E and her doctor told her to discontinue its usage.
In my course of statin treatment I developed a myostitis and myalga(this is sore achy muscles). Statins lower the production of cholesterol by altering the bodies ability to manufacture cholesterol. The body does need cholesterol, just not in large amounts, and have the right cholesterol, and not genetic alternatives.
The course of olive oil is still under investigation by the medical community. I would keep informed on this form of treatment, and don't let it get lost in the medical shuffle.
Hope all had a Happy Thanksgiving
Stay Healthy
Laura
Now for cholesterol issues. My last issues dealt with the disease that contributes to too little cholesterol,called abetalipoproteinemia. In this disease the carrier for cholesterol is not able to manufacture cholesterol.
I found the reason for this is the inability for cholesterol to build or synthesize in the cell,and has an inherent error.
I got to thinking and remembered a story about a little boy whose parents defied medicine and came up with an oil that was able to reverse the damage done by his medical condition.
He had a leukodysterphy in this condition the body does not have the correct molecular structure to protect the bodies myelin. Myelin is the sheath that protects the nerves. This disease is devastating in that the life span of those who have it, is altered . It is carried by the mother and effects primarily males in the family.
This oil has to be given before symptoms appear,by doing so, the disease does not effect the body and the majority of the children who receive this oil do not go on to develop the disease.
Could this oil be beneficial to those who have too much cholesterol or a genetic variant. Maybe so.
Ten years ago when I was in Italy. The guide who escourted me through Italy, her father was a physician. Said, a teaspoon of olive oil a day will keep the arteries clear.
I hope that research will continue and the medical community look into the benefits of this treatment. It just seems to be too simple of a treatment.
Before you embark on this avenue make sure you check with your physician. In the disease for Abetalipoprotenemia the treatment is to restrict triglycerides and supplement with vitamins A K D E.
The role of vitamin E in this disease in unknown. If you remember a few years back. Vitamin E was touted as a vitamin to take it protected the arteries, and then the medical community said this was not a good course of treatment and I remember my mother was taking Vit E and her doctor told her to discontinue its usage.
In my course of statin treatment I developed a myostitis and myalga(this is sore achy muscles). Statins lower the production of cholesterol by altering the bodies ability to manufacture cholesterol. The body does need cholesterol, just not in large amounts, and have the right cholesterol, and not genetic alternatives.
The course of olive oil is still under investigation by the medical community. I would keep informed on this form of treatment, and don't let it get lost in the medical shuffle.
Hope all had a Happy Thanksgiving
Stay Healthy
Laura
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