LITTLE KNOWN RISK FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTE TO ATHEROSCLEROSIS

Many know that a healthy diet is the best way to keep dietary cholesterol levels in an acceptable range and exercise also contributes to improved cholesterol levels

Do not let your doctor overlook the following factors:

INCREASED HEMATOCRIT: I went into a lengthy post earlier in my writings, as to how an increased hematocrit contributes to artery damage. Increased hematocrits make the blood thicker and circulation is impaired. This can triple your risk for heart disease. As we age our bodies have a tendency to dehydrate and if living in a climate that is conducive to dehydration(Florida is an example of an area that has a climate that is much hotter then other parts of the country.)the need for fluids should not be ignored. Also, there are disease's that have an increased hct called Hemosiderosis and Hemochromatosis. Have your arteries checked with these conditions.

If you drink alcohol, (even the recommended amount) this is a dehydrating agent.

If you drink coffee, this also effects the fluid ratio in the body and leads to dehydration.

If you smoke, your body's fluid level decreases, there is a condition called secondary polycythemia and the fluid part of the blood is decreased in this condition making your blood much more viscous, and it is also called smokers polycythemia.

Now you know what smoking is doing to your body, and have a better understanding, as to why smoking is deliterous to your body.

Checking to see the color of your urine, this is a way of telling if you are dehydrated( if it is very dark yellow) not pale yellow or light yellow as this is the normal color of urine, drink some water. If you are thirsty it is time to start drinking water.

ELEVATED HOMOCYSTINE: this risk factor bears repeating and repeating, as many are not aware how detrimental homocystine is to your arteries(it promotes the increasing of cholesterol levels on the arteries.)

Get your Homocystine level checked There are supplements that can be taken to decrease the level.


INFECTIONS: More than half of adults with a common respiratory bacteria called Chlamydia Pneumoniae (this is not the sexually transmitted disease) have atherosclerosis(hardening of the arteries) Get tested for C Pneumoniae.

Who is at risk? those with repeated bronchitis or sinusitis infections,consider using a Neti pot to clean the sinuses.

What to take? usually a 14 day course with the antibiotic Zithromax.

Hostility and Anger is as much a risk to the coronary arteries, as high cholesterol and hypertension.
See my post on being happy.


ELEVATED FIBRINOGEN LEVELS have your physician test for this, as any value over 250mg./dl, should have intervention.

How to offset these levels is NOT to eat a high fat diet and eliminate trans fats from the diet. Fats stimulate the liver to make more cholesterol.

If you have an elevated fibrinogen and have peripheral artery disease or suffer from heart disease or stroke. Your doctor might recommend the B vitamin Niacin along with the appropriate statin.

ELEVATED PLATELET COUNT

The role of the platelet in the body is to heal. If you have ever been cut, and start to bleed, usually in a few minutes you will stop(this is to say, it is not a cut on a major artery or a vein) In my years as a specialist in hematology I have reviewed many smears, and have reported clumps of platelets(this is not normal.) This is saying to me, there is something going on in the arteries and if you remember( the post on plaque buildup) before the plaque ruptures, it is because of too many platelets. The platelet is the last insult to the artery that is laden with plaque.

Platelets will adhere to anything that is not smooth , this is there nature. When in normal amounts they are lifesaving but when seen in clumps. Something is brewing.

Ask you doctor when he orders your blood count, to have the lab note if there are platelet clumps, and not try to break them up.

Talk to your doctor about the right medication to take, aspirin is one, but not everyone can take aspirin. Asprin increases the bleeding time and makes the blood much thinner.

Magnesium also works to prevent platelets from forming clumps. It also stabilizes heart rhythm,thus reducing the risk of damage to the heart during a heart attack. CHECK WITH YOUR DOCTOR BEFORE ADDING THIS SUPPLEMENT.

FOOD SOURCES OF MAGNESIUM ARE: artichokes,beans,shellfish,nuts and whole grains.

Low dose aspirin (81mgms) may save your heart.

CHEMOTHERAPY

If you have had chemotherapy it is wise to have your arteries checked. Chemotherapy can have adverse effects to arteries. An ounce of prevention in this area is worth that pound of cure,especially if you have other risk factors.

This site is a lipid site but there comes a time when the addressing of factors that are not that known is beneficial to those of us whose arteries are compromised by diet related or genetic cholesterol.

Stay Healthy