You should be aware of what a stroke is so that if you or anyone around you is at risk of this condition, you will be aware of the importance of acting quickly when someone is having a stroke or has had a stroke recently so that the person may seek immediate help from medical personnel.
A stroke is a serious condition that requires immediate care because treatment can help to reduce the serious effects if the treatment is started soon enough. This medical condition can cause a sudden onset of symptoms. This sudden onset is caused by either a blockage of blood flow or a hemorrhage in a portion of the brain or a blockage of blood to the entire brain.
Ischemic
The Ischemic stroke (80%) is caused from a constriction in one of the brain's blood vessels caused by a hardened artery that is clogged with a blood clot. Arteriosclerosis is the medical condition in which plaque builds up in the arteries and makes the passageways of the blood vessels cramped from the build up.
Both the thrombotic and the embolic stroke are ischemic strokes. During the ischemic stroke, the blood is not able to reach the area of the constriction. A thrombotic stroke is caused by a blood clot in an artery leading to the brain and an embolic stroke is caused by a blood clot that moves to the brain from another place in the body.
The Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA) is called the mini stroke because the blood circulation to the brain is only temporarily blocked. The symptom or symptoms may only last a few minutes or they may last for hours and sometime, a person may ignore the warning signs because they do not recognize the symptoms of a stroke.
Hemorrhagic
The Hemorrhagic stroke (20%)means that an artery has burst in the brain and that bleeding is occurring in the brain tissue and this bleeding kills brain cells. The uncontrolled bleeding may occur between the skull and the brain, in which case, it is a subarachnoid hemorrhage or the bleeding may be deeper into the brain tissues which is called a intracerebral hemorrhage.
The reasons that can cause the rupture the of arterial wall includes a bulge site caused by high blood pressure or injury (aneurysm) or a birth defect in the formation of the blood vessel in the brain (arteriovenous malformation AVM) which can weaken a wall of a blood vessel.
Persons with some medical conditions or because of a hereditary disorder may have a higher risk than other groups of having a stroke. It is important that you become familiar with the it and its warning signs because the sooner you recognize the symptoms because the sooner that treatment can be started, the better.
Thursday, August 14, 2008
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Why Bad Cholesterol Is Bad For You
LDL, or low-density lipoprotein, cholesterol has been dubbed bad cholesterol. This bad cholesterol is bad because high level of LDL cholesterol levels in your blood over time can build up in the walls of your arteries that feed the organs in your body. Plaque causes the arteries to become narrow and less flexible, a condition called atherosclerosis. If an artery becomes too narrow or becomes completely blocked by a clot heart attack and stroke can be the result.
A cholesterol test revealing a measured bad cholesterol level of between 130-159 mg/dl is considered to be borderline high. LDL cholesterol blood levels of 160 mg/dl or higher are considered high. Bad cholesterol levels should be held down to 129 mg/dl or lower, anything less than 100 mg/dl is optimal.
Controlling Bad Cholesterol
Controlling high levels of bad cholesterol can be difficult by dietary means alone. Reading labels and ingesting low fat, cholesterol free foods along with increasing regular exercise can help lower LDL cholesterol levels. But having high levels of bad cholesterol also comes from genetics. If your parents and their siblings and their parents generally have higher than normal cholesterol levels it is likely that you will too.
There are many prescription medicines that can help lower bad cholesterol. If you have made proper dietary and lifestyle changes with no result, cholesterol-reducing drugs, known at statins, can be taken. As with any medicine, statins have side effects. Mild side effects such as stomach upset, gas, constipation and cramping usually go away after taking the drug for a short while. Serious side effects while taking statins are rare but include liver problems and muscle pain and weakness. Liver function tests are regularly given to patients using statin drugs to monitor for problems.
Good Cholesterol Must Be Monitored Also
When your cholesterol levels are tested another type of cholesterol, known as high-density lipoprotein or HDL, is measured also. HDL cholesterol is commonly though of as the good cholesterol. Unlike bad cholesterol, low levels (40 mg/dl or less) of HDL cholesterol can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. An HDL cholesterol level of 60 mg/dl is desirable.
Increased Risks As You Age
Monitoring your cholesterol and maintaining healthy levels becomes more and more important as we get older. Aging brings about changes that increase our risks for health problems such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Age related diseases such as arthritis cause people to become less active when they get older. So controlling your cholesterol levels become even more important later in life to ensure a long vigorous life.
A cholesterol test revealing a measured bad cholesterol level of between 130-159 mg/dl is considered to be borderline high. LDL cholesterol blood levels of 160 mg/dl or higher are considered high. Bad cholesterol levels should be held down to 129 mg/dl or lower, anything less than 100 mg/dl is optimal.
Controlling Bad Cholesterol
Controlling high levels of bad cholesterol can be difficult by dietary means alone. Reading labels and ingesting low fat, cholesterol free foods along with increasing regular exercise can help lower LDL cholesterol levels. But having high levels of bad cholesterol also comes from genetics. If your parents and their siblings and their parents generally have higher than normal cholesterol levels it is likely that you will too.
There are many prescription medicines that can help lower bad cholesterol. If you have made proper dietary and lifestyle changes with no result, cholesterol-reducing drugs, known at statins, can be taken. As with any medicine, statins have side effects. Mild side effects such as stomach upset, gas, constipation and cramping usually go away after taking the drug for a short while. Serious side effects while taking statins are rare but include liver problems and muscle pain and weakness. Liver function tests are regularly given to patients using statin drugs to monitor for problems.
Good Cholesterol Must Be Monitored Also
When your cholesterol levels are tested another type of cholesterol, known as high-density lipoprotein or HDL, is measured also. HDL cholesterol is commonly though of as the good cholesterol. Unlike bad cholesterol, low levels (40 mg/dl or less) of HDL cholesterol can increase the risk of heart attack and stroke. An HDL cholesterol level of 60 mg/dl is desirable.
Increased Risks As You Age
Monitoring your cholesterol and maintaining healthy levels becomes more and more important as we get older. Aging brings about changes that increase our risks for health problems such as high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease. Age related diseases such as arthritis cause people to become less active when they get older. So controlling your cholesterol levels become even more important later in life to ensure a long vigorous life.
The Basics Of Cholesterol
Today obesity and other health problems are truly becoming an epidemic which has caused people to take care of their health. One aspect that people need to know more about is cholesterol. The common misperception is that all cholesterol is bad, but in fact there is both good and bad cholesterol that play different roles in your body. This is why it is important to learn about cholesterol and how it affects your health so you know what your treatment options are. Basically there are two types of cholesterol LDL and HDL.
LDL And HDL
LDL is considered the bad form of cholesterol because two much of it in your blood can build up on the inner artery that feed the heart and brain over time. In addition, LDL can work with other substances in the body to form plaque which is a thick, hard deposit that can eventually clog the arteries causing a condition known as atherosclerosis. HDL is considered the good form of cholesterol since high levels of this will help protect people against heart attacks and too low of levels can actually increase a persons risk of heart attack.
Triglycerides
When discussing cholesterol there is one other factor you should consider and that is triglycerides. These are a form of fat that is found in food but is also made naturally in a persons body. This is important to cholesterol because it has been found that those with a high triglyceride level often also have a high total cholesterol, a high LDL and a low HDL.
It is very important to have your levels check regularly in order to keep yourself healthy and fit. Everyone’s health is affected to a large extent by cholesterol and you need to know when your LDL levels are too high, when your HDL levels are two low or when you have a combination of both. It is also a good idea to know when your body is healthy.
Although you need to check your levels regularly since they can change quite dramatically rather quickly. If you were checked about a month ago it doesn’t mean you are still healthy today. So it is important to make LDL and HDL levels a part of your regular checkup at the doctors office. This way you can stay on top of your health and know when you need to make the necessary lifestyle changes to prolong your life and reduce your risk of heart disease. You doctor can recommend the necessary lifestyle changes and medications that you may need if they find you have high or low levels.
LDL And HDL
LDL is considered the bad form of cholesterol because two much of it in your blood can build up on the inner artery that feed the heart and brain over time. In addition, LDL can work with other substances in the body to form plaque which is a thick, hard deposit that can eventually clog the arteries causing a condition known as atherosclerosis. HDL is considered the good form of cholesterol since high levels of this will help protect people against heart attacks and too low of levels can actually increase a persons risk of heart attack.
Triglycerides
When discussing cholesterol there is one other factor you should consider and that is triglycerides. These are a form of fat that is found in food but is also made naturally in a persons body. This is important to cholesterol because it has been found that those with a high triglyceride level often also have a high total cholesterol, a high LDL and a low HDL.
It is very important to have your levels check regularly in order to keep yourself healthy and fit. Everyone’s health is affected to a large extent by cholesterol and you need to know when your LDL levels are too high, when your HDL levels are two low or when you have a combination of both. It is also a good idea to know when your body is healthy.
Although you need to check your levels regularly since they can change quite dramatically rather quickly. If you were checked about a month ago it doesn’t mean you are still healthy today. So it is important to make LDL and HDL levels a part of your regular checkup at the doctors office. This way you can stay on top of your health and know when you need to make the necessary lifestyle changes to prolong your life and reduce your risk of heart disease. You doctor can recommend the necessary lifestyle changes and medications that you may need if they find you have high or low levels.
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