December 26 is historically one of the most dangerous days of the year for people vulnerable to cardiac problems, including heart attacks, arrhythmias, and heart failure. And many of these so-called Merry Christmas coronaries will hit people who didn’t even realize they were at risk when they unwrapped their gifts the day before.
But [...]
FRIDAY, Dec. 11, 2009 (Health.com) — Doctors have known for years that a woman’s risk of developing heart disease rises after menopause, but they weren’t exactly sure why. It wasn’t clear whether the increased risk is due to the hormonal changes associated with menopause, to aging itself, or to some combination of the two.
Now, we [...]
THURSDAY, Nov. 5 (Health.com) — Most people know that healthy cholesterol levels can help protect your heart. But new research suggests another potential benefit: a lower risk of developing some types of cancer.
In fact, low total cholesterol is associated with about 60% less risk of the most aggressive form of prostate cancer, and higher levels [...]
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 4, 2009 (Health.com) — It’s widely known that cholesterol-lowering statins can benefit patients with heart disease, but a new study suggests they may actually harm some people with heart failure.
Heart disease can occur when arteries become clogged, but in heart failure, the heart gets progressively weaker and larger.
Still, since the study included [...]
If you’re looking for an all-natural way to lower your cholesterol—in addition to watching what you eat and exercising—there are plenty of dietary supplements on the market that claim to do the trick. Each year seems to bring a new alternative remedy—garlic, ginseng, or red yeast rice, for example—that users tout as the next best [...]
Atherosclerosis is a disease of the arteries, the blood vessels that carry oxygen and nutrients to our organs and tissues (including heart muscle tissue). It is a type of arteriosclerosis, the term for any stiffening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is especially dangerous because it is hidden deep in the body and not easily detectable. It [...]
Even if you think you know everything there is to know about cholesterol, there may be a few more surprises in store. Check out these common myths about high cholesterol; find out who’s most likely to have it, what types of food can cause it, and why—sometimes—cholesterol isn’t a bad word.
Myth 1: Americans have [...]
Coronary artery disease, also known as heart disease, is the most common cause of death in men and women in the United States. Coronary artery disease is caused by a buildup of fatty plaque in the arteries that supply the heart with blood. Heart disease is a result of atherosclerosis, a process that can occur [...]
Atherosclerosis is a process in which fatty plaque can build up in the body’s arteries, usually due to a combination of genetics, high levels of cholesterol, smoking, and other lifestyle factors. Atherosclerosis can even start in childhood, which may result in health problems in adulthood. If the plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, which [...]
A stroke occurs when the brain doesn’t receive the oxygen that it needs. Atherosclerosis, a condition in which excess cholesterol in the bloodstream causes arteries to narrow and harden, can cause a stroke.
In atherosclerosis, LDL cholesterol (”bad cholesterol“) is deposited in the lining of the arteries and forms a fatty lump known as a [...]
