Posts Tagged ‘Heart’

An idea for a 3-D or stand-alone exhibit or item (product) that will demonstrate, highlight, or show the effects/correlation of diet to heart disease, i.e. high fat, and/or trans fats, cholesterol. What materials could be used to make a prototype of the heart and what could show the fats or chol. etc. THANKS!

Three weeks ago I was diagnosed with a first degree level AV heartblock and sinus arythmia. So far, I’ve had a stress test, an EKG, echocardiogram, pulmonary testing and my cholesterol levels checked (good was low, bad was high, tri was perfect).
The cardiologist I saw today is not taking my concerns about this diagnosis seriously. Google has helped me learn more about the condition but there is no information about how to treat this heart conduction defect. I have shortness of breath, dizziness and am lightheaded. And two months ago I quit smoking (smoker 1 pk a day for 15 years), changed my diet and started trying to walk 30 minutes at least 3 times a week.
All my tests fall within the “normal” range. If its all about a numbers game, how can I be sure my cardiologist, or any cardiologist will help me? So far, the only action taken by my cardiologist was to prescribe some lipitor (I’m 36 with high cholesterol and a family history of congestive heart failure) for me to take.

A Study:
History and Development of Plant Sterol and Stanol Esters for Cholesterol-Lowering Purposes
Gilbert R. Thompson, MD a, ?
Scott M. Grundy, MD, PhD b
a Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London, United Kingdom
b Center for Human Nutrition, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA.
* Address for reprints: Gilbert R. Thompson, MD, Department of Metabolic Medicine, Imperial College School of Medicine, Hammersmith Hospital, London W12 0NN, United Kingdom.
E-mail address: g.thompson@imperial.ac.uk
PII S0002-9149(05)00451-0
Plant stanol esters provide a novel approach to lowering plasma low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol by dietary means. Their development was preceded by a long period of research into the cholesterol-lowering properties of plant sterols and, recently, plant stanols. Both classes of compound competitively inhibit the absorption of cholesterol and thus lower its level in plasma. Initial impressions were that stanols were more effective and safer than sterols, but the negative outcome of a study led to the recognition that the lipid solubility of free stanols was very limited. This was overcome by esterifying them with fatty acids, with the resultant stanol esters being freely soluble in fat spreads. This led to the launch of Benecol (margarine; Raisio Group, Raisio, Finland) in 1995. The coincident publication of the year-long North Karelia study conclusively demonstrated the long-term LDL-lowering efficacy of plant stanol esters. Variables that might influence the efficacy of stanol esters include dose, frequency of administration, food vehicle in which the stanol ester is incorporated, and background diet. The effective dose is 1 to 3 g/day, expressed as free stanol, which, in placebo-controlled studies, decreased LDL cholesterol by 6% to 15%. This effect is maintained, appears to be similar with once-daily or divided dosage, and is independent of the fat content of the food vehicle. Short-term studies suggest that equivalent amounts of plant sterol and stanol esters are similarly effective in lowering LDL, the main difference being that plasma plant sterol levels increase on plant sterols and decrease on plant stanols. The clinical significance of these changes remains to be determined.

hi, recently my grandmother had an angiogram, and we learned that her arteries are 90% clogged and will have to have open heart surgery. i’m very concerned because she’s gotten so old, and i’m afraid she might not make it through the operation.
what i’m confused about is that my grandmom has never had high pressure and always had a good diet. she rarely ate high cholesterol foods, and i don’t think anyone in her family had heart problems. she did however have chronic stress and anxiety so i was wondering to what degree stress impacts heart health? she had good cholesterol, but then why are her arteries clogged 90%?
thank u

my husbands dad died at 49 of a heart attack, he had angina
his grandfather died at 52 of a heart attack too
since 23 my hubby has been on and off cholesterol medication, causing liver damage, thyroid problems and ck in his blood to be raised!
he eats pretty healthy, but not tooooo healthy, and he feels like just giving up taking his cholesterol medication cos he says its causing other problems and in the end hes still going to die young cos its hereditary,,,,
but im hoping he can lower his cholesterol just by his diet and hopefully quit the medication ,,,, is this possible?,, or if its hereditary theres no way stopping it
his dad smoked and drank a little, so did his grandad
my hubby dosent smoke, or drink, never done drugs, hes 37 keeps real fit and goes gym 4 times a week
will he be ok,,, im sick of his attitude today, hes down on himself and hes sick of the cholesterol medication making him feel worse,,, i need to help him,,, any advice to cheer him up?
thanks