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Heart DiseaseThere Is Thing
Funny Just simply about Triglycerides.
by:
Greg Post
I get a kick out of those commercials which portray conversations at the room
table or in the locker room in route that we don’t usually see. Two women sipping coffee from pretty china cups mightiness naturally start discussing headache medications or hygiene. Men mightiness forgo the normal locker room banter for the more superior topics of foot care or that insurance that only a duck can seem to remember. Several folk even as get so excited simply about their cholesterin that they finish perfect strangers on the street to announce significant reductions in their own cholesterin levels.
Some of these commercials give us an excuse to leave the room for more pressing matters, piece others do us smile in appreciation of their creativity. But there is one thing they have in common. They direct our attention to topics of great importance that we don’t naturally discuss. High cholesterin is one such topic. Fortuitously cholesterin is acquiring more press these days. Not only do television commercials and news reports discuss the dangers of high cholesterol, but even as cereal boxes are preaching the message.
Cholesterol is not the only enemy of heart health that is attracting more attention. Triglycerides are gaining ill fame in the public eye as adversarial to a healthy heart. Although triglycerides mightiness not be the topic of select in the average locker room I think it is safe to assume that it is of greater importance than the majority of subjects that occupy center stage in that arena. Whether or not we choose to speak of such things most of us cognize thing
of their importance and in secret hope they do not become an important factor in our lives or in the lives of those we love. But jutting one’s head in the proverbial sand is hardly active
and makes nothing to avoid potential problems. If triglycerides are an important health concern we should face the problem eye to eye and take action in true Western style.
Many doctors have not been afraid
with high lipid levels in their patients as long as cholesterin levels and another components of the lipide profile are inside
an acceptable range. That is because galore believe that lipid levels alone do not adversely affect the heart. However, several studies are beginning to alter that thinking. For example, one study at the University of Maryland Medical Center in City incontestable
that folk who are middle-aged or older having lipid levels above 100 are doubly as likely to suffer from a heart attack, die from a heart attack or undergo treatment related to heart health than are folk with lipid levels below 100 (Journal of the American College of Cardiology, May 1998). Once
we consider that triglycerides below 150 are inside
the accepted “normal” range we have cause to rethink the importance of triglycerides.
Heart health is not the only thing affected by triglycerides. A report in the Journal of the American Heart Association declared that high triglycerides are associated with ischaemic stroke and transient ischaemic attacks (TIA). This conclusion came from an eight year study involving 11,177 patients with coronary heart illness and no history of stroke or TIA. Those patients who later suffered from strokes or TIAs had higher than average levels of triglycerides and lower than average levels of HDL cholesterol.
There is no lack of research supporting the thesis that high lipid levels, either in conjunction with another risk factors or as an independent risk indicator, puts one in a more dangerous position in relation to heart attack or stroke. There are galore peoples who would-be ignore this fact even as if a duck could discover to say “Triglycerides”. But what simply about the rest of us? Several of us are concerned. What can we do?
In the early 1970's two Danish researchers ascertained that Eskimos had diets really high in fatty fish. They expected to find that these folk would-be have high incidence of heart disease. In fact they found the exact opposite. It was discovered that the blood platelets of Eskimos were not as sticky as those of their European and American counterparts. The researchers attributed this "non-sticky" characteristic to the omega-3 fatty acids consumed in the Eskimos' diet. Further studies have brought accrued cognition of the effects of fish oils and especially omega-3 fatty acids for the reduction of blood pressure and fat in the blood. Studies continue to uncover the positive effects that omega-3 fatty acids have in the treatment of heart disease, cancer, diabetes, asthma attack and arthritis.
Concerning heart health, fish oils decrease the risk of abrupt death from arrhythmia, decrease blood clotting, reduce atherosclerosis, help lower blood pressure and improve blood vessel
health. Much particular to this essay is the fact that study upon study has incontestable
that the fish oils in cold water fish have lipid reducing powers. It is no wonder the American Heart Association since the year 2000 has been preaching the importance of healthy adults feeding fish.
But what simply about unhealthy adults already troubled
with high triglycerides? The answer that galore researchers are giving is, “Eat more fish.” Or more precisely, ingest more omega-3 fatty acids. Folk who have elevated triglycerides may need 2 to 4 grams of EPA and DHA (omega-3 fatty acids) per day provided as a supplement. High levels of omega-3 can not be eaten
through diet alone. You should consult a doctor to discuss taking supplements to reduce heart illness risk. Patients taking more than 3 grams of omega-3 fatty acids from supplements should do so only under a physician’s care.
Let’s face it. Our diets are not nearly what they should be. It isn’t simply just about calories, carbohydrates and thin waistlines. Our hearts need more omega-3. If you are a fish lover then indulge your fantasies. Eat more. If you don’t love the slimed little creatures then fish oil supplements mightiness be your answer. Possibly what we need is not a talking duck. Possibly a talking trout would-be be more apropos to get the message out. But I suppose that would-be be counter productive for the trout.
Just simply about the author:
Greg holds degrees in science, divinity and philosophy and is presently
an I.T. developer.
For more information on triglycerides and fish oils see:
http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/triglycerides.html
http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/fishoils.html
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