Cholesterol Under Control - Helping to Live a Longer Healthier Life
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Cholesterol Education provides an opportunity, or better, an excuse to get your blood cholesterol checked. Knowing your actual numbers makes it possible to do something about it. Now is a good time to learn about lipid profiles and about food and lifestyle choices to help you reach personal cholesterol goals.
According to the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Resources, high blood cholesterol affects over 65 million Americans and is a serious condition that increases your risk for heart disease. You can have high cholesterol and if you don't get it checked how will you ever know. It is important to lower cholesterol levels that are too high which in turn lessens your risk for developing heart disease and reduces the chance of having a heart attack.
The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute offers helpful resources to use during National Cholesterol Education Month.Today a person has the chance to change the way that they eat unlike in the past. You might try to do so, become healthier and eat healthier but often you will have desire but not action. We are creatures of habits and it is said that it takes 90 days to create or break a habit.
Eating the proper foods can help keep your cholesterol at appropriate levels. However, sometimes your genetics can make the difference between being able to control your cholesterol by healthy diet and exercise or not. Some people, regardless of how much they attempt to control their cholesterol levels with diet and exercise will just not be able to get to the target levels and will have to be prescribed medicine by their healthcare providers or may be able to take natural supplements and herbs that are designed to lower their cholesterol levels more naturally.
One should not underestimate the importance of getting their cholesterol numbers in range to help reduce the chance of having complications due to heart disease. However, the availability of all types of herbs, nutritionals and medications has made it easier to reach target goals with minimal effort. Make wise choices while shopping in local grocery stores and create a habit of better choices while shopping for food as well as in local restaurants. It becomes easier to live a longer healthier lifestyle with less problems later in life. It doesn't matter how old you are, there is no better time like now to start a healthy habit and have a bette awareness of your cholesterol. There are a variety of natural nutritionals to help lower your cholesterol prior to being placed on the prescription medications. These include a combination of Fish oils,Red Yeast Rice,co-enzyme-q-10 and flax seed oil, just to name a few. In some people they may work to lower their numbers to goal. When the natural route just doesn't work then the standard course of statins along with other prescription meds may be needed.
There are numerous combinations that can be used to help get one to goal. Suffice it to say there really is an art to getting the right combination in some people and it may take some time to get there. Constant monitoring is necessary to insure your goals are staying in range and there are normal blood levels of liver enzymes even if you are just on supplements.The benefits of good cholesterol control are many and you need only to open any magazine to start finding them. As you search you will realize there are benefits of good cholesterol control, some of which you might not even have thought about. What are these benefits? Well, to begin with,reduction in heart disease and reduced incidence of stroke. More importantly, most people who take and active role in getting their cholesterol under control are usually exercising more and eating healthier, this can translate into many years of healthier longer wellness into your golden years.
Today, with the advent of modern medicine and quality pricing, there really is minimal reason not to be able to get ones cholesterol under control through diet and exercise, nutritional supplements, herbals or prescription medicine. The choice is yours, good control does relate to quality lifestyle. It only takes 90 days to create a good habit, why not start today, the truth is 90 days will be here sooner than you think.
posted by Healthy Life @ 7:59 AM,
Keeping Your Brain Healthy And Smart: Keep Active And Learn New Things
Friday, September 18, 2009
For years fitness enthusiasts have suspected that exercise positively affects the brain as well as the body. But while it seemed logical that an active lifestyle would help the brain, the scientific evidence was lacking.
Now several biological studies indicate that working out does benefit the brain.
The reasons to get moving are greater than you think. Now researchers are finding biological evidence that exercise benefits specific brain mechanisms. And, it even contributes to growing new neurons! While we used to think that the brain loses cells as we age, we now know it is not true for those people who keep active and learn new things.
Much of the new research suggests that exercise positively affects the hippocampus, a sea-horse shaped brain structure that is vital for memory and learning.
In one recent study, researchers found that adult mice doubled their number of new brain cells in the hippocampus when they had access to running wheels. The fact that the mammalian adult brain can increase its number of brain cells is surprising in itself. This is good news for aging adults.
It was once thought that the brain stopped producing new brain cells early in its development. And presumably brain power dimmed as cells died over the years.
But in the past decade, researchers have found definitive evidence that the brain continues to generate new brain cells throughout life, even in humans. Studies indicate that challenging environments, which include a number of components, such as pumped-up learning opportunities, social interactions and physical activities, are key to boosting the growth of new brain cells.
What does this mean for humans? We can keep our brains healthy by entering into new situations, new games, and new social group activities. And if we can keep learning new things, and engage in physical activities, we can continue growing new brain cells.
We can redefine "senior moments," if we take advantage of opportunities to learn and move. No more excuses for forgetting things for the older population.
posted by Healthy Life @ 4:22 AM,
Options Before Gastric Bypass Surgery
Friday, September 11, 2009
If you are intending to have a gastric bypass performed there are several steps you need to go through before the surgery. First off you’ll need to do some research for yourself and decide if a gastric bypass is for you. Then you’ll need to see your doctor.
Many doctors will insist on trying alternative methods of weight loss before moving on to the last resort as they call it. A gastric bypass surgery is permanent and an extreme form of weight loss. There are patients who undergo the surgery only to fail to lose their weight and keep it off. This can occur from cheating, falling back on old habits or a sedentary lifestyle. So if you really want to lose the weight by having a gastric bypass done you are going to have to make lifestyle changes in addition to the gastric bypass surgery.
There may be a two year period in which you work with your doctor before the surgery to make dietary and exercise changes. If you still cannot lose sufficient weight to be considered healthy then the doctor will move on to the next steps. You will discuss the various types of surgeries. You will have a variety of tests done on you, including blood gases and typing. Also you will have to get your gastric bypass surgery approved by your insurance. Some insurance companies may not approve the procedure if they feel you can lose weight by alternative means. That’s why its important to work with your doctor for up to two years and have a documented record of previous attempts to lose weight.
Also before your gastric bypass surgery you will have to visit with a psychiatrist for a mental competency evaluation and get approved. You will begin meetings with a nutritionist, preferably someone who has worked with other gastric bypass patients, about changing your diet and what to expect.
posted by Healthy Life @ 4:22 AM,
Tips to reduce stress
Friday, September 4, 2009
Tips to reduce stress.
1, Eat lots of fresh vegetables and fruits.
2, Drink plenty of water. Minimum of 8 glasses per day.
3, Read good books to divert mind.
4, Quit smoking and alcohol consumption
5, Make a 'To do list' and a time table for each day well in advance.
6, Share your feelings with friends and loved ones.
7, Forgive others. Don't remain angry for long .Be frank and open-minded.
8, Concentrate on hobbies.
9, Take breaks in between work. Don't work too long .
10, Get enough rest. Sleep at least 7 hrs a day.
11, Get a body massage done by an experienced masseur.
12, Laugh and develop a sense of humor.
13, Exercise regularly.
14, Think positively.
15, Wear your favorite clothes and dress up well.
16, Set reasonable goals.
17, Contribute to a good cause.
18, Love and respect yourself and others.
19, Have safe ,protected sex.
20, Try visualization .Visualization is similar to Daydreaming. But done in a systematic manner. Follow the steps mentioned below to gain maximum benefits from visualization.
A, Find a quiet room or place without any disturbances. No radios, televisions, or Mobile phones.
B, Become aware of your breathing and notice how the diaphragm expands and contracts as you breathe.
C, Make a mental picture of tension in your muscles - see a clenched fist or a tightly contorted facial muscle.
D, Watch the fist open, the face smooth out. Move down the body from head to toes, visualizing tight muscles and seeing them relax and smooth out.
E, Imagine yourself in a beautiful garden, a sunny golden beach, in green, scented woods, or in any place which for you like the most. If you don't have such a place invents one.
G, Now Imagine about all sweet and happy things you want to happen in life. Example becoming very rich person, Becoming a world famous sports person, or spending a holiday with your favorite celebrity
To be successful, visualization must be practiced for twenty minutes at a time, Once a day. "The subconscious mind doesn't know the difference between the real and the imaginary." Hence makes you feel happy.
posted by Healthy Life @ 4:22 AM,