Heart Health

Many of you that have been following me for years know my battle to get my cholesterol numbers lower. If you don't you can read my beginning blog entry here with some numbers: Cholesterol {the good, the bad, and the ugly}

In this journey to get them lower I have realized that those numbers are NOT the only deciding factor of good heart health. Other factors that make you at higher risk of developing heart are:

•  Smoking
• Obesity (20% over your ideal weight) For ex: a women 5'-6" that weighs 190 lbs is considered obese
• Uncontrolled diabetes
• High Blood Pressure
• High C-Reactive Protein 
• Uncontrolled stress and anger
• Physically inactivity

I am happy to say that I have none of these above risk factors (except borderline cholesterol).  I had my C-reactive protein tested this past summer (June 2013) and my number was .67.  I had no idea you could do such a test.

 (see chart below for reference)

Low Risk <1.0

Average Risk 1.0-3.0

High >3.0-10.0

Indeterminant 10.0 +

What is C-reactive protein or CRP ? It appears to be correlated to heart disease risk. Inflammation (swelling) of the arteries has been linked to an increased risk of heart disease, heart attack, stroke, and peripheral arterial disease.

The body produces CRP during the general process of inflammation. Therefore, CRP is a "marker" for inflammation, meaning its presence indicates an increased state of inflammation in the body.  In studies involving large numbers of patients, CRP levels seem to be correlated with levels of heart disease risk. In fact, CRP seems to predict cardiovascular risk at least as well as cholesterol levels do.

This makes me so happy to hear these results. My mother has Rheumatoid Arthritis, which is an autoimmune disorder causing inflammation in your joints, and I am hoping with diet and exercise I can avoid getting this disease or at least prolong it from happening.

I will get a new set of results in the next few days or so and I will report those results.  If you have ANY of these risk factors, I highly suggest you get your C-Reactive Protein checked (blood work). Also, if you don't know your cholesterol numbers it's time you got them.  It could save your life.

I still to this day do not regret opting to NOT take statin drugs. My new doctor is proud of me. He is proud that I decided to lose the weight, eat a heart healthy diet, and stay active for the past 3 years instead of opting for drugs (and all the side effects that come with). I truly love my doctor. He is willing to treat ME and not my symptoms. There is a HUGE difference in this doctor's approach compared to my last. Choose your family doctor very wisely and don't settle.  Don't be afraid to stand up for yourself. You are worth the fight.

  

Here are some ways you can reduce your risk of heart disease:

Quit smoking . Smokers have more than twice the risk for heart attack as nonsmokers. Smoking is also the most preventable risk factor. If you smoke, quit. Better yet, never start smoking at all. Nonsmokers who are exposed to constant smoke (such as living with a spouse who smokes) also have an increased risk. So taking measures to eliminate this exposure to smoke is important.

Improve cholesterol levels. The risk for heart disease increases as your total amount of cholesterol increases. In general, your total cholesterol goal should be less than 200 mg/dl; HDL, the good cholesterol, higher than 40 mg/dl in men and 50 mg/dl in women (and the higher the better); and LDL should be less than 130 mg/dl in healthy adults. For those with diabetes or multiple risk factors for heart disease, LDL goal should be less than 100 mg/dl (some experts recommend less than 70 mg/dl if you are very high risk). Interpretation and treatment of cholesterol values must be individualized, taking into account all of your risk factors for heart disease. A diet low in cholesterol and saturated and trans fat will help lower cholesterol levels and reduce your risk for heart disease. Regular exercise will also help lower "bad" cholesterol and raise "good" cholesterol. Medications are often needed to reach cholesterol goals.

Control high blood pressure. About 60 million people in the U.S. have hypertension, or high blood pressure, making it the most common heart disease risk factor. Nearly one in three adults has systolic blood pressure (the upper number) over 140, and/or diastolic blood pressure (the lower number) over 90, which is the definition of hypertension. Like cholesterol, blood pressure interpretation and treatment should be individualized, taking into account your entire risk profile. Control blood pressure through diet, exercise, weight management, and if needed, medications.

Control diabetes. If not properly controlled, diabetes can contribute to significant heart damage, including heart attacks and death. Control diabetes through a healthy diet, exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, and taking medications as prescribed by your doctor.

Get active. Many of us lead sedentary lives, exercising infrequently or not at all. People who don't exercise have higher rates of death and heart disease compared to people who perform even mild to moderate amounts of physical activity. Even leisure-time activities like gardening or walking can lower your risk of heart disease. Most people should exercise 30 minutes a day, at moderate intensity, on most days. More vigorous activities are associated with more benefits. Exercise should be aerobic, involving the large muscle groups. Aerobic activities include brisk walking, cycling, swimming, jumping rope, and jogging. If walking is your exercise of choice, use the pedometer goal of 10,000 steps a day. Consult your doctor before starting any exercise program.

Eat right . Eat a heart-healthy diet low in salt, saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and refined sugars. Try to increase your intake of foods rich in vitamins and other nutrients, especially antioxidants, which have been proven to lower your risk for heart disease. Also eat plant-based foods such as fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains.

Achieve and maintain a healthy weight. Excess weight puts significant strain on your heart and worsens several other heart disease risk factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol and triglycerides. Research is showing that obesity itself increases heart disease risk. By eating right and exercising, you can lose weight and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Manage stress. Poorly controlled stress and anger can lead to heart attacks and strokes. Use stress and anger management techniques to lower your risk. Learn to manage stress by practicing relaxation techniques, learning how to manage your time, setting realistic goals, and trying some new techniques such as guided imagery, massage, Tai Chi, or yoga.

taken from webMD