Cardiovascular
Atherosclerosis
Risk Factors
The following factors increase an individual's risk for high blood pressure
- Atherosclerosis - is a condition that occurs when the arteries become blocked. This is generally due to the buildup of fat, cholesterol, cellular waste products,
calcium, and other substances in the lining of the artery. The buildup (or "plaque") can eventually interfere with blood flow and possibly cause a heart attack or stroke. Atherosclerosis often shows no symptoms until an artery becomes obstructed and blood flow complications occur. At this time, the individual may experience pain in the chest or leg - depending on the location of the affected artery.
Risk Factors:
· Male gender
· Advanced age
· Smoking
· Diabetes
· Obesity
· Sedentary lifestyle
· Hypertension (i.e., high blood pressure)
· High cholesterol
· Hyperhomocysteinemia (i.e., a condition caused by elevated blood levels of the amino acid homocysteine)
· Hormonal changes following menopause
· Infection or inflammation
· A high-fat diet
· Family history of atherosclerosis or heart disease
· Stress
· Depression
Healthcare practitioners consider healthy lifestyle adjustments the most important step in preventing and reducing the risk factors of atherosclerosis. These include - but are not limited to - maintaining a healthy body composition (muscle-to-fat ratio), lowering blood pressure and cholesterol levels, exercising regularly, quitting smoking, and reducing stress. Other functional medicine approaches, such as nutritional and herbal supplementation, have also been shown to be useful.
Hypercholesterolemia
Cholesterol is a soft, waxy substance that is present in virtually all parts of the body including the nervous system, skin, musle, liver, intestines, and heart. while cholesterol is essential for normal functioning, high levels of cholesterol in the blood (i.e., hypercholesterolemia) can greatly increase one's risk of
cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol can be divided into two main types: low density lipoproteins (LDL) and high density lipoproteins (HDL). LDL is generally considered the "bad" cholesterol, while HDL is considered the "good" cholesterol. Hypercholesterolemia results from 1) high levels of LDL cholesterol, 2) low levels of HDL cholesterol, and/or 3) a low ratio of HDL to LDL cholesterol. The normal range for cholesterol is between 140 and 200 mg per deciliter (mg per dL) of blood. Levels between 200 and 240 mg per dL indicate moderate risk, while levels above 240 mg per dL indicate high risk. In addition to genetic predisposition, researchers have discovered that hypercholesterolemia is associated with several risk factors, including:
Disease Risk Factors:
· Diabetes
· Hypothyroidism
· Cushing's syndrome
· Renal (i.e., kidney) failure
· Polycystic ovary syndrome
Drug Risk Factors:
· Birth control pills
· Hormone replacement therapy
· Corticosteroids
· Diuretics
· Beta-blockers
Lifestyle Risk Factors:
· Obesity
· A diet high in saturated fat and cholesterol
· A diet low in fiber
· A sedentary lifestyle
· Excessive alcohol consumption
· Stress
· Smoking cigarettes
While conventional drugs (i.e., statin drugs) are sometimes necessary and important for those diagnosed with hypercholesterolemia, they often fall short in
reducing risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease. A great deal of examination conducted over the last few decades has identified select nutrients
and herbs, as well as other functional medicine approaches that have a profound positive effect on cholesterol levels.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a serious condition that affects about one in three American adults, and two-thirds of people over age 65. Blood pressure is the force of blood as it pumps through your arteries. The more blood your heart pumps and the narrower your arteries are, the higher the blood pressure. Normal blood pressure is defined as an average systolic blood pressure of 120 mm Hg and an average diastolic pressure of 80 mm Hg. Systolic pressure measures the pressure in arteries when your heart beats. Diastolic pressure measures the pressure between beats. Hypertension is defined as an average systolic blood pressure above 140 mm Hg, a diastolic blood pressure above 90 mm Hg, or both. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart disease and stroke, the leading causes of death among Americans. It is called the "silent killer" because you usually don't have any symptoms when your blood pressure is too high. Hypertension, high cholesterol, and obesity are the biggest contributors to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). It is important to talk to your doctor about how to lower your high blood pressure. In some cases, making changes in diet and exercise habits can get blood pressure under control. In other cases, you may need medications. Most people who have high blood pressure do not know they have it because they have no symptoms. Occasionally, some people may have a mild headache when their blood pressure is high.
Advanced cases of hypertension may produce the following symptoms: Severe headache, Confusion
Nausea
Visual disturbances
- Genes for high blood pressure
- Low levels of nitric oxide, a naturally occurring substance that makes blood vessels dilate
- Insulin resistance
- Obesity
Risk Factors
The following factors increase an individual's risk for high blood pressure
- Being overweight
- Not getting enough exercise
- Being African-American
- Abusing
alcohol or smoking - High
sodium (salt) intake - Stress
- Chronic
conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, or high
cholesterol