Maintaining healthy Cardio vascular
system is a significant part of maintaining good quality of life.
Cholesterol plays a vital role in getting cardiac diseases with more
prevalence. Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance that the body needs to
function normally. Cholesterol is naturally present in cell walls or membranes
everywhere in the body, including the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver,
intestines, and heart. The body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones,
vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat. Our body takes only a
small amount of cholesterol in the blood to meet these needs. If a person has
too much cholesterol in the bloodstream, the excess may be deposited in
arteries especially the coronary arteries of the heart.
Cholesterol deposits are a component of
the plaques that cause narrowing and blockage of the coronary arteries,
producing ischemic heart disorders. Cholesterol plaques can rupture, resulting
in a blood clot
formation that completely blocks the artery, stopping all blood flow
and causing a heart attack, in which heart muscle cells die from lack of oxygen
and nutrients. Being insoluble in blood, Cholesterol is carried in the blood by
molecules called lipoproteins. A lipoprotein is any complex or compound
containing both lipid (fat) and protein. The three main types are:
·
LDL
(low density lipoprotein) – also named as bad cholesterol, because of its bad
effect on the heart. LDL carries cholesterol from the liver to cells. If too
much is carried, too much for the cells to use, there can be a harmful rise of
LDL. This lipoprotein can increase the risk of arterial disease by getting deposited
on the walls of the arteries and makes blood vessels hard and narrow, if levels
rise too high.
·
HDL
(high density lipoprotein) – also known as good cholesterol, because of its
good effect on the heart. Experts say HDL prevents arterial disease. HDL does
the opposite of LDL - HDL takes the cholesterol away from the cells and back to
the liver. In the liver it is either broken down or expelled from the body as
waste.
·
VLDL
cholesterol (very low density lipoprotein) is the highest amount of
triglycerides and is the smallest mass of lipoproteins produced by the liver
from carbohydrates. Then it is carried to other tissues for storage.
·
Triglycerides
- these are the chemical forms in which most fat exists in the body, as well as
in food. They are present in blood plasma. Triglycerides, in association with
cholesterol, form the plasma lipids (blood fat). Triglycerides in plasma
originate either from fats in our food, or are made in the body from other
energy sources, such as carbohydrates. Calories we consume but are not used
immediately by our tissues are converted into triglycerides and stored in fat
cells. When your body needs energy and there is no food as an energy source,
triglycerides will be released from fat cells and used as energy - hormones
control this process.
·
Total cholesterol is the sum of LDL + HDL + VLDL.
High cholesterol Causes:
·
High cholesterol is
typically due to a combination of environmental and genetic factors.
·
High cholesterol is often found to run in families. Familial
hypercholesterolemia is an inherited form of high cholesterol that may lead to
early heart disease.
·
Environmental factors include: Obesity and dietary choices.
·
Smoking and sedentary lifestyle can also raise cholesterol levels.
·
Diet
has an important effect on blood cholesterol but the size of this effect varies
substantially between individuals. Food rich in saturated fats like meat, chicken, eggs, oil,
etc. will raise LDL cholesterol levels.
·
Secondary causes includes Diabetes mellitus type 2, obesity,
nephrotic syndrome, obstructive jaundice, hypothyroidism, Cushing’s syndrome,
anorexia nervosa etc..
·
Altered Oestrogen levels may increase LDL Cholesterol levels in
women during Pregnancy and Post-menopausal.
·
Drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle,
lead to high blood
pressure, and raise triglyceride
levels.
·
Several studies have shown that mental stress raises
blood cholesterol levels over the long term.
·
Medications like thiazide diuretics, ciclosporin, glucocorticoids,
beta blockers, retinoic acid
Symptoms:
High cholesterol is a risk factor for
other illnesses and by itself does not cause symptoms. Routine screening blood
tests may reveal elevate cholesterol levels in the blood. The National
Cholesterol Education Program guidelines suggest that everyone aged 20 years
and older should have their blood cholesterol level measured at least once
every 5 years. It is best to have a blood test called a lipid profile to find
out cholesterol numbers.
Blood test interpretation
·
Total cholesterol levels: Desirable - Less than 200 mg/dL,
Borderline high risk - 200-239 mg/dL, High risk - 240 and over.
·
HDL levels: High risk - Less than 40 mg/dL in male, less
than 50 mg/dL in female.
·
LDL levels: Optimal - Less than 100 mg/dL, Near
optimal/above optimal - 100-129 mg/dL, Borderline high risk - 130-159 mg/dL,
High risk - 160- 189 mg/dL, Very high
risk - 190 mg/dL and above.
·
Triglycerides
levels:
Normal - Less than 150 mg/dL, Borderline to high - 150-199 mg/dL, High -
200-499mg/dL. Very high - Above 500 mg/dL
MANAGEMENT
Dietary Recommendations
Ø Eat a diet low in fat – Reduce fat
intake to not more than 30 percent of total calories a day. Reduce intake of
saturated fatty acids it boosts blood cholesterol levels more than anything
else we consumes. Reduce the amount of salt fats intake to less than 10 percent
of total daily calories
Ø
Reduce
high cholesterol foods like meat, cakes, pastries, cookies, nuts, milk
products, butter, ghee, sugary and fried foods. Take less than 7% of daily
caloric intake
Ø
Low
sodium diet – Healthy normal adults are advised to consume not m ore than 2,400
mg of sodium daily.
Ø
Eat
more fiber, fruits and vegetables- Oatmeal, oat bran, rice, wheat bran and
beans may help lower blood cholesterol levels. Fiber rich food may help to take
cholesterol away before it can be absorbed into blood stream. Fruits and
vegetables like oranges, bananas, potatoes and tomatoes supply a lot of
potassium which may elp control blood pressure.
Ø
Choose
good fats such as monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, and omega-3 essential fatty
acids.
Ø
Fenugreek
seeds can decrease LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, and increase HDL
cholesterol levels. This is due to the high fiber content of the seed and its
effect on reducing intestinal absorption of cholesterol. Using garlic in food
is considered as traditional medicine for controlling cholesterol.
Ø People with higher triglycerides may benefit
from a diet that is higher in monounsaturated fat and lower in carbohydrates,
particularly simple sugars. A common source of monounsaturated fat is olive
oil.
Ø Although exercise has
little effect on LDL, aerobic exercise may
improve insulin sensitivity, HDL, and triglyceride levels and may thus reduce
the risk of heart disease. People who exercise and control their diet appear to
be more successful with long-term lifestyle modifications that improve their
heart risk profile
Ø Moderate (1-2 drinks daily) alcohol intake
increases HDL (good) cholesterol but does not lower LDL (bad) cholesterol.
Drinking too much alcohol can damage the liver and heart muscle, lead to high blood
pressure, and raise triglyceride
levels. Because of the risks, alcoholic beverages should not be used
as a way to prevent heart disease.
Ø Quit Smoking – Smoking may lower HDL cholesterol
and seems to increase blood pressure level soon
Homoeopathic Management
High
blood cholesterol is supposed to be a constitutional disease, so treatment also
should be constitutional. Normal levels can be absolutely attained and
maintained if Homoeopathic
treatment is started earlier. . In Homoeopathy, medicines are highly individualized to the patient and
this will help lower LDL cholesterol and triglycerides, raise HDL cholesterol, inhibit
the formation of plaque, lower high blood pressure, detoxify the body and also
enhance immunity system. Homoeopathic remedies can help maintain cardiovascular
function and a healthier circulatory system.
Following
remedies are quite helpful to treat the symptoms and condition related to
abnormal cholesterol level: Baryta Mur, Aurum Mur, Plumbum Iod, Baryta Iod,
Crataegus, Thiosinaminum, Natrum Iod, Strontium Carb, Vanadium, Aurum Met,
Aurum Iod and many other medicines.
Fel
tauri is an effective remedy in the treatment of high blood
cholesterol. It treats a sluggish liver. It eliminates fat.
Nux
vomica removes liver toxicity. It treats indigestion caused by alcohol or
food abuse. The patient awakes at 3 a.m.
Chelidonium
treats hepatic disorders. Recommended for fatty liver degeneration.
Berberis is
an excellent stimulant and drainer for the kidneys. The patient leads a
sedentary lifestyle and has a big appetite.
Veratum
album treats hypercholesterolemia.
Cholesterinum
stops the degeneration of arterial walls. It treats an enlarged liver and
gallstone colic.
Curcuma drains the liver and cholesterol deposits
Arsenicum
album is indicated for insomnia after a big meal. The person wakes up
between 3 and 5 a.m., feels drowsy during the day.
Uranium
nitricum treats high cholesterol with diabetes.
Romarinus
officinalis and Prunus
amygdalus are indicated for high triglycerides.
Psorinum is
a constitutional remedy. It detoxifies toxins in a weak individual who
eliminates toxins poorly.
Adonis Vernalis : Indicated if the muscles of the heart are in the stage
of fatty degeneration, regulates the pulse and increase the power of
contractions of the heart, with increase urinary secretions. Weak heart,
slow/weak pulses and low vitality.
Hence to have a low risk of heart disease, by
maintaining normal cholesterol levels, good cardiovascular function and a
healthy circulatory system consider Constitutional Homoeopathic treatment along
with certain lifestyle changes.
