Natural Remedies And Lowering Cholesterol
Its very important to talk to your health professional before using any:
- supplements
- natural remedies
- or complementary therapies.
Sometimes they can do more harm than good. They may interact with any medication that youre taking, which can be dangerous. They can also make your medication less effective. Your doctor needs to know everything that you are taking to ensure that the combination is safe.
If youve been prescribed cholesterol-lowering medication, make sure you take it as directed by your doctor. This is one of the most effective ways to keep your cholesterol levels down.
Data Collection And Biochemical Measurements
The KNHANES included well-established questions to determine the demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the subjects. These included questions on age, sex, education level, income, smoking habits, alcohol consumption, exercise and medical history. Daily energy and nutrient intakes were assessed using a 24-h recall method and a food-intake frequency method. Height and weight were measured with the participant wearing light clothing and no shoes. Body mass index was then calculated as weight divided by the square of height . Blood pressure was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer after the subject had rested for 5 min in a sitting position.
Blood samples were collected by venipuncture after 1012 h of fasting. Total cholesterol, HDL-C and triglycerides were measured by enzymatic methods with commercially available kits. Non-HDL-C was calculated as total cholesterol minus HDL-C. All blood analyses were carried out within 2 h of blood sampling by a laboratory certified by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare.
The study protocol was approved by the Korean Ministry of Health and Welfare and was conducted in accordance with the Ethical Principles for Medical Research Involving Human Subjects, as defined by the Helsinki Declaration. Study participants provided written informed consent.
Why Cholesterol Test Important
High cholesterol may trigger variety of cardiovascular diseases which are mostly spontaneous and life-threatening. Different from other diseases with symptoms, high cholesterol does not show noticeable signs and symptoms other than generally, a chest pain. However, when a severe chest pain occurs, it is usually too late for someone to survive the heart attack. Hence, cholesterol test might be an important, helpful tool in determining the body condition related to the entire level of cholesterol. If the test shows cholesterol level which is too high and therefore, might be harmful, the patient can thus modify their lifestyle to prevent further complications.
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How Does Alcohol Raise Your Cholesterol
- When you drink alcohol, its broken down and rebuilt into triglycerides and cholesterol in the liver. So, drinking alcohol raises the triglycerides and cholesterol in your blood.
- If your triglyceride levels become too high, they can build up in the liver, causing fatty liver disease. The liver cant work as well as it should and cant remove cholesterol from your blood, so your cholesterol levels rise.
- Alcohol can lead to the combination of a high triglyceride level along with low HDL cholesterol. This can lead to heart disease.
Alcohol can affect your health in other ways too:
- it can lead to weight gain, raising your risk of heart disease
- it can raise your blood pressure, which also raises your risk of heart disease
- it can lead to some types of cancer, liver disease, pancreatitis, depression and dependency.
Health Conditions That Can Affect Cholesterol Tests:
If you are suffering from some inflammation or infection, it will affect your cholesterol test results. These can cause your HDL and total cholesterol levels to decrease. Not just physical conditions, but mental health conditions can also affect your blood cholesterol levels. Too much of stress can impact your cholesterol test readings and this can be misleading. About 10% decrease can occur in your HDL reading in the test, after rigorous exercising. So, it is recommended that you do not engage yourself in any sort of unusually vigorous exercise before taking this test.
If you have had a surgery recently, that too will have an impact on your cholesterol level. If you have had a heart attack or stroke recently or due to the surgery, your cholesterol test readings will be lowered. So, you must wait for at least 3 months after the surgery or stroke or heart attack before taking the test. The onset of a chronic disease like cancer can lower your blood cholesterol readings. In fact, sudden decrease in your total cholesterol levels is a sign that there might be malignancy in the body.
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Can Damage From Excessive Drinking Be Reversed
If a person struggling with alcohol use disorder stops drinking via a professional medical detox program, enters a rehabilitation program based in therapy, and maintains sobriety while their symptoms are still in the early stages, they may be able to reverse much of the damage to their body. The brain, in particular, seems especially able to heal damage. Other systems, like the immune system and the pancreas, may not be as able to heal damage. However, even if a person is not able to reverse damage caused to their body by problem drinking, stopping alcohol consumption and managing the addiction can still stop the progression of the disease.
Iii Research On Alcohol And Cholesterol
Japan
Researchers made a study using three independent general Japanese populations. The total number of male subjects was 2,289. The number of females was 1,940. Thus, the total number was 4,229. Their mean age was 63.3.
Alcohol consumption was positively linked with HDL but negatively with LDL level.
Their conclusion was simple. Alcohol consumption has a causal role in not only increasing HDL cholesterol levels but also decreasing LDL cholesterol levels.1
Postmenopausal Women
Postmenopausal women were in an eight-week controlled diet experiment. The control group drank no alcohol. One group consumed one drink per day. The third group had two drinks daily. The energy provided by the three diets was the same. After the diet, the researchers tested the HDL and LDL levels. Then they compared the latter groups to those of the control group.
Women who had one drink daily had lower LDL levels. Having two daily drinks did not reduce them much more. One daily drink increased HDL some. However, two daily drinks greatly raised HDL levels. In short, one drink a day was good for cholesterol levels. However, two drinks per day was much better.2
Nonsmokers
Other researchers found better HDL levels among nonsmoking men and women who had at least seven drinks weekly. Then the researchers compared them to nonsmoking abstainers.
Drinking in moderation has a positive affect while smoking appears to have a negative affect on HDL levels.3
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What Type Of Alcohol Affects Cholesterol Levels More
Alcohol, in general, affects your cholesterol levels. But some are considered better than others.
For example, research purports that red wine may increase your good cholesterol to protect your blood from cholesterol buildup.9 This may be because of the antioxidants in red wine.
The antioxidants in red wine are known as polyphenols. They help protect the lining of the blood vessels in your heart. One particular polyphenol, called resveratrol, is notable for its health benefits.
Because a glass of wine can help to increase HDL, this means it can help to prevent blood clots, which can help to prevent heart disease, stroke, heart attacks, and more.
Just remember that drinking alcohol can still take a toll on your health. Its important to not drink too much – this can adversely affect cholesterol and your overall well being.
ALCOHOL REHAB HELP
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Ideal Cholesterol Test Results
As you have known about the factors that control and affect your cholesterol test readings, you need to know the ideal levels of HDL, LDL and total cholesterol in the blood. These are â
- Total Cholesterol: 6.9%
- HDL : 12.4%
- LDL : 9.5%.
Anything higher or lower than this will indicate high or low cholesterol levels and would require significant lifestyle changes. You should consult with your doctor regarding your cholesterol test results to get the correct picture of your health.
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Why Should I Lower My Cholesterol
Evidence strongly indicates that high cholesterol can increase the risk of:
- narrowing of the arteries
- transient ischaemic attack often known as a “mini stroke”
- peripheral arterial disease
This is because cholesterol can build up in the artery wall, restricting the blood flow to your heart, brain and the rest of your body. It also increases the risk of a blood clot developing somewhere in your body.
Your risk of developing coronary heart disease also rises as your blood’s cholesterol level increases. This can cause pain in your chest or arm during stress or physical activity .
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Does The Type Of Alcohol Matter
Ultimately, its the quantity and frequency of drinking that has more of an impact on your cholesterol levels rather than the type of alcohol. Your body reacts to alcohol the same way whether its coming from beer, wine, or hard liquor.
As described above, some research has shown a positive relationship between red wine and HDL cholesterol levels, yet the exact way that wine impacts cholesterol levels needs more research. Thats probably why the American Heart Association currently does not recommend drinking wine or any other form of alcohol to gain potential benefits.
Will Quitting Alcohol Lower My Cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, quitting or cutting back on alcohol can certainly help lower it, and improve your heart health more generally. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control lists cutting back on alcohol as a way to prevent or manage high cholesterol9.
Other ways to lower your cholesterol include getting regular exercise, eating a healthier diet, and quitting smoking. Of course, if youre concerned about your cholesterol levels, we also recommend discussing your habits with your doctor.
If cutting back on alcohol proves challenging, the good news is that there are easier, more flexible options than before. Ria Health offers online support to reduce or quit drinking from an app on your smartphone. We support everyone from heavy to occasional drinkersyou dont need to identify as an alcoholic to join.
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Is Alcohol Always Bad For Cholesterol
So, does alcohol cause high cholesterol in every situation?
In excess, alcohol can be a factor in high cholesterol levels. But in moderation, alcohol is not always a bad thing. In fact, some studies suggest that red wine can actually increase HDL levels, due to chemicals called polyphenols6.
Its important to point out, however, that these same beneficial compounds are available in ordinary grapes and other fruits such as blueberries. And, according to the American Heart Association, regular exercise is much more effective at raising HDL levels than drinking wine7.
In other words, while small amounts of red wine may not make your cholesterol worse, it shouldnt be your go-to for balancing your LDL/HDL levels.
Who Should Be Tested
Your GP may recommend that you have your blood cholesterol levels tested if you:
- have been diagnosed with coronary heart disease, stroke or mini-stroke , or peripheral arterial disease
- are over the age of 40 people over 40 should have their estimate of CVD risk reviewed regularly
- have a family history of early cardiovascular disease for example, if your father or brother developed heart disease or had a heart attack or stroke before the age of 55, or if your mother or sister had these conditions before the age of 65
- have a close family member who has a cholesterol-related condition, such as familial hypercholesterolaemia
- are overweight or obese
- have high blood pressure or diabetes
- have another medical condition, such as kidney disease, an underactive thyroid, or an inflamed pancreas these conditions can cause increased levels of cholesterol or triglycerides
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How Does Alcohol Affect Cholesterol Blood Test
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Iv Resources On Alcohol And Cholesterol
Web Pages
Libonati, J. and Schwinden, K. Good Cholesterol, Bad Cholesterol. Bloomington: Authorhouse, 2011.
Rinzler, C. and Graf, M. Controlling Cholesterol for Dummies. Hoboken, NJ : Wiley, 2008
Senior, N. and Cuskelly, V. Eat to Beat Cholesterol. Chatswood, NSW: New Holland, 2016.
Scientific
Baer, D. J., et al. Moderate alcohol consumption lowers risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Am J Clin Nurs, 2002, 75, 593-599.
De Oliveira, E. et al. Alcohol consumption raises HDL cholesterol levels. Circ, 2000, 102, 2347-2352.
Earnst, N. et al. The association of plasma high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with dietary intake and alcohol consumption. Circ, 1980, 62, IV 41-52.
Koppes, L., et al. Blood cholesterol levels of 32-year-old consumers are better than of nonconsumers. Pharm Biochem Behav, 2000, 66, 163-167.
Linn, S. et al. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol and alcohol consumption. Am J Pub Health, 1993, 83, 811-816.
Suh, I. et al. Alcohol use and mortality from coronary heart disease. Ann Intern Med. 1992, 116, 881-887.
References for Alcohol and Cholesterol
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What Is Considered Healthy Cholesterol
High-density lipoprotein is considered the healthy kind of cholesterol.
For men 20 years and older, 125 to 200mg/dL is considered a healthy level for overall cholesterol. HDL should be about 40mg/dL or higher. LDL for men should be below 100mg/dL.2
For women 20 years and older, 125 to 200mg/dL is considered a healthy level for overall cholesterol. HDL should be about 50mg/dL or higher. LDL for women should be lower than 100mg/dL.2
ALCOHOL REHAB HELP
These behaviors have also been linked to diabetes and dementia.8
How Do I Prepare For This Test
- Many lipid levels are affected by fat in your diet. Avoid eating fatty foods the evening before your test.
- You should fast overnight before you have this test. This means you should not eat or drink anything after midnight the night before your test. Eating food within 9 to 12 hours before the test will not affect the HDL or total cholesterol test results, but it may affect the test results for triglycerides and LDL. If you need to take medicines, you may take them with a small amount of water on the morning of your test.
- Don’t drink any alcohol for 24 hours before the test.
- Avoid exercise for 12 to 14 hours before the test.
- You may need to avoid taking certain medicines before the test because they might affect the test result. Make sure your health care provider knows about any medicines, herbs, or supplements that you are taking. Don’t stop any of your regular medicines without first consulting with your health care provider.
- Talk to your health care provider if you have any questions.
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How To Lower Cholesterol
If you have high cholesterol, your doctor may recommend lifestyle changes, medications or both.
Here are some ways to manage your cholesterol.
Eat heart-healthy food
What you eat can make a big difference to your cholesterol levels.
Cut back on foods high in saturated fats like:
- pies
- oily fish.
Drink less alcohol
Drinking too much alcohol can increase your LDL cholesterol and triglycerides. So drinking less is a good way to lower your cholesterol.
The Ministry of Health recommends no more than 10 standard drinks per week for women and no more than 15 for men. One standard drink is equal to:
- a standard can of 4% beer
- a small glass of wine
- a small single shot of spirits
If you have high cholesterol or you’ve been diagnosed with a heart condition, you may need to drink less than this.
Quit smoking
Smoking makes your LDL cholesterol stickier and reduces the amount of HDL cholesterol in your blood. It also damages the artery walls. This increases the build-up of plaque in your arteries and can cause risk of heart attack and stroke.
Quitting smoking is a great way to lower your cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease.
Move more
Sitting less and being more active are great ways to reduce high cholesterol.
This doesnt mean you have to join a gym or take up running it just means you need to move your body more throughout the day. Ideally you should do 30 minutes of activity a day.
You could try:
Read more about the benefits of exercise.
Cholesterol medication
Your Body Needs Just Enough Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat-like substance that travels through your blood. At persistently elevated levels, its linked to an increased risk in heart disease. But cholesterol isnt a bad guy on its own. In fact, your body needs cholesterol to function properly.
The problem is, your body needs only a small amount of it, and your liver produces enough to meet your bodys needs.
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Things To Follow Before Blood Test
Some blood tests are to be done while fasting. The duration of fasting depends upon the kind of blood test. Some tests require fasting for 8 to 10 hours, some 10 to 12 hours. This is because the components of food vary the composition of the blood which leads to wrong results.
- Water is not avoided before a blood test. Intake of water becomes advantageous as it increases the volume of blood and keeps the veins in hydrated state. Then it would be easier for the technician to take the blood. Actually the workers of the lab suggest the drinking of water before testing.
- Some doctors do not advice the patients to take medicines during the period of blood testing thinking that they have bad impact on the test results.
- Intake of caffeinated drinks is prohibited before the test.
- Alcohol is found at least in traces in the blood for many days after consumption. Hence the patient is advised to stop drinking alcohol 24 hours before going to test.