Symptoms Of An Ocular Migraine
The International Headache Society has defined the symptoms that are typical of a retinal or ocular migraine. These symptoms are monocular , temporary, and include:
- Scintillations:;seeing something that looks like flash of light, lightning, or a sparkle. Halos or lines may also be seen.
- Scotoma: a temporary blind spot, black spot, blurriness, or a partial loss of vision.
- Blindness: partial or complete blindness in one eye.
- Migraine headache:;The symptoms in the eye are accompanied by a headache that can last from a few hours to a few days. The headache is often located on the same side of the head as the eye that is experiencing symptoms.
- Other: Symptoms that typically occur with a migraine may also occur, such as light sensitivity, nausea, and vomiting.
Other types of migraines can cause visual problems, especially flashes of light and blind spots in the field of vision. The important distinction is that with an ocular migraine, these symptoms only occur in one eye.
It can be difficult to determine which eye is experiencing the symptoms, or if they are taking place in both eyes. A qualified healthcare professional can help determine the location of the symptoms while they are occurring.
If the symptoms cant be assessed at that time, a patient may try covering one eye. With one eye covered, it may be easier to tell which eye is affected, or if the problem is occurring in both eyes.
The Lowdown Onhigh Cholesterol
There are a number of potential causes of high cholesterol. A brief spike in cholesterol can be caused by dietary changes, weight gain, lack of exercise, manifestation of LDL receptor dysfunction or onset of other diseases, says Guy L. Mintz, MD, director of cardiovascular health and lipidology at Sandra Atlas Bass Heart Hospital in Manhasset, New York.
Other behaviors that can cause your cholesterol to spike include smoking, exposure to tobacco smoke and excess weight, according to the American Heart Association. A family history of high cholesterol can also be the culprit, but non-heart-healthy behaviors are usually to blame.
Contrary to popular belief, however, high cholesterol does not cause headaches or dizziness, says Dr. Mintz. In fact, high cholesterol does not cause any specific symptoms, according to the NIH.
That said, people with extremely high cholesterol can show certain signs, such as xanthoma and corneal arcus .
Dangers Of Statin Drugs: What You Havent Been Told About Popular Cholesterol
Hypercholesterolemia is the health issue of the 21st century. It is actually an invented disease, a problem that emerged when health professionals learned how to measure cholesterol levels in the blood. High cholesterol exhibits no outward signsunlike other conditions of the blood, such as diabetes or anemia, diseases that manifest telltale symptoms like thirst or weaknesshypercholesterolemia requires the services of a physician to detect its presence. Many people who feel perfectly healthy suffer from high cholesterolin fact, feeling good is actually a symptom of high cholesterol!
Doctors who treat this new disease must first convince their patients that they are sick and need to take one or more expensive drugs for the rest of their lives, drugs that require regular checkups and blood tests. But such doctors do not work in a vacuumtheir efforts to convert healthy people into patients are bolstered by the full weight of the US government, the media and the medical establishment, agencies that have worked in concert to disseminate the cholesterol dogma and convince the population that high cholesterol is the forerunner of heart disease and possibly other diseases as well.
The drugs that doctors use to treat the new disease are called statinssold under a variety of names including Lipitor , Zocor , Mevacor and Pravachol .
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What Causes High Cholesterol
High cholesterol occurs when:
- You get too much cholesterol through your diet. Eating a diet high in saturated fats and animal products can be a source of too much cholesterol. This is called secondary hypercholesterolemia.
- Your body makes too much cholesterol.
- Your body is not able to get rid of enough cholesterol.
In some cases, high cholesterol is caused by a genetic condition passed down through families. This is primary, or familial hypercholesterolemia, which is characterized by a defect in how your body removes low-density lipoprotein from the blood, in addition to increased production of cholesterol.
Physical Symptoms That Indicate High Cholesterol Levels:
- Pain in Hands and Feet:;Accumulation of cholesterol can clog the blood vessels of legs and hands. This build-up of cholesterol can occur continuously and make the hands and feet painful.
- Frequent tingling:;Interruptions in the blood flow to certain parts of the body makes a tingling sensation in hands and legs. The high cholesterol levels in the blood make the blood flow thick and affect the normal flow of blood in the nerves and cause tingling.
- Chest Pain in the Left Side:;Chest pain, especially on the left side indicates blockage of blood vessels around the heart and can cause pain. Sometimes, the pain may even spread up to the neck. The high levels of cholesterol in the blood can cause chest pain and can also be a sign of heart attack.
- A Frequent headache in the back of the head:;The blockage of blood vessels in the area around the head causes a headache in the back of the head. This occurs when the blood vessels are clogged by the cholesterol plaque. If this is left unchecked, the blood vessels can rupture and cause a stroke.
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Cholesterol Health: Signs Your Levels May Be Out Of Balance
The word cholesterol has a bad reputation since its typically associated with heart;disease, yet our body actually needs a certain level of cholesterol to function properly. Cholesterol helps your body make Vitamin D, which is needed to absorb calcium, and is vital in producing hormones. Cholesterol also plays a role digesting food. However, if cholesterol levels are out of balance, your body can suffer.
Cholesterol levels that are too high can lead to heart disease and stroke, while levels that are too low have been associated with mental health concerns. Levels that are either too high or too low are considered a cholesterol disorder.
How do you know if your cholesterol is too high or too low? In many cases there are no obvious signs that cholesterol levels are out of balance, so the most reliable indicator is a blood test. If cholesterol has been out of balance over a period of time, there may be a few indicators.
How The Fat You Eat Affects Cholesterol Levels
The relationship between the fat we eat and our health, particularly our cardiovascular health, has been hotly debated for many years.
Heres what you need to know:
There are different types of fats in our diet:
- Polyunsaturated fats: essential and important nutrients
- Monounsaturated fats: can come from plant or animal products and are generally considered healthy
- Saturated fats: less healthy than mono- and polyunsaturated fats
- Trans fats: unhealthy fats
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What Is The Difference Between Good Cholesterol And Bad Cholesterol
Good cholesterol is known as high-density lipoprotein . It removes cholesterol from the bloodstream. Low-density lipoprotein is the bad cholesterol.
If your total cholesterol level is high because of a high LDL level, you may be at higher risk of heart disease or stroke. But, if your total cholesterol level is high only because of a high HDL level, youre probably not at higher risk.
Triglycerides are another type of fat in your blood. When you eat more calories than your body can use, it turns the extra calories into triglycerides.
Changing your lifestyle can improve your cholesterol levels, lower LDL and triglycerides, and raise HDL.
Your ideal cholesterol level will depend on your risk for heart disease.
- Total cholesterol level; less than 200 is best, but it depends on your HDL and LDL levels.
- LDL cholesterol levels; less than 130 is best, but this depends on your risk for heart disease.
- HDL cholesterol levels; 60 or higher reduces your risk for heart disease.
- Triglycerides; less than 150 milligrams per deciliter is best.
How To Handle Side Effects
Donât stop taking your cholesterol drugs even if they donât make you feel great. Instead, talk to your doctor. There are a few ways theyÂ;might be able to help you feel better:
Take a brief break. If you have muscle pain, your doctor may tell you to stop taking your drug for a short time and then start it again within a month. The time off can show if your medicine is causing the pain or if itâs due to another problem.
Check your other meds. If you take cholesterol drugs and other medicines, you might be more likely to have side effects. Tell your doctor about everything you take, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter meds, and supplements.
Get a lower dosage. Your doctor may try to reduce how much of your medicine you take. You might also be able to take a pill every other day instead of daily.
Switch treatments. If your side effects are too hard to handle, you might be able to try a different statin such pravastatin and rosuvastatin , which are less likely to cause muscle aches.The cholesterol drug ezetimibe may allow you to take a lower statin dose and thereby helpÂ;relieve your muscle pain, for example.
Consider OTC treatments. Statins may lower levels of a substance in your muscles called coenzyme Q10, and that can cause pain. You may try taking CoQ10 supplements to get relief. Another option, L-carnitine, might help, too. But always talk to your doctor before you start taking any medicine, even ones you buy without a prescription.
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How Can I Lower My Cholesterol Naturally
For many people, revamping everyday habits can go a long way toward lowering cholesterol without medication. There are a number of lifestyle changes that can be made, and they fall under the categories of diet and exercise, says Dr. Khandwalla.
Eating heart-healthy foods is a great place to start. This means reducing your intake of red meat and full-fat dairy products, both of which contain saturated fats that raise cholesterol. Instead, focus on eating lean proteins chicken, turkey, seafood and adding more soluble fiber to your diet from fruits, vegetables, and oatmeal, according to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute . Getting aerobic exercise most days of the week can also help lower cholesterol.
Tingles In Your Hands And Feet
A sort of tingling sensation in your hands and your feet definitely isnt uncommon if youre dealing with too high cholesterol levels. Because of blocked blood vessels, the peripheral nerves in your feet and hands are also affected as theyre not getting enough oxygen and blood flow. This usually doesnt result in pain, but can induce a rather noticeable tingling sensation instead.
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Can Use Of Bioidentical Hormones Elevate The Risk Of Breast Cancer
There is no evidence that bioidentical hormone replacement therapy increases risk of breast cancer, notes Dr. Tutera.
In fact a Dr. Davelaar published a 20 year study that showed women who were using pellets containing bioidentical estradiol had no increased chance of developing breast cancer when compared to women not using any estrogen whatsoever.
Testosterone, says Dr. Tutera, has a tendency to impede the proliferation of breast tissue cells. This in turn cuts down on the development of nodules and cysts.
With all of that said, menopause or not, a woman should make a concerted effort to keep get her cholesterol numbers where they should be at.
Though menopause can raise the bad LDL cholesterol, so can a poor diet and lack of exercise.
Dr. Tutera initially specialized in obstetrics and gynecology and then moved on to treating hormonal imbalances in women. He passed away in 2015.
Lorra Garrick has been covering medical, fitness and cybersecurity topics for many years, having written thousands of articles for print magazines and websites, including as a ghostwriter. Shes also a former ACE-certified personal trainer.;;
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.
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How High Cholesterol Can Lead To High Blood Pressure
If youve been diagnosed with high blood cholesterol, you may already be taking medications to control it, and you may have made some lifestyle changes to help lower your cholesterol levels naturally.
Meanwhile, its important to keep an eye on your blood pressure. People living with high blood cholesterol often end up dealing with high blood pressure as well.
Why would that be? First, lets look at what high blood pressure is. The American Heart Association states that high blood pressure is when the force of your blood pushing against the wall of your blood vessels is consistently too high.
Imagine that garden hose again. If youre out watering your small plants, you may turn the water on at low pressure so you dont damage the tender blooms. If youre watering a line of shrubbery, though, you may turn up the water pressure to get the job done faster.
Now imagine that garden hose is several years old and full of grit and grime. Its also a bit stiff with age. To get the water to come through at the pressure youd like, you have to turn up the faucet to high. The higher pressure helps the water blast through all that gunk inside your hose so you can still use it to water your plants.
If you have high blood pressure, your heart and your arteries go through a similar scenario. Because the arteries are stiff or narrowed perhaps because of high cholesterol buildup your heart has to work harder to pump the blood through them.
Can High Cholesterol Cause A Stroke
Yes, if you have high cholesterol, youre at risk of stroke due to the excess cholesterol circulating in your blood, according to the AHA.
LDL builds up in your arteries, where it slows or blocks the flow of oxygen- and nutrient-rich blood to your body, including your brain. As arteries narrow and stiffen, blood clots may form a blockage, which can cause a stroke if it travels to the brain.
Stroke is the fifth leading cause of death in the United States and one of the main causes of disability, according to the American Stroke Association. But it can be mostly preventable; keeping your cholesterol levels down is one way to cut your risk.
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How Do You Know If You Have High Cholesterol
The problem with high cholesterol is that its a silent condition. Meaning, you wont feel any different as your levels spike. There arent really any symptoms until you have a heart attack or stroke, accordingGlenn Gaesser, Ph.D., professor of exercise physiology at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University. The only way to know if you have high cholesterol problems is by taking a blood test, usually during your annual physical.;
Possible Signs Of Low Cholesterol
Some studies have shown a link between low cholesterol and certain mental health disorders.
- Depression While there are many causes of depression, studies have shown patients with low cholesterol are more prone to depression Researchers do not totally understand the link between depression and low cholesterol, but believe it may be tied to cholesterols role in making Vitamin D. Vitamin D is important for cell growth. If brain cells arent healthy, you may experience anxiety or depression.
- Anxiety Like depression, studies show patients with very low levels of cholesterol had higher rates of anxiety than the general population.
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Symptoms Of High Cholesterol
Often, there are no specific symptoms of high cholesterol. You could have high cholesterol and not know it.
If you have high cholesterol, your body may store the extra cholesterol in your arteries. These are blood vessels that carry blood from your heart to the rest of your body. A buildup of cholesterol in your arteries is known as plaque. Over time, plaque can become hard and make your arteries narrow. Large deposits of plaque can completely block an artery. Cholesterol plaques can also break apart, leading to formation of a blood clot that blocks the flow of blood.
A blocked artery to the heart can cause a heart attack. A blocked artery to your brain can cause a stroke.
Many people dont discover that they have high cholesterol until they suffer one of these life-threatening events. Some people find out through routine check-ups that include blood tests.
Numbness In The Body Parts
If you are constantly experiencing numbness in your body parts, then high cholesterol can be responsible for that. However, other causes can also be responsible for numbness and swelling.;
When bad cholesterol appears high in your body, it affects blood circulation and prevents healthy nutrients from reaching the body. The lack of proper oxygen is also a cause of swelling and unusual numbness.;;;
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Effects Of High Cholesterol
There are several ways high cholesterol can affect your body. About 75% of the cholesterol you need is made by the liver and the other 25% is from the food you eat. Too much in your systemparticularly LDLcan form fatty deposits, or plaques, in your blood vessels, explains Dr. Adeyemi. This is known as atherosclerosis. Complications of high cholesterol include: