Natural Cures - High Cholesterol

Stroke

A stroke is a sudden disruption in blood flow to the brain caused by a blockage or bleeding of a blood vessel. Areas of the brain that are affected by the blockage or bleeding can become damaged within minutes.

The effects of a stroke may be mild or severe and temporary or permanent, depending on which brain cells are damaged, how much of the brain is involved, and how quickly the blood supply is restored to the area.

Symptoms of a stroke are sudden and may include: Numbness, weakness, or lack of movement (paralysis) in the face, an arm, or a leg, especially on only one side of the body. Trouble seeing in one or both eyes. Confusion and difficulty speaking.

Dizziness and a loss of balance or coordination. Vomiting. A sudden, severe headache. A person with stroke symptoms needs immediate medical attention to help limit potential damage. 

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Hypothyroidism

Hypothyroidism is a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone, which regulates the way the body uses energy.

A low thyroid level can cause symptoms of fatigue, weakness, lethargy, weight gain, depression, memory problems, constipation, dry skin, intolerance to cold, coarse and thinning hair, brittle nails, or a yellowish tint to the skin.

Hypothyroidism usually develops slowly. It often results from a problem in which the body's own natural defense (immune) system attacks the thyroid gland (autoimmune thyroiditis or Hashimoto's thyroiditis). Hypothyroidism may also develop following radiation treatment or surgical removal of the thyroid.

Hypothyroidism is treated with medications to replace the thyroid hormone. Symptoms usually disappear within a few months after treatment begins, but most people need to continue taking thyroid hormones for life.

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Menopause

Menopause is the milestone in every woman's life that marks the end of her reproductive years. It is the point in time when a woman has had no menstrual periods for 1 year, which happens when the ovaries have stopped producing enough estrogen and progesterone to keep the menstrual cycle going.

Menopause marks the end of the perimenopausal phase and the beginning of the postmenopausal phase. While the average age of menopause is around 50, every woman's body has its own unique timeline. Some women stop having periods (menstruating) in their mid-40s, while others continue until their mid-50s.

After menopause, a woman's estrogen stabilizes at a low level. Although low estrogen helps reduce the risk of some types of cancer, it does lead to an increasing loss in bone density, which sometimes causes osteoporosis.

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Lipids

such as cholesterol, triglycerides, and fatty acids, are fat and substances like fat used as a source of fuel by the body. Lipid levels can be an important measure of health; for example, a person who has high cholesterol has an increased risk of heart disease and stroke.

Lipids are found in the bloodstream or stored in tissues. They are an important part of cell structure and other biological functions in the body.

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Lipid Disorders

Lipid disorders are problems that affect the way cholesterol is produced, used, carried in the blood, or disposed of by the body. People with lipid disorders develop very high total cholesterol levels, very low HDL (or GOOD) cholesterol levels, and/or high triglyceride levels.

Lipid disorders are often inherited. People who have lipid disorders are usually at risk of developing coronary artery disease, often at an early age.

If a person is known to have a lipid disorder, treatment can be started early to lower the person's cholesterol, and family members can be made aware that they may also be at risk.

Examples of inherited lipid disorders include familial combined hyperlipidemia and familial hypercholesterolemia.

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Statins

Statins are a type of medicine used to treat high cholesterol. These medicines block an enzyme the body needs to produce cholesterol, thereby lowering the total amount of it in the blood.

Statins, also known as HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, help reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke. Along with reducing cholesterol levels in the blood, statins reduce inflammation around the cholesterol buildup (called a plaque). By stabilizing the plaque, there is less risk that it will rupture and cause a blood clot that can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

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Last Updated: May 25, 2007
Author: Jeannette Curtis Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS
Medical Review: Patrice Burgess, MD - Family Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine Kathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine 

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