Athletes have long been known to use anabolic steroids to increase lean muscle mass and give them stronger and better performance. What they may not realize is that they are putting their cholesterol level at a dangerous point by both raising LDL (bad) cholesterol and lowering HDL (good) cholesterol.
A study of the impact of anabolic steroids on those with HIV wasting disease first brought this information to light. Within 12 weeks of using an anabolic steroid, patients with the disease had negatively impacted their cholesterol level. The steroid use in this case did just what was intended - increase the muscle mass in men who were at a high risk of dying, making the impact on cholesterol much less important compared to the short term benefit of the steroid. However, for athletes, body builders or others looking for a fountain of youth, steroid use has been found to pose a different type of risk and life threatening danger. (more…)
When it comes to cholesterol levels, men have a step up on maintaining lower cholesterol. It is not exactly known why more women seem to have higher cholesterol levels than men, but the numbers indicate women may be putting themselves at a greater risk for heart disease when LDL cholesterol levels remain too high. Men on the other hand have their share of problems related to high cholesterol and need to work just as hard at reducing cholesterol.
Here are some facts that indicate high cholesterol is still in fact dangerous for both men and women:
Women
* White non-Hispanic females are the highest risk group for high cholesterol
* 25% of American women have high cholesterol (overall cholesterol that is higher than 200 mg/dL).
* 41.6% of Mexican-American women have high cholesterol
* 55% of women over 55 have high cholesterol. This is because estrogen helps regulate LDL cholesterol and as estrogen drops in the post menopausal years, cholesterol can increase.
* Women with high levels of cholesterol have twice as much risk of developing heart disease. (more…)
The personal price you pay in terms of health is great when you fail to reduce high cholesterol. But the poor health and increased threat of heart attack affect the wallet proportionate to the increased risk for heart disease.
The cost of a first time heart attack or stroke occurring in people who failed to reduce their cholesterol was more than $13 billion considering both lost wages and hospitalization. For recurring heart attacks or fatal strokes the cost continues at $13 billion per year. Other indirect costs bring that total up to $53.6 billion per year according to an article in the Journal of the American Heart Association. (more…)
Failure to lower cholesterol can lead to a dangerous and even deadly occurrence known as plaque rupture. A build up of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol on the artery walls is the first step in creating conditions within the arteries where plaque can rupture and release fat into the blood stream. This then can further clog already narrow arteries or cause a clot to happen by lodging the clot in an arterial opening.
When arteries become clogged with plaque due to high cholesterol, the walls become hardened. This condition is referred to as atherosclerosis. The arteries also become narrow and make it difficult for blood to flow through. When they become completely blocked a stroke or heart attack is the end result. This condition itself is dangerous, but it also leads to the possibility of plaque rupture. (more…)
The link between high cholesterol and obesity is significant. Therefore, losing weight can mean substantially lower cholesterol. Here are some important facts:
* 97 million (approximately ½) Americans are overweight or obese
* Diseases or conditions that increase with obesity are diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol – all of which can lead to heart disease
* Obesity is defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of greater than 30. To measure BMI, take your weight in pounds and multiply it by 703 then divide that number by your height in inches and then again by height in inches. For example, a 135 pound woman who is 5’3” has a BMI of 23.9 and is considered normal, although approaching the high end of the scale. (135×703)/63”/63”= 23.9)
Listed as one of the major risk factors to high cholesterol, obesity is also a contributor to heart disease. Obese people generally have high levels of triglycerides too and 20% of triglyceride value is factored into the total cholesterol level. (more…)
Don’t lower cholesterol and you could be facing a condition known as angina in your future. Angina is a cardiovascular disease that shows up with symptoms such as tightness in the chest or a heavy type of chest pain – not the quick stabbing pains associated with some heart attacks. This can affect everyday movement and activities since angina symptoms are strongest after some sort of exertion. The symptoms do diminish after a period of rest, but the condition is life long.
The cause of angina is a lack of oxygen to the heart. When high cholesterol levels cause sufficient build up in the arteries leading to the heart, blood cannot freely pass and there is a limited supply sent on the heart. The blood carries oxygen to the heart and when enough doesn’t get through angina pectoris is the result. Full blockage to the coronary arteries results in a heart attack. (more…)
