Besides unhealthy eating habits, smoking, stress, obesity and sedentary lifestyle can also lead to atherosclerosis. Usually this is a hereditary condition. In other words, if there is a family history of the condition, the chances are high that you too can get the condition. Also, men are more prone to the condition than women.

However, you can reduce the risk of atherosclerosis by eating sensibly. You should make an effort to eat food that is low in saturated fats. Fish is one such food that can help you combat atherosclerosis. Fish that contain polyunsaturated fats and Omega 3 fatty acids should be consumed. These include tuna, salmon and mackerel. In fact, you can eat any fatty fish to help you fight this condition. You should try and have at least two fish meals each week.

The Omega 3 helps to remove fats and triglycerides that build up in the arteries. Also, the acid helps to avoid clumping of blood platelets. This ensures that the blood flows smoothly without taking on a sticky texture. Also, Omega 3 fatty acids help to lower blood pressure. Besides fatty fish, other sources of Omega 3 fatty acids include wheat germ, green leafy vegetables like kale and spinach and flaxseed.

Another thing that you should try to incorporate in your food is garlic. It contains a compound known as ajoene, which keeps the blood from clotting and forming clumps. It also lowers the bad cholesterol and triglyceride levels in the blood.

Antioxidants should be part of your daily diet plan. These help to prevent the free radicals from oxidizing the bad cholesterol. Once LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, gets oxidized, it immediately attaches itself to the walls of the arteries. Therefore, you should eat food that contains Vitamin C, Vitamin E and beta carotene which are all antioxidants. Concentrate on eating peppers, strawberries, oranges, carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach, mangoes, collard beans, wheat germ, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils to get your daily dose of antioxidants.

You Do Not See It Coming.
This disease can take many years to develop. Most times you will not be aware that you have a problem until it presents itself. In addition, that could be too late. Gradual deposits within the arteries can bring it about. The deposits are made of fatty tissue. This is also referred to as plaque. In time, the plaque build-up becomes worse. The blood flow in the arteries slowly gets restricted. It is like water running through a hose. When the pathway narrows, less water flows and the force is increased. When an artery is narrowed, a blood clot can lodge within the area. This may block off the flow of blood completely. When this happens to the heart, you have a heart attack. The heart starts to die from lack of oxygen.

Causes
Lifestyle is a big influence. Eating a high fat and high cholesterol diet can be a factor. Sedentary lifestyle may also be a cause.

Genetics may also play a big role. Often times, heart problems run in families. If you have a close relative with a heart condition, you may also be as risk.

Smoking has been linked to arteriosclerosis. The act of smoking has an effect on plaque build-up within the blood vessels.

Blood sugar problems can also be an indicator. Diabetes increases the risks with such conditions.

Age is also a factor. The longer we live, the greater the chance of plaque build-up. However, it is affecting young people also.

Symptoms
Symptoms of arteriosclerosis can be non-existent. Elevated blood pressure might be an indicator. A person may feel chest pain and nausea. Any type of heart attack symptom can mean the presence of this disease. Urgent medical care may be need, in those cases.

Treatments
The best agreed upon treatment is prevention. A lifestyle that contains exercise, fruits and vegetables is recommended. Limiting salt and fatty foods is also a good thing. Management for conditions like hypertension and high cholesterol are very important. They are also known as silent killers. If you have had a heart attack it will be very important to listen to your doctor. You may need to take medications and revamp your lifestyle.

Learn more about it. The more you know, the better you are equipped to deal with it. Visit libraries or online search engines.

Conclusions

Heart disease is a silent killer because there may be no symptoms. It takes many years to develop. It is very important to get regular checkups. There are things that you can do to prevent this problem. Education is a great tool for effective treatment.

This leaves us with a choice of two ways how to lower cholesterol with herbs and they are a) take individual herbs to achieve each of the desired outcomes, or b) use a natural blended supplement which has various herbs etc… in it which can help our bodies do what is required and are blended together in the right quantities to form one single supplement. Of course of the two we want to use option b as it will work out cheaper and easier to do.

So now that we know a blended supplement is the most effective way how to lower cholesterol with herbs, what ingredients should we be looking for in the supplement? Well, there are various options, but ideally you want your blended supplement to contain the following proven cholesterol controlling ingredients;-

1. Policosanol – This is extracted from various sources including rice bran and beeswax, and it has been found to be so effective at reducing LDL production that it has been compared to statins just without all of the nasty side effects. It works because it contains an alcohol within it and this alcohol helps to increase HDL as well as prevent the liver from producing too much of the enzyme that creates LDL.
2. Lecithin – This helps you in a couple of ways, firstly it helps to dissolve LDL cholesterol in the blood, and secondly it stops excess LDL being absorbed by turning it into bile salts which are then excreted.
3. Phytosterols – These are plant based sterols which are very similar in molecular structure to cholesterol. With this being the case what happens is that they end out competing for the same space to be absorbed in to the gastrointestinal tract as the cholesterol, therefore less cholesterol is absorbed.
4. Theaflavins – These are derived from fermented green tea, and they have two roles to play. First of all they increase HDL and decrease LDL, additionally they are also very strong anti – oxidants which means your body has less oxidized cholesterol floating around inside it.
5. Oryzanol – This is taken from the outer hull of rice and has many different properties in it that help to combat cholesterol. In summary though it is very effective at turning cholesterol into bile salts for excretion.
6. D-Limonene – Extracted from the skin of citrus fruit, this non toxic oil is a natural solvent which when it builds up in the liver inhibits the production of the cholesterol creating enzyme.

As mentioned earlier, you can get all of the above individually from health food stores, but as you can imagine it would probably be quite costly, and not only that it is a lot of supplements to take. And yes you could pick and choose individual supplements to take instead of all of them, however doing that would not be really be the most effective way how to lower cholesterol with herbs.

To get your triglycerides and cholesterol back down to a normal level, you will have to make some dietary changes. For people who have high cholesterol levels from eating too many fattening foods, cholesterol lowering can be accomplished by as much as 10-20% from dieting alone. Reducing calories to 1,200-1,500 for women and 1,500-1,800 for men will help you lose 2 pounds per week.

When losing weight, you shouldn’t drink more than one serving of alcohol per day and you should be ingesting eight cups of water daily. Adding just 30 minutes of exercise per day, either all at once or in 3 intervals of 10 minutes, can work wonders for heart health.

When cooking, replace butter with olive oil, canola oil or peanut oil. In many baking recipes, you can use applesauce instead of butter, believe it or not! Dieticians recommend eating no more than 5 ounces of meat per day, substituting ½ cup of beans to get your protein and eating no more than 2 egg yolks per week. To reduce cholesterol and triglycerides and extend your life, you’ll be limiting carbs, sugars, fat and alcohol but your replacement diet doesn’t have to be torture.

In fact, many companies are manufacturing sugar free sweets and low fat ice cream to help tame those cravings. Once you use discipline over an extended period of time, you’ll find that these foods have lost their luster and no longer have control over your life or your health.

You may have heard that cholesterol and triglycerides often require prescription drugs to help the body get back to business. Statins are the most effective and commonly used drugs because they produce little side effects and they can quickly halt the progression of coronary artery disease. They work by reducing bad cholesterol and boosting good one to restore balance. Statins on the market include: Lipitor, Lescol, Mevacor, Pravachol, Zocor and Crestor.

But once you’ve been told you’ve got high triglycerides the obvious question is how to lower your triglycerides. Because if you don’t you’re more at risk of heart disease, and death from heart related problems. And there are always many people looking for a natural solution that doesn’t involve drugs. Of course there are drugs that you can take to combat the problem, but many prefer that as a last solution, and prefer to try a natural alternative first.

So lets see firstly what they are, and what creates them. Triglycerides are a form of fat found in your blood and through your body. They are stored in fat tissue and are carried by the blood, and having a level that is too high can indicate potential health problems that include heart disease, but also an increased risk of diabetes, kidney disease and thyroid disease.And they can contribute to other health problems related to high cholesterol too.

The problem is caused by diet and lifestyle factors like eating foods too high in fat, particularly saturated fats, eating excess sugar, being overweight and drinking too much alcohol.

So as you can see high triglycerides are a serious risk factor to your health. But the good news for those wanting to know how to lower your triglycerides naturally is that they can respond very well to several natural solutions. The first is to start using daily Omega 3 supplements. Fish oil is a prime source of Omega 3 fats, and it is now well established that Omega 3 fats are extremely good for your heart health generally as well as for lowering triglycerides in particular.

Of course you could just eat more fish, but because fish is generally contaminated with nasty toxins the FDA recommends that we don’t eat too much fish. The best fish oil capsules aren’t contaminated and you can safely take your fish oil daily. Note that not all fish oil capsules are the same, it’s extremely important to select the best capsules, which as it turns out are also quite cost competitive with some of the less effective capsules.

The other natural ways to lower your triglycerides are simple, though not necessarily easy. It’s important to lose weight and change your diet to include more fresh fruit and vegetables and to reduce your intake of alcohol. Reduce intake of fats, especially saturated fat, and sugar. Replace red meat with fish one or 2 days a week.

B-Vitamins

B-Vitamins are known as the energy vitamins. The reason for this is because B vitamins help to promote a healthy nervous system by assisting the body in oxygen utilization. There are a group of 8 vitamins such as thiamine (B1), riboflavin, (B2), niacin (B3), pyridoxine (B6), folic acid (B9), cyanocobalamin (B12), biotin and pantothenic acid (B5). These vitamins can work to enhance the other “sister vitamins” or taken separately.

For instance (B5) can be taken separately to combat acne, and folic acid is taken to prevent birth defects. However, if the primary concern is for energy, then the B-vitamins work best when combined.

Iron

Anemia is a condition that causes a person to feel very tired due to a low red blood cell count. The primary cause of anemia is a lack of iron in the body. Iron helps to provide the body with energy because iron produces oxygen-carrying pigment in the blood called hemoglobin. Extra iron is stored in the liver for later use. Most people need 15mg of iron per day, however pregnant and nursing mothers typically need more.

Magnesium

Magnesium is essential for many functions within the body such as the absorption of calcium, muscle health, and healthy red blood cells. However, magnesium is also an important vitamin that helps to promote energy because magnesium provides cells with additional fuel needed for energy production. Magnesium is like the spark plugs in a car. The extra spark is needed to get things going.

Zinc

Zinc boosts the immune system and regulates metabolism among many other things. Zinc also plays a very important role in energy production because zinc helps to facilitate protein synthesis. Zinc also improves energy levels because this vitamin jump starts enzymes. The average person needs 15mg or more of zinc per day.

MSM

MSM is a vitamin known to help rebuild joints, skin, hair and nails. However, MSM also helps the body to become energized. MSM does this by producing sulfur-containing compounds that are similar to amino acids. This sulfur helps to form proteins needed for energy. MSM is also an anti-inflammatory substance that helps to reduce toxins within the body.

Non Medical Ways to Lower Your Cholesterol

Besides taking cholesterol medications, you can try other non medical ways to lower your cholesterol. You can lower your cholesterol levels by modifying your diet and start taking only low or no cholesterol foods. Avoid trans and saturated fats from your diet as they are the main causes that raise your bad cholesterol level. Besides modifying your diet, you should also increase your physical activities. Remember to exercise regularly, as it will not only help you lose weight, but lower your cholesterol level too.

Taking The Right Cholesterol Medication

If your doctor has confirmed that you suffer from high cholesterol levels after a series of tests, he may prescribe a cholesterol medication to help you lower your cholesterol levels and achieve a normal and healthier cholesterol level. Your doctor may also suggest that you make some lifestyle changes, altering the way you live your life and modifying the food you eat to help you achieve normal cholesterol levels quickly. If you take the right medication and make the right lifestyle changes as your doctor advises you, you should be able to achieve a healthy cholesterol level within a short period of time.

You should also be aware that cholesterol medication can be quite expensive. You should always consult a doctor before you take any kind of cholesterol medications. Stop taking any cholesterol medication if you are concerned about a side effect that occurs after taking it. Always consult your doctor should this occur and inform him of the side effects so that he can advise you if you have to discontinue the medication. Also remember that it is important to follow all the instructions on the medication because improperly taking any medication can cause serious problems for you.

Most of the cholesterol in our blood is made within our bodies, by the liver. And that’s where CRESTOR (rosuvastatin calcium) comes in. CRESTOR is indicated as an adjunct to diet to reduce elevated Total-C, LDL-C, ApoB, non-HDL-C, and triglycerides and to increase HDL-C in adult patients with primary hyperlipidemia or mixed dyslipidemia. CRESTOR is as an adjunct to diet to slow the progression of atherosclerosis in adult patients as part of a treatment strategy to lower Total-C and LDL-C to target levels.

Sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy diet and obesity are nowadays the most common causes of high cholesterol and consequently, heart disease and stroke. Lots of people these days suffer from weight problems due to inappropriate diet (excessive consumption of foods rich in saturated fat, carbohydrates and salts) and lack of physical exercise. In order to efficiently prevent the development of serious complications associated with high cholesterol, overweight patients with cholesterol problems are advised to exercise daily and to respect an adequate, healthy diet.

Age and gender are also factors that considerably influence cholesterol levels. Although persons can be faced with cholesterol problems at any age , cholesterol levels gradually increase with age. Despite the fact that men are more likely to be faced with high cholesterol levels at a certain point in life, women can also suffer from heart disease and other conditions as a consequence of high cholesterol. While men are more exposed to developing heart disease due to high cholesterol after the age of 40, women rarely develop such problems before menopause (usually prior to the age of 50).

Genetic heritage is another very important factor that contributes to cholesterol problems. Persons confronted with high cholesterol levels due to genetic dysfunctions either produce excessive quantities of the substance or are unable to properly eliminate the substance from the body. On these premises, cholesterol levels are very difficult to control and even the most efficient cholesterol – lowering medications may sometimes fail to normalize cholesterol values in such categories of people.

A high cholesterol level is medically defined as more than 240 mg/DL total. Your doctor may also divide your cholesterol level into “good” cholesterol or HDL cholesterol and “bad” cholesterol or LDL cholesterol. If your HDL cholesterol is above 40 mg/Dl this is considered ideal. Your LDL cholesterol level, however, should be less than 100 mg/DL. Any reading above this puts you at a greater risk for heart disease or heart attack. HDL cholesterol is considered good because it is this type that is carried out of the blood stream to the liver where it is broken down and expelled from the body. LDL cholesterol, however, is the kind that builds up in your blood vessels and arteries.

If your doctor deems your cholesterol level is high, there are several things you can do to lower this level. These things include eating a healthy low-fat diet and exercising regularly. Not only does the healthy diet and exercise help lower you cholesterol level, it can also help lower your weight which in turn decreases you chances of heart disease. If you are a smoker you should consider stopping. Also, limit your intake of alcohol and sugar. After trying all these things, if your cholesterol level is still not ideal, your doctor can put you on cholesterol lowering prescription medication. Remember, though, cholesterol medications can damage your liver, so they should be used only after other options have been exhausted.

Increase the intake of Vitamin E – It is advised to increase your intake of Vitamin E to 400 international units to prevent the oxidation of bad cholesterol where the cholesterol hardens into the arterial plaque thus giving rise to heart attack. It also raises the level of HDL. You can include Vitamin E as dietary sources or include vegetable oils, nuts or grains in your diet.

Eat your breakfast – People who skip the breakfast have higher cholesterol levels than those who have breakfast everyday. This is because they tend to eat unhealthy foods which are high in fats.

Eat small meals frequently – Large meals have been shown to release the large amount of insulin, which in turn stimulates the production of the enzymes that increases cholesterol production by the liver. But eating small frequent meals without increasing the total calories will limit the insulin production and thus control the cholesterol and in turn heart diseases.

Add Vitamin C to the diet – Though other vitamins and minerals play an important role in the cholesterol production, Vitamin C is the most crucial vitamin for cholesterol control. It increases HDL level and is very beneficial if you get it from fruits and vegetables, since they have a special fibre called pectin. It surrounds the cholesterol and flushes it out of the digestive system before it gets into the blood. Include fruits like citrus fruits, tomatoes, potatoes, strawberries, apples and spinach which are rich in vitamin C and pectin.

Increase garlic intake – Take seven cloves of garlic a day will reduce the cholesterol levels significantly. If you cannot stand the normal garlic, then you can opt for odorless garlic pills, which are available in the local health stores.

Skip decaf – Avoid decaffeinated coffee since it has been shown to raise the LDL levels. This is because the beans used for decaf are far stronger than the normal beans.

Munch grapes – Grapes and their products have a compound which lowers the cholesterol significantly. So you can increase your intake of grapes, grape juice and wine to decrease your cholesterol level.

Have grapefruit – Grapefruit contains pectin which reduces cholesterol significantly. Hence people who consume grapefruits show a marked decline of cholesterol over 7 percent after two months of consumption.

Eat beans – Lima beans, kidney beans, navy beans, soybeans and other legumes have been shown to lower cholesterol as they have a high amount of pectin. Research has shown that people who consume about 11/2 cup of cooked beans a day have decreased their cholesterol levels by 20 percent within three weeks.