Posts Tagged cholesterol testing
Do You Know the ABCs of Heart Disease?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on February 1, 2013
Today is the 10th “National Wear Red Day” to promote heart health and awareness of heart disease risks and prevention. Did you put on something red this morning? Are you aware of your own risks or are you planning to think about it “one day” when you have time? Ignoring warning signs and risk factors won’t pay off in the end, so today is a good day to do a few simple things. You don’t have to do it all today, or this week, but each little step gets you closer to a healthier, longer life.
The Million Hearts Initiative, launched by the Department of Health and Human Services has a very quick way to check your risks and help you pick one or two goals that will help you focus on what’s important rather than a huge list of changes. The ABCs of heart health are something you should think about every day to keep you on the right track and focused on your heart. Start with a visit to get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked so you have a starting point and then get going with these easy steps:
A: Appropriate Aspirin Therapy for those who need it
B: Blood Pressure Control
C: Cholesterol Management
S: Smoking Cessation
Think about these when you start the day, when you talk to your health care provider or get your blood pressure and cholesterol checked and at any point that you know you can make a difference. Or pick one and focus on that first to get started. Taking care of your health isn’t rocket science, but it does take some attention to detail: Your Details. Start today! Red shirt or not, you can make a difference in your health right now.
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Obesity: It’s a Bigger Problem Than You Might Think
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on January 7, 2013
Many Americans know that obesity is a problem in the United States both for adults and for children. In addition, this is the time of year when we all start to think about how things went (or grew) last year and what we want to do better during 2013.
Have you decided that you are going to lose weight, eat better, exercise or any combination of these? If so, good luck and I hope that the gym membership and healthy food in the fridge gets put to good use! If you can stick to it for 3 weeks you may have a chance to really establish a good habit.
Knowing that obesity is a problem for so many of us isn’t surprising. What is surprising is that many people are unaware of how many ways being overweight or obese impacts their health. A recent poll conducted by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research indicates that although most of us know obesity is related to heart disease and diabetes we are unaware of other serious effects including:
- Higher risk of cancers of the colon, breast, protate and uterus
- Greater difficulty locating tumors
- Arthritis – the vicious cycle of gaining weight makes it more difficult to exercise and shed pounds which helps to improve arthritis
- Infertility
- High blood pressure and high cholesterol
- Respiratory problems such as sleep apnea and asthma
If more Americans were aware of the additional risks of being overweight or obese, it might motivate them to work harder to shed excess weight. It is not only about looks but about the ability to live a longer, healthier life. Since now is the perfect time to jump on the health bandwagon you should start with a baseline of your current health with blood tests for cholesterol, blood pressure and overall heart health, along with your weight and measurements so you can create a picture of where you want to be and what changes or improvements you’ll need to make to reach your goals. According to the survey most people support posting nutritional information in restaurants so as this information becomes available we need to take advantage of it. The majority of Americans are against any government restrictions including food taxes and restrictions on what we are able to buy. This means it is up to each of us to make the right choices for so many reasons!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
CDC Offers Up Million Hearts to Heart Health Month
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on February 15, 2012
Have you been payting attention? Hopefully you’ve worn red to work and noticed the posters, flyers and promotions for Heart Health month by the American Heart Association. This well publicized program targets those of us, especially women, who need an extra push to pay attention to our own health. Come on, you know you’re more likely to be one of those people than not! The addition of the Center for Disease Control’s (CDC) Million Hearts program adds some simple guidelines that are easy to remember, even if we have a hard time following them.
The CDC recommends following your ABCS:
- Aspirin for people at risk – Ask your doctor is this makes sense for you.
- Blood pressure in check – If this is an issue, make sure you have a home BP cuff.
- Cholesterol management – Standard cholesterol tests and more advanced ones such as the VAP and PLAC tests can let you know how aggressive you need to be.
- Smoking cessation – There are so many ways to kick the habit. You just need to pick the right one for you.
These four major steps help to address cardiovascular disease, the leading of death in the United States. In addition, cardiovascular disease and stroke are the leading cause of disability preventing people from leading full lives and enjoying time with their families.
Women are at a higher risk than many of us are aware of. Women are used to taking care of their families and putting their own health last. What we, as mothers and caretakers, may not realize is that putting our health at risk is a terrible way of taking care of our loved ones. What would they do if we weren’t around to take care of all the little things? Saving yourself is the most important thing you can do to be the best mother, partner, and daughter you can possibly be.
Take these American Heart Association and CDC messages to heart and take control of your health today!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Are Your New Year’s Resolutions Achievable?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on January 12, 2012
Although the ideal is that we all live healthy lives year round, the truth is that it’s not easy to do and this is the time of year we think about what we should be doing. Exercising, not smoking, and going on a diet are among the top resolutions people make every year on January 1. Unfortunately, most of us have already quit by now. It’s been over 10 days and many of these attempts only last about 3 days. Being realistic about what you can do is a big part of making your goals achievable. Did you tell yourself no sweets at all? Or no 
smoking starting NOW? Or that you’ll get up at 5 am and exercise every day? Balance is key to maintaining a habit and starting small can help you get there.
Some tips for being realistic and actually reaching your goals include:
- If you’re trying to do something like lose weight or improve your cholesterol, you need a baseline. Know where you are today and lay out a gradual plan for where you want to be. Get your cholesterol and other critical health values tested with a Basic Check Up test. Decide when you’ll go back for another test to see where you are. Make an appointment so that you have a hard deadline and very specific goal. If it’s weight loss get on the scale today and set a goal for where you’ll be in 3 months, 6 months or a year.
- Start small. Recent studies have shown that small changes can have a huge impact on your health. Walk for 20 minutes a day to start. Or cut out one unhealthy food a day. Once you see success and know that you are able to make one change, add another after a month and continue with small lifestyle changes that will reap large rewards down the road.
- Tell others what you are doing. Saying it out loud and reporting success to others is a big motivator. Even if they don’t ask how you’re doing, you’ll know that they’re thinking it.
- Give yourself an advantage by not surrounding yourself with the temptation you are trying to avoid. Keep your fridge clear of things you shouldn’t eat or drink. Throw away your cigarettes so they are hard to get when the craving hits. Look at restaurant menus before you go out and decide ahead of time, when you’re not hungry, what you will order.
- Give yourself a break! You will probably fall off the wagon. You’ll have that cigarette, eat that candy bar or those fries, or sleep in instead of working out. This doesn’t mean it’s time to give up and throw in the towel. It means you’re human. Try again at the next opportunity and give it another go.
- Finally, be realistic. Losing 20 pounds in a month may not be achievable. Thinking that you will be done with cigarettes in a week isn’t either. Do your research and plan realistically what you can do right now and what you can achieve in the long run.
Good Luck! And, it’s not too late even if you think you’ve already given up. Dust yourself off and give your goals in 2012 another chance!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Cholesterol Testing – Still Relevant!
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on September 6, 2011
There is a lot of conversation, around the watercooler and on the internet that cholesterol is not the only thing to watch out for when it comes to health. This is true to some degree. Some people are able to eat pretty much what they want and stay slim without the negative effects on cholesterol. Some of us, though, really have to watch what we eat and work hard to stay or get slim and to avoid high cholesterol. Although cholesterol may not be the big picture, getting your cholesterol tested and knowing where you stand can help to guide you to the right lifestyle choices to be healthier, longer.
Recent research published in the journal PLoS One describes an interesting and potentially vital tip for keeping your cholesterol low. Apparantly, eating a grapefruit right before a meal that is high in fat and sugar, can reduce the amount of cholesterol that develops by 42% and raise insulin sensitivity by 64%. The study suggests that naringenin, a molecule in grapefruits that gives the fruit its bitter taste, can help to treat arteriosclerosis, hyper-metabolism, and even diabetes.
I love the new information that could mean that a grapefruit before my Big Mac might make it go down easier, or at least cause fewer problems down the road. While researchers are out hunting up these new tidbits of information, the rest of us need to keep on with our healthy diets and cholesterol testing, just to be on the safe side!
Written by www.labtestingnow.com
Healthier Happy Meals?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on July 29, 2011
Associating fat-laden, high calorie food with toys has been big business for McDonald’s and it’s competitors. This tactic has also slammed for pushing this bad-for-you food on children and encouraging them to beg to go to McDonald’s. I’ve seen it in action with my own children who are dying to get a “free” toy whether they like the food or not. My son doesn’t like french fries, but he says he’ll gag them down if he gets the toy. Not a good sign. Based on all the complaints about the poor nutritional quality of Happy Meals, McDonald’s 
has announced that it will improve the healthiness of the meals. With 20% fewer calories based on a 100 calorie portion of french fries and the addition of apple dippers, without the sugary caramel sauce, this is definitely an improvement: From 520 calories and 26 grams of fat down to 410 calories and 19 grams of fat.
This is a step in the right direction and including apples in the meal may encourage children to eat some fruit, but a Happy Meal is a long way from a healthy meal. Even a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread is more nutritional with 20 fewer calories and twice as much protein. Yes, McDonald’s is quick, and healthier is better, but sandwiches are quick, too. It takes just as long to wait in line, pay and pick up your Happy Meal as it does to pull out a loaf of bread, slap on some peanut butter and hand it to your child with an apple. The big problem is that Americans have gotten used to the high sodium, high fat foods that we get at the drive through so it’s not just about easy, it’s about maintaining bad food habits that we’ve grown to love. These habits have also made us grow…wider! The fat and calories increase not just our weight but our cholesterol and blood pressure. It’s about time we start weaning ourselves off of the Happy Meals and work on making our own happy meals at home.
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Silent Risk for Cardiovascular Disease Discovered
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on July 15, 2011
I hope you’ve had your cholesterol checked and are making any changes necessary to improve your health. There is a plethora of information available about what to eat, how much to exercise, and what not to do that makes it easy enough to do the right things, if you are motivated. Even if you haven’t started, you’d better do it now! A new research study suggests that there is even more some people should be doingto reduce their risk of cardiovascular disease 
and standard testing won’t identify the risk. A coronary artery CT (computed tomography) scan can reveal coronary artery calcium buildups that are associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular disease. The scary part of this news is that there are no symptoms so you won’t know if you are at risk. Unfortunately, the research isn’t suggesting that this scan become widespread or even that having the information will be able to make a difference in reducing your risk.
The increase in coronary calcium buildup could identify patients who should have more aggressive treatment to reduce LDL (low-density) cholesterol levels, even if with a standard test they appear to be in the low range. Other tests, including the PLAC test, can identify hidden risks that would indicate that a more aggressive treatment regimen should be followed as well, but these tests take time to be included in a physician’s standard testing procedures. Independent laboratories can provide many tests that physician’s can’t yet, but the CT scan may not be cost effective, especially since research hasn’t shown that lowering LDL cholesterol levels in these patients will reduce their cardiovascular risk.
As researchers discover new risks all the public can do is worry. Unhealthy habits, such as a diet high in cholesterol and other fats, smoking, and lack of exercise accelerate the deposit of fat and calcium within the inner lining of coronary arteries, also known as arterial plaque. The bottom line is that it’s a good idea to work on being healthy, through diet, exercise, and eliminating smoking whether you know you’re at risk for disease or not. No one should be waiting for a problem to surface before trying to prevent health issues. Take charge of your health!
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Another Reason to Quit Smoking…
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on June 30, 2011
If you’re pregnant, you already know that you shouldn’t smoke cigarettes, drink alcohol, or take most drugs, legal or not. The list goes on and trying to keep track of it can be mind boggling. For most of us, the top three items on this list are obvious and people around you in public will glare at you if you break one of these cardinal rules, I’ve seen it happen. Research has found yet another reason that
smoking cigarettes during pregnancy is bad for the baby. It reduces birth weights and when children are around second hand cigarette smoke they tend to develop asthma and more allergies. New research has found that it may also be a major cause of lower HDL or “good cholesterol” in children of smoking moms.
The study, published by the European Heart Journal, showed that children who were 8 years old and whose mothers smoked while they were pregnant had a 0.15 mmol/L lower level of HDL cholesterol. This may not sound like much, but it translates into a 10-15% increased risk for coronary disease. The children were also heavier, had higher triglyceride levels, higher systolic blood pressure levels and higher C-Reactive protein levels. This was independent of whether the mothers continued to smoke after the children were born. If you smoked during pregnancy you should have your child tested for their cholesterol lipid levels and make changes to their diets immediately. The sooner you act to balance out your smoking, the better for your child. And if you’re pregnant now, it is absolutely time to quit. If you can’t quit for yourself, quit for your baby. They don’t deserve a lifetime of coronary disease because you couldn’t stay away from cigarettes!
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Mystery Shopping for Doctors
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on June 28, 2011
Based on the news, due to the new health care bill passed by the Obama Administration, there is shortage of primary care physicians and the Administration is worried. So should we all be! Because there are more Americans who will now receive medical coverage, almost 30 million, but the same number of doctors, there aren’t enough to go around. The federal government will have “mystery shoppers” call doctors’ offices to ask for an appointment as soon as possible to see if doctors are accepting new patients and how long the wait is. 
Physicians are not happy with the government’s “Big Brother” approach and it’s costing a lot of money, over $347,000.
Another concern is that physicians aren’t accepting new patients with Medicare and Medicaid because the government pays less than private insurers. There are independent, clinical laboratories that can handle cholesterol tests and many other wellness tests including glucose serum and Complete Blood Count (CBC) that doctors often conduct in their offices. These labs don’t require doctors’ orders and are a great solution to the physician shortage for well care, but if you are really sick, for example with pneumonia, and really need to see the doctor, this won’t be enough. The new health care plan is wonderful in concept, but is going to be very difficult to actually implement so that everyone really gets the health care that has been promised. I would hate to be the one at the bottom of the list, but when I call a new doctor, that’s probably what will happen.
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New Drug for Prediabetes: Cure or Delay Tactic?
Posted by Maureen in Clinical Tests, Wellness on March 25, 2011
If you are at high risk for developing Type 2 diabetes, you’ll be interested to know that a drug that is currently used to treat diabetes may prevent the disease. The drug, pioglitazone, reduced the risk of developing diabetes by 72% in patients with prediabetes. Although the best way to prevent Type 2 diabetes is to lose weight and exercise, many Americans continue to struggle with this idea. Looking for a “quick fix” is our standard approach and the medical community is working hard to help out. 
The question is, Do you have to take the daily pill for the rest of your life? Is that really prevention or are you just pre-treating the disease? How much will this cost taxpayers? And it’s not 100% effective!
Millions of Americans already suffer from prediabetes or metabolic syndrome. High blood sugar, obesity, and high cholesterol combine to create the right environment for developing type 2 diabetes. Tests can determine if you already have prediabetes, which with the right diet and exercise can be reversed. It isn’t known yet if this medication could do that or if the effects continue after you stop taking the medication. There are also side effects including weight gain and edema (swelling due to water retention). If you are at risk, it’s time to get on the treadmill and lay off the burgers! Unless you can’t be bothered…best of luck with the “easy” route.
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CDC H1N1 Flu Updates:- Press Briefing Transcript: Dr. Thomas Frieden's Remarks at the 2010 Influenza Workshop for Journalists
- HHS News Release: WHO Declares End to 2009 H1N1 Influenza Pandemic
- WHO Statement on H1N1 in post-pandemic period
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update
- MMWR: Regional Influenza A (H1N1) 2009 Monovalent Vaccination Campaign -- Skokie, Illinois, October 16--December 31, 2009
- UPDATE: 2009 H1N1 Flu International Situation Update