Fish Oil For Triglycerides Are Important For Your Health

Are you aware that triglycerides are an important measure of heart health? Multiple clinical studies have been done proving that using fish oil for triglycerides when levels were too high was very effective in lowering those numbers. Less than 150 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dl) is considered normal and 150-199 mg/dl is borderline high.

Don't let the long word scare you off from learning more. They are simply a type of fat found in your blood. Your body converts the food you eat that it doesn't need right away into these fats. Then when needed, hormones deliver them as energy between meals. Problems arise when excessive amounts thicken artery walls. These fatty particles can interfere with the heart muscle and even stop blood flow to parts of the brain. High numbers are often an indication of other disorders such as obesity, uncontrolled type 2 diabetes, and hypothyroidism. Excessive levels can also be a side effect of certain medications like birth control pills, beta blockers, and the breast cancer drug tamoxifen.

Most people can decrease their risks with just a few lifestyle modifications. Three most important changes to be made include diet, exercise, and weight loss. As far as exercise is concerned, you only need to devote thirty minutes a day to an aerobic type workout such as stair climbing, swimming, bicycling, or brisk walking. Some vital diet changes include making meals with whole grains, salads, vegetables, and cold-water fatty fish like salmon, mackerel and herring which have the type of fish oil for triglycerides lowering outcomes. If you are overweight try for a 10% loss of your body weight and by dropping those few pounds you will see significant progress in getting those levels into a healthy range.


The basic ingredient that is so helpful in fish oil for triglycerides is that it is comprised of omega-3 fatty acids. Research has shown that these essential fatty acids can decrease the levels, lower blood pressure slightly, and reduce the growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque. Because of these findings, the American Heart Association recommends that 2 to 4 grams of omega-3 fatty acids in capsule form be taken by patients who need to lower their triglycerides. Omega-3 fatty acids are considered one of the 'good fats' so important for heart and metabolic health. It is always a good idea to consult with your doctor to decide together on the correct amount to be taken for your specific situation.

High Blood Pressure

Stress has been identified as one of the factors that cause high blood pressure. Unfortunately, there are several sources of stress. It can be work or relationships related. Environmental conditions and certain situations are also major contributors to stress. Examples are going through job interviews or confronting someone. In some cases, people with normal blood pressure become hypertensive upon entering a physicians office. This occurrence is generally referred to as white coat high blood pressure or simply white coat hypertension. It is interesting to note that patients with this type of hypertension do not have or experience elevated blood pressure whenever at home or in other places except in the physicians office.

It is generally a temporary and treatable condition. And most of the time medications are not necessary since the root cause is psychological. Recovering spontaneously is possible as the patient deals and manages the anxiety induced by clinical visits. Some patients are able to overcome it after three visits to the doctor. Some people however need more time to recover and are usually under observation until the doctor deems it necessary to proceed with other treatment methods. Time is an important consideration when verifying the actual condition of the patient.

Initially, it can be difficult to tell if someone has white coat hypertension since the average blood pressure readings are irregular. Monitoring of blood pressure is therefore a critical step in determining the health condition of the patient. As the person becomes more accustomed to having his/her blood pressure checked in the clinic, the hypertension eventually subsides. For severe cases however, the patient is advised to continue monitoring his/her blood pressure at home for a certain period (usually about one to two weeks). Ambulatory monitoring for twenty four hours may also be recommended by the doctor as there are studies claiming that this type of blood pressure monitoring is more efficient in detecting patients with white coat hypertension.

The nature of this type of hypertension may imply that it does not increase the risk of having other complications related to the heart, kidney and brain. But it is not the case. Mild forms of hypertension develop into severe forms if neglected. Some information sources have reported that individuals with white coat hypertension are most likely to develop persistent hypertension in the future; are prone to stroke; and may experience cardiovascular irregularities. Hypertension after all is generally considered a silent killer. Causes and health effects are continuously being studied at present to increase better understanding of this condition.

In any case, prevention is still the best defense against any type of disease. Information on the causes and factors that may induce hypertension can aid in this life-long battle. Learning stress management techniques and adapting a healthier lifestyle will significantly reduce an individuals risk of having a disease. Staying healthy for the sake of avoiding diseases may be a boring excuse to be fit. Perhaps it would also be helpful to reassess ones outlook or perception of living. Being healthy could also mean being able to accomplish a lot regardless of age.

In What Ways Are Diabetes And Gout Related?

It may sound strange but their is a cause and effect relationship that exists between gout and diabetes. To understand how this work, it is a good idea to firstly know how each illness works separately, then the connection between the two can become more apparent.

Gout is another type of arthritis marked by pain, inflammation, and swelling. It comes about when the kidneys can not eliminate the build up uric acid in the blood. Uric acid is the end product of the metabolism or breakdown of purines, that if not properly eliminated from the body, results in the build up of uric acid, causing gout.

With elevated levels of uric acid (hyperuricemia) come the formation of urate crystals that deposit and settle in the joints of the body, resulting in the pain, inflammation, and swelling associated with gout. Therefore, it is possible that having diabetes can be a cause for gout to develop.

How can diabetes have a role in this?

One of the side effects of diabetes is poor circulation. When your kidneys are not getting the nutrients and oxygen they need, they will function at a level well below their best. This reduces their efficiency at removing uric acid.

Diabetes is an autoimmune disease, marked by insufficient amount of insulin in the body. Insulin is produced and secreted by the pancreas in response to elevated levels of sugar in the blood.

Complications surrounding diabetes can be related to the circulatory system. This reduces the ability to eliminate uric acid and explains how this cause and effect relationship can exist.

This does not mean that if you have diabetes that you will develop gout, and vice versa. It is the proper management of both conditions that can prevent complications from developing.

Prevention:

Preventing diabetes involves managing your blood sugar levels, and taking insulin if it has been prescribed. Many tens of thousands of people successfully live with diabetes.

Avoiding future gout attacks:

After your first gout attack has resolved, there usually is no treatment. However, if your symptoms return, then your physician will prescribe prophylactic medications to prevent further attacks. These medications act to reduce blood uric acid levels in the blood, which will decrease the chances of another attack.

Exercise and diet:

If you suffer from gout, following a healthy lifestyle can help lower the risk of developing diabetes. Exercise regularly, avoid excessive weight gain and eat a diet full of good nutrition.