Triglycerides and Your Cholesterol Screening

January 23, 2012

Your HDL and LDL cholesterol levels aren’t the only thing you need to pay attention to when you get your cholesterol screening. Find out more about the importance of triglycerides in this HealthDay video. The script is printed below the video for your convenience.

This video is also found on the Life Line Screening YouTube Channel under, What are Triglycerides and What Do They Have to Do With My Cholesterol Screening?

Share this info with your friends on Facebook and Twitter today!

Joelle.

Copyright © 2011 HealthDay. All rights reserved.

Here is the script of this video for your convenience:

The next time you have your cholesterol checked, pay special attention to this number, it can serve as a warning sign of future problems.

Though most of us just skip over to the good, bad and total cholesterol on our test results, a cholesterol checkup will also tell you about your triglycerides.

A new paper from the American Heart Association® shows why you should pay attention to your triglycerides, which are a type of fat found widely throughout the body. High triglycerides are linked to an increased risk of heart disease and other diseases.

If your triglycerides are too high, simple ways to bring them down include:

• Cutting back on foods and beverages with added sugar. Since most of the added sugar we get is from drinks containing sugar, steering clear of them is a good first step.
• Eating less fructose, which is a type of sugar. You can do this by eating less processed food and choosing lower fructose fruits like strawberries and bananas.
• Getting at least 2 ½ hours of moderate exercise a week. Even brisk walking can help lower your triglycerides.
• And, shedding a few pounds. If you’re overweight, just losing  5-10% of your weight, can lower your triglycerides by 20%.

I’m Dr. Cindy Haines of HealthDay TV wishing you and your family the best of health.

Friday Roundup: Two Quick Health Articles With Some Good Advice

January 20, 2012

Following are two articles I found that have some good health advice. This first is about atrial fibrillation, (including how anticoagulants and lifestyle habits will be included in new recommendations). The second tells you how dropping the toilet lid and washing your hands is really important for your health.

Thank you for visiting today and stop back often.

Joelle

Atrial Fibrillation: Anticoagulants and Lifestyle Habits Included in New Recommendations

The Los Angeles Times reports that while the field of cardiology has become so advanced in treating heart attacks that the survival rate has increased dramatically.

The older you get, however, the more risk there is for atrial fibrillation. While Afib can be managed, 90% are not getting needed anticoagulants to prevent stroke or are not getting them at appropriate levels.

This has led to new recommendations for Afib that include tools for doctors and patients to weigh their risks and benefits of taking needed drugs as well as making lifestyle habits that could lower the risk of stroke – which is caused by Afib in 30% of the stroke cases of adults 80 and over.

Read this article: http://www.latimes.com/health/boostershots/la-heb-atrial-fibrillation-stroke-20120110,0,4597897.story?track=rss

Drop the Lid and Wash Your Hands for Health’s Sake

ABC News reports on a study, done by researchers from Leeds Teaching Hospitals in the U.K., which found that flushing lidless hospital toilets can spread disease that can be life-threatening.

Even 90 minutes after flushing the deadly bacteria was still found on surfaces. Even “control” toothbrushes that were removed from the restroom during the flush contained bacteria. As the article points out, though, toothbrush testing was  a part of a 2004 episode of Myth Busters that concluded that the health risk is unimportant.

Regardless, Dr. William Schaffner, Chair of Preventive Medicine at Vanderbilt University Medical Center finds the research interesting since it seems to be associated with the number and severity of C. difficile infections, as he concludes, “Just remember: put the lid down before you flush and always wash your hands.”

Meanwhile, regardless of the Myth Busters findings, you may want to also keep your toothbrush at far away from the toilet as possible.

Read more at: http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/health/2012/01/02/flushing-can-spread-diarrhea-disease/

Friday Roundup: How to Check Your Heart Rate

January 13, 2012

Your resting heart rate is important to your cardiovascular health. The Chicago Tribune has a good article that explains how to check heart rate yourself. If you ever have a heart rate over 80, be sure to consult your doctor immediately.

The steps taken from the article are: 

1. Use two fingers (not your thumb*) and press gently** on either on your neck or the underside of your wrist to locate the pulse
2. Once the pulse is located, look at a clock or watch and count the number of beats in a 15-second period.
3. Multiply the number from step #2 by 4 to get your heart rate.

*Your thumb has a light pulse which can be confusing so it is best not to use your thumb to check your heart rate. Use your index and middle fingers. (This fact is not included in the article.)

**Press gently because excessive pressure on an artery can slow the heart rate.

To find out more about heart rate, click on the picture in this post.

Read the Chicago Tribune article at: http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/sns-201201032000–tms–premhnstr–k-c20120104jan04,0,1650803.story

FIT At-Home Colon Cancer Screening Test Offered

January 11, 2012

In our January 9, 2012 press release, we announced that Life Line Screening will offer the latest standard in simple, accurate at-home colon cancer screening tests, the Fecal Immunochemical Test, or FIT.

Preferred by the American College of Gastroenterology, the FIT test can be purchased through Life Line Screening for the affordable price of $45.

When should you test and why? Life Line Screening’s Chief Medical Officer, Andrew Manganaro MD, explains in the press release that if you are age 50 or over, or a 45-year-old or older African American, you can really benefit from regular preventive colon cancer screenings. This is because preventive colon cancer screening tests can find cancerous cancers in their early stages and can also find precancerous polyps that can be removed before cancer develops.

Keep in mind, though, that the FIT test being offered is not a substitute for a regular physical and rectal examination. The FIT at-home colon cancer screening test is, however, a simple, safe, user-friendly way to begin the important and possibly life-saving process of colorectal cancer screening.

Facts about colorectal cancer that  you should be aware of:

• “Colorectal” refers to the colon and rectum, which together make up the large intestine.
• About 75% of colorectal cancers occur in people with no known risk factors.
• Ninety-three percent (93%) of colorectal cancer cases occur in people age 50 and older, and the risk increases with age.
• Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S.
• Colorectal cancer is the third most common cancer among African Americans.
• The risk of colorectal cancer is higher among African Americans than any other population group in the U.S.
• Death rates from colorectal cancer are higher among African Americans than any other population group in the U.S.
• Many people who are at risk for colorectal cancer are not being screened.
• If found and treated early, 90% of patients survive five years or more.

The $45 FIT at-home colon cancer screening test is sold at Life Line Screening events. Make sure to ask for it at your next screening.

You can read our press release in full detail at: http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/1/prweb9085864.htm

Other Resources

Read how good (HDL) cholesterol can help cut your colon cancer risk at: http://www.lifelinescreening.com/health-updates/healthy-you/high-cholestorol/cholesterol-may-cut-colon-cancer-risk.aspx

Friday Roundup: Good Fat, Bad Fat, and a State That Wants to Control Fat

January 6, 2012

Make sure to include these vitamins and good fats in your diet for good brain health!

CBS Healthwatch published a WebMD article which reported that a diet rich in vitamins B, C, D and E plus omega-3 fatty acids (unsaturated fats found in fish) is best for brain health. Read more at: http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-500368_162-57349422/diet-patterns-linked-with-brain-health/

Click on picture to read how being overweight can lead to heart attack.

Moser wants to slim down Kansas!

An online source called hutchnews.com out of Hutchinson, Kansas reported that Dr. Robert Moser, secretary of the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, has made the state’s top priority be to tackle the obesity problem in 2012. His plans include standardizing public health across the state and allowing the state government to encourage physical activity and healthy eating at work and school. All will be in a positive effort to keep productivity up and health costs down. Read more about his goals at: http://hutchnews.com/latestregionalnews/Kansas-health-chief-says-obesity-top-2012-priority

Choose cheese over butter for your recommended daily fat intake.

A study that replaced participants’ regular dietary fat intake in order to compare the effects of butter versus cheese found that participants showed lower overall cholesterol, including LDL (bad cholesterol) and HDL (good cholesterol) when eating cheese rather than butter for their recommended fat intake. Read more at: http://articles.nydailynews.com/2011-12-23/news/30552821_1_fat-free-cottage-cheese-ldl-butter

Hope you are starting off your New Year in good health!

Joelle