Thursday, January 31, 2008

Vitamins For Varicose Veins

Vitamin-C 1000Varicose veins, those blue bulges, develop when veins can't return blood to the heart efficiently. Blood pools in the veins, making them dilate. There is a variety of treatment options for varicose veins, such as stockings, surgery, injections, and natural supplements. Vitamin E helps keep platelets, blood components involved in clotting, from sticking together and from adhering to the sides of blood vessel walls. Copper is also needed to build and repair endothelial cells, the smooth protective cells lining the insides of blood vessels. Vitamin C and Vitamin E will help with blood circulation and strengthening the walls of veins so that this condition does not worsen. Other vitamins that are recommended are antioxidants. Vitamin A deficiency can cause blood vessels to harden and blood to clot.

Vitamin C actually works on the connective tissues elastin and collagen. These both fibers are responsible for repairing the vein walls and for maintaining their strength and flexibility. These vitamins for varicose veins will aid in the reduction and stop the worsening of these veins by keeping oxygen from reacting with other chemicals in the body, which can reduce swelling in varicose veins. It is actually believed that vitamin E can help in preventing the highest possible complication of varicose veins, the blood clots. According to the different researches made by experts if the stickiness of platelet with vitamin E is reduced, then vitamin can be helpful in reducing the risk of blood clotting in the varicosed veins. Grape seed extract is rich in antioxidants, which helps protect the cell against harmful free radicals

Vitamin P is one of the most proven vitamins to help with this condition, and can be found in the skin of fruits such as grapes, berries, and apples. Vitamin B6 an essential vitamin that is required by the body to properly metabolize proteins and carbohydrates. It has also been shown by clinical research to be important in preventing plaque and lesions in blood vessels. Vitamins for varicose veins may not produce the results that surgery or injections can, but will do wonders to help reduce the appearance of varicose veins and to help keep them from getting worse. Vitamin K is a fat soluble vitamin that is required for proper blood clotting function, as well as for maintaining bone health. It has been used for many years to help heal bruises and scrapes, as well as for treating varicose veins.

Varicose Veins Home Remedies Tips
1. Vitamin K cream will help strengthen the capillaries.
2. Marigold is of great value for treating varicose veins.
3. Calcium supplement will help stimulate the venous system.
4. A mudpack may be applied at night and allowed to remain until morning.
5. An alternate hot and cold hip bath is very valuable and should be taken daily.
6. Vegetable juices serve as an excellent remedy in the treatment of varicose veins.
7. Apply vitamin E oil or comfrey, white oak bark, or witch hazel tea to the affected areas.
8. Take bayberry, cayenne, taheebo, and white oak bark for healing and preventative effects.
9. Potatoes, starchy foods, condiments, alcohol, coffee, strong tea, white flour products and white sugar should be avoided.
10. A hot Epsom salt bath is also effective and should be taken twice a week.

High Levels Of Uric Acid In The Blood

Vitamin-C 1000High levels of uric acid in the blood are as dangerous as high levels of blood cholesterol. The public does not seem to be much aware of the risk involved. A high level of blood uric acid is a pushing factor in causing coronary artery disease, like high levels of blood cholesterol.

High levels of uric acid should be detected as early as possible, especially in persons who are prone to coronary artery disease/heart attack, or have a family history of heart attack or even stroke. The estimation should be done more frequently if the patient is addicted to alcohol, or mainly takes a non-vegetarian diet. In all cases of stone, either in the gallbladder or in the urinary tract, uric acid must be tested. The testing of blood uric acid is highly valuable in cases of problems of the joints, backaches and even in cases of vague aches and pains. If this test is ignored and high levels of blood uric acid are not taken note of, the patient will continue to suffer from backache or vague aches/pains, and moreover, various other complications of high blood uric acid may also appear in due course.

Uric acid is one of the constituents of the blood. Its normal levels are 2 - 6 mg/ dl.
Uric acid mainly comes from non-vegetarian food or its products, like soups, etc. It also comes from caffeine present in tea or coffee. Therefore, when a person takes either meat or teal coffee, he adds to the uric acid in the blood. Other beverages like alcohol, beer, wine, etc. also contribute to the levels of uric acid in the blood.
Besides food, uric acid is also added to the blood from various tissue breakdowns in the body. To some extent, the body also releases its own uric acid.

Normal range of blood uric acid
Normally, excess of uric acid in the blood is excreted by the kidneys, and in this way a normal range of uric acid is maintained. The wide normal variation of uric acid, i.e. from 2 to 6 mg/ dl, is due to the fact that certain factors influence the blood uric acid levels in a person. It differs from race to race. The level is usually lower during pregnancy, and it increases after vigorous activity / exercise. However, if a person has some complications as a result of high levels of uric acid, even an upper normal level of blood uric acid may be considered high in such cases.

High levels of blood uric acid may playa vital role in causing coronary artery disease. It is a dangerous complication caused by a high level of uric acid. A high level of uric acid is likely to damage the blood vessel walls and urate crystals may get deposited in these walls, leading to a narrowing of the blood vessels causing coronary artery disease.

Another debilitating complication of high blood uric acid is that it may cause painful swelling of the joints, i.e. arthritis, especially gout. In gout, there is a recurrent attack of acute pain and swelling, involving at first only the big toe, and then several joints may be affected and the patient may even be crippled, if the disease is not arrested/treated/prevented in time. The exact cause of high blood uric acid in gout is not known. The heredity factor in such cases cannot be ruled out.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

If You Have High Blood Pressure Lower Your Cholesterol

Vitamin-C 1000High blood pressure, high cholesterol, being over weight, inactive lifestyles and smoking are high risk factors regarding heart attacks and strokes. If you have been diagnosed with high blood pressure it’s strongly recommended that you lower your cholesterol level as part of a plan to prevent a heart attack and a stroke from occurring. You can lower your cholesterol level by eating healthy foods and avoiding fatty foods. If an improved diet has not sufficiently lowered your cholesterol level your doctor might recommend you take some medication that is designed to reduce cholesterol. Let’s look at some changes you can make to your diet in order to lower your cholesterol level.
If you have high blood pressure, in order to reduce your cholesterol level you should avoid or reduce the amount of red meat you consume and stay away from sausages and bacon. Avoid foods that contain saturated fats and if you are going to consume dairy products select products that are low in fat. Avoid using lard in your meals and if you are going to use oils select polyunsaturated oils or monounsaturated oils. Avoid or significantly reduce the amount of baked foods you eat such as pastry items and biscuits which are typically high in fat. Don’t use margarines or oils that include trans fatty acids.

Healthy Diet
If you have high blood pressure and you have been eating a healthy diet and you still have a high cholesterol problem your doctor might want you to take some medications such as statins. They work by changing the activity of the enzymes located in the liver in order to prevent the liver from producing cholesterol. Some people have high cholesterol partially due to heredity and they may need the help of statins. If you have been diagnosed with heart disease your doctor might recommend statins to lower your cholesterol level.

Soluble Fiber
If you have high blood pressure there are some food items that can help you reduce your high cholesterol level. Oatmeal can decrease you bad cholesterol (LDL) due to the soluble fiber in oatmeal. Soluble fiber can also be added to your diet by including items such as kidney beans, apples, brussel sprouts, barley, pears, psyllium as well as prunes.

Niacin is the closest thing available to a perfect treatment that corrects most causes of coronary heart disease. Niacin blocks the release of fatty acids from fat cells. Niacin plays a critical role in energy production, gene expression, and hormone synthesis. You cannot live without it. Niacin also tends to shift LDL particle distribution to larger particle size and improve HDL functioning. The intake of 3 grams Niacin for as little as two weeks can reduce serum cholesterol by 26 percent.
Some studies have concluded that adding walnuts to your diet can significantly lower your blood cholesterol level. Walnuts are filled with polyunsaturated fats and walnuts also have the ability to keep your blood vessels in a healthy condition and keep them elastic. Don’t eat too many walnuts a day since nuts are high in calories and weight gain increases your chances of acquiring heart disease. Also add some omega three fatty acids to your diet since they have been shown in studies to lower the risk of heart disease. Certain fish, walnuts, flaxseed, soybean oil as well as canola oil contain omega three fatty acids. If you have high blood pressure it’s important not to have a high cholesterol level.

Things To Know About High Blood Cholesterol

Vitamin-C 1000Blood cholesterol is one of the most important constituents of the blood/body. It has varied bodily functions, and it builds up healthy cells. It is an essential constituent of the cell wall (membrane), and if the level of blood cholesterol falls below normal, the walls of the red blood cells (RBC) are likely to rupture, thus causing a severe fall in haemoglobin (Hb).

Cholesterol mainly comes from the diet, i.e. from butter, ghee (saturated fat), egg-yolk, non-vegetarian food. Sea food/fish contains a low content of saturated fat. However, polyunsaturated fats like safflower, corn, sunflower, soybean, and cotton seed oils, etc do not give rise to serum cholesterol levels in the blood. These are recommended both for prevention and treatment of high blood cholesterol.

Cholesterol is also synthesized/made in the body. It has got limited excretion. Some is passed in faeces/bile, but is mostly retained in the body. The level of blood cholesterol rises as soon as the person eats.

The normal blood cholesterol level should be between 150-199 mg/ dl, and if it is more than 240 mg/ dl, it is considered a high level of blood cholesterol. Patients having a blood cholesterol level between 200-239 mg/ dl are borderline cases. Both in high and borderline cases, repeated check-ups of blood cholesterol are required.

However, those with a normal level of blood cholesterol must get their blood it checked-up, at least every five years, especially after the age of 40. In general, all persons above the age of 20 must get their blood tested to exclude high levels of cholesterol.