Cardiovascular disease claims about 1 in 2 people in the United States, and many people believe that elevated cholesterol levels are the sole culprit. This, however, isn't the case and there are far more valuable ways to predict and prevent your risk. As a matter of fact, it's estimated that nearly forty percent of heart attack sufferers have what's considered to be "normal cholesterol" levels according to William Castelli, MD, the former director of the Framingham Heart Study. In addition, people with low cholesterol (less than 180) have three times as many strokes as the general population.
The Real Risk Factors for Heart Disease and Stroke:
1. Cardiac Arrhythmia: This includes atrial fibrillation and other disruptors of normal heart rhythm.
2. Elevated Triglycerides: Particularly, an elevated ratio of triglycerides to high density lipoproteins (HDL).
3. Elevated Homocysteine: This is a marker that measures inflammation.
4. Elevated insulin.
5. Elevated cortisol levels: High levels of cortisol are associated with hypertension, which increases cardiac risk. Patients with heart disease exhibit higher cortisol levels than others.
6. Elevated estrogen in respect to progesterone.
7. Low testosterone (in men): Higher levels of testosterone has been found to offer men greater than five-fold protection against coronary artery disease.
8. High testosterone (in women).
9. Lipid Peroxidase: Lipid peroxidase is the product of chemical damage done by oxygen free radicals to the lipid component of the cell membrane. High levels of lipid peroxidase are associated with cancer, heart disease, stroke and aging.
10. Elevated C-Reactive Protein: C-reactive protein is a marker associated with production of inflammatory cytokines, which represent a threat to cardiovascular health. Men with CRP values in the highest quartile had three times as many heart attacks and two times as many ischemic strokes as the general population.
Other risk factors include magnesium deficiency, thyroid insufficiency and fatty acid imbalances.
How To Manage Your Risk:
* Greatly limit or eliminate sugar and grains.
* Eat a lot of healthy fats
* Balance fatty acid ratios by being properly tested.
* Limit exposure to toxic personal care products, cleaning products, toothpastes, etc.
* Practice intermittent fasting/extended fasting under the supervision of a qualified professional.
* Limit alcohol consumption
* Keep protein intake moderate.
* Consume low-glycemic vegetables
* Move properly. Walking is wonderful along with practicing high intensity interval training a couple days per week.
For more information on heart health or to schedule a one-on-one consultation with the doctor to find the causes of your health challenges, go to http://greinerhealthsolutions.com/