General Family Health

At one time doctors said that the overweight of the obese should be reducing the cholesterol in their everyday meals. Now doctors are warning that cholesterol should be reduced in everyone’s diet...

Cholesterol is responsible for building healthy cells, according to the Mayo Clinic. Having too much LDL cholesterol, however, causes fatty deposits in the arteries, which prevents the heart from...

The liver is the body's largest internal organ, and it performs more than 200 functions daily. A healthy liver stores and secretes components in appropriate levels to keep our bodies functioning...

Cholesterol is a steroid that is essential for life. It makes up the membranes surrounding the cells in your body. It forms the bile acids needed to absorb nutrients from your food and is used to...

High blood cholesterol is one of the main contributors to heart disease. Bad (LDL) cholesterol builds up in arteries and hardens into plaque, which impedes blood flow and causes high blood...

Cholesterol is a substance that helps build healthy cells and regulate hormones in the body. When the body has too much of this substance, it can stick to artery walls and block artery pathways....

There are guidelines for LDL numbers, but each person has factors that influence the numbers they should aim for. When you understand what LDL is and how it's different from other cholesterol, you...

Cholesterol is responsible for building cells and regulating hormones, according to the Mayo Clinic. When cholesterol levels are high, fatty deposits start building in the blood vessels. After...

Your doctor might order a cholesterol test as part of an annual physical exam or if you have risk factors for high blood pressure or heart disease. A cholesterol reading below 200mg/dl reflects...

If you are having a blood test, your doctor may tell you to fast for a certain amount of time, because food can affect the results. One reason for your blood test may be to diagnose heart disease....

Cholesterol is a fat in the blood that is made from the foods that you eat. Cholesterol is an important building block for cells and hormones. However, too much cholesterol can interfere with...

When you're juggling the day-to-day needs of a busy family, staying on top of health matters can seem like an overwhelming task. But it's one that is well worth the effort. Fortunately, some...

Heart diseases are scientifically called the cardiovascular diseases (CVD). The most common heart disease is called coronary heart disease (CHD). In this disease, heart and coronary arteries are...

If your cholesterol count is not where it should be, become your own advocate and make changes to improve your health. Combine diet, exercise and, if necessary, medication to reduce your risk of...

High cholesterol occurs when there is too much cholesterol (a fat-like substance) in the blood, causing plaque build up on the artery walls, according to the U.S. Library of Medicine. People...

If your doctor has told you that you need to lose weight or you've just made it a personal goal, you're in good company. According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney...

The liver usually weighs about 3 lbs. and is the largest glandular organ in the body. Situated on the right side of the body, the liver is split into four differently sized and shaped areas...

Elderberry syrup or extract has been used as a folk remedy for centuries; as far back as Hippocrates, who referred to it as his special "medicine chest" for use in treating a variety of ailments.

Most people associate visiting a doctor with sickness or injury. However, doctors also perform an important role in preventative medicine. One of the tools doctors use is a physical check-up.

Earth Clinic Folk Remedies describes psyllium husk as a product of crushed seeds of an herb called the plantago ovata plant. This plant is found in parts of Asia, Europe, Africa. Psyllium contains...

Your total cholesterol number only reveals part of your health picture. The percentage of bad (LDL) cholesterol and good (HDL) cholesterol could is a more important indicator of heart disease...

Anyone who receives periodic health screenings can adjust his diet, exercise program and lifestyle to reverse many problems. Blood work is a common type of health screening, but there are also...

Your liver is a vital part of maintaining good health. Your liver works 24 hours a day and is responsible for many functions. There are 100 diseases that can affect your liver, according to...

According to the MedlinePlus website, lipoproteins are compounds in the body made up of proteins and fats (also known as lipids) that move cholesterol through the blood stream. Lipoprotein levels...

Not only does smoking tobacco increase your risk of developing emphysema, lung cancer or chronic bronchitis, the nicotine you get off a cigarette can actually affect your heart. This is largely...

There are times when you are at the doctor's office and certain laboratory tests are ordered. Maybe you've had a lip panel run and wondered what was included in it and what specifically it told...

Fats and cholesterol affect the body in many ways. The negative effects lead to risks of heart disease, obesity and high blood pressure. However, the beneficial effects keep the body functioning.

Cholesterol is a soft, wax-like substance that is a required building block of all cells in the human body. In addition to producing cell membranes, cholesterol is critical to the production of...

Cholesterol is a naturally-occurring fatty substance that can build up in the arteries of the body and trigger conditions leading to coronary heart disease, heart attack or stroke. However, a...

Staying healthy might seem like hard work, but it's not if you do a few important things on a regular basis. Staying healthy is about making the right choices and deciding what's best for your body.

Heart healthy living requires lifestyle changes, but the benefits of those changes are priceless. Not only will your health improve, but your overall wellness and outlook on life can improve as well.

The proper amount of dietary fiber is an important part of any person's diet. Despite the fact that fiber is indigestible matter, coming from plant foods, its has many benefits, particularly for...

A healthy diet for those with hypoglycemia and high cholesterol is very specific.You need to eat foods that are low in sugar and also foods that have low cholesterol levels. Along with watching...

Tests for cholesterol levels are done as part of a physical exam. Tests for cholesterol are performed to determine risks for stroke and cardiovascular problems. Physicians generally order a total...

Cholesterol is a natural lipid found within our membrane cells. It is a necessary element required to build and maintain cell membranes. While cholesterol is essential to life, it is important...

For many toddlers, Cheerios is their first finger food. It's been around for generations and parents feel comfortable giving their children something healthful, tasty and satisfying. Cheerios has...

All animal cells contain cholesterol. The functions of cholesterol are many and varied. According to the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health, the human...

Cholesterol is a waxy substance that is made in the liver and found in the bloodstream and in cells.We also obtain cholesterol from food. Cholesterol is necessary in that it helps form cell...

Cholesterol is only present in animal products, so a strict vegetarian will not consume any cholesterol. However, there are several types of vegetarians: Vegans eat only plant food,...

The liver is the largest organ in the body, about the size of a football. It is located under the diaphragm but on top of the stomach, right kidney and intestines. A normal, healthy liver is a...

The best way to lower LDL cholesterol is to incorporate more green foods into the diet, such as broccoli, kale, Brussels sprouts and other vegetables. Keep both HDL and LDL cholesterol at the...

You can lower LDL cholesterol, increase HDL (good) cholesterol and lower your blood pressure without having to take dangerous drugs with unwelcomed side effects. Read this step by step article to...

The liver, the body's largest glandular organ, weighs approximately 3 pounds. It appears on the right side of the body near the stomach, below the diaphragm. It has many functions that are vital...

Diet and the nutrition related to it are key elements in the prevention and treatment of high cholesterol levels (hypercholesterolemia). Understanding the types of cholesterol and which foods...

Heart disease is the number one cause for both men and women in the United States. In 2005, 652,091 people died from the disease. A leading cause of heart disease is blocked arteries. This is...

You might have high cholesterol because of your family history. You might have high cholesterol because of your diet. It might be a combination of both. What matters most is that you are doing...

According to a cholesterol study published in the December 2002 issue of Metabolism, a vegetarian diet containing soy, nuts, soluble fiber and plant sterols, may reduce cholesterol by as much as...

In recent years many doctors and researchers have come to recognize the healing power of pets. Furry warmth, a cold damp nose and unconditional love are just some the perks of pet ownership.

According to the American Heart Association, 98.6 million Americans have blood cholesterol levels of 200 milligrams or higher, which is considered a risk to your health. However, certain lifestyle...