HDL levels below 40 mg/dL result in an increased risk of coronary artery disease, even in people whose total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol levels are normal. If you would like to estimate your risk of developing coronary artery disease (CAD), stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD), click here. On the other hand, HDL levels greater than 60 mg/dL may actually protect …
I have an irregular heartbeat
Submitted by Dr T on November 1, 2011 – 9:04am in Your heart rhythm Question: Hello, I’m a 40 year old male that walks 4 to 5 miles 3 times a week, I am overweight at 233lbs and 6’0″ tall. I do smoke and know I shouldn’t, but I don’t drink anything other than water and the occasional power-ade. I …
How can I raise my HDL cholesterol?
Submitted by Dr T on October 30, 2011 – 10:41am Question: Hi doc! had my cardio and lipid profile just recently. all my LDL and VLDL are at normal level, but my HDL, unfortunately is lower than normal.how do i manage my condition? Coming from a poor family, and living in poor Philippines, i don’t really need another ailment and …
Can we do anything about Obesity?
Submitted by Dr T on October 27, 2011 – 2:51pm Question: “I hardly eat anything, but can’t seem to lose weight Yesterday at the gym, I had a chance to speak with a man I have seen shrink in size during the past few years from serious obesity to what looks like half his original weight. I was curious to …
The 2010 Dietary Guidelines
A poor diet is responsible for a number of chronic illnesses such as high cholesterol, obesity, hypertension, and diabetes, resulting in as much as 75% of the cost of medical care in the United States. Several new articles in the NEJM points out the difficulties in how best to achieve a change in the US diet, presently containing large amounts …
A stroke after ICD implant
Submitted by Dr T on October 27, 2011 – 7:42am in Cardiac Risks Question: Hello, and thank you for taking my question. 3 yrs ago I had triple by pass. A yr later I began felling a little more tired than usual so my Cardiologist said I’d be a good candidate for a 3 lead ICD he said another Dr. …
POTS and Pericarditis
Submitted by Dr T on October 25, 2011 – 4:27pm in Your heart rhythm Question: Is Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome ever dangerous?Could it contribute to shock, ischemia, etc. if a vasodilator medication or vasodilating medical condition is present?Also, how sensitive is Cardiac MRI for detecting pericarditis?If the pericarditis were treated with an NSAID or if elevated levels of adrenal hormones …
Barry Manilow, spokesperson for “Get Back In Rhythm”
World-famous musician and singer Barry Manilow is one of the more than 2.5 million Americans living with Atrial fibrillation (AF, or AFib), a disease that causes your heart to race and beat out of rhythm, and make it hard to pump blood efficiently to your body. Becoming the spokesperson for “Get Back In Rhythm”, will help raise awareness about atrial …
Calculate your BMI
Body Mass Index (BMI) is a number calculated from a person’s weight and height. BMI provides a reliable indicator of body fatness for most people and is used to screen for weight categories that may lead to health problems. BMI can be used to indicate if you are overweight, obese, underweight or normal. A healthy BMI score is between 20 …
Smoking
Tobacco use is a major preventable cause of premature death and disease worldwide. Currently, approximately 5.4 million people die each year due to tobacco-related illnesses—a figure expected to increase to more than 8 million a year by 2030. Cigarette smoking causes about 1 in every 5 deaths in the United States each year. It’s the main preventable cause of death …