Lipoprotein: There are several kinds of these particles in the blood. Research shows that people who have high levels of one of them – a lipoprotein called Lp(a) – have a 70 per cent greater risk of suffering a heart attack over a period of a decade than those with lower concentrations. The findings are based on a review of 27 studies involving more than 5,200 people who have survived a heart attack or had heart disease. Levels of Lp(a) are largely determined by genetics, and lowering levels with the B vitamin, niacin, can help prevent heart attacks.
Margarine: Cholesterol-lowering margarines can be found on grocery store shelves in the United States. These products contain either sterol esters from vegetable oils, soybean and corn, or stanol esters from wood pulp, which may help lower LDL levels by 10 to 14 per cent. These products don't replace cholesterol-lowering drugs and don't prevent the underlying cause of elevated LDL. Current Canadian legislation allows certain health claims on specific food products, but this margarine still isn't sold in Canada yet.
Nuts: Despite their reputation for being a forbidden food, nuts can actually be quite good for your heart. Nuts, including walnuts and peanuts, lower total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol without lowering the health-promoting HDL cholesterol. Eating nuts frequently can lower the risk of coronary heart disease by up to 50 per cent. Nuts are low in saturated fat and high in monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats. They also contain plant protein, dietary fibre, plant sterols and phytochemicals, all of which may protect the heart, and they are a good natural source of vitamin E. But beware: many of the nuts on the supermarket shelves are salted and roasted in hydrogenated oils, both heart-unhealthy additives.
Obesity: Once thought to be only one of the contributing factors in heart disease, obesity is now considered a major risk factor. When body fat is centered on the abdomen, the risks are especially high. The World Health Organization defines obesity as having a body mass index (BMI) of 30 or higher, which translates into being about 30 pounds (66 kilograms) or more overweight. BMI, one method of determining body fat, is calculated by dividing weight in kilograms by height in metres squared. Researchers have discovered genes that contribute to obesity and have developed prescription weight-loss drugs.
Patches: This transdermal (through the skin) mode of drug delivery is proving to be a boon to heart patients and others wishing to avoid heart-related problems. Because drugs delivered by patches are absorbed through the skin, often there are few, if any, of the stomach-related side-effects that can accompany oral medications, although they can cause minor skin irritation. Patches are now thin, discreet and stick better than older products. For smoking cessation, nicotine patches are among the most useful aids. In angina treatment, patches deliver a predetermined amount of nitroglycerin to alleviate chest pain. Nitroglycerin increases the size of the coronary blood vessels to allow more blood to flow to the heart.
Page 3 of 5 – Discover Q to U in the ABCs of heart disease on page 4.
