All posts by Advanced Body Scan of Tulsa

As mentioned in one of our previous resources, you can effectively manage heart disease by implementing new health habits in your day-to-day activities. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 1 in 3 Americans struggle with high blood pressure. Known as the “silent killer,” it often has no symptoms but puts you at major risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Heart disease involves the narrowing or blockage of blood vessels, which can lead to life-threatening coronary events like angina, heart attack or stroke. One of the most common symptoms of heart disease is atherosclerosis, a medical condition in which cholesterol builds up and forms plaque within the blood vessels – decreasing blood flow to the heart and other vital organs.

Do you recall your last doctor’s visit? At one point or another, they probably brought out a stethoscope to listen to your heart. But, what were they looking for? 

The sound your doctor hears while your heart beats is known as a murmur. Contrary to public belief, the term itself doesn’t indicate illness or a disorder. But in fact, refers to the movement of blood pumping through the heart’s many chambers and valves. 

Living through a heart attack is traumatic. The following weeks and months contain a variety of emotions including depression, fear, and anger. The biggest concern is what’s next. Most people have one pressing question, “How can I stop this from ever happening again?” 

Maintaining a healthy heart takes work. You have to manage diet and exercise, limit alcohol intake and stop smoking. You have to juggle blood pressure, good and bad cholesterol, and manage your blood sugar.

Many people have undergone a heart scan that provided a coronary calcium score. However, what many don’t know is that aspirin, beta-blockers and other combinations of medication might not stop the rise in score each year.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 95 million U.S. adults age 20 or older have total cholesterol levels greater than 200 mg/dL. Total blood cholesterol is the measurement of your low-density (LDL), high-density (HDL) and triglycerides (VLDL).

Heart disease describes a broad range of heart conditions that could include blood vessel diseases such as coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, and congenital heart defects. It’s also used interchangeably with cardiovascular disease, which refers to narrowed or blocked blood vessels.

You wake up one morning with chest pain, or perhaps your lungs feel tight. Is it heartburn? Indigestion? You’re unsure, but something just doesn’t feel right. 

As you age, it’s difficult determining whether a symptom requires medical attention or not. Most doctors are most concerned with new symptoms that develop quickly, but it’s wise to monitor those that can develop over a period of time – and may eventually result in a heart attack. 

Cholesterol is a substance your body uses to produce hormones, vitamin D and digestive juices to break down fats in your diet.

Your body needs some cholesterol to function. However, when the levels get too high, build up occurs in the artery and obstructs blood flow. This can lead to coronary artery disease, heart attacks, strokes or other vascular diseases.

In today’s blog, we’ll compare HDL vs. LDL cholesterol and teach you practical ways to improve your levels and reduce your risk of a coronary event.