Orexigen, Facing High Hurdle at FDA, Puts Obesity Drug Development on Hold
The close attention paid to safety makes this drug difficult to get right.
Read more on The Motley Fool
Blood pressure is the force of your blood pushing against the walls of the arteries each time your heart beats. Your blood pressure is highest each time the heart beats, pumping blood into the arteries. This is called systolic pressure, and is the high number in your reading. The diastolic pressure measures the pressure in between beats, when your heart is at rest. Your blood pressure is lowest while sleeping and although it varies some during the day, it remains close to the same. Normal blood pressure is 120/80. If your systolic pressure rises to 140 or above, or if your diastolic pressure rises to 90 or above, this is considered high blood pressure.
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated one in three U.S. adults have high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, and an alarming one-third of those don’t even know they have it. It’s no wonder this condition has long been called “the silent killer”.
High blood pressure is a major risk factor for stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure. And when it exists with obesity, smoking, high blood cholesterol or diabetes, the risk of heart attack or stroke increases several times. If you don’t have high blood pressure by age 55, your chance of developing it at some point in your life is 90 percent, according to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Although high blood pressure can occur in both children and adults, it is most common in those over age 35, and is most prevalent in African Americans, middle-aged and elderly people, obese people, heavy drinkers and women taking birth control pills. Although many people get high blood pressure as they get older, it is not part of the aging process! Proper diet, exercise and lifestyle changes can help in prevention and lowering of blood pressure.
Commonly Prescribed Medication for High Blood Pressure.
In 90–95 percent of cases, research scientists don’t know what causes high blood pressure, but fortunately they know enough to have developed both drug and non-drug products to treat it effectively.
A wide variety of medications are available to medical professionals for treating high blood pressure. Although other classes of medications are sometimes prescribed, the most commonly prescribed can be broken down into five different classes of medications that work in different ways to lower pressure.
· Diuretics (water pills) work in the kidney to get rid of excess water and sodium.
· Beta-Blockers reduce nerve impulses to the heart and blood vessels to cause the heart to beat more slowly and with less force.
· Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE) Inhibitors prevent the formation of a hormone called angiotensin II, which would otherwise cause vessels to narrow.
· Angiotensin Receptor Blockers (ARB) block the action of angiotensin II.
· Calcium Channel Blockers prevent calcium from entering the muscle cells of the heart and blood vessels, causing blood vessels to relax.
As of June, 2005, there didn’t appear to be much global agreement among medical experts worldwide in terms of recommended first-line therapy for treating high blood pressure. It is important to note that in June, 2006, The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence and the British Hypertension Society have come to an agreement within the UK, and have issued new guidelines, including important changes to help guide primary care physicians in determining first-line therapy. A major change is that Beta-Blockers, which have been shown to be less effective in preventing strokes and more likely to cause diabetes, are no longer recommended as routine treatment for the majority of people with high blood pressure. Instead, ACE Inhibitors (or Angiotensin Receptor Blockers if there are side effects) are now recommended in the UK for most people, with some exceptions, before trying other classes of medication for hypertension.
As with any medication, there may be side effects from taking ACE Inhibitors, and some should not use them at all, including black people of any age. According to the Mayo Clinic, a study published by the New England Journal of Medicine, also in June, 2006, indicated an increased risk of birth defects in children whose mothers took ACE inhibitors during the first trimester, adding to the known risks during the second and third trimesters. While most people can tolerate ACE Inhibitors, some may experience side effects such as cough, elevated blood potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, weakness, abnormal taste (metallic or salty taste), and rash. Rare, but more serious side effects include kidney failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema).
Very similar to ACE Inhibitors are ARB medications, and depending on the individual’s particular health issues, a doctor may switch between the two, and may sometimes prescribe both. The most common side effects with ARBs are cough, elevated potassium levels, low blood pressure, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, diarrhea, abnormal taste sensation (metallic or salty taste), and rash. Compared to ACE inhibitors, cough occurs less often with ARBs. The most serious, but rare, side effects are kidney failure, liver failure, allergic reactions, a decrease in white blood cells, and swelling of tissues (angioedema).
On January 19, 2007, Rush University Medical Center reported findings that ACE Inhibitors and ARBs prevent people from getting diabetes, and that diuretics and beta-blockers increase the chance that a person becomes diabetic. The authors pointed out that more studies are required to determine whether new-onset diabetes leads to as many heart attacks, strokes or death, as long-standing diabetes. However, their data suggests that the differences between antihypertensive drugs regarding the risk for new-onset diabetes are real and are significant. Melaleuca offers a natural high blood pressure remedy called ProStolic™ which interacts with a natural body enzyme much like the ACE Inhibitors and ARB medications to relax blood vessels and allow healthy blood flow. As a comparison, it might be helpful to understand how the ACE and ARB class of drugs react, as well as how the non-drug hypertension remedy ProStolic™ formula reacts with the body.
In Part 2 of our Blood Pressure Research Report we will discuss the ACE Inhibitors and Angiotension Receptor Blockers, Natural Therapy for Maintaining Healthy Blood Pressure and benefits of Bioactive Casein Hydrolysate Tripeptides VPP and IPP.
Author
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/blood-pressure-research-report-safe-treatment-for-high-blood-pressure-part-1-123589.html
Omega 3 fish oil supplements are normally inspected by federal inspection agencies to ensure that they meet quality health standards. These supplement products are pharmaceutical grade fish oil and totally reliable and safe. In order to offer fish oil capsules at a discounted rate, many companies sell omega 3 fish oil in bulk. There are many online sources where you can go to buy these supplements. These products are available in the form of capsules as well as liquid oil in a bottle.
In order to obtain essential fatty acids, an external food source is required. People who eat fish on a regular basis have high levels of these acids in their body. However, those who do not like to eat fish, are vegetarians or do not have access to wild or fresh fish, often rely on other food sources for the consumption of omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 3 fish oil benefits include treatment of heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, Crohn’s disease, depression, arthritis and cancer.
Omega 3 is a type of fat essential for the overall health of an individual. Omega 3 acids belong to the family of polyunsaturated fatty acids, generally considered to be good fats. Fish oil is a rich source of omega 3 and can be consumed as a dietary supplement to fulfill the needs of essential fatty acids in the body. Omega 3 fish oil is known to provide numerous health benefits including proper growth of body tissues, prevention of heart attack, correct functioning of the nervous system and the excretory system, and fat loss.
There are a number of different agencies that have recommendations for the omega 3 fish oil daily dosage and they are all fairly similar and uniform in the discoveries that hey have made and in the suggestion of using fish oils. For example, the National Institute of Health recommends approximately 650mg of omega 3 fish oil daily dose while the American Heart Association recommends 650-1000mg per day.
Omega 3 essential fatty acids can lower triglycerides. They also help to lower bad cholesterol and high blood pressure. Omega 3′s are beneficial in weight loss as well. The body doesn’t make its own so they must come from food sources.
Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules is a perfect for your health to improve and benefit due to the high content of Omega 3 fatty acids that is essential to the body. Maybe you’ve even seen or heard of Omega 3 Fish Oil Capsules on television or the radio and thought about getting some or seen it in the local grocery store. These products are picky to choose in the way that not all fish oils can be in the same classification of quality. It is highly important that you purchase pharmaceutical grade fish oil.
peterhutch
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/omega-3-fish-oil-benefits-dosage-715000.html
Dietitians Dish: Foods high in fiber round out healthy diet,help prevent diseases
By Susan Sizemore, RD, LD
Read more on The Victoria Advocate
Cholesterol is a fat-like substance found in the cell membranes of all body tissues and transported through the blood plasma. In the human body there are two types of cholesterol carriers – ‘bad cholesterol’, low-density lipoprotein or LDL and ‘good cholesterol’, high-density lipoprotein or HDL. To put it simply, good cholesterol carriers help to keep the arteries healthy by clearing the cholesterol out of the system. The bad cholesterol carriers deposit cholesterol in the artery walls thus thickening them – a key cause of heart disease. The treatment of high cholesterol should be a priority!
The American Heart Association and the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP) recommend aiming for an HDL count of around 60 mg/ dL. An HDL count lower than 40 mg indicates an increased risk of coronary artery disease. The LDL reading should be around 130 mg/ dL. High LDL levels can be precipitated by a diet rich in saturated and trans fats and low in beneficial fats (monounsaturates and polyunsaturates). Smoking, a high alcohol intake, other poor dietary habits and lack of exercise can all contribute and should be targeted in the treatment of high cholesterol.
Total cholesterol of less than 200 mg/dL usually means that the risk of a heart attack is relatively low. To keep it low, it is best to follow a diet with plenty of fruits and fiber, low fat proteins and whole grain cereals. Less saturated fat, more monounsaturated fats and foods rich in Omega 3 would help in raising the level of good cholesterol and lowering bad cholesterol.
A large part of the American adult population has cholesterol levels of 200 to 239 mg/dL, classified as a borderline high risk. The risks are higher if the HDL level is below 40 mg/dL. Sometimes a cholesterol level of 200 to 239 mg/dL may not indicate a borderline high risk, because of a high HDL cholesterol count and a low LDL count. If other risk factors such as hypertension and diabetes(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/Diabetes.html) are present then regular check ups to ensure appropriate treatment of high cholesterol are essential.
Total cholesterol level of 240 or more puts a person at high risk of heart attack and strokes. At these levels, it becomes essential to change one’s diet completely and include heart friendly exercises like walking and swimming. The regime for the treatment of high cholesterol(http://www.mitamins.com/disease/High-Cholesterol.html) may include cholesterol-lowering drugs.
The American Dietetic Association advises that to maintain a cholesterol-friendly diet, it is best to eat plenty of vegetables, fruits and wholegrain foods. Other dietary advice useful in the treatment of high cholesterol is to limit saturated fats by choosing lean cuts of meat, chicken without the skin and low-fat dairy products. Keep fatty fast food and processed cakes, sweets and chips to a minimum. Ensure you choose heart healthy cooking oils such as canola and olive oil. Other beneficial oils can be found in oily fish such as mackerel and salmon, nuts and avocadoes. Limit dietary cholesterol from meat, egg yolks and offal.
Mitamins Team
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/high-cholesterol-101032.html
I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes recently, and when checking my blood sugar today it has been really high. More than double what it should be. My doc gave me guidelines as to what it should be, but not what constitutes an emergency.
According to the American Heart Association (www.americanheart.org), in addition to the fact that one out of every two persons will die of heart disease, over 70 million Americans currently have some type of heart disease. (Note: This does not include the tens of millions of people who are in the process of developing heart disease in coming years). The cost of treating heart disease (also know as cardiovascular disease, or CVD), in both direct and indirect costs is estimated to be over $400 billion annually.
Cardiovascular disease results in reduced quality of life, and an enormous cost to both society and taxpayers is avoidable, if only individuals would begin to take more responsibility to prevent heart disease through healthy eating and better lifestyle habits and regular doctor approved exercise. In addition you should consider including the proper use of nutritional supplements such as taking a high quality daily multi-vitamin and getting enough daily Essential Fatty Acids from eating healthy wild Salmon fish (non farmed raised), at least 2 to 3 times weekly and or taking quality fish oil supplements. There are also high quality nutritional supplements and natural enzymes that can help support better circulatory health. (see below)
About Cholesterol
Although, inflammation occurring in the body and high Homocysteine and C-Reactive Protein levels are still your most important tests to determine if you are a likely candidate for a heart attack, (see next week’s blog on those two issues), if your cholesterol is exceedingly high, usually being listed as over 240 mg, then generally those levels should be reduced to a more moderate 200 mg or less level. Remember, cholesterol is necessary for the body and brain to function well and studies have shown that reducing your cholesterol levels too low (less than 160 mg), can actually help shorten your life.
When you visit your doctor for your annual exam, he or she will most likely do a simple blood test to check your cholesterol levels. Do you know what the numbers mean?
First, it must be generally be understood that cholesterol usually can’t be dissolved in the blood, however, certain supplements and natural digestive enzymes: (nattokinase, bromelain), fish oiI, garlic and lecithin may help. (Also, a product called Circulatory Support mentioned at the end may be of aid). Cholesterol generally has to be transported to and from the cells by carriers called lipoproteins. Low-density lipoprotein, or LDL, is known as “bad” cholesterol. High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is known as “good” cholesterol. These two types of lipids, along with triglycerides, make up your total cholesterol count.
LDL (Bad) Cholesterol
When too much LDL cholesterol circulates in the blood, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Together with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. If a clot forms and blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result.
HDL (good) Cholesterol
About one-fourth to one-third of blood cholesterol is carried by high-density lipoprotein (HDL). HDL cholesterol is known as “good” cholesterol, because high levels of HDL seem to protect against heart attack. Low levels of HDL (less than 40 mg/dL) also increase the risk of heart disease.
Triglycerides
Triglyceride is a form of fat made in the body. Many people with heart disease and/or diabetes also have high triglyceride levels.
Here are some guidelines from the American Heart Association:
Your Total Blood (or Serum) Cholesterol Level
Less than 200 mg/dL: Desirable
If your LDL, HDL, and triglyceride levels are also at desirable levels and you have no other risk factors for heart disease, total blood cholesterol below 200 mg/dL puts you at relatively low risk of coronary heart disease. Even with a low risk, however, it’s still smart to eat a heart-healthy diet, get regular physical activity and avoid tobacco smoke.
200-239 mg/dL: Borderline-High Risk
If your total cholesterol falls between 200 and 239 mg/dL, your doctor will evaluate your levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglycerides. It’s possible to have borderline-high total cholesterol numbers with normal levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol balanced by high HDL (good) cholesterol.
240 mg/dL and over: High Risk
People who have a total cholesterol level of 240 mg/dL or more typically have twice the risk of coronary heart disease as people whose cholesterol level is desirable (200 mg/dL).
Your LDL (Bad) Cholesterol Level
The lower your LDL cholesterol, the lower your risk of heart attack and stroke. In fact, it’s a better gauge of risk than total blood cholesterol. In general, LDL levels fall into these categories:
LDL Cholesterol Levels
Less than 100 mg/dL Optimal
100 to 129 mg/dL Near Optimal/ Above Optimal
130 to 159 mg/dL Borderline High
160 to 189 mg/dL High
190 mg/dL and above Very High
Your HDL (Good) Cholesterol Level
With HDL (good) cholesterol, higher levels are better. Low HDL cholesterol (less than 40 mg/dL for men, less than 50 mg/dL for women) puts you at higher risk for heart disease.
Smoking, being overweight, and being sedentary can all result in lower HDL cholesterol. To raise your HDL level, avoid tobacco smoke, maintain a healthy weight and get at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity more days than not.
People with high blood triglycerides usually also have lower HDL cholesterol and a higher risk of heart attack and stroke.
Your Triglyceride Level
Triglyceride is a form of fat. People with high triglycerides often have a high total cholesterol level, including high LDL (bad) cholesterol and low HDL (good) cholesterol levels.
Your triglyceride level will fall into one of these categories:
• Normal: less than 150 mg/dL
• Borderline-High: 150-199 mg/dL
• High: 200-499 mg/dL
• Very High: 500 mg/dL
Many people have high triglyceride levels due to being overweight/obese, physical inactivity, cigarette smoking, excess alcohol consumption, and/or a diet very high in carbohydrates (60 percent of more of calories).
To help lower cholesterol: eat and live a healthy lifestyle, get regular exercise and work with a knowledgeable nutritionally informed doctor. Also, consider taking a daily quality multi-vitamin and fish oil supplement. Additionally, I have discovered that two excellent circulatory support products are: Circulatory Support and CoQ10 Supreme which are also all part of a 4 product comprehensive Cardio Health Support Package available at http://www.doctorgreens.com Here’s to your better health, Hal Decker
Hal Decker
http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/what-high-cholesterol-blood-tests-mean-how-to-help-prevent-high-cholesterol-736111.html
One doctor says I am diabetic and that my cholesterol is under control. The other one says I am pre-diabetic and should be taking a higher dosage of Zocor because my cholesterol is high. How do I determine who to believe? My blood tests are available to both doctors.
I am 70 years old, eating a proper diet (most of the time). I guess what I should have asked is how doctors determine the dosage of Zocor for a patient. One says 20 mg the other says 40 mg.
Get copies of both blood work results. You have paid for them and are entitled to them. Most labs have the "satisfactory" ranges for each item on the results page. You can google for the definition of each of the lines on the results page.
If doctor #1 says you are diabetic, and doctor #2 says you are Pre diabetic, find out what the A1c number actually is.
I would much rather be labeled diabetic. Insurance and medicare will pay for all testing supplies and if necessary the meds. They will also pay for your referal to dietician and to Certified Diabetes Educator and Diabetes Education classes. These are all very expensive except some of the meds.
I thought for years that I was eating healthy!! I taught foods and nutrition to children!! I lived, ate, and taught the food pyramid!!! Now I find that if I lop off the bottom layer of the food pyramid, lay off potatoes, carrots, peas, corn, dried beans, I can control my glucose levels much better.
Cholesterol meds do not lower cholesterol very much at all!!! Neither does eating fewer cholesterol containing foods. Maybe the statins do help with preventing kidney damage,
Loosing weight, tight control of glucose levels, and more exercise do work wonders in lowering Cholesterol.
Maybe you should go see a third doctor? This one an Endocrinologist?? At preferably a teaching hospital!!
4-6 is normal, but mine was only 7 and 7.1 (only around the 150′s), so they also did a test that took the average sugar of the last 2 weeks, which was 379, so they decided I was diabetic. But if it is only slightly raised it may be you were sick and so thats why they did the two week test, because you don’t want to put a non-diabetic on insulin…
And A1c’s don’t diagnose the diabetes, two fasting blood sugars done on a lab above 120 is the diagnoseses.
Here’s a public service announcement for the American Diabetes Association Bike-a-thon Plus on Sunday, May 19th 1985 at Thompson Junior High in Montgomery, IL. Featuring a girl named Angie and her mom.
I wonder what the “plus” was.
This aired on local Chicago TV mid-May 1985.
Visit The Museum of Classic Chicago Television at – http://www.FuzzyMemories.TV – for more fun!
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