Cholesterol is not always bad. In fact, your body needs some cholesterol to help make hormones, vitamin D, and other substances used in the process of digestion.
Your body makes cholesterol naturally, but this fat-like substance is also found in the food we eat. There are two types of cholesterol:
Low-density lipoprotein (LDL), is known as "bad" cholesterol.
High-density lipoprotein, or HDL, is considered "good" cholesterol. (American Heart Association)
The goal is to have healthy levels of both types. Why? Too much cholesterol in the blood can lead to cardiovascular disease, the number one cause of death in the United States.
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 your heart and brain. Combined with other substances, it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can narrow the body’s arteries and make them less flexible. This condition is known as atherosclerosis. It causes less oxygen-rich blood to make it to the heart muscle.
Eventually, plaque may rupture causing a blood clot to form. If the clot then blocks a narrowed artery, heart attack or stroke can result.
Some people have a genetic predisposition for high LDL cholesterol. This means it runs in their family. In addition, eating saturated fat, trans fats and dietary cholesterol can also increase blood cholesterol levels. If you have a genetic predisposition for this condition, lifestyle modifications may not be enough to help lower your LDL number.
The American Heart Association (AHA) offers the following prevention and treatment plans for those suffering from high cholesterol:
LifestyleChanges
Your diet, weight, physical activity and exposure to tobacco smoke all affect your cholesterol level — and these factors may be controlled by:
eating a heart-healthy diet
enjoying regular physical activity
avoiding tobacco smoke
Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs
Your doctor may also recommend cholesterol-lowering medication. Statins are the most common class of drugs to treat those suffering from high cholesterol. They work in the liver to prevent the formation of cholesterol. Statins are most effective at lowering the LDL cholesterol, but have also been shown to have modest effects on lowering triglycerides (blood fats) and raising HDL (good) cholesterol.
Even though high cholesterol may lead to serious heart disease, most of the time there are no symptoms. This is why it is critical to have your cholesterol levels checked routinely by your doctor. All it takes is a simple blood test.
The Regional Medical Center in San Jose offers an extensive cardiovascular program that includes a Nationally Accredited Level III Chest Pain Center. At the heart of the program is a talented team of highly-skilled cardiologists, surgeons, nurses and support staff available 24 hours per day, seven days a week for immediate medical care.
For more information about Cardiovascular Services available at the Regional Medical Center of San Jose, call (888) 762-8881.
Summer provides a great opportunity for children to enjoy the balmy weather and all of the recreational opportunities that the area has to offer. While this freedom and independence is great, it also comes with a higher risk of injury. This guide from one of the leading heart hospitals in San Jose, the Regional Medical Center of San Jose, covers some important safety tips for ensuring the health and well-being of your child this summer.
Recreational Safety
An active child is a healthy child, but most recreational sports such as biking, skating, swimming, and swimming all come with some amount of inherent risk. In order to reduce the likelihood of severe injury, invest in appropriately rated safety gear for the head, elbows, and knees, and ensure that risky activities are performed under the supervision of an adult whenever possible. If small children are in the area, then be sure to keep them separated from water; according to Safe Kids USA, drowning is the third leading cause of unintentional injury-related death in children under the age of 14.
Pedestrian Safety
Toddlers are particularly susceptible to pedestrian accidents, as they are less able to assess potential motor vehicle hazards either on or off the road. While the street poses the biggest threat to your child, it is important to remember that many non-traffic incidents also occur in driveways, parking lots, and sidewalks.
Driver Safety
Motor vehicle collisions are the leading cause of death among teenagers. Research from the IIHS shows that drivers ages 16 to 19-years-old were four times more likely to be involved in a crash than older drivers; additionally, 16-year-old drivers were twice as likely to crash compared to 18 and 19-year-olds. Educating your children on defensive driving techniques could be instrumental in avoiding a traffic disaster.
Accidents can still happen even with proper precautions, which is why we here at the Regional Medical Center of San Jose have striven to provide medical facilities of the highest quality since 1965. Read some of our patient testimonials online and call (888) 762-8881 today for more information about our healthcare services.
On July 20, 2012, RMC Surgeon, Han Lo, MD used the technology to successfully remove a cancerous tumor from a patient’s kidney, while preserving nearly three-fourths of the kidney.
Fluorescence imaging enhances the surgeon’s vision and allow for more precision and control of the already minimally invasive da Vinci surgery. The specially designed camera and endoscopes allow surgeons to capture images of tissue and surrounding blood vessels by injecting a green colored dye called IndoCyanine Green (ICG) that is then activated by near-infrared light. The technology allows surgeons to differentiate between malignant and normal tissue as the surgery is being performed because cancerous tissue stains less brightly than normal tissue.
Regional Medical Center of San Jose First Non-Academic Hospitalto Use Robotic Fluorescence Imaging Technology in Bay Area
(July 20, 2012, San Jose, Ca.) – Regional Medical Center of San Jose is the first non-academic hospital in the Bay Area to use a new near-infrared fluorescence imaging guided system available for the da Vinci Si Surgical System.
Han Lo, MD, performed the first surgery on July 20, 2012 at Regional Medical Center of San Jose. Lo used the technology to successfully remove a cancerous tumor from a patient’s kidney, while preserving nearly three-fourths of the kidney.
“Florescence imaging enhances the surgeon’s vision and allow for more precision and control of the already minimally invasive da Vinci surgery,” said Michael Johnson, CEO of Regional Hospital. “It permits the surgeon to perform complex surgeries in a more precise, sparing manner.”
The fluorescence imaging technology offers the capability of providing real-time, image guided identification of key anatomical landmarks. The specially designed camera and endoscopes allow surgeons to capture images of tissue and surrounding blood vessels by injecting a green colored dye called IndoCyanine Green (ICG) that is then activated by near-infrared light. The camera can then switch views between standard real time images and images illuminated by the dye.
The technology also allows surgeons to differentiate between malignant and normal tissue as the surgery is being performed because cancerous tissue stains less brightly than normal tissue.
Regional Medical Center of San Jose continues to keep pace with the tremendous advances in surgical technology and innovation,” said Johnson. “Acquiring these technological advances has allowed Regional to continue to provide quality patient care and to improve patient outcomes and satisfaction. “
About Regional Medical Center of San Jose
Regional Medical Center of San Jose is a Level II Trauma Center. The hospital provides a host of technologically-advanced services including Cardiovascular, Orthopedic and General Surgery, along with multi-organ Cancer Care, and services for Women and Children. Regional Medical Center of San Jose holds Joint Commission advanced certification as a Primary Stroke Center and a Get with the Guidelines- Stroke Gold Plus Performance Achievement Award from the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. It is a certified Chest Pain Center, and county-designated STEMI receiving center. For more information, visit: www.regionalmedicalsanjose.com
Did our recent blog entries about stroke and cardiovascular health pique your interest? You can find out more helpful information from these websites. With further questions, please call Regional Medical Center of San Jose at (888) 762-8881.
Physical activity can help improve the strength and efficiency of your heart muscle—learn how to get moving and get healthier on the American Heart Association website.
This article from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention outlines the variety of health benefits that regular physical activity can offer.
Stroke can have a variety of physical, emotional, and behavioral consequences. Visit the American Stroke Association website to learn more about life after stroke.
The effects of stroke can vary depending on the area of the brain affected by the attack. Read through this article from the National Stroke Association for more information.
Magnetic resonance imaging, or MRI, is vital for the diagnosis of many injuries and illnesses. Read more about this technology and its uses on RadiologyInfo.org.
Do you know the signs of cardiac arrest? Find out from this helpful article found on the American Heart Association website.
Chronic high blood pressure can lead to a higher risk for heart attack and stroke. Learn how to lower your high blood pressure from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute.
Coronary heart disease is very common in the United States. Read more about this disease on the PubMed Health website.
Heart attack, or myocardial infarction, is the leading cause of death in American men and women. Visit the CDC website for more information about this deadly attack.
Stroke symptoms can differ between men and women. Know the symptoms of a stroke by reading through this article.
My wife delivered her baby here and I just had to come and write a review. Leading up to the big day, every time we would tell someone we were planning to deliver at Regional, they would make a face and say we should go to O'Connor instead. This made us a bit nervous, but her doctor assured us we would be well taken care of at Regional so...
Disclaimer: The materials provided are intended for informational purposes only. You should contact your doctor for medical advice. Use of and access to this website or other materials do not create a physician-patient relationship. The opinions expressed through this website are the opinions of the individual author and may not reflect the opinions of the hospital, medical staff, or any individual physician or other healthcare professional.
