:: November 2009

Welcome to our Monthly Online Newsletter!

View all Treatment articles in our Treatment Report . The most recent articles are listed on top (not in alphabetical order). Click on the Topic on our home page and then the subtopic - Treatment Report. Stay updated on drugs and their side effects, and various other treatments, including exercise, nutrition, and supplements.

Highlighted Article

The Dangers of High Cholesterol “How does atherosclerosis begin to happen exactly? In a healthy artery, the inner lining, or endothelium, is smooth and intact. But disease or injury -- including diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol -- can damage this lining, paving the way for atherosclerosis. Scientists aren't sure how high cholesterol injures arteries, Gotto says, but he explains one theory: The fatty acids carried by LDL become oxidized and injure blood vessel walls. "The higher the level of LDL circulating in the blood, the more the wall gets injured." An inflammatory reaction ensues, Gotto says. "The blood vessel responds by a reaction to injury. It treats this as if you scratched your finger." Atherosclerosis begins when white blood cells move into the lining and artery wall. They transform into foam cells, which accumulate fat and cholesterol. Other substances, such as calcium, also collect at the site. Eventually, an atherosclerotic plaque, or atheroma, forms. These plaques thicken and harden the artery wall and bulge into the bloodstream to reduce or block blood flow. When an atheroma ruptures, it can trigger a blood clot leading to heart attack or stroke. Most commonly, atherosclerosis affects the left anterior descending coronary artery [one of the main arteries of the heart], the carotid arteries in the neck, and the abdominal aorta, Gotto says.”