Underlying Conditions: What You Need To Know

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Oftentimes the phrase “underlying conditions” is tossed around when we hear doctors or the media talk about health problems or disease. For example, during cold and flu season, there is talk about how people with underlying conditions are more likely to contract the flu or have more severe symptoms than those without such conditions. Although the list of underlying conditions in this article is far from complete, these are common underlying conditions for many.

So what are underlying conditions and what can we do to prevent and manage them naturally?

What are underlying conditions?

Medical conditions or health issues that persistent or are long-term, involve systemic inflammation, and have a weakening impact on the immune system are considered to be underlying conditions. These typically include type 2 diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and chronic kidney disease, among others.  

If you have one or more underlying conditions, you should be especially careful to protect yourself against exposure to damaging pathogens or to engage in lifestyle choices that may result in a serious illness. Here’s a quick breakdown of some common underlying conditions and what you and your family can do to protect yourself.

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Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is caused by certain lifestyle factors, such as eating an unhealthy diet, being sedentary, and obesity. If you have diabetes, your body is challenged by how it uses blood sugar. When there is too much sugar in your blood, you can develop serious health issues, including cardiovascular disease and kidney problems.

Optimal prevention and management of type 2 diabetes includes eating whole foods and avoiding refined carbs, getting 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking. To help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, the results of three recent studies provide answers. 

Research shows that the use of aged garlic extract reduces several risk factors for atherosclerosis and the chances of having a heart attack or stroke. In fact, the extract reduces calcium deposits and the amount of soft plaque in the arteries. In addition, the aged garlic extract reduces left ventricular myocardial mass, which is an important indicator to predict a heart attack or premature death. 

Two other supplements that can benefit diabetes are chromium and milk thistle. Chromium, and chromium picolinate, in particular, boosts insulin activity and reduces insulin resistance while also helping reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. You might try milk thistle for diabetes, as it may lower fasting glucose levels and have a positive impact on levels of hemoglobin, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. 

Hypertension

Also referred to as high blood pressure, hypertension is a common condition that affects nearly half the people in the United States and more than 1.3 billion people around the world. Elevated blood pressure significantly increases a person’s risk of developing cardiovascular disease, kidney disease, brain, and other diseases. It’s a major cause of premature death worldwide.

Natural ways to lower your blood pressure include cutting down the amount of sodium in your diet, limiting alcohol use, managing stress daily, not smoking, and exercising regularly. On the natural supplement side, the use of aged garlic extract resulted in an average 10 mmHg decline in systolic blood pressure and a 5.4 mmHg drop in diastolic blood pressure in more than half of people taking the supplement. Another supplement that can lower blood pressure safely is coenzyme Q10. A meta-analysis showed that CoQ10 reduced systolic pressure by 17 mmHg and diastolic pressure by up to 10 mmHg. 

Read about aged garlic extract, AGE for a healthier you

Chronic kidney disease

The gradual loss of kidney function is known as chronic kidney disease or chronic kidney failure. One challenging thing about chronic kidney disease is that many people have few signs or symptoms until the disease reaches a dangerous level. Conditions that cause chronic kidney disease include type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. Controlling these conditions is critical if you want to avoid kidney problems. Overuse of nonprescription pain relievers such as ibuprofen, acetaminophen, and aspirin can lead to kidney damage as well. 

Garlic is a helpful supplement for people who have chronic kidney disease because it helps lower cholesterol, reduces inflammation, and fights the accumulation of plaque, all of which can be involved in promoting chronic kidney disease. Other natural ways to help avoid or manage chronic kidney disease is to avoid foods with added salt, choose foods that are lower in potassium, and limit the amount of protein you eat. 

Obesity

More than 40 percent of Americans are obese, and one-third of the world’s population is living with obesity. With obesity comes an increased risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, sleep apnea, osteoarthritis, and other health problems. Obesity impairs immune function, which in turn increases the risk of developing infections. 

Losing pounds and maintaining a healthy weight requires lifestyle changes that includes eating a nutritious diet and regular exercise. In addition, the use of natural supplements that can boost immune function and reduce inflammation can help with weight loss. Aged garlic extract has been shown to assist in achieving both of these goals in recent research. In addition, cayenne pepper kicks up your metabolism slightly. The use of capsaicin capsules (an active ingredient in cayenne) was shown to reduce calorie intake while increasing feelings of fullness.

Bottom line

The presence and impact of underlying conditions need to be considered whenever we want to prevent, diagnose, and treat symptoms and medical issues. Lifestyle choices, including the use of natural supplements such as aged garlic extract, play an important role in managing underlying conditions and overall health in general.

[Editor's Note: Kyolic makes supplements that contain aged garlic extract. They also have a greens supplement that can help you increase the number of antioxidants you consume each day. This can also help with inflammation.]

Kyolic AGE

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Hutchins E et al. Aged garlic extract reduces left ventricular myocardial mass in patients with diabetes: A prospective randomized controlled double-blind study. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 2020; 19:1468-71.
Link R. 13 herbs that can help you lose weight. Healthline 2018 Jul 23
Ried K et al. The effect of Kyolic aged garlic extract on gut microbiota, inflammation, and cardiovascular markers in hypertensives: The GarGIC Trial. Frontiers in Nutrition 2018 Dec 11; 5:122.
Rosenfeldt F et al. Coenzyme Q10 in the treatment of hypertension: a meta-analysis of the clinical trials. Journal of Human Hypertension 2007; 221:297–306.
A scientific review: the role of chromium in insulin resistance. Diabetes Education 2004; Suppl:2-14.
Shaikh K et al. Aged garlic extract reduces low attenuation plaque in coronary arteries of patients with diabetes: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study. Experimental and Therapeutic Medicine 2020; 19:1457-1461.
World Health Organization. Hypertension. 2019 Sep 13
Xu C et al. Aged garlic extract supplementation modifies inflammation and immunity of adults with obesity: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial. Clinical Nutrition ESPEN. 2018 Apr; 24:148-55. 
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Lisa Roth Collins, RHN
Lisa Roth Collins is a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN) and is the Marketing Manager at NaturallySavvy.com. She is passionate about health and wellness and tries her best to make healthier choices every day for herself and her family. Her journey to natural health was driven by her own struggles with digestive discomfort, depression, and anxiety. Lisa returned to school in 2014 to study nutrition at the Canadian School for Natural Nutrition. She threw herself into her studies so she could learn as much as she could to help herself feel better and thrive. Upon completing the program and being certified as an RHN, Lisa began her work at Naturally Savvy where she has been able to help so many people learn to make healthier choices for themselves. Through her work, she has connected with so many incredible people in the industry whether other authors, influencers, or brands. Plus, she is affectionately known as "Techie Spice" because of her ability to wrap her head around technology. Every day she gets up with a renewed sense of energy and ready to make a difference. You can read all of Lisa's content here. In her spare time, Lisa loves to try new recipes, make delicious and nourishing meals, and she is an avid reader. For more information about Lisa, check out her profile on here.