|
|
Are You at Risk for Heart Disease? Learn How to Fight Back
Heart disease is a silent killer, According to the National Institutes of Health, it will kill nearly 500,000 people this year. If more Americans took control of their health, this statistic could be reduced by as much as 87%, that means 435,000 people would literally save their own lives each year.
Your lifestyle, diet, and environment subtly and profoundly affect your heart -- by restoring or depleting over 30 essential nutrients. For optimum heart health, your body needs the correct balance of these 30 nutrients. In the context of a wholesome diet and healthy lifestyle, supplementation is the easiest, most effective way to promote maximum heart health.
A diet high in fats has been recognized as a primary villain and risk factor in cardiovascular disease. The difficulty many people have in understanding the risk of a high fat diet is not so much in the total fat but in the types of fat included in the diet. On the one hand there are two types of fats - one of which is good, one of which is bad. Saturated fats are one of the villains when it comes to the bad fat part of the formula and this type of fat is commonly found in almost all foods. Unsaturated fats are far less harmful. It is recognized that approximately 95 percent of the population is deficient in essential fatty acids.
Essential fatty acids are involved in energy production, the transfer of oxygen from the air to the bloodstream, and the manufacture of hemoglobin. They are also involved in growth, cell division and nerve function. Essential fatty acids are found in high concentrations in the brain and are essential for normal nerve impulse transmission and brain function.
Essential fatty acids are also involved in the manufacture of prostaglandins, substances which play a role in a number of body functions including hormone synthesis, immune function, regulation of the response to pain and inflammation, blood vessel constriction, and other heart and lung functions.
Symptoms of essential fatty acid deficiency may include fatigue, dry skin, immune weakness, gastrointestinal disorders, heart and circulatory problems, growth retardation, mental problems and sterility. It is likely that a lack of dietary essential fatty acids plays an important role in the development of many common diseases.
There are many types of essential fatty acid supplements available, including flaxseed oil, fish oils, evening primrose oil, black currant oil, and borage oil. These are available in capsule and free oil forms. Some experts advise avoiding fish oil supplements because they may have toxic contaminants. Fish oil supplements should not be taken during pregnancy due to the damaging effects of high doses of vitamin A.
Several risk factors have been linked to heart disease. These include unchangeable factors such as an early family history of heart disease. If a family member developed heart disease relatively young, before age 50, your risk is increased. Usually, however, heart disease is more likely to strike a woman after menopause.
Certain medical conditions play key roles. High blood pressure increases your risk of both heart attack and stroke, so controlling it is very important. Diabetes also increases your risk of developing heart disease, especially in women. Unfortunately, many diabetic women have a nerve disorder which makes them less sensitive to pain, so they might miss the heart attack warning sign of chest pain.
Keep in mind that lifestyle plays a crucial role. Smoking and fatal heart disease go hand-in-hand. If you smoke, quit. Oral contraceptives used by smokers might cause trouble too, so if you smoke and take the pill, you might be in greater danger of having a heart attack than someone who doesn't. Obesity and a sedentary "couch potato" outlook also add to your risk.
What counts is not how many risk factors you have, but what you do to change them. Maintain a lean weight and good blood cholesterol level. Cut the saturated fat content from your food and increase your intake of essential fatty acids. Eat less meat and chicken. Bulk up on vegetables and fruits. You'll be eating healthier and you will probably lose some weight!
Most importantly, exercise! This is critical to good health. Too often, we say we don't have time. Make time. Put yourself first and work out, even if you have to schedule it into your appointment book.
For years, we were told women didn't have to worry about heart disease. Now that we know the truth, we must all make the changes needed in the name of healthier and happier hearts.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Kathy Browning is a healing arts practitioner and wellness coach. She is also the Editor-In-Chief of The Art of Living Well, an ezine focused on the mind, body, spirit connection and the author of Feng Shui for Abundant Living. Be sure to visit http://www.cancercomfort.com for more information.
Are You at Risk for Heart Disease? Learn How to Fight Back
-
Heartburn Free Foods for the Holidays: How to Enjoy Great Food Without the Heartburn This Holiday Season
The esophageal sphincter is a little muscle at the base of the esophagus that acts as a lid that prevents stomach acid from entering the esophagus. Those that cause an increase in stomach acid, some of which can spill over into your esophagus causing heartburn. Hors d' Oeuvres Spicy and fatty foods are notorious for generating stomach acid production, and no place are these foods more conveniently and neatly presented than on the hors d Oeuvres trays and tables at holiday parties.
-
The Truth About Taking An Aspirin a Day to Prevent Heart Attacks
Did you know that if you are scheduled for surgery of any kind, the surgeon will not perform the operation if you have been taking aspirins? That tells me that dilating the arteries may not be the way to go. Don't be afraid of fats however, as long as they are "good fats." Take in more protein and Omega-3/Omega-6 fatty acids as these fats are extremely helpful in protecting against sudden heart attack or stroke.
-
Heart Rate Monitor The Real Usage
If there is an increase/decrease in your heart rate, an appropriate medication can be taken immediately to avoid any possible worse situation. This is the best method of keeping a thorough check over the heart rate of a person. These Heart Rate Monitors come with an easy to carry bag having specialized chords in them.
-
How 40,000 People Reversed Heart Disease
There are twice as many women as men, and almost 90% are married. Thebarge participated in CHIP and transformed her life. 10% report having heart disease 27% have elevated blood sugar 42% are overweight 49% show evidence of hypertension 60% are obese 89% are cholesterol above 160mg% Over the course of the program, strict adherents are likely to experience significant clinical improvements such as the following:. Population is either overweight or obese.
-
Heart Friendly Foods
Of all cooking oils, olive oil contains the largest proportion (77%) of monounsaturated fat and has powerful antioxidants, which lowers LDL cholesterol without affecting HDL levels. Heart Friendly Foods Copyright www.FatFreeKitchen.com [You have permission to publish this article in your web sites, ezines or electronic publication, as long as the piece is used in its entirety including the resource box, all hyperlinks (clickable) and references and copyright info. For more information, visit Lower Cholesterol and Cholesterol Information.
-
Prevent Heart Disease
People who drink large amounts of alcohol (six to eight ounces a day) tend to have higher blood pressure. Tips For Controlling Risk of Heart Disease Stop Smoking The effect of smoking on your lungs can cause almost every other medical condition. Diabetes Another risk factor for heart disease is diabetes, a chronic disease of insulin deficiency or resistance. Then get multiple measurements to know if a high level is sustained over time.
|
|
|
