Posts Tagged ‘Arteries’

Women’s Heart Attack-5 Top Tips for A Healthy Heart

Sunday, February 14th, 2010

Over the last few blog posts, we have been learning how women’s heart attack is a big problem in our country. We also have been learning many prevention tips to follow as women that will help us not develop heart disease. Today, we will cover the last 5 heart healthy tips for our “one month to healthier heart and you” series.

Tip #18. Order smart slices. If you are a pizza lover, ask for your pizza with half the cheese and double the sauce. When you do this, you can cut the saturated fat by 5 grams. Plus, since tomatoes are rich in lycopene, a powerful antioxidant, you will be helping your cells fight damage that can lead to atherosclerosis.

Tip #19: Have a heart to heart with mom. If you mother had cardiovascular disease before 65, your own risk doubles. So, if you have a family history of women with women’s heart attack problems, check with your medical doctor. It could be you will need your blood presssure and cholesteol checked yearly.

Tip #20: Drink your veggies. You can get in extra servings of veggies by sipping on low-sodium vegetable juice. In a recent study from the University of California, it was found that those who drank 2 cups a day were able to lower their blood pressure by a whopping 5 point after just three months.

Tip: 21: Practice breathing. A study from the Indian Institute of Technology found that people who practice yoga or similar discliplines have a steadier heart rates which is sign of a healthy heart. It seems that yoga soothes the nervous system which slows breathing and calms the heart.

We have covered a number of tips to help you have a healthy heart. Women’s heart attack problems can be avoided take the necessary steps today to prevent this from happening to you.

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart” Newletter!

P.S. For more information about Vita Che, what I call the Roto Rooter for your arteries, visit my online nutrition store at http://699456.shopvitamark.com

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Women’s Heart Attack-More Healthy Heart Tips

Sunday, February 7th, 2010

We have been discussing tips to keep your heart healthy so you won’t ever fall into the category of women who have heart attacks.

Today, we will cover 5 more tips for a healthy heart.

Tip #9: Sip Green Team. Drinking a cup of green tea can increase your blood flow in as little as 30 minutes according to a recent study in the “European Journal of Cardiovascular Prevention and Rehabilitation.” It is the antioxidants in the green tea which improves blood vessel function.

Tip #10: Get The Right Amount of “Shut-Eye”. Women who got just 5 hours a sleep a night are twice as likely to fall into the women’s heart attack group. Sleep deprivation can promote calcium build-up in the arteries which can lead to plaque says Dr. Michelle Miller. So ladies, get in your “shut-eye.”

Tip #11: Get a Furball. Pets can be very soothing. A recent study found that cat owners were up to 40% less likely to die from a heart attack than those without a cat friend. This study was done by Dr. Adnan Quershi of the Zeenalt Quersahi Stroke Research Center. Dogs probably provide the same benefit.

Tip #12: Clear the Air. Reseach from the University of Michigan found that pollutants such as soot, nitrates, and metals can cause inflammation in the body. This can result in the hearts arteries being less flexible and can trigger a spike in blood pressure. A suggestion would be to invest in a HEPA filter such as those sold by Honeywell ($111 at amazon.com).

More tips for one month to a healthy heart and you will follow in the next post.

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart” Newletter!

P.S. For more information about Vita Che, what I call the Roto Rooter for your arteries, visit my online nutrition store at http://699456.shopvitamark.com

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Women’s Heart Problems|Women’s Heart Problems May Be Misdiagnosed

Monday, January 18th, 2010

Sometimes, women’s heart problems are not as quickly and efficiently picked up as men’s. There is a reason for this and here is why. This is from a website called Guardian.co.uk

Women’s heart problems may be misdiagnosed as symptoms of stress

Doctors may be slower to diagnose women with heart disease, because they suspect their symptoms are caused by stress. That’s the message from a study of 230 doctors. The delay could deprive women of treatments that protect against heart attacks.
What do we know already?

Heart disease, where the arteries get clogged with fatty deposits, is the most common cause of heart attacks. Although it’s more common among men, women get heart disease too. It tends to happen to older women. It is thought that the hormones that women produce before the menopause protect women against heart problems.

Yet we know that even older women are less likely than men to be diagnosed with heart disease. This may mean they don’t get the treatment they need to prevent a heart attack.

We don’t know for sure why women don’t get diagnosed. In the past, some doctors have thought of heart disease as mainly a man’s problem. Also, women often have different symptoms from men if they have a heart attack, so that can confuse the diagnosis. But doctors are now aware that women also get heart disease, and that they sometimes have different symptoms. So researchers are looking for other reasons that might affect the doctors’ judgements.
What does the new study say?

The study asked 230 doctors to read case studies giving details of a man aged 47 and a woman aged 56 who had symptoms suggesting heart disease. Women aged 56 and men aged 47 have an equal risk of having a heart attack. Half the case studies included reports that the patient had recently had a stressful experience or felt anxious. The other half of the case studies just described symptoms.

In the case studies that just concentrated on symptoms, the doctors were equally likely, whether that patient was male or female, to suspect heart disease, refer the patient to a heart specialist, or to prescribe medicine to help protect against a heart attack. But in case studies that included details of the patient’s stressful experience or anxiety, doctors reacted differently depending on the patient’s gender.

If the doctor was told that the woman had been stressed and seemed anxious, they were much less likely to diagnose her with heart disease, less likely to send her to a specialist, and less likely to give her heart medicine. However, knowing that a man was anxious or stressed didn’t make any difference to the diagnosis of heart disease.

The doctors thought that women’s symptoms of chest pain, difficulty breathing and an irregular heartbeat were more likely to be signs of stress than of heart disease. But they didn’t interpret the men’s symptoms in this way. The results were the same for men and women doctors.
Where does the study come from?

The study was carried out by researchers at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital and Columbia University in New York, USA. The results were presented at a medical conference, the Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific symposium. They haven’t been published in a medical journal, so we haven’t been able to look closely at the results.
What does this mean for me?

It’s important not to dismiss symptoms like chest pain or breathlessness. They can be signs of heart disease, for women as well as men. Stress can cause physical symptoms, but it’s important that doctors check for physical causes, rather than dismissing symptoms as the result of stress.
What should I do now?

If you’ve had symptoms like chest pain, irregular heartbeat or shortness of breath, it’s important to go to the doctor. If you’re not happy with their response, you can ask for a second opinion.
From:

Chiaramonte GR, Friend R, Jaffe A, et al. Gender Bias in the Diagnosis, Treatment, and Interpretation of CHD Symptoms: Two Experimental Studies with Internists and Family Physicians. Presented at the 20th annual Transcatheter Cardiovascular Therapeutics scientific symposium, Washington, October 12 2008.

To find out more about the symptoms of a heart attack, see our information on heart attack.

© BMJ Publishing Group Limited (“BMJ Group”) 2009

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart” Newletter!

P.S. For more information about Vita Che which is Roto Rooter for your arteries, visit my online nutrition store at http://699456.shopvitamark.com

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Heart Disease Prevention-Use These 8 Natural Doctors

Thursday, November 26th, 2009

As someone who enjoys learning about natural ways to stay healthy, including keeping a healthy heart, I find that these 8 natural doctors will do wonders not only for your body, but also your mental health. They are great tips for heart disease prevention. Even if a person does develop heart disease, they are natural heart disease treatments.

Everyday living in today’s society can be very taxing on our bodies. With hectic work schedules and quick or skipped meals, we are damaging and destroying our bodies a little bit more every day.

A very sure solution would be to employ eight natural doctors to aid in your healing process, including heart disease prevention. Don’t worry, they will not charge you any money, in fact, these doctors will actually help you save money.

Once you have followed the advice of these eight natural doctors, you will experience a new start in life. And ‘New Start’ is an easy way to remember these doctors. Let’s take a brief look at them one at a time.

N-E-W S-T-A-R-T

N – Nutrition
It is important to “watch what you eat”. Eating a lot of trans-fatty foods will not only make you overweight, but will aid in clogging your arteries. This can cause heart disease. Eating plenty of fresh, green, leafy vegetables is a great way to help your body get the vitamins and nutrients it needs to function properly. This is a perfect way to keep your heart healthy.

E – Exercise
The reason exercise is important is because this is how your heart gets stronger. A stronger heart means better blood flow. If you spend 30 minutes, three days a week, working out, not only will you feel better, but your mental abilities will also improve. For exercise to be effective, it must be progressive, systematic, and habitual. The more you exercise, the stronger every part of your body will become.

W – Water
It used to be said that you should drink 8 glasses of water each day. Today that number is debated as to whether that specific number applies to everybody or not. The bottom line is that your body is comprised of mostly water. Your brain needs plenty of fresh water everyday in order to function properly. While your body can go three days without water, your brain will start to experience negative effects within 12 to 14 hours. There is no substitute for water, not even sports drinks. By drinking plenty of water every day, your brain, kidneys, and most internal organs will function more efficiently.

S – Sunshine
Taking a break from your cubicle everyday and getting into the sunshine will do more for you than you may realize. According to Dr. Tedd Mitchell, in his article for USA Weekend, recent studies suggest that the sun’s ability to stimulate vitamin D production in the skin can make it an incredible boon to the body in fighting certain kinds of cancers, including some skin cancers. Taking short, regular breaks to allow your body to be exposed to sunshine is a good way to help you stay healthy.

T – Temperance
Temperance is keeping everything in moderation. We all know about being temperate in eating; don’t overeat or you will gain weight, etc. But temperance should be used in all areas. For example, too much sunshine can cause skin cancer, so limit how much sun you actually expose yourself to. In order to maintain a healthy life, you must use each of these natural doctors in moderation. Don’t overdo it in any area. Keeping well-balanced is the key to good health.

A – Air
Getting plenty of fresh air is extremely important; you cannot live more than a few minutes without it. Make sure that your homes and offices are properly ventilated. If possible, open some windows to provide cross-ventilation. Most people leave their windows shut during the winter months, causing the air to become stagnant and ill-smelling. If you cannot open the windows in your office, make sure you take your breaks outside so you can give your body the necessary oxygen it needs to keep healthy. When you are able to go outside and take ten deep breaths, it is like giving yourself an oxygen cocktail. Your body loves it.

R – Rest
Maybe you have heard that children grow while they sleep. This is true. During rest, your body is able to grow and to re-build itself. The brain tissue is being restored and the nerves are re-charged while you sleep. If you skimp on sleep, your body does not have adequate time to re-condition itself and to heal itself. Getting the necessary hours of sleep each night is important to maintain a healthy body.

T – Trust in God
Trusting in God is the most important of all natural doctors. If we believe that we were created in His image and that He sent His Son to redeem us, we should have no problem trusting Him to take care of us and to keep us healthy. If we do our part in eating nutritiously, exercising, drinking plenty of water, getting plenty of sunshine, being temperate in all areas, getting plenty of fresh air, and getting plenty of rest, God will do His part in sustaining our life to the fullest and keeping it healthy. Just trust Him, He knows what He’s doing.

I loved these 8 natural doctors. They are powerful ways to prevent heart disease and can be heart disease treatments for those who happen to develop the disease.

Begin to use these 8 natural doctors today.

Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve to Have A Healthy Heart” newsletter.

To Your Success,
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
SKype: Monique371
mentormonique@gmail.com

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Women’s Heart Attack-Why Daylight’s Saving Time Can Be Dangerous to Heart Health

Wednesday, October 28th, 2009

I came across an interesting article in the October 2009 of “Bottom Line Personal.”

The article talked about how switching away from daylight’s saving time can be dangerous to your health. The switch could trigger women’s heart attack as well as men. In a nutshell, here is why.

“Heart Attack Alert: Switching Away from Daylight Saving Time Can Be Danergous to Your Health” . The magazine interviewed Michael Terman, PhD who has a long list of credential including professor of clinical psychology at Columbia University and director of clinical chronbiology at New York State Psychiatric Institure.

We all know that on Sunday, November 1, you fall back one hour and one March the 14th, 2010 you spring forward one hour. Researchers have looked at the rate of heart attacks around the time switches and found that in the spring there was a 5-10% increase in heart attacks during the 3 days after the switch to DST. In the fall, there was a significant spike heart attacks on the Monday after the switch to ST.

Why? Well, researchers theorized that the sleep disruptions may hurt the heart by increasing the activity of the sympathetic nervous system, which speeds heart rate and by increasing the level cytokines, immune cells that spark inflammation and damage arteries.

How to protect our heart health? Dr. Terman recommends the following:

-Gradually set the alarm later. For instance in the fall, allow your circadian clock to drift one hour later during the week or so after the switch. For example, if you normally wake up at 7:00 Am, set the alarm for 6:00 AM ST on Sunday morning of the switch. Then gradually set the alarm 10 mintues later each day until you reach 7:00 AM. In the spring, just reverse it.

-Exercise daily. This stabilizes the circadian rhythm

-Eat regular meals

-Take melatonin the right way. Take a very small amount-0.25 mg 5 hours before your bedtime the week before DST. Your circadian clock will sense that nightime has begun and will adjust itself towards earlier sleep onset.

-Use a dawn simulator. You can adjust your circadian rhythm using this device that plugs into your light fixture and “simulates” the outdoor transistion from a starlight level of light to sunrise level of light. The device allows you to gradually move “dawn” later during the week or so in the fall and later in the day duirn the week or so switch to DST. This can be ordered at http://www.cet.org. The cost is $215

This was a very interesting article. To read it in its entirety, you can go to http://www.bottomlinesecrets.com and look for the October 2009 issue.

Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve to Have A Healthy Heart” newsletter.

To Your Success,
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
SKype: Monique371
mentormonique@gmail.com

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Women and Heart Disease-Some FAQ

Friday, October 9th, 2009

Those women who are concerned about their potential for developing heart disease usually have many questions. I recently found a site that answers many questions about women and heart disease.

Below are a few concerns many women usually have. You can visit http://www.womenshealth.gov for even more information.

Do women need to worry about heart disease?

Yes. Among all U.S. women who die each year, one in four dies of heart disease. In 2004, nearly 60 percent more women died of cardiovascular disease (both heart disease and stroke) than from all cancers combined. The older a woman gets, the more likely she is to get heart disease. But women of all ages should be concerned about heart disease. All women should take steps to prevent heart disease.

Both men and women have heart attacks, but more women who have heart attacks die from them. Treatments can limit heart damage but they must be given as soon as possible after a heart attack starts. Ideally, treatment should start within one hour of the first symptoms.

If you think you’re having a heart attack, call 911 right away. Tell the operator your symptoms and that you think you’re having a heart attack.

Do women of color need to worry about heart disease?

Yes. African American and Hispanic American/Latina women should be concerned about getting heart disease because they tend to have more risk factors than white women. These risk factors include obesity, lack of physical activity, high blood pressure, and diabetes. If you’re a woman of color, take steps to reduce your risk factors.

What does high blood pressure have to do with heart disease?

Blood pressure is the force your blood makes against the walls of your arteries. The pressure is highest when your heart pumps blood into your arteries – when it beats. It is lowest between heart beats, when your heart relaxes. A doctor or nurse will write down your blood pressure as the higher number over the lower number. For instance, you could have a blood pressure of 110/70 (read as “110 over 70″). A blood pressure reading below 120/80 is usually considered normal. Very low blood pressure (lower than 90/60) can sometimes be a cause of concern and should be checked out by a doctor.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 or higher. Years of high blood pressure can damage artery walls, causing them to become stiff and narrow. This includes the arteries carrying blood to the heart. As a result, your heart cannot get the blood it needs to work well. This can cause a heart attack.

A blood pressure reading of 120/80 to 139/89 is considered prehypertension. This means that you don’t have high blood pressure now but are likely to develop it in the future.

How can I lower my blood pressure?

If you have hypertension or prehypertension, you may be able to lower your
blood pressure by:

* losing weight if you are overweight or obese
* getting at least 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate physical activity or 1 hour and 15 minutes of vigorous activity each week.
* limiting alcohol to one drink per day
* quitting smoking if you smoke
* reducing stress
* following the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Eating Plan, which includes cutting down on salt and sodium and eating healthy foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products

If lifestyle changes do not lower your blood pressure, your doctor may prescribe medicine.

Remember to visit http://www.womenshealth.gov/ the site where all this information came from.

To Your Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
Remember to sign up for my “You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart” Newletter!

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Heart Disease and Women: Tips on How to Lower Your Risks

Monday, August 31st, 2009

Heart disease and women suffering from it is a serious health problem today. However, as we have learned in a previous post, there are things we as women can do to reduce the risk of developing this serious disease.

As reported previously, there are nine activities women can do to lower their risk of heart disease. They were:

We talked some about what steps you can take to lower your cholesterol. Today, we can briefly cover how to lower your blood pressure. How? By doing this according to Go for Red for Women. Their site is http://www.goredforwomen.org/understand_your_risks.aspx

Reduce High Blood Pressure!
High blood pressure (or hypertension) makes the heart work harder than normal. This makes both the heart and arteries more prone to injury. High blood pressure raises the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, kidney failure, eye damage, heart failure and atherosclerosis (fatty buildups in the arteries).

As a woman, you have an increased risk of developing high blood pressure if you are 20 pounds or more over a healthy weight (for your height and build), have a family history of high blood pressure, or have reached the age of menopause. More than 73% of women ages 65 to 74 have high blood pressure.

What’s more, your risk of developing high blood pressure increases during pregnancy, especially in the last trimester. If not treated, high blood pressure during pregnancy can endanger you and your baby. On the other hand, if you’re taking oral contraceptives, talk to your healthcare provider to evaluate the risks and benefits.

The lesson is to make sure you never develop high blood pressure. This in turn can reduce your risk of heart disease. The problem of heart disease and women  doesn’t have to be yours!

Monique Hawkins

540-858-2885 anytime

Skype: Moniqu371

mentormonique@gmail.com

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Heart disease and women : You Deserve To Have A Healthy Heart

Sunday, August 30th, 2009

There are many reports that show that women are just as susceptible as to heart disease as men.  As Goforred.com states at

http://www.goredforwomen.org/understand_your_risks.aspx:

“Your heart is in your hands. Heart disease and stroke are largely preventable if you work to lower your risks. It’s important to know that there are a range of factors that can raise your risk of heart disease and stroke. The more risk factors you have, the greater your chances of developing heart disease and having a heart attack or stroke.”

Knowing this, it is important to discover what the risks you can control as a woman. If you know what to do to reduce your risk for heart disease, you can reduce the risk of your developing the disease.

Risk Factors You Can Control or Treat

These risk factors can be controlled or treated with help from your healthcare professional. You can modify others by changing your lifestyle.

Here are some ways you can lower your cholesterol. In the upcoming posts, more detail will be given for each of the other factors you can control to prevent heart disease.
Lower Your Cholesterol!
Cholesterol is a soft, fat-like substance found in the blood and in all the body’s cells. A high cholesterol level is bad because cholesterol can build up with other substances in the inner walls of arteries. This buildup, called plaque, can narrow the arteries and reduce blood flow. Plaques that rupture can cause blood clots that can totally block blood flow in the artery. Clots also can break off and travel to another part of the body. If a clot blocks an artery that feeds the heart, it causes a heart attack. If it blocks an artery that feeds the brain, it causes a stroke.High blood cholesterol has no symptoms, and many people have it without knowing it. Find out what your cholesterol levels are, so you can lower them if you need to. If you need to lower your LDL (or “bad” cholesterol), work with your doctor to create a diet low in saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol, and an exercise plan.

If you’re overweight, work with your doctor to create a diet and exercise plan to help you lose the extra pounds. Diet and increased physical activity are important, but they may not get you to your goal. If these efforts don’t succeed, your doctor may also prescribe medication. Even if you need to take cholesterol-lowering drugs, a healthy diet and increased physical activity are still important.

Yes, heart disease and women is a serious issue. However, if  you take the necessary steps, you can dramatically reduce your risk to heart disease. After all, you deserve to have a healthy heart!

Until the next post,

Monique Hawkins

540-858-2885

Skype: Monique371

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