Posts Tagged ‘Bad Cholesterol’

Heart Patient Diet Plan – 8 Quick Tips for Lowering Your Risk for Heart Attack

Sunday, February 27th, 2011

The month of February is designated National Heart Month as it is traditionally full of images of beautiful Valentine Hearts! To celebrate a healthier heart, here are some quick tips for lowering your risk for heart attack, stroke and related cardiovascular disease. Working on incorporating as many of these tips into your lifestyle can help prevent damage to blood vessels and the heart while helping the cardiovascular system restore its health through healing. You will have the perfect heart patient diet plan.

1. Switch from soda to unsweetened green tea. Brew your own and carry it to work or play in a stainless steel water bottle. Green tea is loaded with heart healthy antioxidants that help prevent damage to blood vessels. Drinking just two cups a day has been shown to have heart protective benefits.

2. Take a relaxation break. Routine quiet times throughout the day can lower blood pressure and stress hormones that wreak havoc on the heart and cardiovascular system. Just pause and take a few deep breaths, or stretch a little and let your body slow down. Longer sessions of meditation or yoga have great benefits for the heart.

3. Eat healthy nuts. Not candied ones, but raw, natural nuts. Almonds, walnuts and many other nuts have been shown to lower LDL or bad cholesterol in the blood stream. Nuts are high in calories so don’t overdo it. Just a handful a day can help protect the heart with healthy fats.

4. Take a walk. Walking gets the body moving, pumping blood, pulling fresh air into the lungs. A brisk two-mile walk every day can help control weight, strengthen the heart, and improve circulation. Blood pressure lowers and Type 2 diabetes can even be controlled with daily walks. For a heart patient diet plan, walking and other types of exercises is a must.

5. Quit smoking. We all know the damage that smoking does to the arteries and lungs! If you can’t quit, cut down. Any reduction in smoking helps the heart.

6. Get plenty of sleep at night. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation damages the heart. A busy lifestyle can lead to five or fewer hours of sleep at night. This can more than double your risk for heart attacks. Aim for a full eight hours. Some people need even more. Sleep is a time for the body to restore itself. If you have trouble falling asleep, try deep breathing exercises just prior to turning out the lights. People who get adequate sleep have better weight control and overall health.

7. Start strength training. Adding strength training to an overall exercise routine strengthens the heart muscle and helps it beat with efficiency. Although aerobic exercise should be a part of a daily routine, strength training sessions can be two or three times a week.

8. Stop eating fast food. Loaded with saturated fat, sugar, salt and additives, most fast food is damaging to more than just the heart. Chronic diseases and obesity are more and more blamed on a diet full of highly process food and frequent stops at fast food restaurants.

Follow these 8 tips and you will not only have an excellent heart patient diet plan, and also have a healthier heart this February!

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885 anytime
Skype: Monique371

Heart Patient Diet-Top Ten Heart Healthy Foods for 2011

Sunday, January 9th, 2011

The best possible New Year’s resolution you can make is adding heart-healthy foods to your diet. Many of them require no disrupting dietary changes, many times it’s just a matter of adding nutritious, heart-healthy ingredients to foods you already prepare. Make it a goal to try five of these delicious foods that protect the heart to you meals each week. You’ll wonder why you’ve waited so long to enjoy healthy eating! You’ll be able to stop worrying about cholesterol, heart attacks, and you energy will increase as your whole body gets a boost from these nutritious foods! Here’s a list of the top foods that protect the heart and entire cardiovascular system.

1. Oatmeal is proven to lower cholesterol. Look for steel-cut oats that are full of fiber rather than overly sweetened and processed instant oats. Not only fiber but minerals and vitamins are found in oats. This grain is believed to help reduce the effects of stress, another factor that harms the heart.

2. Wild-caught Alaskan salmon is one of the most heart-healthy foods around. Full of omega-3 fatty acids, the wild salmon are virtually free of contaminants. Not so, the so called Atlantic salmon that are actually farmed fish feed colorants to brighten their flesh. Add grilled salmon to salads or serve as a main course. Omega-3 fatty acids increase HDL levels while lowering LDL, or bad cholesterol. They also reduce inflammation and lower blood pressure.

3. Berries are loaded with antioxidants that protect the cardiovascular system from free radical damage, a major factor in heart disease. Along with the antioxidants, berries have anti-inflammatory properties that help prevent artery problems. Add berries to vegetable or fruit salads, cereal, and homemade smoothies.

4. Almonds and walnuts are a great source of heart protective vitamin E, magnesium, and omega-3 fatty acids along with many other nutrients. Make a great trail mix of dried fruits and nuts, add to salads, or baked goods.

5. Legumes are just what the heart needs. Red, black, and kidney beans, chickpeas, and lentils are all excellent sources of soluble fiber and nutrients. Add them to soups and stews or salads.

6. Brown rice provides the B-complex vitamins that help the body deal with stress. It is also a great source of fiber and magnesium. Add some beans and you have a complete source of protein.

7. Green tea is another excellent source of heart-healthy antioxidants. Brew your own, adding just a touch of raw sugar or honey if you must sweeten it.

8. Tomatoes provide carotenes, lycopene, vitamin C, and other nutrients. Both cooked and fresh tomatoes are heart-healthy and can be added to salads, sandwiches, pasta, and soups and stews.

9. Spinach along with all fresh vegetables and fruits gives the body a full range of heart-healthy nutrients. Studies have shown that adding just three servings of vegetables to your diet significantly cuts the risk of heart disease. Eat your veggies raw in salads or add them to almost any recipe for a nutrient boost.

10. Olive oil has been used for millennia throughout the Mediterranean region. This monounsaturated fat lowers LDL cholesterol, reducing the risk for heart disease. Use this delicious oil liberally on salads, for cooking, or make a delicious dip with herbs and Parmesan cheese.

To Your Success,

Monique Hawkins

540-858-2885 anytime

Skype: Monique371

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Cardiovascular Heart Disease-Cholesterol and Heart Disease News

Sunday, November 21st, 2010
Movat's stain showing amyloid (brown) and fibr...
Image via Wikipedia

A Danish study just released found a connection between cholesterol deposits on the eyelids, a condition called xanthelasmata, and the risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attack. With heart disease being the number one killer of American men and women, the more we know how to determine who is at risk, the better we will be at fighting this disease.

The researchers found that the presence of the eyelid cholesterol deposits may be a useful predictor of future heart problems. The study tracked almost 13,000 patients and found that those with xanthelasmata were 51% more likely to be at risk for a heart attack and 40% more likely to suffer from ischemic heart disease, a condition where blood flow to the heart is reduced, generally due to atherosclerosis narrowing the heart’s blood vessels. Cholesterol is a major culprit in the development of atherosclerosis.

They also found that blood levels of cholesterol were not directly related to the presence of xanthelasmata, making these a possible better indicator of future heart health than the traditional method of looking at blood cholesterol levels.

So, what does this study mean to a heart healthy diet? Current recommendations are to keep dietary cholesterol under 300mg per day for those with no heart health risk factors. The American Heart Association advises only 200mg per day or less for those who already have high LDL, bad cholesterol.

A vegetarian diet, composed of only plant foods, is a guaranteed way to eliminate cholesterol from your diet. It does take a level of commitment that many don’t have, so simply increasing the amount of plant foods and reducing the amount of animal products helps decrease dietary cholesterol. A few examples of cholesterol amounts in common foods may help. An apple has no cholesterol, neither does a banana or a tomato.

At the other extreme, one whole cheesecake contains over 2000mg of cholesterol! Three ounces of tuna canned in water has about 48mg, and a cup of roasted turkey with a mix of light and dark meet has about 105mg of cholesterol. A slice of pumpkin pie has just over 100mg. Finding a good chart listing nutritional values of commonly eaten foods can help you judge how much cholesterol you are consuming each day.

Although dietary cholesterol intake alone sometimes isn’t enough to lower blood levels of cholesterol, watching dietary intake of cholesterol is an essential part of caring for your heart and cardiovascular system. Each individual reacts differently to dietary changes, some with rapid lowering of blood levels of cholesterol, while others have a much smaller drop. Altering your diet to meet the American Heart Association’s recommendations can only help your heart, even if your cholesterol doesn’t drop as fast as you would like.

This Danish study seems to indicate that there is more going on than just what can be found by measuring the blood levels. Take your heart health seriously and decrease the amount of cholesterol in your diet!

To Your Heart’s Health

Monique Hawkins

540-858-2885

mentormonique@gmail.com
P.S. Everybody knows that one way to have a healthy heart  is by keeping the arteries clear. I just found out how you can keep your arteries  clear with Vita Che, the natural Roto Rooter for your arteries, For more information, visit this online nutrition store at http://699456.shopvitamark.com
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Heart Patient Diet-Mediterranean Diet Improves Heart Function

Monday, October 4th, 2010
Mediterranean diet (close up)
Image by grobery via Flickr

What we have been hearing for years is the focus of a study recently released. A Mediterranean-style diet can be good for the heart, especially those who need a special heart patient diet. This research used twins who share identical genes to determine the effects of eating a Mediterranean diet as opposed to a typical Western-style diet. Because twins share the same genetic information, making them equally susceptible genetically to heart disease and other illnesses, they are a favorite of researches attempting to determine the effects of environmental factors like diet.

The researchers looked at just one indication of heart health, the heart rate variability (HRV). This is a measure of the interval between heartbeats; a reduced heart rate variability is a risk for coronary artery disease that may lead to sudden death. Put in layman’s terms, what they found was the Mediterranean diet improved the nervous system’s control of heart rate.

Eating a Mediterranean diet does not mean the typical American style Italian meal, pasta with heavy sauces, pizza, or high-fat lasagna. What it does mean is a diet rich in low saturated fats such as monounsaturated olive oil and an abundance of heart healthy foods like legumes, nuts, whole grains, fish, fruits, vegetables and moderate alcohol consumption. Finding authentic cookbooks that have recipes from Spain, Italy, Greece, and the Middle East can help determine what are really the foods most commonly eaten in this area. Exciting spices add rich flavors to relatively simple meals featuring a wide variety of vegetables, grains, fish and lean meats.

Many studies have shown a correlation between a Mediterranean diet and improved cardiovascular health. Olive oil is believed to lower LDL, bad cholesterol, levels in the blood while leaving HDL, good cholesterol, levels intact. Other studies have looked at the relationship between drinking red wine and heart health. All indicate that a diet high in
vegetables, fruits, fish, and olive oil have benefits to arteries, capillaries, the heart, cholesterol levels, blood pressure, lowering the risk for heart attacks and stroke.

This study was very specific, looking only at the difference in the HRV between the pairs of twins who participated. Almost all of the participants were white males and the researchers say that the results cannot be generalized to include women and other ethnic groups. Their purpose was to seek the exact biological mechanism by which diet effects heart health in an attempt to better understand the relationship between diet and cardiovascular health.

Overall, for those with heat problems who need a special heart patient diet, the Mediterranean diet is a great one to consider!

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” Newsletter!

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

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Heart Disease and Women-Good Fats and Bad Fats

Monday, May 10th, 2010

MIAMI - AUGUST 06:  Meaghan Cooligan bites int...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife
Most of us know that too much fat in our diets is bad for our health and heart. This is because too much fat can result in numerous health problems.

All fats are not bad. In fact, some fat is actually good for us and is required by our body for proper function. It can keep our heart healthy and help prevent heart disease.

Some of the uses that fat has in our body include:

1) Helps our body in the production of hormones

2) Insulates and cushions our body and internal organs

3) Keeps our skin and hair healthy

3) Regulates our blood pressure

4) Helps to improve brain function – especially in children

5) Provides us with energy

6) Lowers bad cholesterol levels

7) Alleviate symptoms of PMS and Menopause

8) Lowers our risk against heart disease and other cancers

9) Helps to transport certain vitamins through our bloodstream

Understanding the differences between fats is crucial to understand whether the fat content in a particular food will be helpful to you or harmful.

Polyunsaturated Fats

Polyunsaturated fats are a rich source of Vitamin E and essential fatty acids which we need but can’t be made by our bodies. These fats help to lower bad cholesterol levels, ease symptoms of PMS and aid in motor coordination. Polyunsaturated fats can be found in sunflower oil, safflower oil, pumpkin seeds, almonds, cashews, and sesame seeds.

Monounsaturated Fats

Like polyunsaturated fats, it is thought that monounsaturated oils also assist in the lowering of bad cholesterol levels. Additionally, a diet rich in monounsaturated fats have been associated with lower risks of cancer and increased longevity. Some foods that are rich in monounsaturated oils include: olive oil, Angola oil, sesame oil, avocados, macadamia nuts, brazil nuts, humus, mackerel, and lean meat.

Saturated Fats

A diet high is saturated fats have been proven to raise the levels of bad cholesterol and increase the risk of heart disease, cancer and obesity. These fats have been found in large quantities in such foods as: cheese, lard, cakes, chocolate, pies, pastry, cookies and meat.

Trans Fat

As bad as saturated fats are for our health, Trans fats are even worse. Trans fats are nothing more than saturated fats that have been chemically modified in the food manufacturing process. And not only do they increase the levels of bad cholesterol in the body but they also lower the good cholesterol levels as well. There is also a link between Trans fats and various forms of cancer and heart disease. Trans fat is sometimes listed on the food label; however is mostly found in margarine, cookies, cakes, puddings, fried foods, chocolate bars and in many fast foods. The bottom line is that eating these foods are terrible if we desire to have a healthy heart.

Don’t throw out all the fats. Include the ones that are good for you in your diet. Your heart will th ank you for it!

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” Newsletter!

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

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I love Go Casino Blackjack

Wednesday, April 7th, 2010

An Easy Way to Turn into a Good Blackjack Player

Discovering to engage in the game of casino Blackjack reasonably properly isn’t rocket science, regardless of what the dozens of books about the subject would have you believe.

Actively playing professionally for the expert level, as is accurate of any game, is indeed complex and takes many years to excellent. But any individual can grow to be a fantastic recreational player and use a fighting possibility towards the casino basically by discovering some very simple rules.

So, if you are worn out of throwing all your funds away on brain-numbing slot machines, study on!

Blackjack could be as rather simple or as complicated while you desire to make it. Utilizing greeting card counting and innovative methods, you’ll be able to in actual fact have a slight benefit above the house in specific problems. That is, if you are willing to spend numerous hours figuring out and practicing, plus numerous hours just about every year actively playing!

Only a handful of of us have this type of dedication.

The “beginner strategy” described under is created for some of those of you who’ve by no means played Blackjack before or have played only a few times (and are worn out of losing!). It requires that you study only four simple recommendations. You can still memorize these guidelines in 30 minutes or much less.

Properly, definitely, a lot of less!

You may have heard for the term “Blackjack important strategy”. The Blackjack primary system is usually a set of betting and hit/stand guidelines to statistically maximize your chances of winning. Whilst not complex, it’ll nevertheless consider some time and quite a bit of training to master and apply consistently.

For beginners, or rather occasional game enthusiasts who tend not to want to devote several hours practicing the Blackjack basic methodology, right here is really a Newbie System that won’t offer you a headache attempting to master.

When this is not going to provide you with the same small odds towards you since the accurate Blackjack Primary Scheme (about .5%), it generates a minimal 1.5% or so edge for the casino, still one particular of the best odds you’ll discover in any casino game.

You won’t shed your shirt and you will have a fighting possibility of winning if you experience a favorable run of charge cards.

It should only acquire a number of minutes to master these 4 effortless Blackjack suggestions, although you must training for a couple of hours to obtain comfy with them just before definitely playing in a casino game.

Very first, A SHORT AND Uncomplicated LESSON Over the GAME Suggestions

For those who currently know the way to engage in Blackjack, it is easy to skip this section. Otherwise, it’s going to only consider a number of minutes to find out the rather simple actively playing guidelines.

Greeting card VALUES

Tens and encounter credit cards be counted as 10, Aces be counted as possibly one or 11 (your preference), and all other cards have a very count equal to their face value.

THE Play

All game enthusiasts engage in against the supplier, not towards an individual an additional. Each player makes their guess as well as the company starts out by dealing two handmade cards to every single player and two homemade cards to himself. The dealer’s second greeting card is dealt face-up for all players to see. Should the trader carries a “Blackjack” (and Ace plus a ten or face card), he will immediately turn it above and instantly wins all bets, unless a player also incorporates a Blackjack, in which situation it really is a tie.

Then, beginning with all the player to the dealer’s left, every single player has the option of standing (not drawing any way more cards) or being dealt extra homemade cards. Play continues with that player till the player stands or “busts” (gets a card count that totals more than 21). Following all gamers have made their choices (or busted), the vendor draws increased cards to either reach a total of 17 or greater (when they have got to instantly stop), or bust. If the seller doesn’t bust, all remaining player’s hands having a higher card complete win, and many using a reduced card total get rid of.

One especially essential point to remember is this: you goal isn’t to have a greeting card count as close to 21 as achievable, but for getting closer to 21 than the vendor, without having intending around. The objective is to beat the trader! Therefore, your decisions on whether or not draw extra handmade cards are dependent about the value from the dealer’s up card.

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DOUBLING Straight down, SPLITTING PAIRS AND Insurance plan

You’ll find three unique bets it is easy to make right after the to start with two greeting cards are dealt. Doubling lower suggests you can actually double your unique gamble soon after you obtain your primary two cards. You then obtain one – and only a – further greeting card.

Splitting pairs implies that whenever you acquire any pair on your earliest two charge cards, you may split them into two separate hands and perform each one an individual independently (of course, you ought to location an additional wager equal for your primary gamble for the 2nd hands).

Getting insurance plan signifies that in case the dealer’s up card is definitely an Ace, you are able to wager an increased amount equal to half your authentic guess as “insurance” in situation the supplier incorporates a blackjack. If the dealer incorporates a blackjack, you drop your unique wager but your insurance cover wager is paid at a couple of to 1, so you break even.

“HARD HANDS” VERSUS “SOFT HANDS”

In order to understand and apply any Blackjack technique, you need to gain knowledge of the distinction in between “hard” and “soft” hands. This is simply because the strategies for many plays are several depending on whether or not you employ a smooth palm or perhaps a tricky hand.

A “soft” hands is only one that has an Ace which can be counted as 11 (don’t forget: Aces may be counted as possibly an individual or 11). For example, a hands composed of an Ace including a four is named a delicate 15.

A hand that possibly includes no Aces or the Ace is counted as the one is labeled as a “hard” palm. For example, a hands composed of the 6 and also a 9 is known as a really hard 15. A hands with an Ace and 4 is referred to as a delicate 15 (11 and also 4), but at any time you then draw an 8 you need to count the Ace as one instead of 11, giving you a very difficult 13 (since counting it as 11 would offer you a “bust” hands of 23).

4 Hassle-free Suggestions

Here are 4 Blackjack general technique guidelines that anybody can effortlessly don’t forget. Always adhere to them exactly and you’ll be playing greater then the majority of individuals who sit down at a blackjack table.

Despite the fact that these four rules do not represent “perfect” Blackjack standard technique, they offer you a superb deal of your advantage of a great standard technique and are extremely simple and easy to memorize.

1. If the dealer’s up card is 7 or bigger, continue to draw credit cards till you use a really difficult be counted of no less than 17 or higher, or a smooth be counted of 18 or larger.

2. If the dealer’s up greeting card is 6 or reduced, draw notes till you possess at least 12. Stop if you have 12 or better.

three. Double lower when your very first two notes total 10 or 11, In the event the dealer carries a 9 or lower.

4. Always split aces and eights. Don’t split any other pairs.

And which is it! These four easy principles will acquire you out with the “sucker” category, maintain you out of serious trouble and ensure that the property edge is all around one.5% or so – some of the most beneficial odds you will get in the casino.

The moment you’ve mastered this uncomplicated strategy, learn about the full Blackjack Simple Technique and you will whittle that house edge down to practically zero. Perfect luck!

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Heart Disease Myths-12 Dangerous Heart Disease Myths

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

I was browsing the internet to find some useful information about this post and came across a site which listed the top 12 heart disease myths. The site link is http://www.heartpoint.com/dozendangers.html

This information is presented by a practicing cardiologist who is the medical Director of HeartPoint. He stated he gets a lot of questions about heart disease. The doctor also said he was consistently surprised how few “facts” have engrained themselves deeply into “common knowledge”. The myths are not only wrong, but are often dangerously misleading to those who choose to believe them. Here are twelve of the most dangerous MYTHS the doctor runs into, and discussions about each one.

MYTH # 1:
Those medicines for cholesterol will mess up your liver. Don’t take them!

THE FACTS

The level and type of cholesterol in the blood remains one of the most important determinants of the risk of developing blockages of the arteries, and the ensuing complications of heart attacks, stroke, death, etc. A good diet, maintaining ideal body weight, and exercise can help reduce the risks, but some people will have high cholesterol and bad events despite following the guidelines.

We are fortunate to live in an age when we have agents that will help us reach desireable goals of both good and bad cholesterol. Statin agents (such as “Zocor”, “Mevacor”, “Pravachol”, “Baycol” and “Lipitor”) are potent agents which can lower even markedly elevated levels of bad cholesterol. Agents such as Lopid or Tricor (these are called “fibrate agents”) can lower triglycerides and raise good cholesterol. A naturally occuring vitamin (niacin) has now been developed in a long-acting formulation (“Niaspan”) which not only lowers bad cholesterol, lowers triglycerides, and raises good cholesterol, but lowers the amount of other toxic types of cholesterol such as “lipoprotein (a)”. There is abundant information from well-designed clinical trials to show that these agents not only make the levels of these substances better, but clearly lower the risk of having a heart attack, stroke, bypass surgery, etc.

Yes, like all other medicines, there may be side effects . . . but they are generally mild, can be caught early with blood tests, and are reversible.

If your cholesterol is high, particularly if you have other “risk factors” for having a heart attack or stroke, doesn’t it make more sense to lower your risks of averting these catastrophes by 30-45%? Don’t be scared off by a medicine that causes side effects which are mild and reversible and occur in a much lower number of people!

These medications are one of the most effective means to lower the risks of death and disability from disease of the blood vessels. Proper monitoring minimizes the low incidence of side effects.

CONCLUSION

These medications are one of the most effective means to lower the risks of death and disability from diseases of the blood vessels (atherosclerosis and hardening of the arteries). Proper monitoring minimizes the low incidence of side effects.

All of this great information about heart disease myths came from here:
http://www.heartpoint.com/myth1.html

Tomorrow we will uncover heart disease myth #2.

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 http://699456.shopvitamark.com

Women’s Heart Problems|The Top 5 Women’s Risk Signs

Thursday, January 21st, 2010

Today, more women are becoming aware of women’s heart problems and the serious risk many women face.

Since women’s heart problems are becoming more prevalent, it is important to be aware of risks that increase the probabilty of women developing heart disease. Here are the top 5 risk factors you as a woman needs to be aware of:

Heart Disease in Women – 5 Tips to Stay Alive!
By Marie Nolan

When it comes to heart disease, women don’t have it easy. Gender does make a difference when it comes to risk factors for coronary problems.

How much are you at risk? Here are 5 ways to tell if your heart will keep on beating…or if you’re facing danger.

Women and Cholesterol

We know that anyone with a total cholesterol level beyond 200 may be vulnerable to heart disease. Women, however, need to learn both their HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol) along with the total count.

(Compare this to men, who can usually just use the latter to see if they’re at risk.)

The Diabetes Connection

Diabetic women are also at greater risk for heart problems — by three to seven times. Compare this to diabetic men, who face only a two- to three-fold risk.

If you’re overweight, you’re at risk for both heart disease and diabetes — a double-whammy. But the good news is even a 10% weight loss lowers your risk for both conditions.

Signs of Heart Disease in Women

When it comes to signs of heart disease, women tend to have vague manifestations that may not be commonly associated with a heart problem. Men tend to have the more classic signs; and although women can as well, a female heart attack is often mistaken for other problems.

And because of that, symptoms like nausea, vomiting, extreme fatigue and heartburn tend to get an over-the-counter treatment instead of a checkup.

Are Women Dying More Now?

An interesting new study revealed that there’s an increasing number of women under 45 perishing from heart disease due to clogged arteries. Heart specialists attribute it to obesity plus other risk factors faced by women, such as lack of exercise and increased stress.

Reports indicate more women are now dying from a heart attack than men. Which might not be surprising if you think about things like the non-typical symptoms many women experience.

Keep Your Heart Safe!

Are you at a greater risk than you realize for a heart attack? Do you know how to lower those risks so that you don’t become a sad statistic?

You can get free information on the causes of coronary heart disease, along with tips to keep your heart safe, like knowing the foods that lower cholesterol.

Keep your heart safe!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Marie_Nolan

Ladies, please keep these risk factors in mind. Though women’s heart problems are on the rise, it doesn’t mean this has to be the case for 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

Women’s Heart Problems-Women, Hormones, and Heart Disease

Sunday, December 27th, 2009

Did you know that as a woman, estrogen provides crucial benefits that may help you prevent or at the very least delay, women’s heart problems?

Here is what Arthur Agatston, MD of everydayhealth.com has to say about this important health topic:

Women, Hormones, and Heart Disease
http://www.everydayhealth.com/heart-health/women-hormones-heart-disease.aspx

It may appear as though women don’t get heart disease because they tend to develop it later in life than men, largely due to the protective effects of natural estrogen. As long as women are having regular menstrual cycles, they enjoy a significant, although not absolute, level of protection. Naturally produced estrogen is linked with lower levels of LDL (“bad”) cholesterol and triglycerides and higher HDL (“good”) cholesterol. When a woman’s estrogen production plummets in her late forties to early fifties, she begins to lose her hormonal advantage.

Female hormones and heart disease.
For decades, experts advised women to take hormone replacement therapy (HRT) to protect their hearts as well as to relieve menopausal symptoms and strengthen their bones. Estrogen’s heart-protective properties looked so promising that nearly half of all postmenopausal female physicians took HRT, a rate higher than that of the general public, according to a 1997 study.

That all changed in 2002, when preliminary results from the Women’s Health Initiative, a 15-year research program, caused a dramatic turnaround in the thinking about HRT. Compared with women who did not take HRT, women who took Prempro, a combination of estrogen and progestin, had a startling 29 percent increase in deaths from heart disease, along with a 22 percent increase in total cardiovascular disease. These results stunned the health community and caused a great deal of confusion in the general public.

But as it turns out, the HRT story is probably far from over. A review and analysis of many of the published HRT studies recently appeared in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. The authors pointed out possible explanations for the disparities between the earlier observational HRT studies of women who had chosen, in consultation with their physicians, to be on HRT and the more recent controlled trials. One factor that appears to be important is the timing of when HRT is started. Those women who begin it later appear to be more likely to experience heart attacks than those who begin HRT soon after menopause. In addition, much of the increased risk seems to occur in the first year HRT is started and may be due to an increased tendency to develop blood clots in the first year of HRT use.

I wish I could give women more definitive advice on this subject, but at this time the research is just too inconsistent. Whether beginning HRT earlier after menopause and perhaps at lower dosages is safer is frankly unknown at this time. Therefore, any decision on whether to begin HRT should be made with your physician after careful review of the potential risks and benefits for your particular situation.

JoAnne’s Story
“I feel younger now than I did 2 years ago.”
I’m 85 years old, and I have pulmonary hypertension (high blood pressure in the arteries that supply the lungs). It can be very serious. When I went to see Dr. Agatston 2 years ago, I wasn’t doing well. I couldn’t walk across the room without getting out of breath. I was overweight and I felt terrible. He put me on a healthy diet and told me to get some exercise. Thanks to that, I’ve lost 40 pounds. I breathe a lot better now and I can do a lot more things. I like to walk, but I’m not a youngster. I go to the gym three times a week to walk on the treadmill and do the bike. I do as much as I can. When I get tired, I stop, but I feel much happier and I look much better.

feel younger now than I did 2 years ago. I used to eat a lot of sugar and a lot of junk. Now I don’t eat fried foods, and I don’t eat sugar. I don’t keep it in my house. If you visit me and you want sugar, you have to bring your own! Now I eat a lot of chicken soup with fresh vegetables. I take care of myself. I do my own shopping and my own cooking. I’m still driving. I never expected to make it to this age. But here I am, thanks to a great lifestyle.

I hope you benefited from this. Whatever you decide, you can always take steps each day to reduce the risk of developing women’s heart problems by eating right, exercising, and having the right mental attitude. When you do these this things, your heart will thank you for it!

Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
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Heart Disease Treatments-The Good and Bad of Cholesterol

Tuesday, November 24th, 2009

Cholesterol is a fat-like substance circulating in the blood. The body needs a certain amount to maintain cell membranes and perform other vital functions, but high levels lead to blocked arteries which can cause a heart attack. Cholesterol is carried in the blood by two types of protein: low density lipoproteins (LDL) which carry three-quarters of the cholesterol, and high density lipoproteins (HDL). Total blood cholesterol is measured, and separate measurements are taken of LDL (bad) cholesterol and HDL (good) cholesterol. High LDL and total cholesterol levels increase the risk of a heart attack, as does a low level of HDL (below 0.9 millimoles per litre). Doctors recommend keeping total cholesterol below 5.6 millimoles per litre, ideally around 5.2 millimoles per litre, and your HDL level as high as possible.

High cholesterol levels are often linked to a diet rich in the saturated fat found in animal foods such as beef, butter and whole-fat dairy products and in coconut oil, palm oil and hydrogenated oils used in processed foods. This theory is no longer widely accepted as cholesterol from food is poorly absorbed, and levels of blood cholesterol are affected mainly by the manufacture of cholesterol in the body, but the body’s production of cholesterol is certainly stimulated by high intakes of saturated fat. Excess weight, smoking and lack of exercise also contribute to high cholesterol levels. Genetic predisposition may also be a factor.

Along with dietary changed, Vitamins C and E and some effective herbal compounds can help control your cholesterol levels and reduce the risk of a heart attack. Try taking Vitamins E and C and garlic together. These are safe for long-term use even if you are taking a cholesterol-lowering prescription drug. Vitamin E does not lower your cholesterol directly, but raises levels of HDL cholesterol and prevents the first step in the build-up of coronary plaque. Vitamin C boosts the effectiveness of Vitamin E, and is also thought to increase the level of protective HDL cholesterol. Chromium helps to reduce “bad” cholesterol and raise “good” cholesterol in those people with diets high in refined foods. Diets lacking in cholesterol-reducing soluble fibre can benefit from the herb psyllium, or from oat bran, which has a similar action. Beta-sitosterol can be taken to reduce the absorption of cholesterol from food and from bile discharged by the liver into the intestine. Artichoke extract may prove to be an effective alternative to cholesterol-lowering medications.

If home remedies do not lower your total cholesterol sufficiently within two or three months, you may need to take prescription drugs. Conventional drugs reduce heart attack risk by up to 25%. Take regular exercise to raise your HDL level, and improve your diet by reducing saturated fats. Substitute oily fish for meat, eat high-fiber foods (grains, vegetables and fruit), and use olive oil and mono-unsaturated spreads in place of butter, and include soya protein (available as tofu and soya milk).

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