Posts Tagged ‘Cardiovascular Problems’

Obesity and Heart Disease-Knowing The Risks Can Keep You Healthy

Sunday, January 22nd, 2012
Picture of an Obese Teenager (146kg/322lb) wit...

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Everybody knows there is a strong correlation between obesity and heart disease. Too many people in our western society are obese which can resulting in not only skyrocketing healthcare costs, but also bring on numerous other diseases, including heart disease.

The good news is that by making a commitment to change your eating habits and lifestyle habits, you can reach a healthy weight again and keep heart disease at bay. Here is how:

Obesity And Heart Disease: Know The Risks
By Maureen Hamilton

With so many people suffering from obesity these days, particularly in developed nations, it is important to understand the health risks surrounding excess weight gain. Obesity wreaks havoc on your physical body, and damages your mental state of mind; the cardiovascular problems associated with obesity affect both your physiological and neurological capacities, leading to issues like diabetes, depression, and most notably, heart disease. Heart disease is one of the most common and dangerous risks that obesity poses to people, so let’s take a closer look at the relationship between the two and what you can do to avoid engaging your body in this destructive relationship.

Obesity is defined as being overweight to the extent that a person’s BMI (Body Mass Index) is over 30. Obesity can be caused by genetic factors, such as a thyroid disorder, but it is most commonly caused by overeating, a lack of exercise, and a diet rooted in sugar, trans fat, and processed food consumption. A person suffering from obesity will have high levels of cholesterol and high blood pressure, the leading factors that cause heart disease. Additionally, obesity can cause sudden chest pains caused by a decrease in oxygen to the heart (angina) and has been known to cause sudden death from heart problems or stroke without signs or symptoms.

As evidenced above, obesity and heart disease and related and cause a serious threat to your health. The good news is that you have the ability to reduce the risk of these adverse effects now if you take your life back into your own hands and start developing healthier habits. Even if you are obese, changing your lifestyle to include exercise and healthy eating will decrease your chance for heart attack, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol; losing just 10% of your body weight will reduce these risks and get your heart back on track.

While heart problems and obesity can be caused by genetic factors, the ball is really in your court in terms of avoiding these dangerous health problems. You have the power to shape and control your eating and exercise habits-it is up to you to choose a healthy lifestyle and then make the commitment to live it day by day. Visit a nutritionist, make a healthy eating plan, join a gym or make an exercise plan on your own. All of these things will contribute to your overall health and sense of well-being, and will help you to avoid health problems that can impede on your enjoyment of life or even cut it short.

About the Author

Maureen Hamilton is an Integrated Neuro-Linguistic Programming Master Practitioner, Hypnotherapist and a Demartini Method Facilitator. Maureen has previously worked in many areas of health in Australia as well as overseas. Her health background includes training in general and midwifery nursing, mental health and children’s behavioural issues (including the effects of emotional trauma especially in children). Maureen is very much involved in promoting and assisting people to obtain optimal health and is absolutely committed to helping people to stop smoking and/or lose weight naturally using Hypnosis and NLP.
If you would like to find out more, visit http://masteryourlifepower.com and and talk to Maureen about your requirements.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/6705864

Becoming healthy is up to you. Become educated and make the changes to fight obesity and avoid heart disease at all costs!

To Your Heart’s Health,
Monique Hawkins

Resources:

1. Most people love having clear arteries. Some people have just found out how to keep their heart arteries clear by taking a special vitamin called Vita Che. To learn more about this powerful supplement, visit Vita-Che-THE PRODUCT OF CHOICE FOR CIRCULATORY HEALTH! at http://tinyurl.com/d34e4yy

2. Forks Over Knives. Two doctors in this movie present, based on research, how going to a plant based diet can help reverse many diseases, including heart disease. To learn more http://www.forksoverknives.com/

3. The Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments of Congestive Heart Failure. You can make a difference. http://www.congestive-heart.com/

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Heart Disease Treatment Tips – Six Tips for Successful Heart Disease Prevention

Monday, May 16th, 2011

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in most of the developed world. The incidence of cardiovascular problems continues to rise. Some blame it on the stress of modern life, the abundance of unhealthy food, the pollution in the water we drink, and the air we breathe. While these problems all are have a part, many times it comes down to individual lifestyle choices that people make. Let’s look at 6 tips that will help put you in control of your health!

Tip #1: Listen to your doctor. If you have some developing risk factors for heart disease, your doctor will have suggestions for you to follow. You may be given medications as well. It is extremely important to take them as prescribed. High blood pressure, high cholesterol and other cardiovascular problems are all “silent.” You don’t feel anything until it is too late. There is no saying, “Well, I feel fine today so I’m not taking my medication.” You doctor knows what she/he is doing so follow their instructions. If you don’t like them and care to go the supplement route, you can always get another opinion.

Tip #2: Don’t miss appointments using the same faulty reasoning. Sure, you do feel fine, but it’s important to keep a close eye on any cardiovascular problems. You doctor will recommend tests or screenings that monitor your progress. Adjustments to medications are commonly done to make sure your progress is optimal. As cholesterol is normalized, you may be able to take less medicine and rely more on correct diet and exercise to control this heart disease risk factor.

Tip #3: Your doctor can’t do it all. It is up to you to make those recommended lifestyle changes and stick with them. Giving up old habits and starting new ones can be rough, so think of some create ways to encourage your success. Lots of people enjoy journaling or keeping a record book of their diet and exercise changes. An attractive journal with daily entries can help keep you motivated. When you see your progress, you are reminded of the reason why you are making these changes. This gives you have a sense of ownership of the situation.

Tip #4: If you check your blood pressure at home or while shopping, write it down in your journal too. Remember that blood pressure readings can vary greatly throughout the day. What you are looking for is a pattern or an average of your readings. Don’t take your blood pressure during times of stress or right after heavy exercise. Sit and relax for at least 15 minutes before taking you blood pressure. Your doctor will help you learn to take accurate readings.

Tip #5: Look for ways to increase your movement. A sedentary lifestyle is a major risk factor in heart disease. Do you really have to drive those two blocks to the post office? Try walking instead. Every little bit of extra movement gets the blood flowing and helps with circulation. Instead of emailing or calling your co-worker just down the hall, get up and take a walk down to communicate with them.

Tip #6: Stay current on the latest developments in heart research. New studies are reported in the media almost daily. Yes, you’ll find conflicting research, so be aware that what studies show today may change by next year. There is a great amount of useful material and new discoveries that can help you take care of your health and your heart.

All of these are simple heart disease prevention tips you can follow that will keep your heart healthy.

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

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Heart Patient Diet Plan – The Amazing Health Benefits of Fish Oil

Sunday, April 10th, 2011

If you are someone who has heart problems and are looking for a healthy heart patient diet plan, you really should consider including fish oil. Fish oil is a rich source of the essential fatty acids classified as the omega-3 fatty acids. Increasing numbers of research studies have found fish oil has a broad range of health benefits. One of the most studied of these benefits is fish oil’s positive effects on the cardiovascular system, helping reduce the risk of heart disease, heart attack and stroke.

Found naturally in fatty, cold-water fish, the omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to slow cellular aging, reduce the risk for some cancers, keep skin smooth and soft and prevent depression, all of these along with the heart benefits! To obtain the greatest benefits, eat several servings of cold water fish like wild salmon, sardines, mackerel and herring. Other fish contain omega-3s but not in the concentration that these fatty, cold water fish do. Pass on the Atlantic salmon, a farm raised fish that may contain antibiotics, hormones and pollutants. Tuna is a good source of omega-3s, but there is a concern with mercury contamination, so limit your tuna consumption to just several times per month.

A multitude of studies have shown that fish oil works in many ways to protect the heart, lowering the risk for heart attack and cardiovascular disease. People who eat a lot of fish are found to have a greater than 60 percent reduced risk for heart attacks. Native Alaskans have a traditional diet high in fats but a low incidence of heart disease, primarily due to the abundant omega-3s in their diet. Whether you eat a diet rich in fish or take supplements, you’ll reap the benefits of these essential fatty acids.

The omega-3s found in fish oil supplements act as anti-inflammatory agents reducing the inflammation that is implicated in cardiovascular problems along with many other chronic diseases. The high rates of inflammation seen in people with chronic diseases may partially be caused by an abundance of omega-6 fatty acids in the modern diet, no longer balanced by the same proportion of omega-3s. Omega-3s also reduce the triglyceride levels in the blood and help reduce high blood pressure.

Oil from fish acts to thin the blood, preventing blood platelet aggregation that can lead to clots. Blood clots are the cause of both heart attacks and strokes and other dangerous circulatory problems. Fish oil is known to stabilize the plaque that forms in arteries and causes atherosclerosis, a fatty buildup in the arteries. Arteriosclerosis has a similar effect, constricting the arteries, but the plaque is primarily a calcium buildup. Both problems narrow the arteries including the coronary arteries. When coronary arteries are blocked, the oxygen supply to the heart is cut off, resulting in a heart attack. Stabilizing the plaque is beneficial because unstable plaque deposits can break off forming clots that cause heart attacks and stroke.

Fish oil also has heart protective action by regulating the electrical currents that control the rhythm of the heart beat. Arrhythmia and tachycardia, the presence of irregularities in the heart beat and a too fast heart beat, can both cause heart attacks. Fish oil also slows the heart rate, making each beat more efficient.

These are just some of the many health benefits that fish oil with omega-3 fatty acids has. Studies continue discovering more advantages to adding fish to the diet. Although some people worry about heavy metal and other contamination of fish and their oil, a recent study done on over 50 brands of fish oil found virtually no contaminants in any of the oil. If you worry about pollutants, you may want to buy salmon oil made from wild caught Alaskan salmon, even though there appears to be no problem with other fish oils. Better yet, try krill oil, made from tiny sea crustaceans and free of contaminants. Eating fresh fish and taking a daily fish oil supplement will help protect your entire cardiovascular system!

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

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Obesity and Heart Disease – Why Being Overweight Can Damage Your Heart

Sunday, April 3rd, 2011

There is a strong correlation between obesity and heart disease. Study after study shows a strong connection between being overweight or obese and the development of cardiovascular disease. Not only is an increasing risk found as weight increases, but it has also been discovered that the distribution of the excess fat also plays a role in promoting heart disease.

Recent findings conclude that belly fat is the most dangerous when it comes to cardiovascular health although the mechanism for this is not entirely clear. The importance of understanding the links between heart disease and being overweight are more critical than ever as an estimated two-thirds of American adults are overweight.

Obesity increases the risk for high blood pressure which damages arteries and leads to atherosclerosis. Additionally, hypertension can cause damage to the kidneys and direct damage to the heart. There is even a link between obesity, sleep apnea and heart disease. Many health care professionals fear that the epidemic rise in obesity rates will lead to a huge increase in heart disease in the United States and much of the Western world.

One long known factor in heart health and obesity is that the increased volume of blood means the heart must work harder and harder to adequately pump blood through the body leading to eventual heart failure. But what hasn’t been known until recently is the link between belly fat and heart disease. One possible cause of the increased heart health risk is that an accumulation of belly fat can increase the risk for Type 2 diabetes, a known cause of heart disease. Other ideas are that belly fat actually secretes damaging hormones that cause cardiovascular problems.

And if that weren’t enough, recent research is also showing an increase in congestive heart failure. This happens when the left ventrical of the heart becomes enlarged as it is overworked. Stress to this part of the heart is associated with high blood pressure but is seen in obese people without hypertension. The end result of congestive heart disease is heart failure.

All of these studies are discoveries are quite frightening, but something can be done about it! Health professionals are recommending that adults maintain a Body Mass Index BMI of less than 25. You can figure your BMI by dividing your weight in kilograms by the square of your height in meters. Not as tricky as it sounds with metric unit conversion tools and calculators everywhere! So make it a goal to reach this BMI and maintain your weight at or below this level. Also keep in mind that the BMI alone says nothing about the distribution of fat on the body. Belly fat is the most dangerous as it attaches to internal organs and secretes hormones that can damage the body.

Losing weight is really quite simple if you remember the one simple rule that weight loss only occurs when calorie output exceeds calorie intake. There are no magic bullets, it takes managing your diet and increasing exercise. And do you know what? Eating a diet full of fruits, vegetables, whole grains and lean meats and fish and getting regular exercise has definitely been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease! Even small amounts of weight loss can reap heart-health benefits.

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

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Heart Disease Causes-The Link Between Your Teeth and Heart Health

Friday, March 11th, 2011

Recent research is finding a strong link between the health of your teeth, gums, and your cardiovascular health. Although this idea appears rather odd at first glance, there seems to be a connection between gum and tooth disease and the condition of your arteries. Studies have looked at the correlation of the presence of gingivitis, gum disease, and the presence of hardening of the arteries and found that in many patients, when one is present, so is the other.

Medical researchers don’t know yet whether one causes the other and if it does, which one causes the other. What they do know is that the presence of tooth and gum disease can be an early indicator of cardiovascular problems. It seems that the same bacteria may be responsible for both atherosclerosis, hardening of the arteries, and gum disease. How this connection works is the mystery.

One study looked at over 600 patients who had no identified heart problems and found that those with particular bacteria in the mouth were more likely to have atherosclerosis in the main artery in the neck. The carotid artery is the one that takes oxygenated blood to the brain. When it becomes clogged, strokes can occur.

Atherosclerosis develops when fatty deposits build up in the arteries, often accompanied by the same bacteria that cause problems in the mouth. When arteries become clogged, the blood supply to vital organs including the heart and brain occur. This can lead to heart attack or stroke.

Medical professionals are unsure of the process involved in plaque formation in the arteries but believe one culprit could be the body’s own reaction to the bacteria circulating in the blood stream. Inflammation is the body’s natural reaction to disease causing bacteria and infection. The swelling that accompanies inflammation may further decrease the diameter of the artery, slowing blood passage even more and possibly causing clots to form.

The big question raised by the resent research is whether better oral hygiene can help prevent cardiovascular problems. No one is sure of the answer, but the consensus is that taking better care of your mouth just may improve heart health, so why not increase flossing and tooth brushing?

While researchers are attempting to discover the mechanisms behind the connection between heart health and dental health, it certainly can’t hurt to add good dental hygiene to your daily routine. Don’t forget to address heart healthy diet and exercise; brushing your teeth doesn’t mean you can revert to eating a fast food diet while sitting on the couch all day!

Eating right and increasing movement in your daily routine also help your immune system function optimally. This may be one of the keys to reducing the bacteria population that can damage your gums, teeth and cardiovascular system.

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

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Heart Disease Diet – Why Organic Foods May Be Key to Heart Health

Sunday, January 2nd, 2011
Organic vegetables at a farmers' market in Arg...
Image via Wikipedia

Although few conclusive studies have been done, early research points to direct effects of environmental chemicals on many aspects of human health. One definite link that has been established is between obesity rates and the prevalence of endocrine disrupting chemicals in the environment. These range from various plastics to many agrochemicals. Obesity is a major factor in chronic diseases from cardiovascular problems to cancer.

Although Western science tends to isolate organs in their scientific research, when one organ or body system is affected, there is a chain reaction in the body as each system supports the others. If environmental chemicals affect the kidneys or lungs, the effect will eventually be noticed in the disruptions of the heart and circulatory system.

One study noted that pesticides damage the vascular system, may increase platelet aggregation, may contribute to plaque formation in the arteries, cause inflammatory responses throughout the cardiovascular system, damage the heart and blood vessel tissues, and increase hypertension by interfering with the functioning of the kidney.

How can you avoid overexposure to heart damaging pesticides? One simple method is to purchase as much produce, dairy, and meat grown by organic methods that never use agrochemicals. The less processed the food the better too; try to buy only fresh fruits, vegetables, dairy, and meats.

Not everyone has ready access to organic foods though, and not all foods need to be purchased organically. Certain fruits and vegetables grown commercially are relatively free of pesticides. These include asparagus, onions, bananas, pineapples and others. Some of those that have the highest levels and should thus be purchased organically include apples, strawberries, cherries, spinach, potatoes, and grapes. Keep in mind that the juices made from these fruits and vegetables should also be organic. Some of the most heart- healthy foods are some of the biggest offenders unfortunately, but it is still advised that eating a diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables far outweighs the risks.

Another factor to remember is many of the agricultural chemicals become concentrated in the fat cells of animals. Human and animals both accumulate pesticides in fatty tissues because many of the pesticides are fat soluble. This also makes them hard to remove from fruits and vegetables with just water. If you can’t buy organic produce, invest in a good produce wash designed to remove pesticide residues. Fatty meats and dairy that aren’t organic can have high levels of damaging chemicals, in addition to high levels of cholesterol and saturated fats.

Our bodies are exceedingly complex; science doesn’t yet understand many of the intricate functions that go on every minute of your life. What they are beginning to discover though, is that man-made chemicals, ones that humans have only been exposed to in the last century, may be causing incredible damage to our bodies, especially the cardiovascular system. So, be always careful to watch what you eat!

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