Posts Tagged ‘Prevention Tip’

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip-3 Easy Ways to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease

Sunday, January 8th, 2012

Sometimes, it seems people are not paying much attention to the heart disease prevention tips which are readily available. I say this because coronary heart disease is running rampant in our western society. Millions die from this disease each year. This is unfortunate because heart disease is preventable if people are willing to make simple lifestyle changes.

Following are 3 easy heart prevention tips you can begin to use now to ensure you will have a healthy heart for life!

To Your Heart’s Health,
Monique Hawkins

P.S. Some people also like 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

Coronary Artery Disease Prevention Tips
By John L. Phillip

Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) results in nearly 1 million deaths each year and millions more are living with this disease and the limitations which lead to an early demise. Coronary Artery Disease is avoidable and reversible by following a healthy diet and supplementing with targeted nutraceuticals. Amazingly, this information has been understood and implemented with demonstrated results for decades and yet CAD remains the leading cause of death in the US today.

Coronary Artery Disease is Caused by Poor Lifestyle Decisions

Coronary Artery Disease, or atherosclerosis is a progressive narrowing and hardening of the arteries which provide blood to the heart. Over the course of years and decades of poor dietary choices, external stress, lack of exercise and environmental pollutants, the normally flexible arteries begin to develop small cracks within the artery lining.

In an attempt to prevent blood from leaking through the cracks, the body uses its own patching mixture of minerals and oxidized fats to prevent blood loss. Cholesterol is essential for good health, and limiting production in the body by taking statins only leads to further health issues. Vibrant health is attained through healthy diet, exercise and stress reduction principles.

Eat a Healthy Diet to Prevent and Reverse Coronary Plaque

Following the Standard American Diet (SAD) which is packed with highly refined wheat, corn and sugar based carbohydrates leads directly to systemic inflammation throughout the body and micro-cracks in the lining of the arteries. High triglycerides and the plaque promoting small, dense LDL cholesterol particles in the blood are the end result.

The key to plaque prevention is to eat plenty of raw green leafy vegetables, seeds, nuts, healthy fats and lean proteins. Eliminate all processed, refined carbohydrates, sugars, wheat and corn products. This dietary plan will reduce the inflammation and high triglyceride levels which are the main cause of CAD, while halting further plaque progression in the arteries.

Nobel Prize Winning Chemist Discovers Plaque Reversal Cocktail

Dr. Linus Pauling was a chemist and winner of multiple Nobel Prize awards, and is best known for his work with Vitamin C. Pauling furthered his work to include two amino acids which work alongside Vitamin C, and are essential in the fight to prevent and treat CAD. Pauling found that Lysine and Proline, combined with Vitamin C creates a sticky substance which attaches to the foamy plaque deposits, ushering the deadly substance out of the coronary arteries.

This combination is known as the Pauling Therapy, and is currently used successfully by many people to eradicate plaque and reduce the incidence of coronary artery disease. Additionally, supplements such as niacin, Vitamin D and green tea extracts have therapeutic effects which cause regression of the plaque that leads to hardened arteries.

Coronary Artery Disease is devastating in terms of disability, loss of productive years and the burden placed on an already failing health system. We understand the root cause of this disease and also the proven natural therapy to prevent, halt and treat this affliction which many consider a death sentence. A proper diet which favors raw vegetables, nuts, seeds and lean proteins instead of the typical highly processed carbohydrate fare consumed my most people will produce life altering results. Further evidence shows that a regimen of specially targeted supplements can compliment a healthy lifestyle, leading to Coronary Artery Disease reversal and a lengthened lifespan.

Read More Expert Advice on Diet, Health and Nutrition

John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author who writes regularly on the cutting edge use of diet, lifestyle modifications and targeted supplementation to enhance and improve the quality and length of life. Visit My Optimal Health Resource at myoptimalhealthresource.blogspot.com to continue reading the latest health news updates.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_L._Phillip

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip-4 Easy Steps to Cut Heart Disease Risk

Monday, December 26th, 2011

Almost one million people develop heart disease each year. Many die from it. The good news is there are heart disease prevention tips you can follow to decrease your risk of developing this deadly disease. Here are 4 easy step you can begin to follow now to cut heart disease by 80%.

Four Steps Cut Heart Disease Risk by Eighty Percent
By John L. Phillip

Nearly one million people fall victim to heart disease every year. The vast majority of these people are unaware that this devastating condition can be prevented with a natural approach to diet. Researchers from the European EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition) study have developed a plan that can reduce the risk of coronary artery disease by 81%.

Medical researchers understand that heart disease begins early in life and progresses to threaten life as we approach our senior years. The good news is that heart disease can be controlled and reversed by making simple changes to lifestyle and diet.

Drugs Can’t Fix Heart Disease

The typical patient diagnosed with heart disease is placed on a low fat diet and given a handful of medications including a statin. Statins cause muscle pain in 40% of those who take them and information from a study published in The Lancet journal confirms that this class of medication causes diabetes. Volumes of research confirm that high cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease, yet it remains a popular target of treatment because it’s easy to lower with drugs. Similarly, a low fat diet perpetuates and worsens heart disease as it triggers continual blood sugar surges and high triglycerides.

Correcting the Real Cause of Heart Disease

The results of the EPIC study published in the Archives of Internal Medicine demonstrate that changes in diet could lower the risk of a heart attack by 81% through inflammation reduction and lowering blood pressure. The study highlighted four dietary factors that result in heart disease.

Refined Carbohydrates, Grains and Sugar: Processed foods have become a staple in the typical diet. These foods are loaded with simple carbs that quickly break down to glucose and cause rapid blood sugar spikes. This eventually leads to insulin resistance and damages the delicate inner endothelial lining of the coronary arteries. Cut all breads, pasta, rice, sugary treats and any foods made with wheat (including whole grain) or corn.

Excess Omega-6 Vegetable Oils: Vegetable oils are stable at room temperature and are used in virtually all baked and processed foods to enhance flavor and increase shelf life. Excess amounts of vegetable fats trigger the release of inflammatory chemical messengers that increase oxidative stress and damage the vascular system. Don`t use vegetable oils for cooking and avoid all fried foods and corn fed meats.

Omega-3 Fat Deficiency: Our modern diet is virtually void of health-sustaining Omega-3 fats that have been a part of the human diet for countless generations. The proper ratio of Omega-6 to Omega-3 fats is ideally 1:1. Experts agree that many people are closer to a 20:1 ratio. This creates an imbalance and promotes systemic inflammation. Include tuna, salmon, sardines, nuts and seeds to balance your fat ratio or include a high potency fish oil supplement.

Oxidative Stress: The normal course of breathing, eating and moving generates free radicals that can damage our genetic structure and cause LDL cholesterol to become oxidized. We can’t avoid the process entirely but we can include healthy quantities of fresh vegetables, berries and targeted supplements to negate the effects of free radicals on our heart and other organs.

Heart disease is the leading killer of people in western society. Most of these deaths can be prevented by following a natural diet and adopting a healthy lifestyle. Reduce your risk of death from heart disease by making these changes today and live to pass the word to your great grandchildren.

Read More Expert Advice on Diet, Health and Nutrition, and Download your Free Weight Loss EBook!

John Phillip is a Health Researcher and Author of ‘Your Healthy Weight Loss Plan’, a comprehensive EBook explaining how to use Diet, Exercise and Targeted Supplementation to naturally achieve your healthy Weight Loss goal. Visit http://myoptimalhealthresource.blogspot.com/ to download your Free 48 page copy.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=John_L._Phillip

These are easy heart disease prevention tips you can follow each day to cut your risk of heart disease by a whopping 80%. Some people also like to keep their 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

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip-The Importance of Understanding Cholesterol

Monday, December 19th, 2011
Olive oil from Imperia in Liguria, Italy.

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There are many people who struggle with heart disease in our western society. The good news is there are many heart disease prevention tips you can incorporate in your life. Today’s heart disease prevention tip is all about cholesterol, the role it plays in your body, and problems which can develop when its in the excess.

Heart Disease – Number 1 Prevention Tip – Understanding Cholesterol
By Beverly Batdorf

Heart disease is the number one killer in America today. Yet prior to the 20th century, heart disease was hardly heard of. What has caused the difference? In this article, I’d like to share with you what I believe to be the #1 tip for preventing heart disease – it is UNDERSTANDING CHOLESTEROL. More specifically, learning what the role of cholesterol is in your body, understanding what it is that raises your cholesterol levels, and finally what you can do about it. When you learn these three things, you will better understand why heart disease is a 20/21st century problem that CAN be avoided.

Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your blood that is necessary for your body to function properly. It acts as a lubricant as well as a patching agent when the arterial walls become weak or flabby. Healthy cholesterol is also an anti-oxidant which helps rid your body of free radicals. In your digestive tract, cholesterol is a friend, not a foe. When cholesterol levels get low, the liver uses fats to make its own cholesterol so that your bloodstream has what it needs. There is actually a greater hazard having too little cholesterol than too much. Healthy cholesterol, that is.

So what makes cholesterol unhealthy? One very significant factor is the type of fats you eat. Your body can make healthy cholesterol out of healthy fats, but it cannot make healthy cholesterol out of unhealthy fats. So what constitutes a healthy fat?

Fats as they are found in nature are generally ‘healthy’. Fats that have been interfered with, particularly with high heat, are unhealthy. Most vegetable oils that are consumed today are processed using high heat. The heat makes the chemical bonds in the fats reactive, and they consequently change their molecular structure. When this type of reaction takes place, free radicals are formed.

In order to insure that you ingest the right kinds of fats, there are two things to keep in mind. The first is to make sure the oils you use are cold-pressed. This works as long as you are not going to heat the oil yourself. Unsaturated fats and oils as a rule break down when heated. So if you want to make a salad dressing, for example, a cold-pressed oil would be fine. If you need to heat your oil, as you would for baking, you would be better off buying a saturated oil such as coconut oil. Contrary to popular opinion, saturated oil is better to use in baking because the bonds in saturated oils are tight, and do not come apart as readily when exposed to high heat. In their chemical makeup, saturated oils have a full or complete saturation of electrons. Their outer rings are filled, and consequently do not react as quickly.

Be aware that deep frying gives you a double dosage of unhealthy fats. Most deep frying uses either polyunsaturated oils that are heat-processed, or hydrogenated oils, which have also been treated, not only with high heat, but high pressure and chemicals as well. Not only are the oils used bad to begin with, but when they are combined with starches in the deep frying process, the additional heat makes them even more radical.

These fats taken into your bodies do not make good cholesterol. In fact, they create free radicals which call on the good cholesterol to counteract it. These altered fats are also not the kind of fat that the liver needs to create more good cholesterol. The result of consuming these altered fats is a bloodstream that is depleted of good cholesterol, and abounding in bad cholesterol.

What can you do about it? Stop feeding your body the fats that will ultimately kill it. Use cold-pressed oils for your salad dressings, and saturated oils for baking. Contrary to public opinion, the saturated oils will not clog up your arteries. The Eskimos used to live on whale blubber, and never had an issue with heart disease until they were influenced to eat a more ‘civilized’ diet. As one notable physician has stated, “overeating of fats and oils, as long as they are in their natural state, cannot cause arterial disease.” Over-heated, and over-processed oils, however, can, and will.

Stay informed; understand how your heart and body work and how they work well! http://www.haveahealthyheartnow.com

I inform people about some of the myths that are circulating concerning food as it relates to health, and provide suggestions that will dramatically increase the potential for living disease free. Married for 33 years, I’m a mother of five, and have six grand-daughters.
http://haveahealthyheartnow.com

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

As you can see, it is very important to understand cholesterol and the role it plays in the body. It also important to understand what kinds of fats you should be consuming. If you follow the heart disease prevention tip outlined here, you should be able to keep your heart healthy!

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip-The Link Between Sugar and Heart Disease

Sunday, December 4th, 2011
This is a bowl of brown sugar.

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Today’s heart disease prevention tip has to do with how damaging sugar can be to the heart. I am one who likes sugar, sometimes too much of it! If you are like me, then perhaps we need a wake up call about the importance of not over indulging with this product which can be found in so many foods. The following articles discuses the hidden dangers of sugar many of us may not be aware of.

Heart Disease Prevention Tip Number 2 – The Sugar/Heart Connection
By Beverly Batdorf

Does heart disease run in your family? Have you already been warned by your doctor to cut out fats and to get more exercise? Is your blood pressure high? How about your cholesterol, triglycerides, and blood sugar levels? If these indicators are high, you are probably at risk for heart disease. Imagine what it would be like to return your heart to the healthy condition it was in 20, 30, or 40 years ago. You can, but first you need to learn what sugar is, and then learn how sugar affects triglycerides, blood pressure, blood sugar levels, and lastly, cholesterol.

Before connecting the dots between heart disease and sugar, it is helpful to understand how sugar is made. Sugar is a substance made by extracting ALL the food elements from either sugar cane or sugar beets, which includes all the vital vitamins, minerals, fats, amino acids, protein, enzymes, and fiber. What is left is a chemical compound known to scientists as C12H22O11-sugar. It is interesting to note that cocaine is made in a similar fashion. It is also an extracted substance, taken from the coca plant – its chemical formula is C17H21NO4. Heroine, the extracted salt of morphine, is likewise formed by taking the opium plant, isolating first the morphine, and then treating the morphine with chemicals and water. Its formula is C17H17NO. All three of these substances are taken from food sources, but technically they are not foods. They are pure chemical compounds.

Because sugar has been stripped of all food elements, it is not recognized by the body as a food. Consequently, in order to be metabolized, it must steal vitamins and minerals from other parts of the body. Sugar is much worse than mere ‘empty calories’, because it depletes the body of essential nutrients, causing deficiencies. Calcium is taken from bones and teeth, and other vital minerals such as potassium, sodium, and magnesium are robbed also. Unless sufficiently replenished, the body eventually becomes depleted of the essential vitamins and minerals it needs to work effectually. The result is a depleted glandular system, sluggish organs, and weak blood.

One organ that is particularly affected by the intake of sugar is the liver. Sugar is stored in the liver in the form of glucose. When sugar is consumed in excess, the liver is strained, and expands like a balloon. When it is filled to capacity, it sends the excess glucose back to the bloodstream in the form of fatty acids or triglycerides. These fatty acids accumulate in the butt, thighs, and other noticeable places, and also find residence in organs such as the heart and kidneys. According to William Duffy in ‘Sugar Blues‘, these then (the heart and kidneys) “begin to slow down; finally their tissues degenerate and turn to fat. The whole body is affected by their reduced ability and abnormal blood pressure is created.”

Blood sugar problems set in when the body can no longer metabolize sugar effectively. In a state of health, the amount of glucose released into the bloodstream by the liver is regulated by the pancreas. Insulin is secreted to balance the sugar levels if they get too high. The problem arises when sugar is consumed too much and too often, and the body can no longer regulate and balance the amount of glucose in the blood. This results in either diabetes or hypoglycemia, both caused by excessive sugar intake. In the case of the diabetic, the intake of sugar causes an overload of glucose in the blood, which much be brought into balance by insulin. The injection of insulin causes a reaction just as strong in the other direction by dropping the levels of glucose in the blood. This constant barrage on the body is like being the object in the middle of a tug-of-war. First one way, and then the other, the object is pulled and dragged back and forth until it is worn out. So too will your adrenal glands become worn out if they have to constantly work to maintain this balance. Unless the diabetic and hypoglycemic restrict their intake of refined carbohydrates, especially sugar, their bodies will continue to wear down, and heart disease will be only a matter of time.

High cholesterol is another indicator of heart disease, and also seems to be affected by sugar intake. In studies done by the American Medical Association, results showed that good cholesterol levels (HDL cholesterol) in those who consume 25% of their daily intake from sugar are only 1/3 as high as those who only consume an intake of 5% sugar. Even though cholesterol is manufactured from fats and not from sugar (as triglycerides are), there still is an apparent correlation between sugar and cholesterol. The alarming statistic is that the average American adult now consumes 22 tsp. of sugar /day. Average consumption for teenage boys is 34 tsp. /day. This is up to seven times the amount recommended by the American Heart Association, and is equivalent to being 25% or more of their daily average caloric intake.

Sugar depletes and deteriorates the body because it is not a natural food the body recognizes. It is a toxin, or poison. Dr.Henry Beiler believed that heart damage results from a toxic condition; i.e. – from a chemical disturbance of the body. He also said that “where the heart is not too badly damaged, recovery always follows after the chemical disturbance is removed.” Lowering sugar intake is a major step in that direction. Continuing a diet high in refined sugar is like playing with a time bomb that’s been set. Refined sugar is a NOT a food substance, and careless consumption will be costly.

Check my website, not only more for more information, but also for effective help for restoring the body back to a healthy condition. Live longer, and live well! http://www.haveahealthyheartnow.com

I inform people about some of the myths that are circulating concerning food as it relates to health, and provide suggestions that will dramatically increase the potential for living disease free. I am a wife, mother of five, and grandmother of six grand-daughters.

After reading this, I hope you have a better understanding of why sugar is a substance we should limit in our diets. This heart disease prevention tip may be tough for some to follow, but if one desires to have a healthy heart, it is best to carefully monitor their sugar intake.

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip-Don’t Drink That!

Sunday, September 18th, 2011
Sodas and soft drinks at a Supermarket

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I was recently reading an article from the August 15, 2011 Bottom Line magazine. While the article covered a lot of different health related tips, it also included some great advice for those people who are looking to follow heart disease prevention tips. The title was “Don’t Drink That! Fruit Juices and Soft Drinks Can Lead to Arthritis, Bone Fractures, and Cancer.” by Dr. Nancy Appleton, Ph.D, a nutritional consultant in San Diego.

The article discussed how everybody knows soda isn’t good for you, but many of us may not realize just how bad they truly are. To make matters worse, fruit juice is almost as bad.

The American Heart Association has concluded that the safe upper limit of daily added sugar, which includes all of the sugar that isn’t naturally present in foods, is 6 teaspoons for women and 9 for men. Most soft drinks, like a 12 ounce can of Pepsi has about 10 teaspoons of sugar. Bottled teas, sports drinks contain almost the same amount. Fruit juice, including fresh apple, grape, and orange juice, contains about 10 teaspoons of sugar in a 12 ounce bottle. Even though it is natural, it still will upset your body chemistry.

Diet sodas doesn’t fare much better. When it comes to heart disease, a presentation at the International Stroke Conference in Los Angeles looked at information from more than 2,500 participants. The researchers found that those who drank a diet soda daily were 61% more likely to suffer a cardio-vascular event, such as a heart attack or stroke, that those who didn’t drink such beverages.

While the researchers were not sure of the reasons for this, there is enough information about sugar substitutes (such as aspartame and saccharin) to make them a good guess. The phosphoric acid ( which disrupts mineral balance) could be a likely candidate cause, too.

The bottom line is this: if you want to have a healthy heart and prevent heart disease, one of the ways to do so is to avoid sodas, diet sodas, fruit juices, and sports drinks. Instead, consume lemon water, coconut water, and use plant-based stevia as a non-caloric sweetner.

To Your Optimal Health,
Monique Hawkins

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip-Use These Top 10 Heart Helpers

Monday, July 25th, 2011
A jar of honey with honey dipper

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Heart disease is an ever growing problem in our western society. However, if you follow these top 10 heart disease prevention tips, you will be well on your way to having a healthy heart for life!

Tip #1: Use healing honey. Did you know that just taking 2 teaspoons of raw honey a day is thought by many in the nutrition field to be the best tonic for strengthening your heart? Plus, it’s good for general physical repair. Just take it straight or in a glass of water.

Tip #2: Take a brisk walk everyday. When I say brisk walking, I mean doing a 20 minute mile (three miles an hour). Recent studies have shown that the risk of a heart attack can be decreased by 30-40% for women who walked briskly at least 3 hours a week. Guys, I’m sure you would get the similar results!

Tip #3: Supplement with vitamin b15. Dr. Richard A. Passwater who is a renowned research biochemist, has found this vitamin speeds up the healing of scar tissue around the heart and can reduce some of the side effects of heart medications. He suggest a patient take 150 mg a day along with a B-complex vitamin.

Tip #4: Add hawthorn berries to your diet. This is especially good for those following a heart patient diet. What the berries do is normalize blood pressure by regulating the heart action. In turn, this improves heart valve defects, helps people with a lot of stress, strengthens weakened heart muscles, and can help prevent atherosclerosis.

Tip #5: Use Omega 3‘s Daily. These fatty acids affects many factors linked to cardiovascular disease. For instance, they help to lower cholesterol levels and triglycerides, inhibit excessive platelet aggregation, etc. You can find these in many foods such as salmon, mackerel, and Flaxseed oil.

Tip #6: Eat wheat germ every day. It is believed this helps reduce hardening of the arteries.

Tip #7: Take a garlic supplement everyday. This will protect and strengthen the heart and is a natural blood thinner.

Tip #8: Eat onions daily. Many Russian scientists believe that these vegetable have many benefits for those with heart problems.

Tip #9: Drink lemon juice every day. Just drink half of freshly squeezed juice in a cup of warm water. This is not only heart healthy, but will help other parts of your body as well.

Tip #10: Rev up your circulation with cayenne. Just take 1/8 of a teaspoon in a cup of water, mix, and drink. This is great for the heart since cayenne if reputed to be the purest herbal stimulant.

Well, we have covered 10 easy actions you can take each day to have a healthy heart. If you follow these heart disease prevention tips, your heart will thank you for it!

To Your Success,

Monique

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip-Why to Watch the Pop

Sunday, June 19th, 2011
Diet Coke Products

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Did you know that one of the easiest heart disease prevention tip to follow is to just “watch the pop”? You are probably wondering, what is that!

Well, in the June 2011 issue of the magazine, “Women’s Health“, there was a blurb on diet drinks. Many of us think that it is good to use diet sodas because they are zero calories and sugar. However, new research has found something interesting.

Those who drink one or more servings of diet soda a day were a whopping 48% more likely to suffer from vascular problems like a heart attack or stroke than those who steer clear of them.

How in the world can diet soda cause heart problems? As it turns out, it’s because diet soda consumers think of it as a healthier beverage. This false mindset in turn causes them to end up eating way too much  of other foods such as fat, sugar, and salt. Hannah Gardener, Sc.D was the lead researcher in this study.

You probably don’t need to totally can the diet sodas, however. The best heart disease prevention tip I can give you is to just make sure to make better heart healthy food choices during the day.

Your heart will be better for it!

To Your Heart’s Health,

Monique Hawkins

 

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip:Why Nuts Are Good for Heart

Sunday, May 29th, 2011

Today’s heart disease prevention tip has to do with nuts and how you should include them in your diet.

This came from a recent article in the May 15, 2011 issue of “Bottom Line Personal.” It says:

” Nuts are among the most potent remedies for heart health. Research shows that people who eat up to five times a week can reduce their risk for heart disease by 30% to 50%, according to the Harvard Nurses’ Health Study and other medical trials. People who eat nuts regularly have better heart health even when they eat unhealthy amounts of saturated fat or consume few fruits or vegetable.

The omega-3 fatty acids in nuts reduce arterial inflammation and the risk for clots. Nuts also contain oleic acid which improves cholesterol.

One small handful of nuts daily is good. Any kind of nut is fine, (including peanuts, which actually aren’t a nut), roasted or raw (no salt.)”

The bottom line, make sure you include nuts as part of a heart healthy diet plan everyday. Your heart will greatly benefit from it!

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

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip – How Pets Can Help Your Heart Stay Healthy

Sunday, March 20th, 2011

There are many heart disease tips out there today. But, are you aware of all the health benefits pets can provide their owners? Numerous studies have shown the pets bring lots of benefits to their owners including stress reduction, increased survival rates after heart attacks and the ability to improve blood pressure levels.

One study showed that of those who had experienced a heart attack, a significant difference in mortality rates could be seen between the groups who owned pets and those who didn’t. Pet owners had only a six percent rate of mortality in the year after suffering a heart attack while 28 percent of non-pet owners died within a year. Pretty astonishing!

A study concerning dental patients found that spending time watching the almost hypnotic movements of aquarium fish had real benefits. Not only did the patients tend to relax, they also had a drop in blood pressure. The same results have been found when people pet dogs.

Having an aquarium or a pet dog provides numerous opportunities during every day to spend a few minutes with your full attention on your pets, bringing your blood pressure down. It is well known that high blood pressure can be a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease including heart attacks and strokes. It can also lead to kidney function and vision loss. Although medications may be required, other methods of reducing blood pressure enhance the effects produced by medications alone.

Pets provide a type of emotional support that can be very healing. They love unconditionally and bring out their owners’ sense of caring for another being, focusing their attention and love on their wonderful companion. This relationship with a pet gives a sense of emotional safety and wellbeing that really can help healing begin.

Although it doe not seem to matter what type of pet a person has, birds, fish, reptiles, rabbits, and cats and dogs all bring the same benefits. An additional benefit of dogs is providing a good walking companion to get you out in the fresh air and walking several times a day. Be sure to choose a dog that is leash trained, or go together to an obedience class so the dog learns to walk well with you. Large dogs especially need to be trained to follow their owners’ lead, rather than taking the lead themselves. Both of you will experience the benefits of regular, gentle exercise!

Choose your pet wisely. Carefully consider your living space and lifestyle and pick a pet that will do well in your environment. All dogs need exercise every day so if you aren’t up to twice a day walks, pick a cat, a litter-trained rabbit, a perky bird or a lovely tank of fish. Even fish require regular maintenance of their living environment so be sure you can provide what your pet needs to keep them healthy and happy for a long time.

Modern medicine does not fully understand the reasons behind the significant effect that having a pet has on a person’s health, but they acknowledge that pets can prolong a person’s life and help the healing process. I think the majority of pet owners knew this already!

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

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Heart Disease Prevention Tip-How to Use Biofeedback to Reduce Stress Levels and Improve Heart Health

Monday, March 14th, 2011

Stress management is one of the most important heart disease prevention tip to follow. Although it is frequently stated that stress causes up to 80 percent of disease, stress is rarely addressed by medical professionals beyond the mere advice to try to reduce stress in your life.

Sounds like a great idea, but most people have no idea how begin to really reduce stress. If it really is behind the development of disease, including heart disease, than finding a way to deal with it should be uppermost in people’s strategies for reducing its dangerous effects.

Since it is impossible to live a life completely free of stress, discovering new ways to manage stress can mean the difference between a long and healthy life or one filled with chronic health problems.

Heart disease is the number one killer of both women and men in the United States and much of the developed world. Studies attempting to unravel the mystery of why this is generally revolve around our modern way of life and its effects on the cardiovascular system.

Unhealthy food choices, lack of exercise, pollution and high levels of stress have all been blamed. The causes are complicated and require a wholistic view of modern life, taking each component into consideration. Improving diet and exercise, avoiding artificial chemicals and slowing down the pace of life are all strategies to help fight heart disease. Addressing stress management should be added to the list of weapons to help fight heart disease.

Biofeedback techniques dates to the 1960s and are used to monitor and change physical reactions that were once thought to be beyond our control. The medical profession at the time thought heart rate and blood pressure levels were something outside the realm of mental control, but biofeedback showed that with training, people could adjust many of their physical reactions to stress.

During times of stress, powerful hormones are released into the body to instantly prepare it for the fight or flight response. This is great if a wild beast is approaching but not so great if you are just sitting at a desk, fuming at your boss’ latest antics.

Continued high levels of stress keep those hormones pumping and research has shown that long-term effects of high stress hormone levels can lead to heart and cardiovascular problems. Controlling the body’s reaction to stress is what biofeedback training is all about. Initially, people use feedback equipment that provides signals when physical reactions such as tense muscles and rising blood pressure are present. Over time, the patient learns to mentally control these responses as the biofeedback machine signals changes, lowering blood pressure and heart rate along with changing breathing and other bodily functions. Eventually, the equipment is no longer needed as people master their control over their reactions to stress.

Another technique enhancing stress management is the use of self-talk corresponding to the changes you are trying to make in your physical reaction to stress. Repeating something as simple as, “My breathing is deep and slow, and my body is relaxing,” speeds the desired response. Calming and relaxing directions to your body help reduce the levels of stress hormones in the blood stream, lowering blood pressure, heart rate and even reducing sweating palms and feet. Each of these reactions helps to bring the body back to a state of calm.

Plenty of books have been written to help people learn these techniques, and therapists trained in biofeedback and other strategies can speed you on your way to a more relaxed and healthy life. Give your heart what it needs, good food, plenty of exercise and a healthy dose of stress management.

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

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