Posts Tagged ‘Risk Of Heart Attack’

Heart Disease Diet-I Just Found Out Why Fiber Is Good For Your Heart

Sunday, September 12th, 2010

Most people know that fiber has many healthful benefits for the body.  I just found out how fiber is also important component for a heart disease diet. Although research scientists and health experts are still unsure of the benefits of fiber for preventing colon cancer, one thing is certain; fiber is good for the heart. Knowing types of fiber and their benefits in preventing cardiovascular disease will help you make choices in your diet that can slow down or prevent arthrosclerosis, lower LDL cholesterol in the blood, and block absorption of fats from foods.

High fiber foods include vegetables, beans, fruits, and whole grains. White flour and white rice during processing have had the germ, bran, and endosperm removed. Along with heart healthy fibers, this process also removes many of the beneficial vitamins. Enriching white flour with synthetic, single-component vitamins simply isn’t the same thing as getting the whole food as it was meant to be, rich in nutrients and heart healthy fiber.

There are two types of fiber, soluble and insoluble. Each has its own benefits for the cardiovascular system. Soluble fiber has been scientifically studied and proven to reduce blood serum cholesterol levels, especially LDL or bad cholesterol. Soluble fiber dissolves in water making a gel-like substance. It is found in apples, baked potatoes with the skin, oats, and kidney beans, but not in wheat bran that is loaded with insoluble fiber. Insoluble fiber passes through the digestive tract virtually untouched. Its benefit to the heart is that it makes people feel full and may reduce the calories consumed during a meal, keeping off those extra pounds that stress the heart.

Studies have found that people with high fiber diets actually have more fat in their stools, suggesting that it blocks the absorption of fat into the body. It has also been found that certain proteins indicative of risk of heart attack and stroke are lowered in people with high fiber diets.

Be smart when choosing foods, don’t depend on the name of the food. Oat bran muffins may really contain very little fiber- read the nutrition labels to find out the truth about the food you are eating. The American Heart Association recommends that daily fiber intake average about 25 grams per day. Eating a diet high in whole grains, legumes, fruits, and vegetables should assure that your heart gets the fiber it needs.

If you have been eating a diet of low-fiber foods, don’t increase to the full fiber recommendation abruptly. This can cause some digestive reactions such as bloating, gas, and indigestion. Take it slow increasing fiber over a two or three week period. A good place to start it with that proverbial apple a day!

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

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Heart Diet | No Comments »

Women’s Heart Attack|Women’s Heart Attack and Your Heart Rate

Thursday, December 24th, 2009

Did you know that women’s heart attack risk can be partically determined by their heart rate? I did not know this until I read an article by Dr. Susan Aldridge, medical journalist, PhD. Here is what she had to say:

Summary

Previously resting heart rate has been shown to be linked to increased heart attack risk in women. Now researchers for the long-running Women’s Health Initiative find a similar relationship for women. Measuring heart rate might therefore be a low tech and simple way of pinpointing women at higher risk of heart attack.

Introduction

The resting heart rate, which has a value of between 60 and 80 beats per minute, is an indicator of the tone of the autonomic nervous system. As such, it has been found to predict coronary events in men – with high rates indicating higher risk. But studies in women have not shown this association, save for one report from the National Health And Nutrition Examination Survey which did show a link between heart rate and cardiovascular death among African-American women. The relationship between heart rate and stroke in women is also unclear.

What was done

Researchers at George Washington University and elsewhere carried out this study as part of the Women’s Health Initiative which involves 161,808 postmenopausal women. They recorded cardiovascular events (heart attack and stroke) during eight years of follow up and searched for any relationship between these events and resting heart rate.

What was found

There were 2281 heart attacks and 1877 women with stroke during the follow up period. Women with a higher resting heart rate – more than 76 beats per minute – were more likely to have a heart attack than those with a lower rate, defined as less than 62 beats per minute. No such link was found with stroke.

What this study means

Resting heart rate has more clinical significance than previously believed. It could be a simple and low cost way of assessing a woman’s heart attack risk, in conjunction with other assessments.

Source

* Hsia J Larson JC et al Resting heart rate as a low tech predictor of coronary events in women: prospective cohort study British Medical Journal Online First February 2009 doi:10.1136/bmj.b219

http://www.healthandage.com/professional/Heart-rate-can-predict-womens-heart-attack-risk

So, watch your heart rate. Do all you can to take care of you and your heart. If you do, heart disease is something you never will have to worry about.

Have a Merry Christmas!

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

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Womens Heart Attack | No Comments »

Five Tips to Prevent Heart Disease

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009

Are you steadily gaining weight as you eat more than you can burn off? On top of that, do you hate exercise and feel stress at work? If your answer is yes to either question, your risk of getting heart disease is two to four times higher than a normal healthy person. For the sake of your heart and well being, you need to take action quickly to reduce the risk.

Here are five steps that you can take to reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke.

1. Assess your risk level. If you have a family member with cardiovascular risk, your risk of getting heart disease will be higher. If you are a diabetic, your risk is also higher as high blood sugar levels are frequently associated with narrowing of blood vessels. If you are 40 or older, your risk will also increase considerably. The same goes for smokers. A cigarette a day has a dramatic reduction in your cardiovascular health in the long run.

2. Make positive changes to your diet. Your diet has a huge impact on your cardiovascular health. Limit your intake of foods with high calories or high sugar content. Reduce your intake of salt to less than six grams a day. At the same time, you should consume a variety of whole grain products, vegetables and fruits. You should also drink more water to flush toxins from your body.

3. Start an exercise program. If your lifestyle is primarily sedentary, your cardiovascular health is unlikely to be in optimum. You should engage in some form of physical activity for at least 30 minutes three to four times a week. Activities such as brisk walking, slow jogging, cycling and inline skating are very beneficial to your heart. Swimming is another excellent choice as it is a low impact exercise that works on your whole body and can do wonders for your heart.

4. Develop healthy stress relief habits. Stress is a major contributor to heart disease as it increases your blood pressure. There are many people who are stressed out without realizing it. Take time off each day to engage in activities that relax your mind and body. This can be listening to classical music, yoga workout or meditation. In fact, it can be as simple as reading a book you love. It is advisable to engage in stress relief activities on a daily basis.

5. Take note of these warning symptoms. The burning sensation in your chest may be an indication of an impending heart attack. Other symptoms include shortness of breath, tightness in the neck, jaw and chest area. Consult a doctor before these symptoms get worse.

Heart disease is a major cause of death in many developed countries. You can help to reduce the risk by following a healthy diet and regular exercise routine. Learning more about the various heart disease symptoms and other prevention methods can also help you to win the battle against heart diseases.

Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,
Posted in Heart Disease Treatments | No Comments »