Posts Tagged ‘Shortness Of Breath’

Heart Disease Prevention Plan Tip – How to Avoid The Silent Killer

Sunday, May 22nd, 2011

High blood pressure, just one form of cardiovascular disease, is dubbed “The Silent Killer” because there are no apparent symptoms until the disease is well advanced. However, it isn’t just hypertension that can silently sneak up on you. Cardiovascular disease encompasses all disorders of the circulatory system including the heart. Problems can range from dangerous blood clots to hardening of the arteries that cause heart attacks and strokes. Too many of these go completely undetected until it is too late.

So, why are hypertension and other forms of circulatory problems referred to as silent? The consequences of cardiovascular disease are often dire and many of these occur without any noticeable warning.

Let’s look at blood pressure first. The causes of high blood pressure are complex and not completely understood. Some people are salt-sensitive and excess sodium in foods can quickly raise pressure, yet this is apparently not the case in other people. Prolonged stress can lead to problems, and temporary bouts of stress definitely the pressure rise. Kidney problems alter the body’s ability to regulate fluid levels and can lead to high blood pressure. On the other hand, high blood pressure can damage kidneys creating a vicious cycle. Hypertension damages arteries, eventually causing hardening of the arteries and all the problems that accompany it.

The problem is that all these conditions can go completely unnoticed for decades. Loss of kidney function isn’t symptomatic until it is as low as 10 percent of normal functioning. People don’t feel their arteries slowly clogging and they don’t notice any symptoms of high blood pressure until it is exceedingly high. When this happens, they may symptoms such as dizziness, headaches, and shortness of breath. It is important to have your blood pressure checked routinely.

Some people suffer from “White Coat Hypertension,” the stress of going to the doctor’s office causes a temporary the blood pressure spike. It’s best to try checking your blood pressure at one of the convenient machines at the grocery store or pharmacy. If problems are noted, then go see the doctor.

Uncontrolled pressure can lead to stroke, congestive heart failure, and heart attack. Again, symptoms sometimes don’t show up until the situation is critical. At least 25 percent of people who suffer a heart attack, they had no idea they had any form of cardiovascular disease.

What can be done to prevent these silent killers from sneaking up and threatening your life? Due to heart disease being a leading cause of death for both women and men, there is an abundance of information available to help people prevent or slow the progress of cardiovascular disease. Two of the most important things you can do is to eat a healthy diet and get routine exercise. Eating heart-healthy foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, cold water oily fish, and lean meats while avoiding saturated and trans fats are basic guidelines is crucial. Many delicious heart-healthy diets have been developed to prevent and treat heart disease.

Although health professionals have different ideas about the amount of exercise needed to show optimal benefits, all agree that routine exercise is a must do. Walking is one of the best forms of heart-healthy exercise. So grab your walking shoes and get that heart pumping!

You don’t have to develop cardiovascular disease. Follow the strategies listed above for a healthy heart!

To Your Heart’s Health
Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
mentormonique@gmail.com
http://www.moniquehawkins.limuplus.com

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Heart Disease and Women – Heart Attack Warning Signs

Monday, May 9th, 2011

We have all seen the movies where the actor clutches his chest and falls to the ground, a victim of a heart attack. Did you know that it doesn’t always happen this way? Some people, many of them women, have no idea that they are having a heart attack because the symptoms simply don’t fit the stereotypical view most of us have of what a heart attack is like.

Women are especially prone to having different symptoms and many times feel no chest pain at all. Even some emergency rooms don’t immediately realize what is occurring in some patients. Women have even been turned away from emergency rooms because the symptoms are so unlike those of most men. A female friend recently had a heart attack and all the pain was concentrated in her jaw, no chest pain at any time! Luckily, the local hospital knew the signs for females.

The classic symptoms that we all know about include a great pressure or pain in the chest area that can extend to the left shoulder and arm. It may also spread to the neck and jaw area. Nausea, sweating and shortness of breath often accompany the chest pain. These are all quickly recognized as being the signs of a heart attack in progress. Quick medical attention is imperative!

But what if there is no chest pain? How can you recognize them so you can quickly get the attention you desperately need? Medical professionals and women themselves need to be aware of the common signs so they can act quickly to prevent further damage to the heart.

About half of women have no chest pain which is quite a surprising number. The most common signs are shortness of breath, feelings of extreme weakness, and great fatigue. Some women report that for several weeks before the heart attack they feel unusual fatigue and discomfort in the upper back.

Many females are misdiagnosed with gastrointestinal problems because only nausea or a feeling of indigestion might be present. Stomach pains may be felt as long as six weeks before the problem reveals itself, and shortness of breath can occur as well. These are common signs among women that a coronary artery is dangerously blocked.

Although warning signs may occur, the actual attack is usually more severe and the symptoms appear even while resting or sleeping. Time is of the essence, and there should be no delay in calling 911 to have an ambulance take you to the hospital. This is the best choice, as they can begin treating the heart attack immediately. Each minute of help improves the chances of minimizing heart damage.

Heart attacks in women can sometimes be difficult to detect. Now that you know these warning signs, they could very well save your life!

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

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Heart Failure Treatments-Weighing Congestive Heart Failure Treatment Options

Tuesday, February 22nd, 2011

Heart failure is a growing problem in our society today. For those who experience this serious health problem, it is always very beneficial to know the various heart failure treatments that are available today. Today’s post will cover this very important topic with the following article.

Weighing Congestive Heart Failure Treatment Options
By Rob D. Hawkins

Searching for an effective congestive heart failure treatment is something that millions of Americans do regularly. After all, their life may depend on it. Nevertheless, there is no congestive heart failure treatment which can cure the condition, only those that are geared towards management. In this article we will briefly delve into the condition itself and examine a few of the more widely accepted congestive heart failure treatment options.

CHF – The basics

Our heart pump to the tune of about 100,000 beats a day supplying life giving blood and oxygen to our bodies. When CHF occurs the heart is no longer able to meet the body’s need for blood and oxygen and strains to keep up with the demand. This condition can occur at any age, can be brought about by the natural process or aging and/or diseases like atherosclerosis, and is the leading cause of death and disability in the United States.

Symptoms include fatigue, weakness, shortness of breath after only mild exertion, shortness of breath while sleeping, swelling in the legs and/or feet, unexplained weight fluctuation, and swollen neck veins.

Conventional congestive heart failure treatment options

The goal of any CHF treatment is to take some of the pressure off of the heart so it doesn’t have to work as hard. Diuretics may be prescribed in this pursuit to rid the body of excess fluid which has built up due to poor circulation. Prescription cholesterol medications may be prescribed to keep any additional plaque from building up and keep blood flowing freely through the arteries. Beta blockers may be prescribed to slow down heartbeat, lessen the hearts workload, and decrease the risk of irregular heartbeat. There are even drugs known as ACE inhibitors which dilate the blood vessels, reducing arterial resistance, thus taking some of the pressure off of an already overworked heart.

As you can see there are no shortage of options for medical professionals to consider, and we didn’t even get into the surgical possibilities such as balloon angioplasty.

Congestive heart failure treatment options from a natural health perspective

CHF is most often seen in seniors whose heart simply starts to wear out over time. In fact by age 80 the heart will have lost on average about half of its pumping power. It goes without saying that if there are any other extenuating circumstances a rough ride to the hospital emergency room could be in store.

Nevertheless, until that day comes there is a great deal that can be done naturally to hold off this deadly condition starting with lifestyle changes.

Common sense changes such as quitting smoking, only drinking in moderation, reducing sodium intake, maintaining a healthy weight, eating a low fat diet, drinking enough fluids for hydration but not so many as to put pressure on the heart, and daily doctor approved exercise that is appropriate for your level of general health are all excellent suggestions that should be implemented as soon as possible if you feel CHF is present.

Supplements are another area which could prove helpful. Examples would include molecularly purified fish oil, B complex vitamins, along with a natural cholesterol reduction supplement specially formulated to lower bad cholesterol and raise good cholesterol.

In conclusion, finding a congestive heart failure treatment option that is right for you is a complicated issue that should be discussed in depth with your doctor. That said, recognizing CHF early and taking steps to manage this condition through natural means before it gets out of control could literally save you life.

Rob D. Hawkins is an enthusiastic advocate for the use of safe and effective high quality alternative health products, and natural living, for well over 10 years and counting. To learn more about natural remedies and natural health visit http://www.Purchase Remedies.com

Heart failure can be a life threatening health problem. However, the good news is there are many heart failure treatments available. Find one that works best for you and you can live a healthy life from here on!

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

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Heart attack symptoms women- Statistics Don’t Lie

Thursday, September 24th, 2009

Heart attack symptoms women, and the number of women who have heart disease is very problematic. It is very important for women to get educated and then take the right steps if they believe they are at risk.

Here is what the stats say about this dangerous disease and what you can do about.

Monique Hawkins
540-858-2885
Skype: Monique371

Women and Heart Disease – Statistics Don’t Lie
By Barb Hicks

The statistics for heart disease in women are astounding. Women comprise 60% of all heart attack related deaths in the US every year, and are more likely to die from heart disease than men. Women tend to ignore the early warning signs of impending heart attacks because the symptoms are often vague and can resemble other conditions. Consequently, women are apt to delay getting treatment for their symptoms because they do not recognize the signs and do not understand their risks.

While risk factors remain the same for both men and women, compelling evidence suggests that women respond differently than men due to preconceived notions about heart disease, and do not seek treatment as early as they should. Women tend to be older with higher incidence of hypertension, higher cholesterol and blood sugar levels, but are less likely to be smokers. Women view heart disease as primarily a disease of men and never consider that their symptoms could be heart disease related. This could have dire repercussions should a heart attack ensue.

Women suffering heart attacks are more likely to experience shoulder and abdominal pain, as well as nausea, shortness of breath, and fatigue. These are symptoms that women generally do not associate with having a heart attack. They tend to blame their symptoms on something else entirely, denying themselves an opportunity to survive what could be a devastating heart attack event. The longer it takes to get treatment, the more likely hood of sustaining greater damage to the heart muscle itself.

Women who have had a heart attack report having symptoms in the weeks leading up to a heart attack, but never recognize its relationship to heart disease, putting themselves at risk for a second attack within five years after the first one.

It is curious to note that after arriving at the hospital emergency room, women may be confronted with a delay in validating that a heart attack has actually occurred. EKG testing has been found not to be consistent with what is considered to be classic symptoms of an attack on the heart, therefore, women are less likely to be admitted to the cardiac unit. In addition to this, women are less likely to receive life-saving thrombolytic medication as quickly as do men, thus statistically, women have a higher morality rate for heart attacks than men.

Barb Hicks is a featured health writer on Clivir.com – The Free Learning Community Site. She provides more information on Women Heart Disease and Hidden Heart Attack Signs in Women on Clivir.

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

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