Archive for June, 2007
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Heart Attacks And How To Prevent Them
At one time, little could be done for people with heart disorders, and for those who suffered from a heart attack. Today, improved medicines and new methods of treatment allow many cardiac (heart) patients to live normal or nearly normal lives. Also, new kinds of equipment and new methods of performing heart operations have saved the lives of many people for whom there was formerly no hope.
The arteries of older people may become hardened or narrowed. This may be serious if it happens in the coronary arteries, for the blood supply of the heart is cut down. Severe chest pain may result. A heart attack occurs if the heart muscle is deprived of its blood supply. The heart muscle may be permanently damaged and replaced with scar tissue. Most people who have heart attacks recover. They must rest for several weeks or more, but they can usually then lead normal lives.
A heart whose muscle has been badly damaged cannot do a good job of pumping the blood. This condition is called heart failure. With this condition, fluid collects in some parts of the body, such as the lungs and ankles.
Doctors have a large variety of medicines and other treatments for dealing with heart disorders. A drug named digitalis is given to strengthen weak heart muscles. Drugs called Diuretics help to rid the body of excess fluid by way of the kidneys.
Diet is usually an important part of the treatment of cardiac patients. The doctor may prescribe a diet that is low in salt content. This is because fluids tend to collect in the body in the presence of salt. The heart must work harder to pump the extra fluids. The doctor often advises a patient to lose weight. The heart of an overweight patient must work harder to pump blood to the extra, unneeded body tissue. A low-fat diet may be prescribed because of a possible connection between fats and hardening of the arteries. Patients are also advised not to smoke. Smoking is a cause of serious lung diseases, and it also appears to increase the risk of getting some kinds of heart disease.
The beating heart provides the pressure to move the blood along in the blood vessels. When the space within the smaller arteries is narrowed, as may happen in older people, the heard must push harder to make the blood move. This results in high blood pressure. Drugs are used that cause the arteries to relax and thus lower the blood pressure. Other drugs bring about a lowering of the pressure by their effect on the nerves that control the small arteries.
The rate of the heartbeat is controlled by electrical impulses from the nervous system. These impulses set the pace for the heartbeat. Sometimes the impulses may cause an irregular beat or one that is too fast or too slow. Usually this is a temporary condition. If the problem is a serious one, an artificial pacemaker is set into the heart painlessly. The pacemaker is powered by a tiny battery that lasts for years. The life-saving pacemaker supplies electrical impulses to the heart, causing it to beat regularly and at a satisfactory rate.
Medical and surgical skill have saved or prolonged millions of lives. But some hearts are so badly damaged that they cannot be repaired. The first heart transplant was performed in December 1967, and we’ve come a long way since then. Take care of yourself. Your family loves you.
About the Author:
More information on Heart Attack Prevention
Written By: CP
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How Vitamin D Protects Your Heart
A new study has linked a lack of sunshine, the body’s most natural source of vitamin D, to the prevalence of cardiovascular disease.
Factors that affect sunlight, and therefore vitamin D production, are tied to a patient’s cardiovascular risks. In other words, the more sunlight you get, the better your cardiovascular health will be. These factors can include time of year, altitude, and geographical location.
There are a number of physiological mechanisms triggered by vitamin D production through sunlight exposure that act to fight heart disease, according to the study:An increase in the body’s natural anti-inflammatory cytokines.
The suppression of vascular calcification.
The inhibition of vascular smooth muscle growth.
British Journal of Nutrition October 2005; 94(4): 483-492
Dr. Mercola’s Comment:As you know, getting the right amount of vitamin D treats and prevents a variety of ailments and diseases, including:Protection against multiple sclerosis (MS)
Prevention of diabetes
Signals colon, breast and prostate cells to stop growing and eventually succumb to programmed cell death
Sunshine is your best source of Vitamin D. Unfortunately,most ofyou simplydon’t receive the daily amounts of vitamin Dyou need to stay healthy.Hopefully as areader of this site it is not due to ignorance and youstill don’tbelieve the broken rhetoric that so-called experts continue to burn into their brains: avoid all sun exposure.
Fortunately we are in the midst of a radical revision of vitamin D understanding. The leading vitamin D scientists in the world have changed their position within the last few years and have started the warning sirens that most of traditional medicine was dead wrong when it comes to sun avoidance.
If you want to learn more about the healthy, healing benefits of the sun throughout history and what it can do for you today, consider Dr. Richard Hobday’s book, The Healing Sun. Hobday’s book is an important tool that will help you bring the benefits of sunlight into your lives safely.
As a matter of fact, statistics show that avoiding the sun has likely caused an extra 50,000cancers per year, and that is just cancer deaths. It does not include heart disease or autoimmune diseases like MS or rheumatoid arthritis.
At this time of the year the primary reason for most readers of this newsletter is related to the fact that they don’t have adequate sun exposure. As I write this in Chicago it is sunny but five degreesbelow zero (Farenheit). Very difficult to go outside and get sun exposure on your bare skin as it would quickly be frost bitten.
However even if it were a balmy50 degreesthere still would not be enough photons this time of year to generate significant vitamin D production in your skin. Just not enough sunlight penetrates the atmosphere in the northern US this time of year.
That’s why I recommend maintaining your optimal vitamin D levels by taking a high quality cod liver oil regularly from now until early spring.
About the author:
This article is reprinted from Mercola.com, the world’s #1 most visited and trusted natural/alternative health website. For a limited time only, you can take the FREE “Metabolic Type Test” to help you learn the right foods for your particular body type so you can achieve optimal fitness & health. Just go to http://www.mercola.com/forms/mt_test.htm right now to take this quick test!
Written By: Dr. Joseph Mercola
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Baby Heartbeat Monitors Reviewed
Today, with advances in science and technology constantly creating smaller and cheaper electronic devices, acquiring a home use baby heartbeat monitor is cheaper and easier than you may think. For parents that want to listen to the developing fetus of their unborn child, use of a baby heartbeat monitor provides added peace of mind and valuable information that can actually prevent complications during pregnancy. A baby heartbeat monitor is a device which is used to hear any kind of irregularity in the development of the baby, so that it can be taken care of well in time. One can find many heartbeat monitors manufactured by various companies, but to get the desired results it is essential that one chooses the best baby heart beat monitor available.
Choosing the Best Baby Heartbeat Monitor
There are various forms of baby heartbeat monitoring devices available on the market, each having different features and attachments. The available options differ from each other considerably. Whether it’s a fetal Doppler baby heart monitor or an external electronic fetal baby monitor, a cosy fetal heart beat monitor or a BeBe Sound Prenatal Listener baby heartbeat monitor, each baby heartbeat monitor has some unique features which makes one model stand out over its competitors.
These advanced baby heartbeat monitors can let one hear the exact heart sounds of the little one growing inside the mother’s womb. The sound-only baby heartbeat monitor for analyzing the heartbeat of a unborn baby is designed for clinical and medical use as well as for domestic use by the parents. Some home models also have video so one can see the baby (although the image is generated using ultrasound and not crystal clear). The sex of the unborn child can be determined using a video prenatal baby monitor.
Monitoring the heartbeat of the unborn baby at regular intervals is often recommended to those mothers who have an uncomplicated and healthy pregnancy. However, to those who develop certain complications such as pre-eclampsia, diabetes, any kind of heart disease, vaginal or urinary infections or is expecting twins are strictly advised to have continuous electronic fetal monitoring in order to keep track of any serious problems on the part of the child or the mother. Thus, choosing the heartbeat monitor depends on many factors and it is essential that an unborn baby gets monitored according to the needs of the situation.
Comparing the Prices of Baby Heartbeat Monitors
Pricing a baby heartbeat monitor mainly depends on factors such as the brand name, features, attachments, and quality. Sometimes the accuracy of a particular heartbeat monitor also contributes towards determining its price.
Starting as low as $25 for the BeBe Sounds Prenatal Listener, the prices go as high as $150 or $200 for a fetal Doppler ultrasonic baby heart beat monitor. One can choose exactly that which suits his or her budget and choose the features and quality that one can afford. However, one can’t fix the price of the baby’s health. It is more then anything in the world – it’s priceless.
For all of the latest product reviews, news, and information about baby monitors and baby heartbeat monitors, visit: baby monitor.
About the author:
For all of the latest product reviews, news, and information about baby monitors and baby heartbeat monitors, visit http://www.BabyMonitorCenter.com.
Written By: Isaac Rubens
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An Introduction to Heart Rate Monitors
A heart rate monitor is a contraption which lets users of fitness machines take note of their own pulse rate while training. The heart rate monitor typically comprises two constituents – a receiver and a strap. The strap applies electrodes to watch over the heartbeat and if the appliance is connected to a fitness machine, its screen will show up your heart rate to you. Receivers on the wrist commonly are in the form of timepieces that pace your heartbeat by calculating the period before blood heads on through the wrist veins. Heart rate monitors are turning out to be increasingly viewed in good regard and most pro quality exercise machines are accompanied by a cardio rate monitor as part of the deal.
If you have heart or blood pressure afflictions, having a pulse monitor while doing a workout is something you must do. You will not only be able to ascertain how your pump can handle stress, you will also be capable of controlling your heartbeat by playing around with the the speed on the training equipment. Some treadmills or ellipticals actually come with a built-in heart-rate controller system, which without human intervention slows the machine if your pulse rate is excessively up. This is quite of value, as it deflects a lot of heart-related problems that went on formerly with people getting fit harder than their heart could address.
Even without heart ailments, it is still helpful a heart rate monitor now and again. This way, you should be capable to monitor how your body takes care of very strong physical effort. To make sure you are fit and there will be no problems later, you should ready a daily pulse-rate table for one or two weeks, while getting fit at the same strength. You will notice if there are very high downslopes or ascendings in your heart beat, but the best thing to do would be to show this report to your physician, who will immediately notice any approaching difficulties.
If you are going to have to purchase a prime heart rate monitor, one of the more adopted manufacturers around is Polar. Polar technology has been around for two decades now and the company has achieved the status of being the industry leader in the heart rate monitors field. They have different series for heart rate monitors, ranging from novices and intermediates to pro athletes. You can also order your heart rate monitor from different categories, depending on what your needs are: Cardiac Rehab, Jogging, Cycling, Swimming (this includes a waterproof monitor-watch), Fitness, Weight Management and so forth.
Heart rate monitors are a step forward in home exercising, as working with them could aid to prevent and avoid many cardiac afflictions. Always pay attention to your heart rate monitor and try not to push your heart over the limits. Consult a doctor about what the normal pulse rate should be for your body type, in an effort regime. Combine this data with an exercise machine that supports heart rate measuring systems and displays them on their console, or even better, one that adjusts its speed to your pulse rate.
About the author:
Sophie Goldman is a freelance writer for The Exercise Equipment Blog, in which she mostly writes about her favorite exercise machines – elliptical trainers and exercise bikes.Written By: Sophie Goldman
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Help Prevent A Heart Attack: Get Moving!
Preventing a heart attack should be one of the things that concerns you most. After all, heart disease and heart attacks are some of the leading causes of death among people these days. And while it is obviously not possible to completely prevent having a heart attack, there are several important ways that you can help guard yourself against suffering a heart attack.
Tired of hearing advice about heart attack prevention? I guess people like me will continue to give advice about ways to prevent heart attacks until the numbers of people suffering the effects of heart attacks decreases significantly. If you have not taken seriously the warnings and advice you have heard, seen and read, then please read on to learn about simple ways of heart attack prevention for almost everyone.
Because the heart is a muscle it can be worked out and conditioned just like all of the other muscles in the body. Just like we can distinguish between people who are in good shape and people who are in poor shape, so we can distinguish between hearts that are in good shape or poor shape. One of the best ways to maintain the health of your heart and hence to prevent a heart attack is to get in shape. Exercise is so, so important in trying to prevent a heart attack from taking your life.
Taking the time for exercise and getting in shape should be high on your list of priorities. The three biggest excuses I hear from people about why they are not in better shape are that they are too tired, too busy, and that exercising costs too much money. When a possible heart attack is on the line, none of these three excuses seem valid enough to stop you from getting your body in good shape.
Being too tired to exercise is ironic in that exercise is one of the best ways to gain energy and to help people sleep well at night. Therefore, the best way to have the energy to exercise is simply to start exercising. Don’t immediately jump up from the couch and run a marathon, but look for small and quick ways to incorporate exercise into your day. Even a small amount of brisk walking will do wonders in helping you prevent a heart attack.
Making the claim that you do not have enough time in your day to exercise is simply a reflection of what you care most about. Look at your days and see what you are making time for. Eating out, sleeping in, watching television? If you desire to really get in shape and to help prevent a heart attack, then making fifteen or twenty minutes a day will become easy and very doable.
Getting in shape does not have to cost you a lot of money. In fact, almost everyone I know can get outside and go for a walk for free. No one says that preventing a heart attack requires you to have a membership at the most expensive and exclusive athletic club. Heart attack prevention can be as simple as throwing on a pair of old sneakers and getting out for a walk or a jog.
Your heart is worth it. Regardless of the sacrifices you have to make in order to get in shape, preventing a heart attack is one of the most loving things you can do for yourself and the ones you love.
About the Author:
Author Triston Huntsmin is passionate about seeing people get healthy and prevent a heart attack. He believes that having accurate information is one of the most important first steps, so learn more at www.heartattackgroup.info
Written By: Triston Huntsmin
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Chocolate and heart health fact or fallacy?
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if chocolate and heart health went hand in hand. However, there is so much information lately about the health benefits of chocolate that it is only natural that people get confused.
It is true, that if people only ate pure cocoa, then there might be heart health benefits. The problem is that most people eat processed chocolate bars containing sugar, corn syrup, hydrogenated oils, dairy cream not to mention other baddies contained in some of those tasty fillings. Some of these added ingredients can clog up arteries and create havoc to your waistline.
That said, you might be surprised to find out that chocolate isnt all that bad. In fact, the fat content in chocolate, contained in premium grade dark chocolate, is comprised of equal amounts of oleic acid (a heart-healthy monounsaturated fat also found in olive oil), stearic and palmitic acids. Stearic and palmitic acids are forms of saturated fat not so good. Saturated fats are linked to increases in LDL-cholesterol and risk of developing heart disease.
Research indicates that stearic acid appears to have a neutral effect on cholesterol; neither raising nor lowering LDL-cholesterol levels. Palmitic acid on the other hand, does affect cholesterol levels but only comprises one-third of the fat calories in chocolate. Therefore, if we base our chocolate eating habits on latest research, the fat issue isnt so worrying.
Beware milk chocolate may not be so heart healthy
As with mist things in life, there is also a down-side to chocolate. When we eat milk chocolate or lower grade chocolate, part of the total fat content comes from milk fat or various other types of fat contained in the processed chocolate, and not from the pure cocoa, which do adversely affect cholesterol levels.
Despite all the good news on cocoa not raising LDL cholesterol, even dark chocolate is a very calorie-dense food, so while the fat content may not invite heart disease or clogging of the arteries, its regular consumption will add a lot of extra calories to someone’s daily total. In fact, many chocolate bars list sugar as the number one ingredient. And as we all know lots of white refined sugar is not going to help you keep your waistline nice and slim. Remember obesity is a serious risk factor for developing heart disease.
Concerning cholesterol, new and yet-to-be-published studies are showing that some antioxidants contained in chocolate, in particular dark chocolate and cocoa powder, may actually increase “good” (HDL) cholesterol levels by as much as 10 percent.
In the studies, the selected people ate 22 grams of cocoa powder and 16 grams of dark chocolate every day The result: Their “bad” (LDL) cholesterol was less susceptible to oxidation, a process that normally leads to artery-clogging plaques. While many people take vitamins and other antioxidants to help prevent plaque development, the study shows that cocoa could help.
In summary, whether chocolate and heart health do walk hand in hand is still an open topic, however, in moderation it wont do your heart any harm, however, watch those calories. Most of all, enjoy it cause it tastes so good!
For more heart health related information visit www.AllAbout-Heart-Disease.com – a site that offers user-friendly articles, tips and advice for avoiding heart disease, getting the edge on risk factors and living your life to the full!
Written By: Nicholas Webb
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