Posts Tagged ‘cancer’

• Heart Attack: Are You At Risk?

  Date: 2007.03.29 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  If you’re male and you lead an inactive lifestyle you probably have at least 3 risk factors associated with heart disease. I know, I know, you feel fine but so do most people before they have a heart attack. Unfortunately, most people find out they have heart disease the day they are admitted in to hospital, and they are the lucky ones!

  Ladies, don’t think this is just something for men to worry about (as it has been in the past). Women, as well as men, are more likely to die of heart disease than of any type of cancer.

  This is because of our modern lifestyle. We are working longer hours, so we eat fast food, and there’s no time for exercise. To make matters worse, machines are taking the ‘work’ out of work. We are less active and it’s killing us!

  So what are the risk factors for heart disease?

  Firstly, there are two types of risk factors: those that can be changed, and those that can’t be changed. It’s important to know that you only need to have 3 of these to be at risk. Each extra risk factor that you have increases your chance of having a heart attack substantially.

  Risk factors that can’t be changed:

  Heredity: You are at greater risk if your parents, grandparents, brothers, or sisters, have heart disease.

  Gender: Men are at greater risk than women, though the risk for women increases after menopause.

  Age: As you increase in age, so do your chances of having a heart attack. Once you reach 40 you should have regular check-ups.

  Risk factors that can be changed:

  Smoking: A smoker is twice as likely than a non-smoker to have a heart attack. It not only places extra strain on the heart and lungs but also makes blood cholesterol stickier, making it easier to block arteries.

  High Blood Cholesterol: Cholesterol is produced naturally by the body and is essential to our health. The problem comes when we consume too much in our diet.

  High Blood Pressure: Just like with high cholesterol there are no early symptoms. The first most people learn they have this is when it’s at a dangerous level.

  Physical Inactivity: If you are inactive, you are more likely to have a heart attack. Even a 10 minute walk each day can make all the difference.

  Obesity: If you are obese, you are placing your heart under a great deal of strain even at rest.

  I might be at risk, what should I do?

  If you think you could be at risk, the first thing you should do is visit your doctor. Secondly, you need to modify your lifestyle. Exercise for at least 10 minutes per day (30 minutes is better but anything is better than nothing!). You also need to eat foods that are low in fat. If you smoke you need to give up.

  Even if you don’t have many risk factors it’s a good idea to visit your doctor each year. Some risk factors can change within a short period of time and getting on to them early can make all the difference.

  About the Author

  Ray Kelly is an Exercise Scientist with 15 years experience in the health and fitness industry. Sign up for his free 7 Day Weight Loss Course at Symptoms of Heart Attacks and Diabetes

  Written By: Ray Kelly

• What do the French know to help your heart?

  Date: 2007.03.14 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  Does red wine protect against heart disease? Maybe. Many studies investigated the benefits of red wine suggested that moderate amount of red wine (one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men) lowers the risk of heart attack for people in middle age by 30 to 50 percent. It is also suggested that alcohol such as red wine may prevent additional heart attacks if you already have suffered from one. The compounds found in red wine that are responsible for its healing powers are antioxidants. Red wines contain several antioxidants beneficial to good health. Different antioxidants have different functions, but the key feature of all these antioxidants appears to be one of protection and prevention of disease.

  Other studies also indicated that red wine can raise HDL cholesterol (the Good cholesterol) and prevent LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) from forming. Red wine may help prevent blood clots and reduce the blood vessel damage caused by fat deposits. Indeed, studies showed that people from the Mediterranean region who regularly drank red wine have lower risks of heart disease.

  Here is something very interesting. The French seem to know something about the health benefits of red wine. In a study that compared French and German red wines, the French red wines delivered a greater health benefit due to their higher level of antioxidants. This may partially account for the French paradox, where studies show that in areas of France where the diet is high in fat those who drink red wine with meals have a lower incidence of heart attack than other parts of the world. Due to vast differences in diets, the evidence is inconclusive, but experts believe that red wine contains certain compounds that help protect the heart. This has opened the door for other researchers to study the components in red wine that may be responsible for its health benefits.

  Researchers at Northwestern University Medical School have found that a chemical in red wine believed to help reduce risk for heart disease is a form of estrogen. The substance, resveratrol, is highly concentrated in the skin of grapes and is abundant in red wine. Resveratrol protects grapes and some other plants against fungal infections. It has been shown previously to have a number of potentially beneficial properties, including antioxidant, anticoagulant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer effects.

  Should I start drinking more red wine now? The answer is no. Studies showed that alcohol drinking may increase triglycerides (another bad blood lipids) and result in weight gain due to its empty calories. Other studies also suggested that alcohol consumption is associated with cancer risk. The American Heart Association cautions people NOT to start drinking if they do not already drink alcohol.

  Interested on this subject? Try this link for more of the same

  About the author:

  Written By: Dennis Miller

• Can Flaxseed Cure Heart Diseases?

  Date: 2006.12.04 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  One of the EFAs in flaxseed oil–alpha-linolenic acid–is known as an omega-3 fatty acid. Like the omega-3s found in fish, it appears to reduce the risk of heart disease and numerous other ailments.

  Flaxseed oil is an excellent source of omega-3s: Just 1 teaspoon contains about 2.5 grams, equivalent to more than twice the amount most Americans get through their diets. Flaxseeds also contain omega-6 fatty acids in the form of linoleic acid; omega-6s are the same healthy fats found in vegetable oils.

  According to the American Heart Association, about 62 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease, which can include high blood pressure, coronary heart disease (heart attack and chest pain), stroke, birth defects of the heart and blood vessels, and congestive heart failure, and close to a million die from such conditions every year.

  Heart disease is by far the #1 killer in the U. S., although 1/3 of those deaths could be prevented if people exercised more and followed better diets, the American Heart Association said in an annual report.

  Cardiovascular disease kills more Americans than the next 7 causes of death combined – including cancer – the AHA report states. Overall, slightly more females than males have cardiovascular disease. Heart disease accounted for 40% of all deaths in the U. S. in 1999.

  Perhaps the greatest evil connected with the problem of heart disease is that certain powerful drug interests deliberately suppress the truth – these are the groups which stand to benefit the most from your illness from heart disease. There is nothing as profitable to a drug company as a patient who is forced to take some drug for the rest of his life – heart medications fit in that category.

  The truth is that although the odds of surviving bypass surgery have improved since the operation was introduced, bypass surgery kills anywhere from 2% to 4% of the patients on the operating table, and more within a few months. The truth is that even respectable medical journals are now carrying articles that say that life expectancy does not increase after bypass surgery.

  About the Author:

  Rich in essential fatty acids, flaxseed oil has earned a solid reputation for treating a range of ailments. Visit Our Dedicated Flaxseed site at http://www.smartreviewguide.com/flaxseed

  Written By: Jerry H.Hall

• We Are Not Immune: Women and Heart Attacks

  Date: 2006.10.15 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  Heart disease is the #1 killer of women in America. Approximately 1 in 3 women die each year due to heart attack or stroke. Nearly twice as many women die of heart disease or stroke, than they do of any form of cancer, including breast cancer. Women are less likely than men to seek medical attention when having a heart attack. For this reason it is important to know the warning signs and symptoms and what to do in the event you feel you are having a heart attack.

  Signs and symptoms of a heart attack:

  Shortness of breath, often without any chest pain

  Flu-like symptoms such as nausea, clamminess or cold sweats

  Unexplained fatigue, weakness or dizziness

  Pain in the chest, upper back, shoulders, neck, or jaw

  Feelings of anxiety, loss of appetite, discomfort.

  If you notice one or more of these warning signs, don’t wait more than a few minutes. Do not wait longer than 5 minutes. Call 911 right away!! If you are driving in your car at the time, it is imperative that you pull the car over as soon as possible. You could lose consciousness at any moment. If you have any available and you have no known allergies to aspirin, chew 1 regular tablet of aspirin while you wait for medical help to arrive.

  Here are some tips on how you can avoid having a heart attack.

  Quit smoking

  Eat a healthy diet and cut back on foods high in saturated fats and sodium.

  Control your blood sugar if you have diabetes.

  Exercise regularly. This may sound difficult if you’re not one who exercises but start out slowly. A brisk walk 30 minutes a day can reduce your risk of a heart attack.

  Lose weight if you are overweight.

  Control your blood pressure if you have hypertension.

  A healthy lifestyle that includes exercise and eating right could help decrease your risk of heart disease and heart attack and increase your longevity.

  About the author:

  Harmoni-Ankle Inc is a created by 2 sisters with one common goal..targeting women. We feature articles relating to health,fitness,home remedies,weddings,holidays,recipes,pets,family vacations,household cleaning tricks,money saving ideas and more.

  Written By: Harmoni-Ankle Inc