Posts Tagged ‘hypertension’

• Diabetes and Your Heart

  Date: 2006.11.09 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  Diabetes is one condition that must be treated as soon as it is diagnosed, even though in its early stages it doesn’t hurt, or cause inconvenience, or create any worrisome symptoms. But ignoring it is a mistake, because the blood sugar imbalance we diabetics live with can cause a variety of complications, even leading to other serious health conditions.

  One major cause for concern is adverse effects on our hearts. Our unstable blood sugar levels can cause poor circulation–a big step on the road to heart problems. Here are some things to watch for.

  Hypertension

  Diabetes often goes hand-in-hand with high blood pressure, or hypertension. In fact, your doctor will tell you that diabetics must work to get their blood pressure down even lower than other people. While a systolic pressure (the top number) of 140 might be acceptable for the general population, we diabetics should aim for 130 or lower. It’s all part of the battle against possible heart disease.

  Blood fats

  Cholesterol and tryglycerides, or blood fats, also need to be kept lower in diabetics. Lots of fruits and vegetables, fewer packaged or fried foods are your best bets for dietary blood fat control. Throw out that frying pan!

  Blood sugar

  Blood sugar levels need monitoring too, as consistently high levels damage blood vessels and can lead to cardiovascular difficulties.

  Weight level

  And of course you know it’s important to maintain a healthy weight. Why is that particularly important for us diabetics? First, if you are overweight your heart muscle needs to work harder to pump blood through your system. This weakens your blood vessels, which are then more susceptible to damage from fluctuating blood sugar levels. It’s a vicious cycle you don’t want to create.

  Your heart is the main engine of your whole body, so you need to do everything possible to keep it in good shape. For the sake of a healthy heart, take control of your diabetes.

  About the author:

  Bob Fleming suffers from Type 2 diabetes, but he does everything he can to suffer as little as possible! Visit his website at http://www.thediabetesinfoplace.com for informative articles and resources, and sign up to receive Bob’s free weekly diabetic-friendly dessert recipe!

  Written By: Bob Fleming

• 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