Posts Tagged ‘stroke’

• Are You On A Bullet Train To Heart Attack City?

  Date: 2007.03.19 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  “It just can’t be true!” I said. “Why have they been telling us this? You can’t believe anyone anymore.” Here’s the story. For more than two decades we’ve had it drummed into our heads that high cholesterol causes heart attacks and of course the major cause of the high cholesterol has been the high saturated fat that most of us love so much.

  Drug companies spend millions to convince us (and our doctors) that if we lower our cholesterol…with Lipitor, Zocor, Crestor or Vytorin of course, then we’ll live happily ever after.

  If high cholesterol is the villain then why do half of all heart attacks happen to people with normal or low cholesterol–and two out of three occur without major artery blockages? You can have cholesterol below 200, LDLs under 100 and still have dangerous “silent” plaque deposits growing day-by-day inside artery walls.

  Cholesterol and saturated fat have gotten a bad rap. New research is showing that the primary cause of heart disease is NOT too much “bad” cholesterol. There are several more dangerous risk factors for a heart attack. One of these is the smoldering inflammation that causes the cholesterol in our arteries to turn rancid and clog our arteries.

  Dr. Nicholas Perricone says this in The Perricone Prescription. “I was always eager to challenge traditional thinking and I noticed that every time I looked at disease under a microscope–everything from arthritis to heart disease–inflammation was a component.”

  Perricone’s research focused on finding the causes of this inflammation and how to stop it. What he discovered might surprise you as it did me.

  Simple carbohydrates such as sugar and white flour (as a sweet-o-holic it pains me greatly to write this) are very inflammatory–and there is also strong evidence that they are the underlying cause of weight gain.

  How can we tell if our bodies are full of inflammation? A simple blood test measures the amount of C-reactive protein (CRP) in our blood. More than a dozen clinical studies have shown that people with high levels of CRP are at greater risk of having a heart attack or a stroke.

  How can we stop this inflammation? We need to cut way back on the sugar and other refined products and eat more cold-water fish, omega-3 oils and extra virgin olive oil. We also need a high quality natural vitamin with optimum amount of antioxidants. A one-a-day vitamin just doesn’t do the job.

  Exercise also dramatically reduces the amount of inflammation in the blood. A study at the Cooper Clinic in Dallas compared the amount of CRP in people with varying levels of fitness. Those with the highest fitness levels had nearly a 300% lower risk of having a heart attack than those at the lowest fitness levels.

  Do you want to live a vigorous, healthy and mentally sharp life? Most of us know what to do but just don’t do it. Now is the time to make those changes we’ve been putting off. A heart attack isn’t as much fun as you might think.

  About the Author

  Written By: Gene Millen – www.VitalHeart.Info

• Oral Hygiene And Heart Disease

  Date: 2007.01.13 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  There are many obvious reasons to take good care of youre teeth and gums, for instance having white, attractive teeth, fresh breath, no cavities, less dental trips, gum disease, and gingivitis. However, researches have discovered recently that having good oral hygiene can also lead to a healthy heart.

  Research has shown that people who have periodontal also have a much increased risk of having thicker carotid arteries which can lead to heart disease and stroke. This means that, the higher amount of plaque you have in your mouth is going to equal higher amounts of plaque in your heart and arteries. The connection between these two diseases is not entirely known, but scientists speculate that periodontal disease may start a surge of chemical reactions that can cause inflammation throughout the body.

  In order to protect yourself from the scary proposition of heart disease you should not only be more active and eat a healthy diet, but you should also start taking better care of your teeth. Did you know that there are more bacteria in your mouth than there is on the surface of the earth? And the if that bacteria is not cleaned out regularly it will settle in your mouth and cause gum disease. Most people dont want to admit that they are at risk for having gum disease but in fact, about 90% of adults are in at least the beginning stages of gum disease, and those people (including children) who are diabetic are at an even higher risk for contracting the disease. But, not all the news is bad, there are many ways you can prevent gum disease, and consequently, also help prevent heart problems. The steps you should take are as follows: brush your teeth twice a day, floss your teeth once a day, visit your dentist twice a year, and learn about and look for the early stages of gum disease.

  Maybe you are worried that you might already have gum disease. If that is the case, you should be looking for the following warning signs. Bleeding gums when brushing or flossing, red, swollen, and tender gums, gums that have pulled away from the tooth, exposing part of the root or making the teeth appear longer, bad breath, and permanently loose teeth. If you do have any of the above symptoms, please contact your doctor as soon as possible because if gum disease is left untreated in will only get worse.

  About the Author:

  Barney Garcia writes about many different topics. www.the-tooth-brush.info and top-cosmetic-dentistry.info and diseased-heart.info

  Written By: Barney Garcia

• 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

• Heart Health Fish Oils To The Rescue

  Date: 2006.11.04 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  Heart Health Fish Oils To The Rescue
  By Jeannie Crabtree

  In a world where heart disorders and diseases are becoming more common, lets take a look at something most of us can add to our weekly diet for prevention of heart problems.

  Omega 3 fatty acids, found in fish oil promotes heart health. A daily dose of fish oil has helped prevent, slow or even reverse the hardening and narrowing of arteries in heart disease in some studies.

  In a 2001 issue of the Annals of Internal Medicine, researchers from the University of Munich reported that a fish-oil capsule a day may “modestly” improve blood flow to the heart and bolster traditional therapy in patients with atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. In a study of 223 men and women, those who took a dose of fish oil per day for two years had fewer atherosclerosis complications such as heart attack and stroke.

  Fish oil, found in fish such as salmon, it is a key component of the low-saturated-fat Mediterranean diet that has been linked to the lower incidence of heart disease in that area of the world.

  How does fish oil work? Researchers are not ready to say, but one team of doctors used x-ray to peer into patients heart arteries at the beginning and end of one study. They found that after two years, the arteries of the fish-oil patients, on average, offered more room for blood flow to flow through, with less plaque.

  The improvements were not dramatic, however the doctors team concluded that the benefits found in this study are significant enough to warrant including fish oil as part of traditional heart-disease treatment. At minimum, taking a daily capsule or dining on fish twice weekly would fulfill the needed amount.

  Fish oil has also been found to help heart rhythm problems and can help to thin the blood as well. Research continues and always finds Fish oils to be helpful for the heart. It is certainly worth adding fish a couple times per week to the diet, isnt it?

  Jeannie Crabtree C.Ac, EFT-CC. has helped people increase their health for the last 25 years Visit her site at http://www.health-doc.com and her Healthy Living Blog at http://www.health-doc.com/blog/health-blog.html

  Written By: Jeannie Crabtree

• 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

• Abnormal Beating of the Heart: Cardiac Arrhythmias

  Date: 2006.09.15 | Category: Heart Tips | Response: 0

  Heart has a rhythmic capability to beat and pump blood to our body and remarkably, does so without fail, throughout our life. The rhythm has been destined to beat in certain prefixed numerical limits and with certain regularity. Arrhythmias are disorders characterized by abnormal beating of the heart. Arrhythmias can occur in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence. At the same time they may co-exist with diseased heart and may be life-threatening or may cause, stroke, heart failure or sudden death.

  An arrhythmia occurs when the normal electrical cycle of the heart is disturbed. Normally, tiny currents activate the upper part of the heart, just before the bottom part of the heart, which are the muscular chambers that pump blood around the body. Fast arrhythmias are referred to as ‘tachyarrhythmias’. When the heart goes too slowly due to a failure of electrical activation, it is referred to as a brady arrhythmia. Most arrhythmias arising from the top of the heart are troublesome but not life-threatening. Many arrhythmias arising from the lower of the heart, are life-threatening.

  Causes of Cardiac Arrhythmias

  Some cardiac arrhythmias result from congenital heart defects that run in families. Others arise from a variety of diseases that develop in individuals over a period of years. Others still result from sudden events such as heart attack. They may also be the result of excessive alcohol, smoking or certain drugs. Rarely despite extensive investigations no cause is found of their occurrence. Cardiac arrhythmias may be symptomatic or may cause a variety of warning symptoms such as palpitations or rapid thumping in the chest, feeling tired or light-headed, getting unconscious, having shortness of breath or chest pain.

  Types of Arrhythmias

  Following are the different types of cardiac arrhythmias:

  1. Atrial fibrillation: The heart beats too fast and irregularly. This type of arrhythmia requires treatment and can increase risk of stroke.

  2. Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia: The heart has episodes when it beats fast, but regularly. This type of arrhythmia may be unpleasant but is usually not dangerous.

  3. Ectopic beats: The heart has an extra beat. Treatment usually is not needed unless you have several extra beats in row and/or other problems with your heart – such as heart disease or congenital heart failure.

  4. Ventricular tachycardia: The heart beats too fast and may not pump enough blood. These types of arrhythmias are very dangerous and need immediate treatment.

  The Remedy

  Treatment depends on the type of cardiac arrhythmia you have. Some mild arrhythmias require no treatment. Other arrhythmias can be treated with medicines. In more serious cases, other treatments are available:

  1. Drugs.

  2. A pacemaker: An electronic device placed under the skin on the chest. It helps the heart maintain a regular beat, especially when the heart beats too slowly.

  3. Implantable cardiac defibrillation: Can be used to stop an abnormal rhythm and restore a normal one.

  4. Surgery: Can correct certain types of arrhythmias. For example, arrhythmias caused by coronary artery disease may be controlled by bypass surgery. When an cardiac arrhythmia is causes by a certain area of the heart, sometimes that part of the heart can be destroyed or removed.

  About the author:

  Lindsay Fox is a veteran of the alternative medicine industry and has a wealth of knowledge on Vaginal Warts. More info: Warts Genital

  Written By: Lindsay Fox