Heart Disease Symptoms

You know burgers, fries, and sweets are foods to avoid high cholesterol. But did you know there are “healthy” foods that can raise your cholesterol to dangerous levels just as fast? Here are a few you may not know about…

Heart Disease and Stroke – 2 Ways to Reduce Your Risk
What is the number one killer in the world today? How can you deal with it? Learn more and stop it from claiming another life through preventive action.

Cholesterol Blood Test
If your doctor doesn’t offer you a cholesterol blood test the next time you go, be sure to ask for one. That way you will know how your cholesterol level is going and you will be able to make adjustments if necessary. Most of the time you don’t have to ask the doctor to give you a cholesterol blood test.

Heart – Love it Or Die in 5 Ways
The annual World Heart Day is on the last Sunday of September (9/28/2008). And the theme for this year is “Know Your Risk!” It is better to be late than never to highlight this heart-felt occasion…

Lower Blood Pressure Naturally and Live a Longer, Happier Life!
High blood pressure (hypertension), “the silent killer” leads to heart attacks which are the number one cause of death. The key to heart attack prevention is keeping your blood pressure chart in the “green zone”. While you can do that with medication, it is expensive and you risk some pretty nasty side-effects. You were not meant to have high blood pressure… it’s usually a do-it-to-yourself problem. You can lower blood pressure naturally, at low cost and without pricey and sometimes risky drugs. This article gives you three good ways to get started.

Diet to Control High Cholesterol – 3 Foods That Drop Bad Cholesterol Fast
What is a good diet to control high cholesterol? You can probably guess that snarfing down cheeseburgers and deep dish pizzas everyday is probably not your best plan of attack, but do you really know which foods can cut your bad cholesterol levels by 20% immediately? Here are three (3) key food groups you shouldn’t be without.

Tags: heart attack, heart disease treatment, heart disease symptoms, heart disease

Too often, different dietary plans are presented to us disguised as an Authentic Mediterranean Plan or Diet when the reality is that they have very little to do with it. Here are the 10 points that constitute an Authentic Mediterranean Diet.

What High Cholesterol Blood Tests Mean & How to Help Prevent High Cholesterol
According to the American Heart Association, in addition to the fact that one out of every two persons will die of heart disease, over 70 million Americans currently have some type of heart disease. (Note: This does not include the tens of millions of people who are in the process of developing heart disease in coming years). The cost of treating heart disease (also know as cardiovascular disease, or CVD), in both direct and indirect costs is estimated to be over $400 billion annually.

Diet For the Heart – Omega-3 Fats From Fish Reduce the Risk of Repeat Heart Attacks
Interest in the Mediterranean diet with its high content of Omega-3 fatty acids from fish has skyrocketed in recent years, after it has been observed that people living in regions bordering the Mediterranean Sea appeared to live longer and suffer less from cardiovascular disease. In particular, a Mediterranean diet that includes fish has long been associated with a low rate of heart disease in countries such as Spain, Greece, and Italy.

Life After Experiencing a Heart Attack
We are all too familiar with the phrases heart disease, heart attack and heart failure. More and more often the people that we know and love are succumbing to these life threatening heart relates issues. The more that we educate ourselves the better we can help prevent them from happening to us.

Tags: heart attack, heart beat, heart disease causes, heart disease symptoms

Tags: heart disease symptoms, heart beat, heart disease causes, heart attacks

Acai (pronounced ah-sy-ee) is a berry grown mainly in South America that has a number of nutritional properties, and has even been known to prevent certain diseases. There are a number of reasons to take acai supplements or drink acai juice on a daily basis no matter what your health needs are; here are seven of the great qualities of acai juice that everyone should take advantage of.

Antioxidants

Antocianine, one of the main substances in the acai berry, is high in antioxidants like Vitamins C and E and helps the body fight of free radicals in the environment. Harmful substances in the air like smog, cigarette smoke, and even the damaging effects of the sun can be significantly reduced by drinking acai juice.

While there are a number of other fruit juices that fight off antioxidants, none of them come close to acai juice. Acai berries are up to six times more potent than noni juice or mangosteen, so a daily intake of acai could protect you from contracting colds or the flu, as well as give your skin a healthy glow.

Calcium

Acai has a significant amount of calcium, which can help prevent osteoporosis, especially in women. Calcium helps to strengthen the bones and prevent fractures, especially in the hip, spine, and wrist, and in addition with the right diet filled with other calcium-rich foods and Vitamin D, osteoporosis can also be effectively treated.

In addition to osteoporosis prevention, women with extreme menstrual pain can also benefit from acai juice. Calcium-rich foods tend to coat the lining of the stomach and uterus, and reduce the pain that comes from cramps and bloating.

Helping to develop healthy teeth and gums is also another characteristic of calcium. For a whiter smile and stronger teeth, as well as the prevention of gingivitis as well as other gum diseases, try adding a serving of acai juice or powder to your normal dental care routine.

Lower Cholesterol Levels

Acai berries can help to lower cholesterol levels due to their high fiber content. The high fiber in content can also help to prevent colon cancer, since the fiber in the acai berry helps to move substances through the digestive track and arteries. The berries contain Omega-3 fatty acids as well, another substance that lowers cholesterol. Omega-3 fatty acids can also improve the health of your skin because it improves circulation and increase the level of protein in the body.

Macro minerals

Macro minerals are necessary minerals that are found in both foods and supplements. Most people need high amounts of these minerals, so acai juice is one of the easiest ways to make sure that you get the necessary amount of macro minerals per day. Potassium, sulfur, magnesium and phosphorous are some of the main macro minerals that people don’t get enough of. Sulfur can help to improve acne, magnesium can help women with menopausal complications, and potassium has been known to improve heart health.

Low glycemic index

Another benefit of acai is its low glycemic index. The glycemic index is the ranking of carbohydrates based on their effect on blood glucose or blood sugar levels. The quicker carbohydrates break down during digestion, the higher the glycemic index. Carbohydrates that breakdown slowly, releasing glucose gradually into the blood stream, have low glycemic index. Foods that are low in glycemic levels are slow to digest and be absorbed into the body’s bloodstream and cause the body’s blood sugar and insulin levels to rise slowly. Low glycemic Index diets have been shown to improve both glucose and lipid levels in diabetic individuals. They also have benefits for weight control because they help control appetite and delay hunger. Low glycemic levels can also help individuals who are trying to lose weight, since it keeps you fuller longer, and can even prolong physical strength and endurance.

Increased energy

Because of the acai berries ability to help fight off diseases and sicknesses due to its high level of antioxidants, a higher energy level can be attained by drinking acai juice every day. High antioxidant levels boost the immune system, and people have reported having boundless energy and endurance as a result of taking an acai supplement daily. This is also due to the high content of vitamins and minerals in acai, which can help to maintain a healthy diet by providing part of the daily allowance of certain vitamins. Acai juice constitutes a serving of fruit, so the more you consume, the more your body will be cleansed and able to run properly, and fatigue will be eliminated over time.

High celadrin levels

Even if you exercise regularly and eat well, you may still experience the effects of aging and constant physical activity. This can have an affect on your bones and organs over time, and acai berry can help to regulate your stress levels, and even to repair your body.

Celadrin, a natural anti-inflammatory compound of fatty acids that is derived from bovine tallow oil, has been known to promote healthy joint function by lubricating the membranes that cushions joints and bones. Glucosamine, a substance that works well with celadrin and is also found in acai, helps to build healthy cartilage in the body.

Once you decide to take acai on a regular basis, be sure to talk your doctor about your new diet choices to discuss ways to maximize the benefits of acai in your diet. Making certain improvements to your eating habits, exercising regularly, and taking certain prescribed medication as instructed can all help to make acai one of your best dietary choices.

Todd Levering is the publisher of a website that provides no-nonsense information about the acai berry. To get more info about acai berry research and products that are made with the acai fruit, visit http://acaipro.com.

Tags: heart disease causes, coronary heart disease, heart disease symptoms, heart beat

Alcohol, although toxic and damaging if consumed in excess, has been linked to several surprising health benefits, particularly in relation to cardiovascular health. The World Health Organization (WHO) asserts that a relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and reduced death rates from heart disease can no longer be doubted. Red wine is particularly favorable as the type of alcohol imbibed because it contains polyphenol antioxidants. Polyphenol antioxidants are instrumental in combating oxidative stress, which is linked to cardiovascular disease. Non-alcoholic sources of polyphenol antioxidants include berries, apples, grapes, celery, broccoli, onion, honey, chocolate, green tea, and olive oil. Red wine has a relatively high concentration of these antioxidants in comparison to these alternative sources.

In one study, the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular health exceed all other factors except the cessation of smoking. Alcohol is said to be hormetic, which describes a favorable biological response to low level exposure of toxins rather than the complete absence of toxins. In moderation, alcohol is linked to better cholesterol levels, decreased blood clotting, reduced artery spasms from stress, increased coronary blood flow, and increased insulin sensitivity. Moderate drinking is also said to reduce the risk of angina pectoris, which is chest pain due to a lack of blood and oxygen in the heart muscle. People who have a heart attack are more likely to survive it if they are moderate drinkers, rather than abstainers or heavy drinkers. Decreased risk of stroke is also a benefit of drinking in moderation.

Not all alcohol consumption is positive for cardiac health. Large quantity consumption of alcohol is linked to alcoholic cardiomyopathy, which is the weakening of the heart muscle, commonly known as “holiday heart syndrome.” This deterioration of muscle can eventually lead to an arrhythmia, a disruption of electrical activity in the heart, resulting in an irregular heartbeat. Heavy drinkers may also become anemic or develop thrombocytopenia, few platelets in the blood, evidenced by increased bruising and nosebleeds.

The relationship of alcohol consumption in relation to total mortality is a U-shaped pattern, where moderate consumers have a reduced death rate in comparison to both abstainers and heavy drinkers. In summary, alcohol’s mechanisms of benefits are related to its ability to improve blood lipid profile, decrease blood clotting, increase coronary heart flow, reduce blood pressure, reduce blood insulin, and increase estrogen levels. If you are interested in learning more about the effects of alcohol, both positive and negative, this alcoholism website can help.

Joseph Devine

Tags: heart attacks, coronary heart disease, heart disease symptoms, heart disease causes

When the defibrillator that you had implanted to maintain a healthy heart is recalled, there are many decisions that you may have to wrestle with as reports of injured defibrillator patients roll in. In October 2007, a large manufacturer of defibrillators and pacemakers, Medtronic, recalled several units after it was discovered that the leads used in the devices may become defective over time. The defect caused patients to experience painful shocks in their chest, forcing many of them to be hospitalized for their injuries.

If you have been implanted with a Medtronic defibrillator, you may be struggling with the decision whether or not to have the device removed. While the FDA and Medtronic do not recommend the removal of defibrillators that do not show signs of the defect, the situation causes Medtronic patients a great deal of confusion and stress. No one wants to worry that the device that was implanted in order to save their life could end up being the device that leads to their death. Those who currently have implanted devices that have not shown defective tendencies have two choices: wait until the device harms them to have it removed and take the chance that the defect will not lead to their death, or face the serious dangers of having the functioning device removed.

The argument against removal states that the removal process is very dangerous. Studies show that between 2% and 7% of all surgeries involving defibrillators result in death. The removal process becomes complicated due to the growth of body tissue around the device over time. The FDA and Medtronic recommend that you do not have your defibrillator removed unless you have begun to experience the effects of a defect. Medtronic reports that of the 268,000 devices implanted before the defect was discovered, 2.3% of patients have experienced the painful shocks associated with the recalled devices.

The argument for having the device removed before symptoms occur is surrounded by concerns that the painful shocks associated with the defect could be avoided by removal. Many people do not feel comfortable living with the knowledge that their defibrillator may become defective at any time. If you are concerned about your defibrillator, speak with a doctor for appropriate medical advice. Choosing whether or not to remove your defibrillator is a difficult choice and can only be made by each individual patient.

If you have experienced the painful effects of a defective defibrillator, contact an experienced lawyer immediately. Expensive medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and many more damages may have occurred as a result of your defective defibrillator. There is no need to suffer financially, physically, or even emotionally if the damages you have experienced were caused by a negligent manufacturer. Contact a skilled Medtronic Lawyer to learn more about your legal rights.

Joseph Devine

Tags: heart disease, heart disease treatment, heart disease causes, heart beat

For other natural health articles on a variety of topics, visit MyOnlineHealthArticles.com.

Tags: heart disease treatment, heart beat, heart disease symptoms, coronary heart disease

If you need another reason to go to bed on time, there is growing evidence that heart health is affected by how long it takes you to fall asleep and how well you sleep once you’re in dream land.

Scientists have found that sleeping too little (<5 hours per day) or too much (>9 hours per day) is linked to heart disease and hypertension.

Sleep disordered breathing (SDB) is also linked to many problems related to heart health. SDB is a general term for interrupted breathing or getting too little oxygen while asleep. In population studies, those who experience SDB are more likely to have high blood pressure and congestive heart failure as well as have a heart attack or stroke.

Glucose control also seems to be affected by quality of breathing when asleep. Sleep disordered breathing was shown to be related to a greater risk of insulin resistance and type II diabetes.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS) is another condition that interrupts sleep. People with RLS experience an overwhelming need to move the limbs that gets worse during rest. A recent study showed that people with RLS were more likely to have coronary artery disease and cardiovascular disease.

In the latest study on sleep and heart health, sleep was a factor in risk profile even in women without a diagnosed sleep disorder. Those women who had trouble falling asleep or who had poor sleep quality had higher blood levels of substances linked to heart disease and diabetes. The researchers did not find a similar relationship between reported sleep quality and biomarkers of disease in men.

How Sleep Can Help Your Heart

When you sleep, your heart and vessels gets a break as your pulse rate and blood pressure dip to levels lower than when awake.

Getting enough sleep helps reduce psychological and emotional stress that may be harmful for your heart.

Changes in satiety hormones occur during sleep. Hormones that control appetite change during sleep. Without adequate sleep, you may not benefit from the hormonal changes that result in feeling less hungry.

Changes in glucose regulating hormones occur during sleep. People who get too little sleep have less glucose control and are more likely to be insulin resistant and develop type II diabetes.

Tips for Getting Heart Healthy Sleep

Get the right amount of sleep. On average, adults need 7-8 hours of sleep each night. It’s best to get the same amount of sleep each night, rather than skimping during the week and making up for it on the weekends.

Don’t drink alcohol before bed. Alcohol intake is known to interrupt sleep, making it more likely that you will wake up during the night and not be able to get back to sleep. Alcohol also makes sleep disordered breathing worse.

Maintain a healthy weight. Obesity is linked to sleep disorders including sleep apnea.

Avoid caffeine. You may be well aware of how your sleep is affected by the time of day you drink coffee, tea or caffeinated soda. But if you are having new problems getting to sleep and staying asleep, try to avoid caffeine completely to see if that is the cause.

Take steps to relax before bed. For one, eat and do any vigorous exercise a few hours before going to bed. Prepare for bed with quiet activities such as reading.

Create a healthy sleep environment. It is recommended that you sleep where it is dark, quiet and at a comfortable temperature.

Napping can help. If you feel the need for extra sleep during the day, napping is one way to make up for lost nighttime sleep. The key is to keep the nap short and early in day so you do not have a hard time getting to sleep at night. One hour is a good guideline for taking a healthy nap.

Tags: heart beat, heart disease symptoms, coronary heart disease, heart disease causes

Heartworm is a parasite that is very common among dogs, cats, wolves, coyotes, foxes and also some other animals. The heartworm parasite is transferred through mosquito bites. Mosquitoes ingest the larva and transfer the parasite by means of biting an infected animal and then afterwards biting another uninfected animal.

The parasite then burrows itself into the animal where it undergoes several stages until it finally reaches its adult form. After the heart worm finally reaches 12 inches in length it will travel to the right side of the heart where it awaits for an opportunity to reproduce. Adult heartworm takes six to seven months to reproduce.

There are factors that brought about the infestation of heart worm (heartworm) disease and these are as follows:

1. the occurrence of susceptible host population
2. a continuous and steady supply of heart worm (heartworm) disease carrier
3. a good climate condition that makes it favorable for the continuous parasite’s life cycle
4. a stable population of vector species

How to Detect Heart Worm (Heartworm) Disease

Heart worm (heartworm) disease is commonly detected by means of a blood test. Another test called the filtration test is performed to find microfilariae in the animal’s blood. The occult test is also conducted to locate adult heartworms in the heart.

In the case that tests shows negative findings of microfilariae in the blood still other tests are conducted just to make sure. Tests for heartworm disease are usually performed in early spring before daily temperatures reaches 57 degrees Fahrenheit.

Tags: heart disease treatment, heart disease symptoms, coronary heart disease, heart attack