Heart Disease Symptoms

When I joined my first commercial gym back in 1988 I began to explore new approaches to weight training. The wide assortment of weight training equipment was staggering for someone who had worked out in the basement for years with just a barbell set and a weight bench. My new gym had a vast array of equipment — Olympic plates, exercise benches, power rack, leg presses, etc. My weight training was about to enter a radical new phase that would propel my gains to the next level.

By contrast, in a small area at the front of the gym was the cardio section. The selection of equipment was limited to a few different brands of stationary bikes and a rowing machine. There were no treadmills or elliptical trainers. The elliptical trainer was another 7 years away. Basically it was the stationary bike or nothing. At the time, this was fine since I was much more focused on weight training. I’d hop on a stationary bike for 10 minutes for a quick warm-up prior to commencing my weight workout.

I stuck with stationary bikes for many years. I eventually became aware of the need to increase my cardio work. My time on the stationary bike increased to 30 minutes and I also began setting aside sessions that were dedicated to cardio and ab training. I tried stationary bikes from Schwinn, Tunturi, and Life Fitness. I eventually settled on the newer bikes from Life Fitness, which for me had the smoothest feel and best consoles.

However, I never really enjoyed my cardio sessions on the stationary bike. It was just too darn boring! Sure, I tried reading magazines, but I didn’t like the distraction when I was going for a higher intensity workout.

I was very grateful when my gym installed its first NordicTrack skiers. It was night and day compared to the stationary bike. Several years later I switched over to elliptical trainers and there’s been no looking back.

So why are stationary bikes still with us? It would seem that the explosive popularity of treadmills and ellipticals would have pushed them to the wayside. Though stationary bikes have given up market share to treadmills and ellipticals they still have a strong following and for several good reasons:

*Like elliptical trainers, stationary bikes are low impact machines. They minimize the forces on the knees, ankles, and feet. Great for people who have joint problems or are rehabilitating after knee surgery.

*Stationary bikes can provide a strenuous cardio workout and are more than adequate for burning fat.

*Unlike elliptical trainers, stationary bikes can actually be used to build up leg muscles – quadriceps and calves. Of course, this requires progressively increasing the resistance on a continual basis. In my opinion, it’s better to keep the focus on either fat burning or cardio conditioning and use weight training for muscle building.

*Stationary bikes take up less space than elliptical trainers, which makes them a better choice for people who have limited space in their homes.

*Stationary bikes are less expensive than comparable ellipticals.

*Stationary bikes have a lot of appeal to people who enjoy cycling or mountain biking.

Some of the cons:

*Stationary bikes are not weight bearing, which means that you should engage in weight training or switch up with a treadmill or elliptical trainer to get this bone-strengthening benefit.

*Stationary bikes only engage the muscles of the lower body unlike most ellipticals, which also involve the arms. This in turn gets your heart rate up quicker making for a more efficient exercise.

*For some people, like myself, stationary bikes can be on the boring side. Decide for yourself on this point.

*A sore butt from extended sessions.

*Studies have suggested that men may be at an increased risk for impotence from over use of stationary bikes. The jury is still out on this study, but it is certainly something to pay attention to. At least there’s no risk of this from using an elliptical trainer!

Like most decisions it comes down to what fits in best with your preferences and lifestyle. The important thing is to make a decision, don’t look back, and use whatever piece of exercise equipment you choose on a regular basis. That’s the only way you’ll start seeing results!

Rich Rojas writes unbiased elliptical trainer reviews and articles on health and fitness at http://www.ellipticalhome.com.

Tags: coronary heart disease, heart disease causes, heart attack, heart disease

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, heart disease symptoms, heart beat, coronary heart disease

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 causes, heart disease treatment, heart disease, heart beat

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

This article has been read our visitors and greatly appreciated. Hopefully you will enjoy it likewise.

Initially, a person who is Suffering from kidney stones will not experience any serious symptoms of the disease. Kidney stone symptoms get serious as time passes and can turn disastrous if ignored for a longest duration. These stones are hard multitude of substances, which may include the foreign substances, as well as those from the body itself as dead tissues.

Until the size of these stones is small, they do not create any problems. However, if they grow in size and start block the passageway of the substances through the kidneys. Consequently kidney stones give rise to some problems, which may be either simple or they can be very severe too.

However, in the initial stages the kidney stones do not show any symptoms. On the other hand, the symptoms may be very modest or only one of them may occur. If just one of the kidney stones symptoms appears, the people do not take it too seriously. Some other reasons are accounted for it. However, when some of the other symptoms too, start appearance then the people get mindful of that something is wrong with them.

Due to the happening of the kidney stones, the patients feel pain in the abdomen. This is the most common kidney stones symptom. Generally, this pain begins from a mild one and it goes on increasing as the stone may grow in size.

The second symptom that the patient of kidney stone faces is the pain during urination or the menstruation. This happens if the stone blocks the flow of the urine form the kidney to the urinary tract. This hurting can be very serious depending on the blockage that the stone proves to be for the urine. Similar thing happens during the menstruation. If it becomes very painful then there is a need of medication.

In addition to the hurting during the urination, other problems with the urine also occur. One of them is the gain in the frequence of the urine and in addition to that, it becomes difficult to hold the urine. Most of the times, this occurs along with the hurting during the urination. Because of this, the problems of the patients increase.

Some people also experience coming out of blood with the urine. This happens due to the injury that the stone may cause to the nearby tissues. Sometimes due to the same reasons, some other secretions are also observed in the urine. This changes the color of the urine. Therefore, the change in the color of the urine is also a kidney stones symptom.

In addition to the problems with the urination, the other parts in the pelvic region i.e. the genital parts also experience pain.

The kidney stone also causes infections and inflammations in the surrounding region and thence these may lead to the other problems too. In such cases, the patient feels dull and unenergetic. He may develop nausea. This Sickness and vomiting without any, other reason is also a symptom of the kidney stones.

In addition to this, they patients sometimes experience fever and chills. During this fever the hurting in the bones and other parts of the body also occur. The bones of the back and abdominal parts are affected. Especially the back hurting is a severe happening during the kidney stones. This hurt may be modest in the beginning but in most of the cases, it becomes very high in the later stages.

I hope this article provided you with the information you were looking for. I have many other articles online that may be of interest to you.

Michael Malega presents several Kidney Stones Symptoms articles for your information. You can visit Michael’s web site at: Kidney Stones Symptoms http://www.kidney-stones-remedies.net/Kidney-Stones-Symptoms.php

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