Long-term Pollution Exposure – A Recipe for Heart Attack

A study led by a University of Michigan public health researcher (and supported by the University of Washington) just revealed that high concentrations of air pollution can lead to an increased thickening of the inner two layers of the carotid artery. These are two very important blood vessels that supply blood to the head, neck and brain.  What this means is that long-term exposure to air pollution hardens these arteries, which in turn, leads to heart attack and stroke. The research team also determined that a reduction in exposure to pollution over a period of time meant a slower progression of blood vessel thickness. The thickness of blood vessels in human arteries shows just how much hardening exists in the body, even in those who don’t seem to have any obvious signs or symptoms of heart disease.

Researchers monitored over five thousand citizens from six different U.S cities. They took age and lifestyle into consideration and measured air pollution levels inside of the participant’s houses. They were shocked to find that people who were exposed to high levels of pollution were more likely to suffer a heart attack or stroke. The participants in this study were monitored over three years, and will continue to be monitored for seven more years. This will help researchers distinguish between cases of clinical heart disease and heart disease cases caused by long-term exposure to pollution.

The authors of this latest study say their findings help the scientific community further the understanding of how air pollution may cause increases in heart disease, heart attack, and stroke.

Even Moderate Pollution is Linked to Heart Attack and Stroke

In the last year, the results of a decade long study were published in the Archives of Internal Medicine linking moderate air pollution to an increase in the risk of stroke. Stroke is the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States. This study, conducted in Boston, concluded that even moderate exposure to pollution increases the risk of stroke by as much as 34 percent.

Almost two thousand hospital patients treated for stroke were examined for this study. The onset of stroke symptoms in patients was matched with hourly measurements of air pollution near their homes. The research team was able to determine that peak pollution exposure for stroke patients consistently occurred 12 to 14 hours before the onset of the stroke. The study also determined that black carbon and nitrogen dioxide, both associated with automobile traffic, were heavily linked with stroke risk.  Since the moderate pollution testing was only conducted in Boston, which is considered to be fairly clean, the researchers promote the need for similar studies to be carried out in other U.S cities.

The Air Quality in Your Community – What To Look For

The air quality index tells you how clean or unclean your air is, and what health concerns are associated with different levels of pollution, including heart disease and stroke. In the United States, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) sets the daily air quality index, represented by six color levels. The most common are green (good), yellow (moderate), and orange (unhealthy for sensitive groups). On rare occasions, the air quality has been listed as red, which is unhealthy for most citizens. If you already have an existing health condition, it is best to avoid going outside on orange or red days.

The Effect of Beets on High Blood Pressure

Approximately 1 in 3 American adults have high blood pressure, half of which are not on any sort of treatment. This is worrisome, as high blood pressure can vastly increase the risks of heart attack, heart failure, stroke and cardiac death.[ii] But, while lowering your blood pressure often seems like an arduous task, a study published in the journal Hypertension found that just by eating more beets, subjects were able to significantly lower their existing blood pressure.

Lead author Amrita Ahluwalia, PhD., and her colleagues recruited 15 adult participants with stage 1 hypertension for the study, whose systolic blood pressures were between 140 and 159 mm Hg (millimeters of mercury). The participants were divided into two groups, and one was given 8 ounces of beet juice to drink while the other drank 8 ounces of water. Blood pressure levels of the two groups were monitored for 24 hours after drinking the fluid, and some quite dramatic – and immediate – results were discovered . The beet juice lowered the participants’ blood pressure by about 10 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). Participants’ blood pressure showed the most dramatic drop  about 3 to 6 hours after the juice was consumed, and blood pressure lowering effects lasted up to 24 hours.

Beet High Blood Pressure with Nitrate-Rich Vegetables

This study adds to a growing body of beet research that has shown similar results. Past research revealed that drinking beet juice has a profound effect on people with high blood pressure, but only moderately lowers the blood pressure of healthy people.[iii]

“It is well known that eating fruits and vegetables is good for cardiovascular health,” said Dr. Ahluwalia. However, she adds that vegetables that are rich in nitrates, including beets and their juices, may offer special benefits for people with high blood pressure.[iv] Dr. Ahluwalia and her colleagues are currently running another study to determine if people with high blood pressure will continue to experience benefits from drinking a daily glass of beet juice for 28 days.

Beet juice may help to lower blood pressure due to their rich source of the nitrates. When you consume nitrate-rich vegetables, your body converts nitrates into nitrites, and then further converts it into nitric oxide gas. Nitric oxide causes your blood vessels to expand which allows blood to flow more easily, thereby lowering blood pressure.[v] Nitric oxide may also benefit cardiac health in other ways, such as by promoting healthy arteries and preventing blood clots.

For those who prefer eating whole foods over drinking juice, consuming about 2 whole beets will provide you with the same amount of nitrates as one cup of beet juice (along with the additional benefits of fiber and other nutrients). Also, beets aren’t the only food that contains nitrates; for example, kale is an exceptionally rich source of nitrates, as well as carrots, turnips, spinach, radish, cabbage and celery are also nitrate-rich. All of these plant foods are excellent for people who are looking to naturally lower their blood pressure, as well as people who are looking to improve their overall health.

Scientists and researchers have been aggressively conducting investigations on methods for early detection of cancer, as well as identifying effective drugs that may prevent the abnormal cell division and spread of cancer cells throughout the body.

The Association Between Heart Health and Cancer Risk

A recent medical report published in the journal Future Oncology discussed the association between heart health and cancer risk and treatment outcomes.  For decades, heart health has been considered as a separate medical entity from cancer.  However, the authors of the recent medical report has shown that maintaining good heart health may actually decrease the chances of developing cancer by producing essential proteins that prevent the abnormal cell division of cells in specific organs of the body.

Monitoring Heart Health Becomes Increasingly Important

For example, the cells of the heart, called cardiomyocytes, produce chemicals called cytokines when an initial damage to the heart occurs.  It is possible to assess heart health on a regular basis to monitor the level of cytokines in an individual; a low cytokine level will indicate that no damages currently occur in the body.  On the other hand, an individual with cellular or tissue damage in a specific organ will generally show a higher level of cytokines in the blood and this will suggest that the person requires medical treatment for a specific disease, including that of cancer.

Watching the Heart Carefully During Treatment

The report also discussed that monitoring various chemicals produced by the heart during treatment of cancer patients allows them to measure the response of the patient to chemotherapeutic drugs.  A high level of heart-specific biomarkers may indicate that the drug used in the treatment may be toxic to the patient’s heart or cardiotoxic.  Using less toxic yet equally effective anti-cancer drugs should then be administered to the patient.

The information provided in the recent medical report is very useful for both physicians and patients because it allows us to understand that maintaining good heart health may also reduce cancer risk.  Following a healthy lifestyle, including that of consuming sufficient amounts of fruits and vegetables and engaging in regular exercise, may be beneficial to cardiovascular health by allowing cardiomyocytes to effectively screen for cellular and tissue damages within the body.  For patients undergoing chemotherapeutic treatment, the heart is usually monitored by physicians to determine if the patient is well responding to the administered drugs without any adverse side effects.

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Health-centered organizations have been actively campaigning for schemes that would reduce cancer risk and the recent medical report emphasizes the need for all of us to know that this deadly disease may be prevented by maintaining good health, especially that relating to the heart.  This report increases our awareness that the heart controls a wide range of physiologic functions, including that of preventing the development of malignancies and other major medical diseases.  Our previous notion that heart diseases are totally independent of cancer incidence will now change; this association may also assist us in designing our own personalized healthy lifestyles.

Although these are some worrisome statistics, the latter fact is great news because it means that you have the power to reduce your stroke risk and thereby increase your life expectancy. Below is an easy recipe for stroke prevention that has the added benefit of also reducing your risk for heart problems.

Stroke Prevention Step #1 – Throw Out Those Cigarettes!

When it comes to stroke prevention, quitting smoking and avoiding secondhand smoke should be your top priority. This is so important because smoking doubles your risk for having a stroke and substantially increases your risk for fatal heart problems such as coronary heart disease. The good news is that it’s never too late to quit. According to The National Stroke Association, a person’s stroke risk is greatly reduced no matter how old they are when they decide to quit smoking.

Stroke Prevention Step #2 – Take it Easy on the Bottle…

Although there is some evidence that moderate alcohol consumption can lower heart disease and stroke risk, any potential benefits are negated when you drink too much. Males should not drink more than 3 alcoholic beverages per day and females should drink no more than 2. Any more than that and you increase your heart attack and stroke risk.

Stroke Prevention Step #3 – Chill Out

Stress can increase blood pressure and cholesterol levels – both of which increase stroke risk. Even more problematic is the fact that stress can make you more prone to developing atherosclerosis, (a condition characterized by a narrowing of the arteries), and approximately 80 percent of all strokes are caused by atherosclerosis. Some good ways to reduce stress include sharing your feelings, being more assertive, learning to say no, taking time to laugh, giving yourself some alone time every day, treating yourself to vacations, keeping a journal, taking a bath, meditating, exercising, and doing something that makes you laugh.

Stroke Prevention Step #4 – Get Moving

Exercise is an essential part of the stroke prevention recipe because it helps to reduce high blood pressure and cholesterol levels, to prevent diabetes, and to reduce stress – all of which are risk factors for heart attack and stroke. Perhaps even more important is the fact that exercise helps you to obtain and/or maintain a healthy body weight, which vastly reduces your stroke risk.

Stroke Prevention Step #5 – Don’t Eat Junk

Consuming a healthy diet is arguably the most important thing you can do when it comes to stroke prevention.  A healthy diet reduces the same heart attack and stroke risk factors as exercising, but its effects even are more profound. To reduce your stroke risk, start by eliminating or vastly reducing your intake of refined and packaged foods, and base you diet on whole, unprocessed foods instead.

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Be sure to also avoid all Trans fats, and to consume plenty of foods that are high in fiber and low in fat such as fruits, vegetables, whole grains and legumes. To finish off the stroke prevention recipe add in a daily dose of cold pressed olive oil and green tea. Studies have found that they both reduce the risk for stroke

One study has shown that the days after moving the clocks ahead or the act of “springing forward” an hour in March is actually associated with a heightened risk of having a heart attack. What is more interesting to note, that if you were going to just chalk these numbers up to a meaningless statistic, the opposite is actually true when the clocks “fall back” in October. The risk of a heart attack decreases by 10%.

What Does This Change Really Have to Do With Heart Health?

What this means for heart health, and heart attack risk actually does have something to do with sleep. The couple of days after moving the clocks ahead an hour requires a sleep change that is directly correlated with the time people get up to go to work. And several studies have shown that the risk of a heart attack, or another heart health related problem actually increases and hits a peak on Monday morning when people are most likely to rise early to go to work.

The Opposite Theory for Your Heart Health

The opposite theory is a pretty simple one, when the clocks “fall back” and you get that extra hour of sleep your body adjusts to the extra rest in a way that leads to a lessened risk of a heart attack, good news and a big plus for those who enjoy sleeping in.

What Sleep and Heart Health Have in Common

While most adults are well aware of how much sleep is required to be able to properly function through your day, sleep deprivation is considered a very real health concern with a direct link and impact on your heart health, and heart attack risk. The effect of sleep on your immune system, and cardiovascular health is one that shouldn’t be ignored, and trying to find a way when the clocks “spring ahead” to make certain you don’t “lose” that hour of quality sleep time could make a real difference to your heart that you were not expecting.

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Many heart health studies have pointed out that the connection DST has on your heart is a spider web of interconnected health behaviors. People who don’t get enough sleep tend to have a heightened likelihood of obesity and weight control issues, not to mention the heart health issues and a higher risk of heart attack already mentioned. Losing sleep can alter other body responses such as the body’s response to inflammation.

The variable however, quickly becomes the idea that your own lifestyle has a lot to do with it, too. Clearly a person who is more prone to work nights is going to adjust better to the idea of losing or gaining an extra hour of sleep at night. People who are considered to be morning people are more likely to have a difficult time adjusting to a time change, because it directly impacts their work schedules and day to day routines.

The Medical Report on Diet and Heart Attack

According to a recent medical report published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the Mediterranean diet may help in reducing the risk for heart attack and stroke.  The study was sparked by earlier research efforts indicating an association between this type of nutrition with lowered heart attack incidence.  However, previous studies only involved smaller study populations, as well as short observational periods.  The authors of the report were interested in conducting a randomized trial to examine the actual effectiveness of the Mediterranean diet as compared to a control diet consisting of low-fat food items on preventive heart attack and stroke.

What This Diet Means for Heart Attack and Stroke

Using a study population of approximately 7,447 individuals, the study participants were randomly assigned to either one of three groups.  The first group followed a Mediterranean diet that was supplemented with olive oil, the second group followed a Mediterranean diet that consisted of mixed nuts, whereas the third group was given a control diet that mainly contained low-fat food items.  At the same time, the study participants attended educational sessions that provided information on the nutritional value of various food items.  The study participants were also monitored for the occurrence of heart attack and stroke, as well as death for nine years.

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The results of the study showed that approximately 288 study participants suffered from heart attack and stroke within the study period.  Around 96 of the 288 individuals came from the group that followed the olive oil-supplemented meals, whereas 83 came from the group that followed the nuts-enriched meals.  On the other hand, 109 individuals originated from the group that followed the low-diet nutritional scheme.  Statistical analysis showed that the number of cases of heart attack was significantly lower among those who followed the Mediterranean meals, regardless of whether it was supplemented with olive oil and nuts.

Positive Feedback – Reducing the Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke

The report emphasized the positive effects of the Mediterranean-style meals in reducing the risk of heart attack, which was observed after an extended period of time.  The researchers who conducted the study found that following a nutritional regimen that integrated olive nuts and/or nuts can prevent cardiovascular diseases, including coronary heart disease and stroke.  Although there were differences within each meal group that was following the Mediterranean-style of nutrition, the general trend of the results showed that indeed, the risk of heart attack was lower compared to the group that consumed low-fat meals.

The Heart Attack Risk Follow-Up

This recent medical report shows strong evidence that a certain types of food items may help in lowering the risk of cardiovascular diseases.  One strong advantage of the study was that it involved a very large number of individuals from different study centers.  In addition, the follow-up period of nine years was long enough to monitor any changes and events that could have happened to the study participants.  This report may be helpful to both physicians and patients who are interested in finding effective ways in preventing heart disease.

Grudges and Stress

When someone that you care about hurts you, you may experience a variety of emotions including sadness, anger and confusion among others. When these feelings begin to over-take your life, vengeance and hostility can occur. These negative feelings can be overwhelming and can mask all of the positive aspects of your life. These negative feelings can impact your life in a drastic way.  Your life may be so wrapped up in the past that you can’t enjoy the present. These negative feelings can ultimately lead to stress if not dealt with properly. And stress can have a significant negative impact on your health, including your heart health.

Stress and Heart Problems

Un-managed stress, including the stress that comes from holding onto a grudge, can lead to emotional, psychological and physical problems, including heart problems. These heart problems can include high blood pressure, angina, and irregular heartbeats.

Forgive the Grudge for Heart Health

Forgiveness is an active decision that involves letting go of feelings of resentment and thoughts of revenge.  Forgiveness doesn’t necessarily mean that you forget the act that hurt you, but it allows you to move forward without all of the negative feelings surrounding the past event. Forgiveness allows you to remember the hurtful event without experiencing feelings of resentment of revenge. According to the Mayo Clinic there are many benefits of forgiveness including healthier relationships, improved psychological well-being, decreased stress, anxiety and hostility, lower blood pressure, fewer symptoms of depression and lower levels of substance.

Recent Research on Forgiveness and Heart Health

Dr. Britta Larsen from The University of California, San Diego asked 202 participants to think about a time where a friend had offended them. Half of the participants were asked to remember the event and how it had angered them while the other half were asked to remember the event in a more forgiving way. All of the participants were then distracted for five minutes. After the five minutes distraction period, the participants were asked to remember the event in any way that they wanted to. Blood pressure and heart rate measurements for all of the participants were monitored. The results showed that the angry group of participants had the highest increase in blood pressure when asked to recall the situation. The same effect was seen even after having five minutes of distraction. No differences were seen in heart rate levels.  This research supports the idea that letting go and forgiving those that have wronged you in the past may help to reduce your chance of heart problems by lowering your blood pressure.

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Forgiving a person that has wronged you in the past is a challenging process. However, no matter how difficult it may be, this process will be beneficial for your heart health in the long run. The Mayo Clinic breaks the forgiving process into four steps:

1. Consider the value of forgiveness and the importance of it in your life
2. Reflect on the hurtful situation
3. Actively choose to forgive the person who wronged you
4. Move away from your role as a victim in the situation

Going through this process will allow you to break free from the grudges that you’ve been carrying around and allow you to experience better heart health.

If you want to protect your heart health, forgiving those that have wronged you over the years is a good first step.  Letting your grudges go will help to decrease the stress that you’ve been experiencing and this will help to decrease your risk of heart problems. The forgiving process may be a long and difficult one, but your heart will thank you in the end.

According to recent estimates, up to nine percent of U.S. residents will develop atrial fibrillation by the age of 80. And this heart abnormality can ultimately lead to stroke and in other cases, heart failure.

According to recent research published in Circulation, mature adults with “higher circulating total long-chain omega-3 fatty acid and DHA levels were associated with lower risk of incident atrial fibrillation”.

Over 3,300 U.S. women and men (aged 65 and older and free of pre-existing heart failure) had their plasma phospholipid levels of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), docosapentaenoic acid (DPA), and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) measured using the usual methods.

When the information was evaluated both total omega-3 and DHA showed parallels with a considerably decreased incidence of atrial fibrillation.

Dariush Mozaffarian, a professor at Harvard Medical School and lead author of the study says the results show serious promise for those with heart issues. “A 30 percent lower risk of the most common chronic arrhythmia in the United States population is a pretty big effect”

This new information follows alongside other studies of its kind that conclude people who make fish a regular part of their diet have a lower risk of developing atrial fibrillation. But the information certainly has its critics.

The theory of omega’s (especially the ones found in food) need to be broken down further in order to make sense of the study. The omega fatty acids found in the study in the journal Circulation, were EPA and DPA. These particular omega-3’s (fatty acids) are found in oily fish and eggs, but can also be found in several fish oil supplements.

A big part of the opposing stance is that some of the earlier studies relied mainly on inconclusive quiz results that made it difficult to estimate the particular amount of omega-3s any given individual ingested.

Mozaffarian commented “Any given fish species can vary in its omega-3s by ten-fold” which can make deciphering the results tricky.

More accurate measurement strategies followed whereas 3, 326 senior aged adults were tracked. Results showed that those with high omega-3 levels in their bloodstream were 30 percent less likely to develop arrhythmia compared to those with little or no omega-3’s in their blood stream.

Mozaffarian did warn, however, that the study does not conclude that that eating fish is responsible for the lower rates, but clarifies there is some idea fatty acids found within the fish provide a great deal of promise.

We can only expect with this amazing recent development, that more information will soon come available putting fish oils in the forefront as a fantastic preventative measure against arrhythmia.

The Basics of Healthy Blood Pressure

About one third of adults in the United States suffer from high blood pressure.Blood pressure problems, including high blood pressure, often have no symptoms and many people go undiagnosed for years.  This is cause for concern because high blood pressure can lead to heart, blood vessel and kidney damage as well as other health problems. It is important to have your blood pressure monitored regularly to make sure that you aren’t suffering from silent blood pressure problems.

Healthy Blood Pressure Changes

Blood pressure changes throughout the day; it is lower when you sleep and increases when you’re active.Blood pressure involves two different measures – systolic (top number) which is your blood pressure when your heart is pumping blood and diastolic (bottom number) which is your blood pressure when your heart is at rest in between beats.Optimal blood pressure is 120/80mmHg or lower.  Pre-hypertension is 120-139/80-89mmHg. Pre-hypertension means that your blood pressure is not optimal and you may be at risk for developing blood pressure problems in the future if you don’t take steps to prevent it.  Stage 1 hypertension is 140-159/90-99mmHg and Stage 2 hypertension is 160 or above/100 or above

The Study on Healthy Blood Pressure

Researchers from Harvard Medical School studied 22 men and women who either had pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension and who also regularly slept 7 hours or less for a period of six weeks. The participants were either assigned to a sleep extension group (aiming to increase their sleep by 1 hour each day) or a sleep maintenance group (aiming to go to bed at the same time every day). Blood pressure measurements as well as blood and urine samples were taken at the start and end of the study.

Participants that were in the sleep extension group managed to increase their daily sleep by 35 minutes, on average; while those in the sleep maintenance group increased their daily sleep time by 4 minutes, on average. The systolic and diastolic pressures of the participants in the sleep extension group decreased significantly (on average by 14mmHg and 8mmHg).  The individuals in the sleep maintenance group also saw a reduction in their systolic (7mmHg average) and diastolic (3mmHg average) pressures, although their decreases were not significant.  The researchers concluded that an extra hour of sleep can have a significant effect on blood pressure for individuals suffering from pre-hypertension or stage 1 hypertension.

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It’s important to keep in mind that while this was an extremely small study, with only 22 participants, it does provide insight into a possible new treatment approach for individuals with blood pressure problems. Increasing the amount of sleep may compliment other lifestyle changes (diet and exercise changes) that are often recommended to these individuals.  Future research should include larger studies that look at whether sleep is a possible additional treatment option for individuals that have blood pressure problems.

Preventing Blood Pressure Problems

If you’re looking to steer clear of blood pressure problems, now and in the future, in addition to making changes to your sleep pattern as this recent study suggest you should do, Harvard Men’s Health Watch recommends that you also do the following:

-          Maintain a healthy weight

-          Eat a healthy, balanced diet

-          Reduce your sodium intake

-          Don’t smoke

-          Monitor your blood pressure at home

-          Drink alcohol in moderation

-          Take the right blood pressure medication, in the right dose

Broken Heart Syndrome Symptoms

According to Mayo Clinic, broken heart syndrome can cause symptoms which are similar to those experienced during a heart attack and stroke. The most common symptoms include sudden and intense chest pain, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat and feelings of weakness.

Broken Heart Syndrome Causes

Although broken heart syndrome is most often caused by an outside event or mental stressor, it has a real and physical impact on your heart health. The exact cause of broken heart syndrome is unknown; however preliminary research suggests that it is caused (at least in part) by a surge of stress hormones. More specifically, the stress of a broken heart causes a sudden surge of stress hormones such as adrenaline to flood your body and to temporarily weaken your heat. The flood of hormones also causes a part of your heart to temporarily enlarge and it reduces the ability of that specific part of your heart, to pump properly.

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The rest of your heart either functions normally or it responds by pumping with forceful contractions. The stress hormones may also contribute to heart problems by causing the arteries of the heart to temporarily constrict.

Broken Heart versus Heart Attack and Stroke

It should be noted that broken heart syndrome vastly differs from a heart attack and stroke. Heart attacks are usually caused by a build-up of fat in the heart arteries and a blood clot which blocks the flow of blood to the heart. Stokes also occurs from a blockage of blood flow, only the blockage effects the brain instead of the heart. Although broken heart syndrome may cause a temporary reduction of blood flow to the heart, it does not cause a complete blockage of the heart arteries.

Facts and Risk Factors

It is estimated that 1 to 2 percent of patients who are diagnosed with heart attacks are actually suffering from broken heart syndrome.  Women are much more prone to experiencing heart problems from a broken heart then men, with 90-95 percent of all patients being female. Age is also a factor, and the majority of patients are over the age of 50. Broken heart syndrome is also much more common amongst post-menopausal women. The exact reason for this is unknown; however it is likely due to hormonal differences caused by menopause.

The Effects of a Broken Heart on Heart Health

The good news is that most patients, who experience heart problems caused by a broken heart, will experience complete recovery within two months. Also, unlike heart attack and stroke victims, patients with broken heart syndrome almost never experience long term damage. In fact, in a 5 year follow-up study, not one patient had experienced a recurrence.

In order to prevent the exposure of nonsmoking individuals to secondhand smoke and decrease the incidence of heart attack and stroke, state and local government agencies have put in place laws that restrict indoor smoking in public places.  According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), implementing indoor smoking ban protects the heart health of nonsmoking individuals and hopefully, decreases the incidence of heart attack across the United States.

The Worst US Cities – Heart Attack and Stroke

The recent report issued by the CDC lists fifty of the largest cities in the U.S. that have implemented both local and state laws against indoor smoking.  The report showed that smoking bans vary across the country, and it may be possible that one city is only governed by a local anti-smoking law and that statewide restrictions do not exist.  This discrepancy thus reflects the level of implementation of indoor smoking bans, which may also well suggest specific cities that offer better protection against the harmful effects of secondhand smoke, include heart attack and stroke.

Heart Problems and the Anti-Smoking Laws

Discrepancies in local and state anti-smoking laws have been reported in the following cities: Los Angeles, CA; Philadelphia, PA; San Diego, CA; Jacksonville, FL; San Francisco, CA; Las Vegas, NV; Miami, FL; Atlanta, GA; and Virginia Beach, VA.  The CDC report is quite interesting because it directly shows the largest cities that do not have local and state anti-smoking laws in place and thus, this information may be helpful for travelers who are concerned about their risk of heart attack and stroke due to secondhand smoke.  This CDC report may also be used by local and state government officials in improving measures for the prevention of smoking-related heart ailments.

CDC Report on Heart Attack and Stroke

Another related and interesting report on the effectiveness of indoor smoking bans has been recently published in the Journal of Community Health.  The report presents the results of a study that examined the incidence of heart attack in various large cities in the US before and after the implementation of indoor smoking bans.  The research study reviewed hospital data on the number of cases of heart attack among individuals with ages 45 years and above.  From this information, mortality rates due to heart attack were calculated, and these values were compared before and after a full year of implementation of the smoking ban.  The authors of the report also reviewed which US cities had local and state anti-smoking laws, to fully determine whether this legislation is indeed helpful in decreasing heart disease due to secondhand smoke.

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The results of the study were very interesting, in which New York City, only of the largest cities with both local and state anti-smoking bans, showed a 12% decrease in heart attack cases for the year 2004.  According to the CDC report, New York City has the strongest laws against indoor smoking, following both local and state laws that prohibit smoking in restaurants, bars, and other places.  The 12% decline in smoking-related heart diseases far surpassed the expected decrease in heart attack incidence.  On the other hand, the largest cities in California, including Los Angeles and San Diego, did not any significant decrease in the number of smoking-related heart ailments, which directly reflects the discrepancies in anti-smoking laws at the level of the local and state governments.

The effect of secondhand smoke on heart health may not be immediately observed in the general public and may only be seen after years of exposure.  The use of anti-smoking laws in at least two levels of government may help curb the occurrence of heart disease due to exposure to secondhand smoke.  These two recent medical reports may help health officials in identifying major cities that require improvements in public health laws, especially those concerning heart disease.

The winter season is just around the corner and some of us are getting ready for the cold days and nights associated with low temperatures and several inches of snow on the ground.  Winter is also the time for the holidays, when loved ones and good friends come visit and catch up with each others lives.  This festive time of the year always brings back good memories, with the coming winter bringing in new memories to keep.

Heart Attack Risk in Winter

Amid these joyful events that often happen during winter, this season is also associated with a higher incidence in heart disease.  According to a recent medical report, the mortality rate due to heart attack and heart disease is alarmingly higher during winter and thus it is important for the general society to understand that underlying cause of this.  It may also be helpful to be aware of certain activities that may increase an individual’s heart attack risk.

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The medical report described a study involving approximately 11,412 patients who were admitted to the emergency room from January 1998 until February 2010 for either a heart attack or a complication associated with heart disease.  These patients were then further classified according to the heart condition that they developed, namely a heart attack, an aortic aneurysm, or an aortic disease.  In addition, the current temperature during the day that the patients were brought into the emergency room was also collected in order to establish whether the weather played a role in the increasing heart attack risk.

The Results of the Heart Attack Risk Study

The results of the study showed a significant association between the occurrence of heart attack or complications with heart disease when the daily temperature was low.  The number of hospital admissions was therefore higher during the winter, whereas visits to the emergency room during summer, spring, and fall were lower.

The researchers of this medical study discussed that the fluctuations in temperature during the wintertime, in which the temperature dips during the evening and rises during the day may have increased the heart attack risk of the study participants.  These fluctuations are less likely to be observed during the other seasons of the year, where the temperature range for the day and night stays within a small range.  In addition, the heart attack risk of elderly individuals are generally higher than the younger members of society and thus, coupling this with lower temperatures during the winter often results in a higher incidence of deaths due to cardiovascular ailments.

The results of the study may be very useful for both physicians and the general society because this provides a direct examination of the role of temperature in increasing heart attack risk.  Although the factors influence the development of heart disease have long been established, it is also important for the general public to be aware of other external factors that may trigger the occurrence of cardiovascular incidents.

Heart Attack and Heart Attack Risk

The recent medical report has also shown that air pressure does not influence the incidence of cardiovascular events and that temperature serves as the main factor that increases problems associated with heart disease.

The medical report may be used by readers as a guide on how to plan for the winter season, especially when elderly individuals are present in the family.  It may thus be beneficial to consider spending the holidays in a warmer place, or increase the heating temperature in the home, or possibly keep the fireplace running during the winter season.  This may help keep the family warm and cozy during the cold months and more importantly, possibly decrease the chances of cardiovascular conditions during winter.  Following a healthy lifestyle of eating fruits and vegetables may also help in increasing the quality of one’s heart health.

Higher Incidence of Heart Attack Risk and Stroke

Interestingly, the currently larger elderly population is now associated with a higher incidence of heart attack and stroke.  According to a recent medical report, the elderly population size will continue to increase in the coming decades, resulting in a heightened occurrence for cardiovascular diseases, heart attack, and stroke.  The study showed that the next generation of elderly individuals, also known as the baby boom generation, is currently in their 40’s to 60’s and thus in a couple of decades, this population will reach their elderly stage.  The baby boom generation appears to have extensively benefited from the medical improvements and thus are expected to live to the age of 80, 90, and beyond.  Half a century ago, the life span of an individual was within the age range of 30 to 50 years old, often succumbing to infectious or cardiovascular diseases.  Today, physicians are capable of identifying patients who have a greater heart attack risk and may thus prevent the development of a heart attack or stroke.

Identifying the High Heart Attack Risk Patients

The Canadian study involved reviewing hospital data on the occurrence of cardiovascular conditions such as heart attack and stroke in all provinces of the country except Quebec during the years 2002-2003 and 2009-2010.  These time points were chosen to determine whether there were indeed any changes in cardiovascular incidents based on the predominant generation during each time point.  Interestingly, the results of the study showed that the number of hospitalizations due to stroke or myocardial infarction was lower during 2009-2010 compared to that in 2002-2003.  However, projections based on the size of the baby boom generation suggests that by year 2020, there will a 10% increase in the incidence of cardiovascular disease.  This 10% increase equates to more than 6,000 cases of stroke or myocardial infarction for Canada alone.

These estimates on the potential number of stroke or heart attack cases in the next decade can be quite alarming and thus prompts the healthcare system to improve its methods in addressing this surge in patients.  This projection also emphasizes the importance of following a healthy lifestyle to decrease heart attack risk and the occurrence of stroke.  Increasing the amount of fruits and vegetables in the daily diets, as well as engaging in regular exercise may also be helpful in lower one’s heart attack risk.  It may also be beneficial to undergo routine physical checkups with the doctor to identify any factors or activities that may decrease a patient’s heart attack risk.

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Developments in the medical field have extensively improved the ways in detecting, monitoring, and treating specific diseases.  These improvements have also extended the current life span of the general society.  These developments are actually very positive, yet there may always be additional measures that need to be established in order to address the health issues related to a longer lifespan.

The findings presented in the recent medical report are very important in designing healthcare programs in various countries around the world.  The Canadian heart study serves as a model on what to expect in the coming years in terms of the incidence of heart diseases.  This report may also prompt the government to secure funds to support the expansion of national health services to delivery quality healthcare to the general society

Heart Attack and Stroke Risk – Soft Drinks

In order to decrease stroke risk and heart attack, it is therefore essential to lead a healthy lifestyle.  It is important to control our total body weight by choosing healthy and nutritious food items that are consumed on a regular basis.  Engaging in proper exercise may also reduce the risk for stroke.  Getting enough rest each night may also help in lowering the chances of stroke and heart attack.  We may be very cautious now in our choices of food and daily activities, yet there are also certain acts that may increase the likelihood of suffering from a stroke.

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According to a recent medical report, certain dietary patterns may increase stroke risk or increase the probability that one might suffer from a stroke.  Based on the findings of around 40,000 adults, a study conducted in the Netherlands showed that even a simple act of drinking a can of pop each day might significantly increase the chances of developing a stroke.  The study involved asking the study participants to complete a questionnaire on dietary patterns.  The questionnaire was so specific— it included identification of food items that were classified into 31 food groups.  Thirteen years after completion of the questionnaire, the researchers then made a follow-up on the study participants to determine which individuals eventually developed a stroke.

The Heart Attack/Stroke Risk Study

The results of the study showed that approximately 1,843 study participants later developed heart disease and 588 subjects had already suffered a stroke.  These two groups were then analyzed in terms of the actual types of food items that they identified in the questionnaire.  The results of the analysis showed that study participants who followed a Western type of diet, which included the consumption of French fries, soft drinks, and other fast food items, were more likely to suffer a stroke.  On the other hand, study participants following a prudent dietary pattern that consisted of high-fiber, low-calorie food items were associated with a lower stroke risk.

The results of this study are very helpful in designing dietary patterns for individuals that aim to reduce stroke risk and lead a healthy lifestyle.  This study, which involved a large study population, may be useful in the campaign for healthy lifestyles because it identifies actual food items that may later result in the development of stroke.  The report showed that a person does not have to take large amounts of a certain food item such as soft drinks to result in a severe medical condition and that the longer use of this specific item over an extended period of time may also result in the same effect.

Soft Drinks and Heart Attack – The Real Story

Soft drinks may be an enjoyable drink for most of us and that we may think that having one can of soft drink a day would not be harmful to our health.  However, this recent report has shown that our bodies are very sensitive to different food items and the effects may not appear on a short-term.  This observation of higher risk for cardiovascular events may suggest that the effects of food items are gradual and that the ultimate result of its consumption may appear after several years.

Cardiac Care Myth 1: An Aspirin a Day Will Keep the Heart Doctor Away

Aspirin therapy can be beneficial to certain high risk individuals because it helps to prevent potentially fatal blood clots from forming and blocking the arteries. As such, if you have a history of stroke or heart attack, your doctor may weigh the costs and benefits and advise you to take an aspirin on a daily basis. However, if you are taking a daily aspirin as a self-prescribed method of cardiac care, your aspirin regime can cause much more damage than good. Researchers reviewed data from 9 large scale studies, and found that not only did aspirin not reduce death risk; it actually increased the risk for potentially life threatening bleeding in the majority of individuals. Bottom line, unless your doctor tells you otherwise, you should avoid the long-term continual use of aspirin.

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Cardiac Care Myth # 2: A Bottle of Wine Will Keep the Heart Working Fine

Many studies have found that moderate alcohol consumption (no more than a serving or two per day depending on body size) can help to lower atherosclerosis and heart attack risk. What many people fail to take away from these studies is the ‘serving or two a day’ part which is the most important part when it comes to lowering bad cholesterol levels and heart attack risk. In other words, if you think that you can forgo alcohol during the week and then down a bottle of wine, or worse a bottle of vodka at weeks end, you are gravely misinformed. Drinking too much alcohol all at once not only damages your liver, it also causes the unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels to rise and consequently increases your risk for heart attack and stroke.

Cardiac Care Myth #3: Cholesterol Will Clog Your Artery Walls

Cholesterol containing whole foods such as egg yolks, liver and butter have been given an unnecessarily bad rep and many people have been told to avoid them if they want to prevent clogging up their arteries. However, recent research published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition has found that egg yolks have no influence on heart attack or stroke risk. What’s more, egg yolks are chocked full of nutrients and may even help you to live longer and healthier by reducing your risk for cancer, controlling your weight and preserving your eyesight. Cholesterol is essential for the health of your hair, skin and nails and more importantly perhaps, it is required for healthy brain function and a sense of mental well-being. As with most good things, you can overdo it however, and moderation is key.

Cardiac Care Myth #4: Fat is Your Heart’s Nemesis

Fats are essential to life. They provide your body with energy, balance your blood sugar levels, help maintain brain health and are vital to the production of numerous hormones. In fact, many studies have found that refined carbohydrates found in white bread, white rice and sugar products are the true enemy of the heart.  This does not mean that fatty foods are a free-for-all and if you want to maintain a healthy heart and live longer, you should avoid trans- fats which are found in baked, fried and many highly processed foods. You should also avoid cooking with vegetable oils because the high temperatures cause the oils to oxidize and become rancid, and rancid oils are bad for the body.  The key to consuming fats without sacrificing the health of your heart is emphasizing healthy fats, such as olive oil, coconut oil, flaxseeds, walnuts and cold-water fish.

Blood Sugar and Sex Drive

In terms of proper nutrition, controlling blood sugar may also improve an individual’s chances to live longer.  Elevated blood sugar has been strongly linked to the development of diabetes mellitus, which is an endocrine disorder that requires strict control of starchy food items to prevent further damage to the body.  For some individuals positively diagnosed with diabetes mellitus, a daily injection of insulin is required to help the body decrease one’s level of blood sugar.  For others, a strict diet that is low is sugar, without insulin injections, are recommended.  It is therefore important to visit a doctor to determine the actual condition of a person in terms of how to address this endocrine problem.

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According to a recent medical report published in the journal Obstetrics and Gynecology, the occurrence of diabetes mellitus may also affect a woman’s sexual function, especially those at their middle to older adult years.  For years, most of the reports on the relationship between sexual function and elevated blood sugar focused on males, as a comorbidity in reports on sexual dysfunction caused by other medical conditions, such as prostate cancer and erectile dysfunction.  The authors of the medical report were thus prompted to examine whether such issues regarding sexual function occurred among women.

The research study was conducted among approximately 2,270 women with an average age of 55 years old (age range: 40–80 years old).  The study participants were further groups according to the occurrence of diabetes mellitus, as well as on the usage of insulin injections for the control of blood sugar.  Three study groups were thus created, those without diabetes mellitus, those with diabetes mellitus and taking insulin, and those with diabetes mellitus and not taking insulin.  The study participants were then given questionnaires that asked information about their sexual activity.

Keeping Blood Sugar in Control – Living Longer

The results of the study showed that the women with diabetes mellitus who were taking regular insulin shots showed a higher number of complaints regarding their sexual activity, as compared to those women with diabetes mellitus and not taking insulin shots or non-diabetic women.  The complaints regarding poor sexual function included a difficulty in lubrication during sex, and a lower chance of having an orgasm.  These reports may thus affect the quality of the women’s sexual activity, which may also influence their relationship with their partners.

The study also showed that aside from the women with diabetes mellitus are also more likely to develop further complications such as heart disease and renal dysfunction.  These additional medical conditions may also influence a woman’s capacity to enjoy sex, aside from the common complaints that were caused by their elevated blood sugar.

Cardiac Care and Heavy Drinking

According to a recent medical report published in the journal Hypertension Research, the effect of alcohol consumption may also vary in terms of the general health condition of the drinker.  Most of the earlier studies on alcohol drinking and cardiovascular diseases focused on establishing a direct relationship between the two factors.  However, it is also important to understand that alcohol drinkers can be further classified according to the amount or frequency of drinking performed within a specified duration of time.  Furthermore, individuals positively diagnosed with a cardiovascular disease may also be different from one another, in which some willingly take their prescription drugs for the disease, whereas others choose to ignore the medication and continue on with their daily lives.  Determining an individual’s risk for stroke should thus be based on the patient compliance to prescription drugs, as well as the quality of life that they are leading.

The results of the research study were based on a 13-year investigation of approximately 2,033 Japanese men without cardiovascular disease at the start of the study.  These men were monitored in terms of their initial blood pressure, which is considered as their prime sign in determining the type of cardiac care required by each individual.  The study participants were also monitored in terms of the frequency and amount of alcohol drinking performed for their entire study period.  Individuals who eventually developed cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension and stroke were identified and this information was correlated to the data on alcohol consumption and prescription drug intake.

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The research study showed that the risk for stroke was highest among the study participants who engaged in heavy alcohol drinking.  Interestingly, this stroke risk was higher among men who were diagnosed with hypertension, as compared to the heavy drinkers without hypertension.  Interestingly, study participants who were hypertensive yet were not taking any prescription medication showed a different pattern for stroke risk, in which the men who have never engaged in drinking yet were hypertensive were observed to have the highest risk for stroke.

This recent medical report has further classified various types of responses of individuals to alcohol consumption.  The results of this study showed that indeed, heavy drinking is associated with a higher risk for stroke and thus prompts the person to give more attention to cardiac care.  However, it is also worthwhile to know that even among non-alcohol drinkers, the risk of stroke is high and thus it is important to understand the various factors that may help a person to live longer.

For several decades, stroke has been considered as a condition that commonly afflicts the elderly.  However, recent research efforts have shown that the occurrence of stroke may also be associated with other age groups.  According to a recent medical report published in the journal Stroke Research and Treatment, certain risk factors may increase the incidence of stroke in the general public.  Using a study population consisting of approximately 1,027 stroke patients, the proponents of the study examined the features of the study participants, including age, gender, and other diseases such as diabetes and hypertension.  This research design allowed the investigators to directly determine specific risk factors that may influence the development of stroke.

Stroke and the Study on Cardiac Care

The study population classified the patients according to age groups, namely young adults, who were below 50 years of age, middle-aged, or those who were within the age range of 50–80 years old, and very old, or those individuals who were 80 years old and above.  Each group of study participants was then examined in terms of the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases and gender.

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The results of the study showed the male participants experience a cerebrovascular incident or stroke at a younger age than female participants.  In addition, young adults were more active in drinking and smoking, as compared to the middle-aged and very old age groups.  When all these variables are factored in, the analysis showed that the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases might be higher among young adults if they are engaged in heavy drinking and smoking.  It is thus important to monitor the heart health of individuals even during young adult ages because this may provide information on whether cardiac care measures need to be adapted by an individual.

This recent medical report provides helpful information in understanding how heart health can be improved even during younger adult years.  The findings in the study also show that cardiac care may prevent the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, especially during the aging process.  The report showed that despite the advanced age of the other study participants, the risk for cardiovascular disease might be lower if they are leading a healthy lifestyle that includes eating fruits and vegetables and avoiding alcohol beverages and smoking.  On the other hand, the heart health of a young adult might be of less quality if he or she is frequently drinking huge amounts of alcoholic beverages.  Coupling heaving drinking with smoking may also further facilitate in the deterioration of heart health.

Physicians and health-focused government agencies have actively campaigned for healthy lifestyles, including regular exercise and the consumption of nutritious food items.  These efforts may serve as cardiac care measures that may result in a healthy body.  Following a healthy lifestyle may also decrease the incidence of mortality due to cardiovascular diseases, which is generally considered as a preventable and lifestyle disease.  Consumption of fruits and vegetables may increase the amount of vitamins and minerals that enter the body, as well as serve as a source for antioxidants that help in the repair of damaged tissues.

When meeting with your cardiologist being honest is key to ensure proper cardiac care and optimal heart health. Lying to your cardiologist can lead to further heart problems, including heart attack. There are five secrets that you shouldn’t ever keep from your cardiologist.

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You’re Taking Vitamins and/or Supplements

Many people turn to alternative therapies including vitamins and supplements to help them manage health conditions that they have. From a cardiac care stand-point, some of these supplements can actually interfere with heart medications that you may have been prescribed by your cardiologist. Be upfront about all over-the-counter medications, vitamins, herbal remedies and supplements that you are taking in order to avoid a potentially deadly combination.

You’re Seeing Other Doctors

Many people seek out a second opinion on their condition from another doctor, but fail to mention this to their cardiologist. It is vital that your cardiac care specialist have all of the pieces of the puzzle to provide you with the best care possible. Don’t worry, you won’t offend your cardiologist by getting a second option, they are they to provide you will the best care possible and sometimes this involves multiple healthcare providers.

You’ve Stopped Taking Your Medication (or you didn’t even fill the prescription!)

It’s important to take your medication as prescribed from your cardiologist, but if you haven’t been taking it – tell them. Many patients believe that changing their diet and lifestyle habits (for example -exercising more, quitting smoking, etc.) means that they don’t have to take their prescribed medication. While changing lifestyle factors can have a positive effect on your health, you may still require the medication for optimal heart health. Also, if you’re supposed to be taking blood pressure medication and you aren’t and your cardiologist takes your blood pressure and its high you may be prescribed unnecessary medications.

You’re Stressed Out

Serious life events such as a death of a loved one, the loss of a job, the end of a marriage, etc., can cause extreme levels of stress which can increase your blood pressure significantly. Tell your cardiologist about significant life stressors that may be affecting you so that they can monitor you more closely during these times to help prevent a heart attack from occurring.

You’re Not Following Your Exercise Plan

Saying that you’re exercising regularly when you’re not isn’t going to improve your heart health. And lying about it may actually create more of a problem for you. If your cardiologist asks you if you’re exercising and you say yes – they believe you. If your cardiologist then asks if you have any chest pain and you say no, – they believe that you don’t have chest pain, even when exercising. If you lied about exercising, you could have chest pain if your heart was actually stressed. If you tell your doctor the truth – that you haven’t been exercising – he/she can perform a stress test to determine how your heart will respond under the stress of physical activity. This will give them a more accurate picture of your heart health.

It is important to find a cardiologist that you have a good relationship with and feel comfortable telling the truth to. Don’t feel embarrassed to tell your doctor the truth, lying to your cardiologist will only hurt you in the long run. Being upfront and honest with your cardiologist will help to prevent a devastating heart attack. Do you really want to suffer a possibly fatal heart attack because you were too embarrassed to tell your doctor the whole truth?

The Cardiac Care Research

The researchers conducted an observational study, involving over 1,200 men and women with a mean age of 61.5 year that were seen at vascular prevention clinics at London Health Sciences Centre’s University Hospital. The researchers measured carotid plaque build-up in the arteries in each of the participants. The study participants were asked to filled out questionnaires regarding their lifestyle habits and medications including pack-years smoked (the number of packs smoked per day multiplied by the number of years smoked) and egg-yolk years (the number of egg yolks eaten per week multiplied by the number of years the individual ate egg yolks). The researchers found that after the age of 40, the amount of plaque build-up steadily increased in all individuals.  However, for the participants who consumed the most egg yolks (3 or more per week), the plaque build-up in their arteries was substantially greater than what was seen in individuals who ate fewer egg yolks.  The carotid plaque buildup seen in these individuals was approximately 2/3 of the plaque build-up that was seen in the heaviest smokers in the study.  The researchers concluded that high egg yolk consumption and the resulting plaque build-up is similar to what is seen in smokers.

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Plaque build-up in arteries is a significant risk factor for heart disease and stroke.  When plaque builds up in the arteries, the artery walls thicken.  This leads to a narrowing of the artery which makes blood flow more difficult, placing an increased burden on the heart because it has to pump harder to make the blood flow.   Additionally, if plaque breaks off from the artery walls, it can impair blood flow to the heart or brain resulting in a heart attack or stroke.

The findings from this study do provide some insight into possible diet modifications that can be made for cardiac care and the prevention of heart disease and stroke; however, it did have a number of limitations which need to be addressed in future research, including:

-The questionnaires relied solely on the participants recollection of egg yolk consumption which may have been inaccurate

-There was no monitoring of how the eggs were cooked (scrambled, fried, etc.) or if anything was added to the eggs (salt, pepper, butter, etc.)

-Other risk factors for heart disease and stroke were not assessed (alcohol consumption, amount of exercise, etc)

The findings from this study suggest that regular consumption of eggs yolks should be avoided in people that are at risk for heart disease and stroke.  However, as mentioned above, this study had multiple limitations and therefore additional research is needed to determine the exact role that egg yolks play in heart disease and stroke while taking other factors into consideration including diet, exercise, etc.

The research conducted through the Kaiser Permanente Medical Care Program in Northern California is considered preliminary but has been published in the Archives of Internal Medicine. It indicates that commonly used blood pressure drugs increase the risk of lip cancer by two to four times. The study involved over 23-thousand participants and included an examination of pharmacy data, as well as cancer registry information to compare the relationship between blood pressure medications and lip cancer. The study also looked at the duration of taking blood pressure drugs. It turns out that with certain blood pressure medications the risk increases as the duration of drug use increases. It came as no surprise to researchers that smokers who participated in the study were more likely to get lip cancer than non-smokers.

What This Means for Cardiac Care

The beta blocker atenolol was tested and didn’t appear to increase the risk of lip cancer. This drug doesn’t increase susceptibility to sun damage, while many other blood pressure drugs do.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention one in 3 American adults has a blood pressure problem. Our vascular system is connected to a number of health related issues that are costing lives. Vascular ailments can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and congestive heart failure.  If you want to avoid these pitfalls and live longer there are simple steps you can take:

•              Eat a healthy diet

•              Maintain a healthy weight

•              Avoid alcohol

•              Avoid smoking

•              Commit to exercising

If you are taking blood pressure medication, there is no need to worry about these latest findings. Some physicians say the study may not truly reflect a cause and effect between medications and lip cancer.  They also believe that if you take the proper precautions when you are in the sun, such as wearing a hat, sitting under an umbrella, and using lip sunscreen you will be further reducing your risk.

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Lip cancer is more prevalent among white men over the age of 50. Studies indicate that many are likely to develop this form of the cancer due occupation-related sun exposure, combined with greater use of both alcohol and tobacco. The bottom lip is about 12 times more likely to be affected. If you were to get lip cancer, researchers from Northern California say it is treatable and rarely spreads.

According to a recent medical report published in the Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine, there are certain warning signs that could serve as screening factors in determining whether an individual might potentially develop heart disease. The report described the results of a study involving approximately 87 families who were asked to complete a survey. These families were referred to the research study based on the occurrence of at least one case of heart disease in the family. The survey form contained questions regarding the history of heart disease in the family. In addition, there were also questions regarding the occurrence of lightheadedness and fatigue in the family. It should be understood that lightheadedness and fatigue might be symptoms of heart disease, especially when these occur among children. Most of us often consider these symptoms as plain reactions to stress and excessive work and thus we may not know that our health is slowly deteriorating through time.

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The results of the study showed that approximately 72% of the families noticed that their child experienced lightheadedness and/or fatigue before the actual occurrence of a cardiac arrest. In the other families who completed the survey, they reported the occurrence of syncope or the loss of consciousness in their child for an apparently unknown cause. In other cases, the families reported that their child had experienced seizures, which were left undiagnosed even after emergency medical treatment. The recent medical report explained that when a family history of heart disease and the occurrence of symptoms such as seizures, syncope, and fatigue occur, then it may be possible that their children has heart disease.

The Study to Help Cardiac Care

The information presented in the recent medical report may be beneficial to both patients and physicians because it provides clues on how to detect heart disease at an early stage. Most heart diseases are diagnosed during the adult years yet it may also be possible that this condition may have developed during childhood. It is thus important for parents to understand the importance of good health and cardiac care, especially by detecting the early signs of heart disease. Cardiac care starting early in life may also promote good health and possibly prevent the progression of this chronic disease.

Heart Disease – The Recent Report

The recent medical report also emphasized the importance of good health and cardiac care starting at childhood. Unfortunately, we often consider that heart ailments only occur during advanced ages and thus children are generally considered robust and healthy. However, this medical report showed that heart disorders often develop at an early age and thus good health and proper cardiac care may help prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases.

One of the most recognized approaches to good health and cardiac care includes leading a healthy lifestyle. Consuming healthy meals that consist of proteins, carbohydrates, and fruits and vegetables may help in achieving good health. Fruits and vegetables contain anti-oxidants that facilitate cardiac care. Engaging in regular exercise may also promote good health and improve cardiac care. Both children and adults may benefit from these lifestyle interventions and decrease the risk of heart disorders. Knowledge of the family’s history of diseases, including that of cardiovascular disorders, may also help in maintaining good health and design effective cardiac care regiment.

Researchers at the University of Texas used brain scans and other neurological based tests to determine that humor triggers chemical responses that lead to feelings of well-being. They say arteries respond in ways that could improve blood flow and long-term health. During one phase of their study, the researchers had a group of participants watch a comedy video and then measured their artery function. They took another group of volunteers and asked them to watch a documentary.

Good Health Through Laughing

The group that watched the comedy had improved artery function immediately after the viewing and 24 hours following the initial test. Those who watched the documentary experienced decreased artery function.

The popular theory about laughter giving way to good health is that it releases endorphins that connect to receptors in the lining of our blood vessels. The blood vessels then release a molecule that relaxes the arteries allowing for easier blood flow.

The University of Maryland has conducted similar studies and concluded that mental stress has a big impact on heart health. Their studies concur with other research that shows lack of humor can create, “vasoconstriction” or reduced blood flow. Some of the researchers have gone as far as to say that laughter can lead to the same benefits as aerobic exercise.

Not Just Good Heart Health Either

Heart attack prevention may not be your main health concern; however, a great deal of research shows humor promotes good health over-all. The Loma Linda University in California has conducted several studies on “mirthful laughter”. They say it not only improves mood; it decreases stress hormones, improves immune activity, lowers bad cholesterol and systolic blood pressure, and it raises good cholesterol.

Maintaining a healthy diet, exercising, avoiding tobacco and limiting your stress should all be part of your heart attack prevention strategy. Physicians say while many people de-stress with humor; others find it difficult.

The University of Maryland did a study with both heart attack patients and those who had never experienced a heart attack. They examined their humor meter by asking them a series of questions. In one section they were asked how they would feel if they arrived at a party to find someone was wearing the same outfit they were, how they would react if a waiter spilled a drink on them in a restaurant, and if they wonder if people have hidden reasons for doing something nice. The researchers discovered that the majority of people who had suffered heart disease were unable to recognize humor or use it to deal with uncomfortable situations. They didn’t laugh very much and even during positive times they displayed more anger. The authors of the study believe that everyone needs to exercise, eat right and laugh a few times a day to ensure good health.

Heart disease is no laughing matter, but humor can play a role in heart attack prevention. The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute provide detailed information on who is at risk for heart disease and how to protect your heart.

Traditionally, doctors would use echocardiograms and Doppler ultrasound to determine how the heart is functioning, but researchers have determined that a test called high-sensitivity cardiac troponin can help spot heart attacks much quicker. Scientists say the tests, based on certain cardiac enzymes, can spot a heart attack in incoming patients within an hour.

Troponin Tests to Live Longer?

Troponin is heart muscle protein so doctors simply take a blood test to determine the level, which can help pinpoint heart damage. In the past troponin testing did little to ensure good health because the testing process was long; however, today the tests can be conducted quickly.

For those who have suffered chest pain in the past and have had to live through the agonizing wait for test results, it may be hard to believe that a blood test can be this helpful. A lot of hospitals are using the troponin test right now and there are ongoing studies on this diagnostic approach. One of the most recent scientific investigations was by the University Hospital Basel in Switzerland. The findings were published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine. The study tracked several hundred patients with severe chest pain who visited the emergency ward. One-hundred and 50 were confirmed to have had heart attacks and half were diagnosed using the new troponin test method. The 30- day survival rate among these patients was over 95 percent. Although this is encouraging, emergency room physicians around the world are calling for more study to determine how many lives can be saved using this quick method of spotting heart attack.

Detecting Heart Attack Risk

Troponin doesn’t just detect heart attacks; it can pinpoint other heart-related problems. For this reason many cardiac specialists use a number of different methods along with the troponin test when someone has severe chest pain or other symptoms associated with heart attack.

Just as troponin provides promise for good health, other methods of detection are being developed. For example, a saliva based test might not be far off. The University of Texas and the National Institute of Health are working on a nano-bio chip test they believe will make it quicker and easier for emergency room physicians to spot heart attacks. The biochip is the size of a dime. It fits into a larger card and within that card sits the patient’s saliva. The card slides into an analyzer that looks like a toaster where different protein biomarkers are read. What you end up with is either a healthy protein fingerprint or a heart-attack fingerprint on the analyzer display.

According to the researchers, biomarkers are difficult to detect in saliva so it took time to develop more sensitive protein tests, but they feel that eventually this method of testing will be even quicker at detecting heart attacks than blood tests.

Researchers analyzed data from over 95,000 Danish patients who had a hip or knee replacement in Denmark between 1998 and 2007 in an effort to determine heart attack risk following joint replacement surgery. The researchers investigated the risk of heart attack of these patients compared to over 286,000 individuals who did not have joint replacement surgery. They found that the increased heart attack risk during the first two weeks following surgery is substantial. Individuals that had a total hip replacement had a 25-fold increased risk of heart attack while those having a total knee replacement had a 31-fold increased risk. After the initial two weeks following surgery, the risk of heart attack decreased substantially. Six weeks after surgery the risk of a heart attack occurring in those who had a total hip replacement dropped to 0.51% and to 0.21% for those who had a total knee replacement. The connection between joint replacement surgery and an increased risk of heart attack was the highest in patients over the age of 80. Conversely, there was no increased heart attack risk for individuals under 60 years of age who underwent joint replacement surgery. The researchers report that while it’s not clear if joint replacement procedures trigger a heart attack, it is reasonable to believe that they can.

What This Means for Heart Attack Risk

The researchers state that there are many factors that could be involved in an increase in heart attack risk following joint replacement surgery. They state that surgery poses a risk because the anesthesia that is needed to perform the surgery increases stress levels in patients. Furthermore, cutting into bones can possibly trigger blood clot formation in the bone marrow. Additionally, during surgery there is blood loss and oxygen deprivation both of which are stressors that can increase the risk of heart attack. Not to mention that many patients experience high levels of stress prior to having surgery which can increase their risk of heart attack even before the surgery occurs. With all of these risk factors of joint replacement surgery it is not surprising that heart attack risk increases with these procedures.

Explaining Proper Cardiac Care

Due to the increased risk of heart attack following joint replacement surgery, patients should speak with their doctor prior to surgery to discuss their pre-operative cardiac risk and determine their post-operative cardiac care needs, especially if they have an existing heart condition. Proper management of cardiac conditions will help to minimize the risk of heart attack and post-operative cardiac care will help to prevent heart attacks from occurring in this high risk population following joint replacement surgery. Even in patients without pre-existing heart conditions, cardiac care should be a component of their post-operative rehabilitation. Educating patients before and after surgery on the importance of cardiac care is vital in an effort to prevent a life-altering heart attack from occurring.

With the increasing age of the population, joint replacements of the hip and knee are going to become even more commonplace. Currently doctors are concerned with rehabilitating the affected joint; however, the findings from this current study suggest that cardiac care should also be a top priority when planning for post-operative care and patient discharge.

Heart attacks are a good example of how people can make a mistake when it comes to self-diagnosing. There have been many cases where people have ignored the symptoms because they thought they were simply experiencing heartburn. At the same time, we don’t want to tie up emergency departments every time we have a burning sensation in our chest due to our eating habits. Emergency departments are after all for emergencies.

Heart Attack or Heart Burn

To ensure good health, it is vital that you educate yourself about the differences between a heart attack and heart burn. Chest pain and heartburn share some of the same characteristics, but cardiac care specialists point out there are some symptoms that are specifically associated with heart attack.

A heart attack and heartburn cause a feeling of pressure and a burning sensation in the chest. Physicians say after these similarities everything changes.

Heart Burn

If you have eaten a big meal or consumed something spicy you may experience heartburn. Essentially, an increase in stomach acid is what causes the uncomfortable symptoms of heartburn. If you are lying down and you have heartburn you may get a sour taste in your mouth along with the burning sensation in your chest. This is due to the fact that the stomach acid is moving up your esophagus. Some people who suffer from serious heartburn experience something called acid reflux. This is when you have chronic regurgitation of acid.

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Heart Attack

A heart attack presents some unique signs but it is important to note that not all heart attack victims experience all of these symptoms. Below are some warning signs outlined by the famed Mayo Clinic.

• Mild chest or upper body discomfort

• Shortness of breath

• Sudden pressure, tightening or squeezing feeling right in centre of chest

• Pain spreading to back, neck, shoulders, arms, and particularly the left arm

• Tightness in chest when you are being physical or are under emotional stress

• Pain along with nausea and vomiting

It is interesting to note that women are more likely to experience the various symptoms listed above. Most men have pain or discomfort in the chest, yet never feel the other signs outlined here.

The Keys to Your Good Health

Good health is all about awareness so now that you know some of the signs of heartburn and heart attack take note the next time you have pain or discomfort in the chest area. You may not require cardiac care; it may be as simple as having to change your eating habits. Here are a few questions to ask yourself…am I experiencing this pain immediately following a meal? Am I experiencing this pain while I am bending over or lying down? Did I over-eat or consume spicy, fried or fatty foods? If the answer is yes to any or all of these, it might be a case of heartburn. Ask yourself…am I in pain and sweating profusely? Is the pain radiating to other parts of my body? Is my pain accompanied by a nauseous feeling? In this situation it could be a heart attack.

No one expects you to have all the answers; the body is intricate so if you have any doubt it is better to be cautious and seek medical attention immediately.

The Cardiac Health and Heart Attack Study

According to a recent article published in the journal International Journal of Preventive Medicine, the incidence of cardiovascular conditions such as cardiac arrest, heart attack, or stroke is actually preventable if proper dieting is followed. Leading a good diet may thus improve the cardiovascular system and prevent the development of damages to the muscles and blood vessels. The study of Dr. Stoner’s group focused on establishing the relationship between specific lifestyle components and the occurrence of cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke. The study also examined the impact of various lifestyle components on a specific human population, namely the indigenous groups in Australia and New Zealand. The interest in conducting such a study on indigenous populations was fueled by their significant difference in life expectancy, as compared to non-indigenous populations around the world. For example, the indigenous people of Australia had a life expectancy rate of 62 years, whereas that of the non-indigenous individuals of the same country was 81 years. The same observations have also been reported for indigenous populations in New Zealand and the United States.

The most compelling finding that was highlighted in the report involved the relationship between poor dieting and the number of cases reported for cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke. The researchers also looked into other lifestyle components such as exercise, alcohol consumption, and smoking. Interestingly, these activities have also been showed to further speed up the deterioration of health, especially when the prime risks factors for cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke were high.

The Effect of Unhealthy Food on Heart Attack and Stroke Risk

The study mainly described poor dieting as the consumption of meals that contained low to negligible amounts of fruits and vegetables. These food items contain high levels of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that impart a cardioprotective effect on the body. In turn, the risk of cardiac arrest, heart attack, and stroke are more likely to decrease when fruits and vegetables are included in the daily diet. The article also cited several reports that describe the lowered risk for heart disease and stroke, especially when at least five servings of fruits and vegetables were consumed on a daily basis.

Poor dieting is also associated with the consumption of unhealthy food items, which are generally rich in sugars and fats. These macromolecules could be easily deposited in various tissues of the body, especially when an individual refrains from engaging with regular exercise. The risk of suffering from cardiac arrest, heart attack, or stroke is thus significantly increased over an extended period of time when an individual follows a poor diet.

The report of Dr. Stoner’s group emphasizes the importance of lifestyle change to improve one’s health. Poor dieting, exercise, alcohol consumption, and smoking are all considered as modifiable activities, which can prevent the deterioration of the body and development of cardiovascular diseases. The authors considered poor dieting as the main cause of various physiologic disorders, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension. In addition, coupling poor dieting with lack of exercise, excessive consumption of alcohol beverages, and smoking can further increase the likelihood of suffering from cardiac arrest, heart attack, or stroke.

The Study That Could Help You Live Longer

According to a recent medical report published in the journal Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Diseases, the type of diet may significantly influence an individual’s chances to live longer and improve cardiac care. In addition, the type of food items consumed on a regular basis may also affect the chances of suffering from a heart attack. Effective lifestyle interventions may thus help in cardiac care, ultimately resulting in a higher probability to live longer.

The research study led by Dr. Stricker was fueled by the scarcity in reports that showed a relationship between specific dietary patterns and the chances of suffering from a heart attack. For decades, the correlation between diet and the chances to live longer has been recognized, yet the impact of specific food items on cardiac care and the occurrence of a heart attack are limited. In their study involving approximately 40,011 study participants, specific food items were identified in relation to the occurrence of cardiovascular diseases, including the development of a heart attack, on a long-term basis.

Live Longer and Improve Cardiac Care

The study participants were asked to complete a questionnaire that allowed the identification of food items that were regularly consumed by the subjects. The study was so specific with the dietary components, using approximately 31 food groups that may help in delineating the actual effect of a particular food item on cardiac care and the chances to live longer. Among the food groups were different types of meat, drinks, bread, cereals, and vegetables.

The results of the study showed that after 13 years, approximately 1,843 of the study participants developed cardiovascular diseases such as heart attack, whereas 588 subjects suffered from a stroke.

This recent medical report is quite comprehensive in terms of food items, allowing the precise identification of specific components that were part of the regular meals of the study participants. In addition, the extensive period of monitoring of 13 years allowed the actual observation of the effects of dietary patterns on the chances to live longer and avoid the development of a heart attack or stroke. The results of the study suggested that certain dietary patterns might not be helpful in cardiac care because it can influence the incidence of a heart attack on a long-term basis.

Previous studies on the relationship of dietary patterns and cardiac care have only involved short-term effects on the chances to live longer. This current study has shown that the quality of food items consumed may definitely help individual to live longer by improving cardiac care.

In terms of the type of diet followed by the study participants, the study showed that sugary drinks such as soft drinks and sugar-supplemented beverages were a major part of the Western diet, whereas this same food item was absent in the prudent dietary pattern. The consumption of sugary drinks may thus have a direct role in cardiac care and the chances to live longer. The reduced risk in suffering from a heart attack may thus be achieved through proper food patterns, thus improving cardiac care and increasing the possibility to live longer.

Why do Heart Attacks Happen?

In order for the heart to work properly, it requires a constant supply of oxygen rich blood flow. The coronary arteries of the heart are responsible for this blood supply. When these arteries become narrowed, the blood cannot flow properly. Different substances including fatty matter, protein, calcium, and inflammatory cells build up within these arteries and form plaque. When the plaque becomes hard it cracks and platelets come to the area to form a clot around the plaque. If the clot blocks the entire artery, the heart muscle will not get the oxygen that it needs. Within a short period of time, the heart muscle will starve and heart muscle cells will begin to die. This is the most common reason for a heart attack occurring. Another, rarer cause of a heart attack is coronary artery spasm. This occurs when the coronary arteries restrict blood flow because they spasm. While the cause of a heart attack is not always known, heart attacks can occur at rest or during sleep, after or during a sudden increase in physical activity, after or during exercise in extreme weather temperatures, and after sudden physical or emotional stress occurs.

No matter what the cause of theheart attack, you need to listen to your body, if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Symptoms of a heart attack can include: pain pressure or fullness in the chest, arm or below the breast bone, radiating pain into the arm, jaw, throat or back, indigestion type symptoms, sweating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, anxiousness, significant weakness, shortness of breath, and/or rapid or irregular heartbeats. If you think you are suffering heart attack symptoms, call 911 immediately. Early treatment is vital to protect your heart from extensive damage.

Cardiac Care Following a Heart Attack is Essential

If you suffer a heart attack, investing some time in a cardiac care program afterwards will help to ensure you live longer. A cardiac care program will help to rehabilitate your heart and educate you after a heart attack. Components of a cardiac care program include:

- Educating individuals about heart disease and management of the disease, including medication if needed

- Initiating a supervised, individualized exercise programs

- Providing nutritional guidance

- Providing assistance with return to work

- Providing emotional support, guidance and stress management

- Helping to modify heart attack risk factors including diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, smoking, etc.

The goals of cardiac care and rehabilitation are to help an individual live longer as well as to experience a better quality of life after experiencing a heart attack. Additionally, a cardiac care program will help to minimize the need for further medical intervention such as bypass and hopefully prevent a future heart attack.

Surviving a heart attack is the beginning of a long phase of cardiac rehabilitation. Taking adequate time to rehabilitate after a heart attack and modifying factors that put you at risk of suffering a secondary heart attack will help you to live longer and live a healthier life.

High Temperatures and Heart Attack Prevention

When your body is exposed to high temperatures it attempts to maintain a normal body temperature by dispersing heat, mainly in the form of sweating. Maintaining a normal body temperature, via sweating puts added stress on your heart because there is a decreased amount of blood. Your heart has to work harder to pump the decreased amount of blood through your body. If you suffer from heart disease, this added stress may increase your risk of suffering serious cardiac events, such as a heart attack.

Additionally, in extreme hot temperatures, your body may not be able to dissipate the heat and your body temperature may rise, resulting in hyperthermia. This, in combination with dehydration and electrolyte imbalance can result in heat-related illness. Heat-related illnesses include heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion and heat stroke. If left untreated, heat stroke can be fatal. Cardiogenic shock can also occur when the body becomes over-heated. The heart becomes weak and cannot pump enough blood to the rest of the body. This can cause multi organ failure and can trigger a heart attack or can result in sudden cardiac death.

If you have heart disease you are probably taking some form of heart medication. Medications that are used to treat heart disease, especially beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics, make it difficult for your body to disperse excess heat when the temperatures are scorching; this leaves you more vulnerable to heat-related illness. However, it is imperative that you do not stop taking your medication without discussing it with your doctor first as stopping medication may increase your risk of a serious cardiac event, including heart attack. Your doctor may be able to adjust your medication dosage during the hot summer months.

Heart Attacks are a Serious Matter – Protect Yourself

While everyone should takes steps to protect their heart during extreme hot weather, people suffering from heart disease should take extra precaution for heart attack prevention during extreme hot weather. The top heart attack prevention tip is to stay in a cool environment. If you have to be outdoors, choose areas that are shaded and avoid being outdoors during peak heat times (usually early afternoon). If you are exercising, opt to exercise indoors. Exercising outdoors during high temperature will create more heat than your body is able to dissipate. Additionally, since dehydration is common during high temperatures, be sure to stay hydrated. Drinking water and avoiding caffeinated beverages is a vital step for heart attack prevention.

In addition to the heart attack prevention steps that you should take to protect your heart during extreme hot weather, there are a number of other heart attack prevention measures that you should take, regardless of temperature, including:

1. Stopping smoking

2. Exercising regularly

3. Eating a healthy, nutritious diet

4. Maintaining a healthy weight

5. Controlling diabetes

6. Controlling high blood pressure

7. Managing stress

By following the general heart attack prevention steps above and by taking additional precautions during extreme hot weather, your chances of suffering a heart attack during a heat wave will be minimized.

Can Your Blood Type Determine if You Will Live Longer?

Blood Type O

In 2011, Associate Professor Muredach Reilly and his colleagues at the University of Pennsylvania’s Cardiovascular Institute in Philadelphia discovered a gene called ADAMTS7 which markedly raises a person’s risk for heart attack and coronary artery disease.  Interestingly, the scientists found that people with blood type O (the most common blood type), who had the ADAMTS7 gene did not experience an increased coronary artery disease or heat attack risk. This study suggests that that there is some defensive factor in blood type O that protects a person from developing heart disease. Scientists have also found that people with blood type O have a reduced risk of dying from malaria and from contracting syphilis, gastric cancer and tuberculosis.  On the downside, blood type O individuals have a higher risk of developing peptic ulcers, and venous thromboembolism, contracting cholera and noravirus and getting attacked by mosquito’s.  Preliminary Danish research also suggests that men with blood type O are more susceptible to obesity, particularly when they are exposed to high levels of pollution at work.

Blood Type A

When it comes to blood type A, multiple studies have found that people with this blood type have a greater risk for gastric cancer. The exact reason why is unknown but researchers speculate that this blood type may be more susceptible to alcohol, smoking, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and other gastric cancer risks. In addition, recent research has found that this blood type increases a person’s chance of contracting rotavirus.  On the brightside, women with type A blood appear to be more fertile and have a better chance of conceiving.

Blood Type AB

Blood type AB is the rarest and newest blood type. There has not been much research on disease susceptibility for this blood type, but according to naturopathic physician and author of “Eating Right for Your Type,” Peter D’Adamo, type AB individuals are more prone to GI, respiratory and ear infections; parasites, anemia, and most cancers. These individuals should also be diligent with cardiac care, because they may be more susceptible to blood clots and heart attacks, according to D’Adamo.  Studies have also found that women with blood type AB or B have a higher risk of developing pancreatic and ovarian cancer and preliminary evidence suggests that women with type AB have a much higher risk of developing pre-eclampsia (a lethal blood pressure condition) during pregnancy.

Blood Type B

According to Michael Lam, MD, and author of “The Blood Type Diet,” type Bs are usually resistant to heart attacks, heart disease, cancer and many of the most severe diseases in modern life. Conversely, they are more susceptible to strokes and immune system related disorders such as chronic fatigue syndrome, lupus and multiple sclerosis.

The Top Causes of Death in North America Are As Follows

1) Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for people of most ethnicities in the United States, including African Americans, Hispanics, and Caucasian people. For American Indians or Alaska Natives and Asians or Pacific Islanders, heart disease is second only to cancer. The CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) estimated in 2008 alone that over 616, 000 people had died from heart disease.

2) Cancer

The 2012 report from the American Cancer Society broke down the wide assortment of available information on this disease, which comes in so many deadly forms. The report also includes statistics on the diagnosis and deaths from 2004 to 2008 as recorded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Program of Cancer Registries. The most frightening number of note showed that in 2012, approximately 1.6 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed and 577,000 Americans will ultimately die of some form of the disease.

3) Stroke

The bad news is that once you have suffered a stroke and survived it, you are at a considerable risk for having another one. According to The National Stroke Association about 185,000 of the strokes experienced every year by Americans will recur, to be exact, 24 percent of women and 42 percent of men will have another stroke with the risk of mortality only increasing.

4) Respiratory Diseases

Lung cancer falls in the category of respiratory disease, which boosts the dangers of both categories in question.  Not only this, but physical inactivity falls into this category which is the fourth leading risk factor mortality on a global scale. Many of these deaths are tobacco related and a shocking 50 percent of patients with COPD, including some with advanced disease, are undiagnosed and go untreated.

5) Diabetes

The American Diabetes Association’s fact sheet from last year shows that an alarming 25.8 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes, with many of those cases being undiagnosed.
The 2011 data shows that for 2007 alone, diabetes was an underlying cause listed on over 71, 000 death certificates and was listed as a contributing factor on an additional 160,000 death certificates. This means that diabetes contributed to a total of 230, 000 deaths in that year alone.

While information and statistics of this nature are not intended as scare tactics, it never hurts to give a read to the information, and compare it against your personal and family medical history to possibly look for precursors to illness. Discussing risk factors and potential signs and symptoms with your healthcare practitioner is just good planning, and could lead towards an ounce of prevention in the anti-aging battle.

A study published in PLoS ONE followed over 50,000 participants (50-64 years of age) in Denmark over a period of 10 years.  During this time, there were 1,600 heart attack cases.  Participants were exposed to varying levels of road noise ranging from 42 to 84 decibels. Participants that lived closest to the noisiest locations (being exposed to 60 dB of road noise), had higher body mass index (BMI), lower education levels, smoked more, ate less fruits and vegetables, were less active and had an increased prevalence of diabetes compared to participants that lived in quieter areas. When looking at the participants that suffered a heart attack it was found that they were exposed to more traffic noise and air pollution.  Additionally, they were heavier, smoked and drank more, had higher blood pressure and cholesterol levels and had a higher prevalence of diabetes. Being exposed to 10dB higher road noise was found to be associated with a 12% increased risk of heart attack, which shows a dose-response relationship.  With increased levels of urbanization, communities will continue to be developed closer and closer to busy roads.  It is vital that individuals keep this current research in mind when purchasing a home in an effort to make the best decision for their health.

Heart Attack Prevention Tips

There are a number of heart attack prevention tips that you can follow to minimize your risk of suffering a heart attack. Strategies for heart attack prevention include:

1.            Eating a healthy diet – following the DASH diet (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) will help with heart attack prevention.  The DASH diet involves eating foods that are low in saturated fats, cholesterol and salt.  Incorporating ample fruits and vegetables, whole grains and low fat dairy will help to protect your heart. Additionally, adding omega-3 fatty acids into your diet may help to reduce the risk of a heart attack.  Salmon, mackerel, flaxseed oil, walnut oil, soy bean oil, and canola oil are all good sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Lastly, alcohol should be consumed in moderation.

2.            Exercising regularly – exercising 30 minutes a day multiple days of the week will help to prevent a heart attack. It reduces your chance of developing risk factors for heart attack including: high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and stress.

3.            Quitting smoking – smoking is a significant risk factor for heart disease, including heart attack. When you quit smoking, your risk of heart disease drops drastically within one year.

4.            Maintaining a healthy weight – increased body weight can increase stress on your heart and can increase your chance of suffering from high cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes, all of which are significant risk factors for heart disease, including heart attack.  Losing 10% of your body weight can decrease your risk of developing one of these conditions and can help with heart attack prevention.

5.            Visiting your doctor regularly – you may be suffering from high blood pressure, high cholesterol or diabetes and not know it because you don’t have any symptoms.  Being symptom free does not mean that you are healthy.  Seeing your doctor regularly will ensure that risk factors for heart disease are diagnosed and treated early to minimize your risk of developing heart disease or suffering a heart attack.

High Blood Pressure and Heart Attack Risk

Researchers at Georgia Health Sciences University studied 62 black teens that suffered from high blood pressure. Half of the teens were taught Transcendental Meditation (TM) and were to meditate for 15 minutes in a class and then meditate for 15 minutes at home over a four month period. The other half of the teens in the study were given health education on ways in which to lower blood pressure and lower their risk of cardiovascular disease, including heart attack; these teens did not participate in the meditation. The results showed that the teens who meditated twice a day had lower left ventricular mass than those teens who did not meditate. A higher mass of the left ventricular of the heart is due to the increased workload on the heart when a person has high blood pressure. Left ventricular mass is an indicator of future cardiovascular disease, including heart attack. The researchers note that statistics show that 1 in 10 black youths suffer from high blood pressure. If meditation is practiced over time, it may reduce the risk of these teens developing cardiovascular disease in the future and it may prevent them from suffering a life-altering heart attack.

Meditation for Good Health

In addition to heart attack prevention, transcendental meditation also has an array of other good health benefits. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) reports that the good health benefits of TM include: reduced chronic pain, reduced anxiety, lowered blood pressure and lowered cholesterol. In addition to these good health benefits, the NCCAM reports that TM also decreases the burden on the health care system as people who meditate use other health care services less often. The NCCAM reports that individuals use TM in an effort to promote overall good health. Additionally, people use TM to cope with: anxiety, pain, depression, stress, insomnia and other chronic health conditions.

Based on the findings of this study, TM looks like it may play a role in heart attack prevention. If parents begin TM with their children, and the children continue the meditation routine throughout their life, the risk of suffering from cardiovascular disease including heart attack may be reduced. In addition, meditation can also help deal with other health conditions and can lead to many good health benefits. Adding in meditation a couple of time per day is an easy step to add to a heart attack prevention plan.

Future research should look at other demographic populations to see if the cardiovascular benefits from TM are sustained in all populations.

Previous research has shown that dark chocolate consumption may have good health benefits including supporting healthier blood pressure and decreased cholesterol levels. However, previous research has only looked at short-term benefits. The researchers of the current study wanted to look at the possible long term benefits of consuming dark chocolate daily over a period of 10 years.

Chocolate as a Heart Healthy Food

The researchers studied data of 2013 participants with hypertension (high blood pressure) who met the criteria for metabolic syndrome. Metabolic syndrome refers to a group of risk factors that occur together and increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. None of the participants in this study had a history of cardiovascular disease and none were receiving treatment for their hypertension. The researchers developed a mathematical model to predict the effects and cost effectiveness of dark chocolate consumption daily in these high-risk individuals, over 10 years.

The researchers found that eating 100g of dark chocolate daily can reduce cardiovascular events, including heart attack, by 85 per 10,000 over a period of 10 years. The researchers state that a relatively small financial investment of $40 per year per person would be an effective prevention strategy to prevent cardiovascular events, including heart attack in high risk populations. They state that the $40 per year can be used for advertising, educational campaigns and possibly subsidizing the purchase of dark chocolate for high-risk individuals. The researchers state that the decreased number of cardiovascular events, including heart attack, are based on 100% of high-risk individuals following the treatment protocol. Compliance with this treatment protocol is promising as most people would find the dark chocolate appealing because of its’ pleasant taste and lack of potential negative side effects. However, even if there are some individuals that do not comply with the treatment protocol of 100g of dark chocolate daily, the good health benefits are still positive.

Dark Chocolate for Overall Good Health

Dark chocolate is derived from cocoa beans and is rich in polyphenols which have many good health benefits. All of these good health benefits help to support the heart. Dark chocolate, which is at least 60-70% cocoa, should be added to the other heart healthy foods that you consume in your diet, especially if you are in a high-risk category for heart disease including heart attack. The researchers note that the good health benefits found in this study only apply to dark chocolate and not to milk and/or white chocolate.

The findings from this research are exciting – adding heart healthy foods, including dark chocolate, to a heart healthy lifestyle is an easy step in the prevention and treatment of heart disease. It is a simple step to achieve good health and also helps to protect against heart attack. Many people already incorporate heart healthy foods as part of their normal diet, adding dark chocolate to the mix of foods looks like it could have good health benefits, so why not snack on some chocolate?

The Impact on Heart Disease

Metabolic syndrome is an increasingly common disorder that raises an individual’s risk for a variety of serious health issues including: diabetes, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, stroke, coronary heart disease and a range of other cardiovascular disorders.  Metabolic syndrome is prevalent amongst obese individuals—affecting approximately 40.2 percent of the obese population and it significantly increases an individual’s risk not only for heart disease but also for death from all causes.

Previous research has found an association between diabetes and heart disease and an accumulation of iron in the body. Donating blood helps to lower a person’s iron levels and with this in mind, researchers from Berlin and University Duisburg-Essen conducted a bloodletting study on obese patients with metabolic syndrome. The researchers split the patients into two groups; one group underwent two session of bloodletting and the other group did not donate any blood.  The bloodletting group had 300 ml of blood drawn at the onset of the trial and another 250-500 ml drawn four weeks later. The researchers then waited six weeks, in order to allow enough time for blood volume to be replenished, and then called the patients back in for a health evaluation.

The Benefits Towards Your Good Health

The patients who had their blood drawn had a marked decrease in systolic blood pressure (a marker of heart disease), and a lower resting heart rate, as well as a reduction in blood glucose levels (an elevation of which is associated with diabetes).  The good health benefits did not stop there; the bloodletting patients also experienced a decrease in heart rate and an improvement in cholesterol levels (another marker of heart disease).

According to lead researcher, Professor Andreas Michalsen from the Charité-University Medical Centre, Berlin: “Consecutive reduction in iron stores was able to improve markers of cardiovascular risk and glycemic control. Consequently blood donation may prevent not just diabetes but also cardiovascular disease for the obese. Obviously this treatment will not be suitable for people with anemia however for those eligible for treatment blood donation may prevent escalation of their condition.”

The British Heart Study report published in the journal PLoS One showed that the type of employment could influence one’s risk in developing heart disease. The report points out that in order to live longer, blood pressure monitoring and proactive cardiac care should be included in regular medical checkups. The study was conducted in order to determine whether discrepancies in the incidence of heart disease exist across various socioeconomic classes. The answers gathered from the study may be used in improving cardiac care programs that promote measures on how to live longer.

In the study spanning 20 years of monitoring male subjects in the United Kingdom, the study showed that men who were engaged with manual jobs were more likely to struggle with high blood pressure and develop heart disease. Cardiac care was thus important in their health monitoring programs, allowing these individuals to check any changes in their blood pressure through time, in order to live longer.

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The study involved the participation of approximately 7,735 men between the ages of 40 and 59 who were monitored in terms of cardiac care parameters such as blood pressure, body mass index, and cholesterol levels, together with their social class based on occupation. The jobs of the study participants were classified into five classes consisting of professionals, managers, clerks, manual employees, and general laborers. The professionals, manager, and clerks were collectively grouped as the non-manual jobs, whereas the manual employees and general laborers were collectively identified as the manual jobs. Twenty years later, these male participants were evaluated again in terms of the same medical parameters.

The study showed that 20 years later, approximately 44% of the study participants had died and that the death rate of those individuals in the non-manual or higher employment positions was lower than those classified in the manual job categories. Interestingly, the men classified under that manual classes of employment showed a greater increase in body mass index, which is a strong key factor in the development cardiovascular diseases and fluctuating blood pressure. These individuals were also observed to have higher cholesterol levels, requiring the need for effective cardiac care to live longer.

The Blood Pressure Theory and Men

The male study participants who were employed in non-manual positions such as professionals, managers, and clerks showed that upon the 20-year follow-up, their blood pressure was relatively controlled as compared to those engaged in manual labor. It is possible that the quality and frequency of cardiac care received by non-manual employees are better and this may be attributable to the nature of their jobs. Based on these activities, the chances of non-manual employees to live longer may be higher, as compared to those engaged in manual jobs.

This recent medical report contributes helpful information on the discrepancies in the incidence of heart disease across society. Despite improvements in health programs, it is still possible that certain socioeconomic classes possess more risk factors that may influence the development of heart disease and determine chances to live longer. Constant cardiac care is thus important in order to control blood pressure and to live longer. As for us who are continuously working for a living until retirement, it is essential that we monitor our blood pressure and receive regular cardiac care, two major activities that increase our chances to live longer.

Strokes and Cardiac Care: What Does it Mean?

The majority of strokes are classified as ischemic strokes, which means that they are caused by blood clots.   According to Murray Flaster, MD, PhD and his colleagues at the Loyola University Medical Center “The period immediately following an acute ischemic stroke is a time of significant risk. Meticulous attention to the care of the stroke patient during this time can prevent further neurologic injury and minimize common complications, optimizing the chance of functional recovery,” (journal of MedLink Neurology, May 2012).

In fact, researchers have found that patients who receive stroke care at hospitals with specialized cardiac care units, have an increased chance of being discharged for home, experience a greater improvement in quality of life and functional status and have a decreased likelihood of stroke-related mortality.

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How to Deal With a Stroke Once it Occurs

If you are not fortunate enough to be omitted to a hospital with a specialized cardiac care unit after having stroke, the following recommendations from Flaster and colleagues, will help to reduce stroke-related damage and increase your likelihood for survival and a return to good health.

1.            Control Your Blood Sugar Levels

Studies have found a strong correlation between high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia) and poor stroke outcome. It is therefore very important that you monitor your blood sugar levels diligently and the authors recommend using frequent finger-stick glucose checks and aggressive insulin (the hormone that controls blood sugar levels) treatment.

2.            Consume A Blood Sugar Friendly Diet

Due to the fact that your diet plays a big role in determining your blood sugar levels, you may want to talk to a healthcare practitioner about designing a personalized diet plan that will help to keep your blood sugar levels from rising too high. In the meantime, the American Diabetes Association recommends restricting your carbohydrate intake, and avoiding refined sugars and refined carbohydrates as much as possible.  You should also reduce your intake of saturated fats (found in many animal products), consume a moderate amount of nuts and seeds and increase your intake of omega-3 fatty acids such as those found in walnuts, flaxseeds and coldwater fish.

3.            Maintain a Cool to Normal Body Temperature

Every 1 degree C rise in body temperature in stroke patients, results in a more than doubled risk for severe disability or death.  Preliminary studies have found that therapeutic cooling helps cardiac arrest patients, and scientist hypothesize that it may also be helpful to stroke patients. Until more research is done to confirm this hypothesis, Flaster and colleagues recommend maintaining a body temperature of between 95.9 and 99.5 degrees F.

4.            Remain Lying Flat for at Least 24 Hours After the Stroke

Why Current Anti-Smoking Tactics Don’t Work

Although smokers are aware of the dangers, scare tactics such as citing scary facts, rarely work when it comes to helping them quit.  In fact, one study cited in the New York Times, found that warning labels on cigarette packs actually encouraged smoking by stimulating the nucleus accumbens, which is the part of the brain responsible for cravings.

Given the dangers associated with smoking and the difficulties inherent in quitting, if you are a smoker it makes sense to reduce the associated health risks as much as possible and a new study presented at the World Congress of Cardiology (April 20, 2012) has found that it is possible to reduce harm caused by smoking.

Incorporating More Omega-3 for Good Cardiovascular Health

There are 3 types of Omega’s, ALA – alpha-linolenic acid, DHA – docosahexaenoic acid and EPA – eicosapentaenoic acid, and it is said that all could have some benefit in supporting good cardiovascular health. Good cardiovascular health can be the first step in the battle with cigarettes. And really, for anyone, with harm reduction in mind.

There are 3 types of omega’s and they all show great promise in not only good cardiovascular health, but your overall health. And we know both are very important when it comes to trying to reduce harm from smoking.

ALA
ALA is called an essential fat because the body cannot make it, so it must be provided in your diet. Many scientists think ALA may have some heart health benefits. Some good sources of ALA include    flaxseeds, hemp products, canola oil and soy products.

DHA and EPA
DHA and EPA have many health benefits and functions, including reducing the risk of heart disease.   Sources include salmon, mackerel, sardines and herring.

It should be noted that although omega-3 fatty acids are good for supporting cardiovascular health during the stop smoking battle, you need to take other steps as well. According to chief science officer Dr. Kathryn Taubert, from the World Health Federation “The only way to protect your body from the harmful effects of tobacco is to stop smoking.”

Unfortunately, as established earlier, quitting isn’t always an easy endeavor, so maintaining a healthy diet, and proper supplementation is the very least you can do to try and reduce the harmful effects.

Despite this knowledge, there are a lot of theories out there on how to increase one’s odds of having a baby girl: from changing the position of intercourse, to consuming certain foods, to measuring ph levels; how effective these methods are is anyone’s guess. A surprising new study reveals a startling way in which a woman’s odds of having a baby girl is increased; and it pertains to her cardiovascular health.

Cardiovascular Disease and Heart Disease Basics

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is often used interchangeable with heart disease, however CVD describes a variety of disorders that affects the heart and blood vessels, and it includes not only heart disease but also atherosclerosis, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral arterial disease, deep vein thrombosis and stroke. CVD is the number one killer of women worldwide; claiming the lives of 8.6 million annually. Cardiovascular disease and heart disease are most commonly caused by a narrowing and hardening of the arteries, which can largely be prevented by following some simple cardiac care basics such as eating a healthy diet, exercising and maintaining overall good health.

Heart Disease and the Impact on Gender

Researchers at the World Congress of Cardiology reviewed the gender of 216 babies who were born to women who had been diagnosed with a cardiovascular disorder such as heart disease. They found that 75% of the babies born to these women were female. Amongst these women, 64% were suffering with valvular disease, 19% with dilated cardiomyopathy and 14% with uncorrected or significant residual congenital heart disease.

Dr. A. Alizadehasl, from Tabriz University, Tabriz, Iran, reports “We believe that this is the first study looking at the relationship between gender and the mother’s cardiac disease” “This is a very interesting observation. The chromosomes in a man’s sperm are responsible for the sex of a baby but this study does suggest that there may be a relationship between the health status of the mother and the sex of the babies that she is able to carry to full-term,” adds Dr. Kathryn Taubert, Chief Science Officer, World Heart Federation.

Although many women may desire a baby girl, it is probably safe to say that none of them would sacrifice their good health in order to increase their odds of having one. Proper cardiac care and good health are vitally important for a healthy pregnancy and the delivery of a healthy baby. In addition to exercising and eating a whole food based diet, you can reduce your risk for cardiac disease by quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake and maintaining a healthy weight. Finally, you can magnify the effects of this cardiac care lifestyle by emphasizing the following heart-supporting super foods — berries, cold-water fish, oatmeal, spinach and olive oil.

The recent study involved nearly 75,000 participants ranging in age from 45-83 with no history of heart disease, stroke or cancer at the beginning of the study. The participants were followed over 10 years and during this time just over 4,000 participants suffered a stroke. Data was collected from the Swedish Hospital Discharge Registry. Approximately 75% of the strokes were classified as ischemic strokes. An ischemic stroke occurs when an artery supplying the brain becomes blocked. The remaining strokes were classified as hemorrhagic in nature which involves a blood vessel in the brain bursting. Both types of stroke can result in debilitating damage.

The researchers found that individuals who ate heart healthy foods, including four servings of low fat dairy had a significantly decreased risk of stroke (approximately 12% less) compared to individuals who ate high fat dairy. The interesting part of this finding is that even individuals that had high blood pressure had a significantly reduced stroke risk when they consumed low fat dairy.

Low fat milk, cheese and yogurt may work as heart healthy foods by lowering blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk for stroke. Therefore, lowering blood pressure will lower stroke risk. These heart healthy foods are usually fortified with Vitamin D that can also help promote good health. Dairy products also contain calcium which may also help promote healthy living. Future research should focus on the mechanism by which low fat dairy reduces stroke risk. If additional research supports the findings of this large study, it could have significant implications for the diets of healthy adults. For now, consuming low fat dairy in addition to other heart healthy foods looks like it could have a positive impact on stroke risk. Instead of reaching for a glass of regular milk, opt for the low fat variety instead.

It is important to remember that eating heart healthy foods, including low fat dairy, as part of a healthy diet is only one part of reducing the risk of a stroke. Other options include incorporating regular physical activity into your routine as well as modifying other lifestyle factors such as quitting smoking and reducing stress. By making health changes to your lifestyle, you can reduce your chance of suffering a life-altering stroke.

The Blood Pressure Study

The recent study results were presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting in March.  The researcher, Safiya Richardson, studied over 5,000 participants, ranging in age from 18-30 years, over a 20 year time period.  At the 20 year mark in the study, participants filled out an extensive dietary survey.  The researcher found that the participants who ate the most isoflavones (greater than 2.5mg per day) had healthier blood pressure than those who ate the least amount of isoflavones (lower than .33mg per day).  Blood pressure consists of two pressures – systolic (the top number) and diastolic (the bottom number).  Systolic blood pressure was lowered, on average, by 5.5mmHg, in individuals who ate the most isoflavones.

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Supporting Healthy Blood Pressure Naturally

What is very interesting about this study is that it is the first study to show a lowering of blood pressure in African Americans.  The prevalence of high blood pressure in African Americans is a staggering 42%.  The results from this study look very promising, in particular, for African American population. Other factors that can affect blood pressure were also monitored by Richardson including: age, sex, weight, smoking, alcohol, physical activity and calories consumed.  It is thought that isoflavones help with cardiac care by increasing the production of enzymes that create nitric oxide.  Nitric oxide helps to widen the blood vessels, which helps to reduce the pressure of the blood in the vessels. Additional research to support the findings from this study are needed, but for now, the consumption of heart healthy foods that contain isoflavones looks to be beneficial for supporting blood pressure in the general population.

Eating heart healthy foods, including those high in isoflavones, should be part of your cardiac care diet.  Cardiac care involves a number of factors – diet, exercise and lifestyle choices are all factors that you can control to protect your heart.  If you are already suffering from blood pressure issues, speak to your doctor about adding in soy, which is high in isoflavones, to other heart healthy foods that are already part of the DASH diet.  The DASH diet consists of heart healthy foods including lots of fruits and vegetables, low fat dairy and whole grain products.  If you don’t have blood pressure concerns take steps now to protect your heart.  By doing so, your chance of having to use medication to control your blood pressure issues in the future will be minimized.

Hot peppers such as habaneros, cayennes and jalapenos contain a variety of capsaicinoids, which are the compounds that give them their characteristic heat. One of the capsaicinoids – capsaicin, is already highly revered in holistic medicine and used to help boost the metabolism and promote weight loss, manage psoriasis, reduce pain, cure shingles and ease digestive disorders.  In addition, both holistic and conventional medical practitioners sanction the topical use of capsaicin containing creams, for the relief of pains such as arthritis.

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The hot peppers/heart health study, which was presented at ACS, involved feeding hamsters high cholesterol diets. The hamsters were divided into two separate groups; one of which was fed capsaicinoids and the other of which was not. At the end of the study, Chen and his associates found that the capsaicinoids found in hot peppers help to promote a healthy heart and they reduce heart disease risk in two very important ways.

The first way in which the capsaicinoids help to improve heart health and reduce heart disease risk is by reducing total cholesterol levels – an important marker in heart disease risk. More importantly however, the capsaicinoids lower the unhealthy low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels, whilst leaving the healthy high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels untouched. This is significant because it creates a healthier LDL/HDL ratio, which is a substantial gauge of overall heart health.  The scientists from this study believe that capsaicinoids also reduce the amount of existing cholesterol deposits in clogged arteries and increase the  secretion of cholesterol in the feces; thereby helping to reverse narrowed arteries. This hypothesis is very exciting because narrowed arteries as a result of cholesterol build-up, is a huge risk factor for strokes and heart attacks.

Reducing Heart Disease Using Hot Peppers

In addition to reducing cholesterol levels and reversing cholesterol build-up, the study found that capsaicinoids block the action of the enzyme–cyclooxygenase-2. This is important because cyclooxygenase-2 causes the blood vessel muscles to restrict and contract and this reduces blood flow to the heart and the rest of the body.   The reduced blood flow forces your heart to pump harder, which ultimately leads to increased blood pressure. By blocking cyclooxygenase-2, hot peppers are able to lower high blood pressure, which is another substantial contributor to heart disease.

The damage that results from stroke can be life-altering and currently there is only one drug that has been approved for ischemic stroke. An ischemic stroke is where a blood clot blocks blood flow to the brain, often resulting in speech, memory and motor impairments. The drug that is currently approved for treatment of an ischemic stroke is tissue plasminogen activator. tPA is injected into the person having a stroke with the purpose of dissolving the clot and restoring normal blood flow to the brain. It may possibly help to reduce stroke damage by lessening the speech, memory and motor impairments that can result from stroke – if it is given to the patient quick enough

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Researchers have recently developed a new molecule from curcumin which is a component in turmeric which happens to be the main spice in curry. The researchers found that this new molecule affects mechanisms that help to protect and regenerate brain cells after stroke, thereby reducing stroke damage. The new hybrid-curcumin compound is called CNB-001 and works differently than tPA in that it doesn’t dissolve the clot, but rather repairs stroke damage at the molecular level. In lab testing, CNB-001 reduced motor-related stroke damage and was effective when given to the animal subject for up to an hour after stroke – this correlates to about three hours in humans. This is currently the timeframe in which the approved tPA needs to be administered in order to decrease stroke damage. The new hybrid compound may provide an alternative to tPA if the same results can be found in further human testing.

The benefits of curcumin are not new, the use of curcumin in the treatment of brain injury and disease has been studied in the past. However, the use of curcumin in emergency stroke situations has disadvantages including: it is not well absorbed in the body, it does not reach its’ target (the brain) in high concentrations, it gets depleted very quickly and it cannot pass through the blood-brain barrier. These disadvantages make the use of curcumin in acute stroke situations less than ideal. However, the new hybrid compound, CNB-001, looks to be a better choice for emergency stroke situations because it can cross the blood-brain barrier, it is quickly distributed in the brain and it moderates many brain activities that are involved in neuronal survival. All of the advantages of CNB-001 make it a better choice over curcumin because it will lead to decreased stroke damage.

Additionally, the use of turmeric for cardiovascular health has also shown that it may be beneficial. Animal studies have shown that turmeric decreases cholesterol levels and stops the oxidization of LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol). This is important because oxidized LDL sticks to the walls of blood vessels and contributes to plaque buildup in the blood vessels. Additionally, turmeric may also prevent platelet buildup along the walls of injured blood vessels which will decrease the chance of a clot forming, which leads to a decreased risk of stroke. It is important to remember that while the use of turmeric to support cardiovascular health looks promising, further research using human trials, is necessary to see if the same mechanisms that are found in animal subjects are also seen in humans.

Even though researchers are developing new drugs to treat heart disease and stroke, it is important to take preventative steps to avoid these problems. Adding heart healthy foods, including a variety of herbs and spices, to your diet is a proactive and simple step that you can take to protect yourself from heart attack and stroke. Some heart healthy foods include: fruits and vegetables and whole grain products. Not only should you increase the amount of heart healthy foods that you eat, you should limit unhealthy food options including saturated, trans-fat and cholesterol as well as sodium. Additionally, even when eating heart healthy foods it is important to monitor your portion sizes in an effort to avoid overeating. The Heart and Stroke Foundation has many recipes on their website that incorporate heart healthy foods that will help to protect against heart attack and stroke.

There are also heart attack prevention and educational programs that provide information of how to detect heart attacks, including the signs and symptoms of its onset. Heart attack prevention schemes in order to live longer also describe healthy meals that are rich in fiber and protein, thus decreasing the accumulation of fatty acids and sugars in the body, factors that increase the likelihood of suffering from heart attacks.

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The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has recently released a report that current studies now show that the most common signs and symptoms associated with heart attacks are changing. The CDC cited the latest article published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) that there are gender-specific differences in the presentation of heart attacks. The JAMA report authored by Dr. Canto and colleagues described that women often do not experience any chest pain during heart attacks, unlike what is commonly observed among men. In addition, any other signs of discomfort during heart attacks, such as difficulty breathing and profuse sweating, also do not appear in female patients and thus heart attack prevention to live longer might not be performed when the obvious signs are absent. Although there are also some male patients who do not experience chest pain during heart attacks, its incidence among women far surpasses the number of cases occurring among men and thus changes their chances for proper treatment to live longer.

This gender-specific discovery relating to heart attacks may thus influence schemes on heart attack prevention and detection, as well as health programs to live longer. For years, heart attack prevention programs teach the public that chest pain and discomfort are the major signs of heart attacks and health programs on how to live longer have also focused on being vigilant of these signs. The JAMA report will possibly change our current understanding of heart attacks and will definitely require modifications in schemes on heart attack prevention.

Another alarming information presented in the recent JAMA report involves the absence of chest pain among younger women suffering from this cardiovascular event and its association with a higher mortality rate and a lower chance to live longer. This is mainly due to the delay or absence of appropriate diagnosis and medical treatment, which play a critical role to live longer. An even greater difference in the number of elderly women without chest pain as compared to elderly men was observed. Heart attack prevention schemes should therefore include other biomarkers for detecting this event, including blood work and other cardiovascular tests.

The JAMA medical report was based on reviewing symptoms developed by over 600,000 male and 400,000 female patients enrolled in the National Registry of Myocardial Infarction from 1994 to 2006. This comprehensive study was conducted in order to determine the association between gender and heart attack symptoms. The results of the study may also play an instrumental role in reviewing heart attack prevention programs that are nationally recognized. This novel finding also highlights the importance of identifying rare symptoms of heart attacks, in order to inform the public that chest pain and shortness of breath are not the only major symptoms of this cardiovascular event. In addition, heart attack prevention programs can also include this new information in their brochures, helping the readers to understand additional methods on how to live longer.

Tune Up #1: Blood Pressure

High blood pressure can strike at any time in life; however aging puts you at an increased risk for developing it. In fact, according to the National Institute of Aging, over half of all Americans over the age of 60 have high blood pressure. High blood pressure can cause severe damage to your organs and even death and screening for it is both easy and reliable, so there really is no excuse for forgoing this test. The American Institute for Preventative Medicine (AIPM) recommends getting your blood pressure checked every 1 to 3 years.

If the test confirms that you do in fact have high blood pressure, a tune-up may be as simple as modifying your diet and lifestyle. Phyllis Balch recommends in her book “Prescription for Nutritional Healing,” eliminating sugar, caffeine, alcohol, pickled foods and animal fats. In addition, you should consume a high fiber diet, with plenty of fruits and vegetables and whole grains. Also be sure to perform light to moderate exercise, regularly

Tune Up #2 Cholesterol Levels

Similar to high blood pressure, high cholesterol effects people of all ages, but aging increases your chances for developing it. High cholesterol increases your risk for stroke, heart disease, dementia and several other diseases. Checking your cholesterol is simple, involving a quick blood test and the AIPM recommends having your cholesterol checked every 3 to 5 years.

To tune-up your cholesterol levels follow the same suggestions given for lowering blood pressure, and consider adding cayenne pepper into your daily diet, because it has been thought to lower cholesterol. In addition, Balch recommends eliminating all dairy and processed foods and consuming olive oil, cold-water fish, grapefruit and garlic liberally.

Tune Up # 3: Immunizations

Immunity fades over time and vaccines change over the years. Men over 50 are advised to have a tetanus booster. Aging men should also consider getting a yearly flu shot and men over 65 are advised to have a pneumococcal vaccine as well.

Tune Up # 4: The Dreaded Colonoscopy

Colon cancer kills 56,000 Americans every year. Aging greatly increases your risk for developing colorectal cancer, likely because your hormones decrease as you age and researchers suspect that colon cancer may actually be a “disease of missing hormones.” The colonoscopy is probably the most dreaded of all tests amongst men; however it is also one of the most important. According to the Center for Disease Control, 60% of all colon cancer related deaths could be prevented if people were properly screened for it and treated appropriately.

If you are over 50 it is recommended that you get screened right away (if you haven’t already) and then again every 10 years. In the meantime, you can help support the health of your aging colon by reducing your intake of saturated fats, alcohol, and fried foods, and increasing your intake of water and fiber, states Balch.

Tune Up #5: Address Joint Pain and Stiffness

Pain and stiffness in your bones and joints are not a natural part of aging; they are often indicative of something more serious such as arthritis or osteoporosis. Although men are less likely to develop these conditions due to hormones and physical biology factors, they are not immune. In fact 23% of all men will develop some form of arthritis in their lifetime. Bottom line is, if you are experiencing pain and stiffness in any of your joints, and/or a reduced range of motion, you should speak to your doctor about having your blood tested for markers of arthritis.

The following dietary recommendations are considered helpful to the health of your bones, regardless of whether or not you are currently suffering with joint pain and stiffness. Firstly, you should increase your intake of sulfur-containing foods such as onions, garlic, eggs and asparagus, because sulfur helps to repair and rebuild bones, states Balch. In addition, you should consume leafy greens, whole grains, fish, soybeans and avocados, regularly.

There are currently various recommendations on how to prevent the development of heart disease and the accumulation of fatty deposits in the vascular tissues of the heart. These preventive measures include eating healthy meals consisting of fruits of vegetables and participating in regular exercises that would enhance the heart and vascular systems of the body.

In terms of surviving a heart attack, it is essential that the individual be brought to the emergency room for immediate medical attention. This ensures that the patient is given medications that would widen any vascular tissues that have been blocked by fatty deposits, thus preventing any further deleterious effects on the patient. In addition, the heart attack patient is also administered oxygen through the use of a mask, increasing the supply of this essential gas through the vascular tissues, reaching the rest of the body. Immediate medical attention will also prevent the progression of the patient’s heart disease and assist in treating any blockage in the vascular tissues.

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According to a recent publication, marriage can increase the survival of a heart attack patient. The report published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal showed that patients who were married were more likely to be brought to the hospital for treatment, thus decreasing complications in heart disease by providing drugs that would address issues concerning the vascular tissues, and ultimately decreasing mortality. The study involved reviewing patient records of approximately 4,403 patients who suffered a heart attack. The study population consisted of both men and women, of which the marital status was determined, together with the time interval between the onset of chest pain and the presentation of the heart attack patient at the emergency room for treatment.

The results of the study showed that 75.3% of the married heart attack patients were brought in for immediate treatment within six hours of chest pain. On the other hand, only 67.9% of single heart attack patients were presented at the emergency room within six hours of the symptoms of the heart disease. For divorced patients suffering from heart disease, only 68.5% of this group was immediately brought in for treatment. Approximately 70.8% of widowed patients reached the hospital for rapid diagnosis and treatment of their heart attack.

These results suggest that being married posed as an additional factor that increases the survival of an individual during a heart attack. More married patients are treated immediately, thus preventing the rapid deterioration of the condition of the patient, and quick supplementation of oxygen to the vascular tissues. It is also important to understand that every heart disease is manageable, as long as the patient is given timely examination, especially upon the occurrence of chest pain, and proper treatment to would enhance the widening of vascular tissues for blood circulation.

Interestingly, this edge of being married and higher survival rates in heart disease was only observed among male patients. The medical report described that among female heart attack patients, being married did not increase the likelihood of reaching the emergency room at the soonest possible time. It is possible that women choose to delay seeking medical attention when they experience chest pain, thus increasing the chance for the progression of their heart disease and likelihood for mortality. Public health programs should therefore take note of this unique report on the impact of civil status on the timely delivery of treatment for heart disease.

Sodium

Most canned foods contain high levels of sodium. Sodium helps to extend the shelf life of canned goods. Sodium also acts as a food enhancer, improving the taste of the food you eat. The recommended daily allowance for sodium intake is 1,500 mg for adults. If you consume a lot of canned food, you will quickly exceed your sodium RDA. Sodium is associated with an increased risk of high blood pressure and high blood pressure is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Choosing canned goods with lower sodium content is a simple way to decrease your salt intake. Lower sodium content canned goods will have less of an impact on your heart disease risk. If you’re worried about heart disease and you want to implement some cardiac care tips, cutting out canned goods is an easy diet change.

Bisphenol A (BPA)

Bisphenol A is an organic compound that is used in plastics and epoxy resins as well as in the lining of cans to prevent corrosion. BPA has been linked to a number of health problems including: male infertility, heart disease, stroke and diabetes. A recent study published in The Journal of the American Medical Association found that individuals who ate one can of soup; five days a week has significantly BPA in their urine than individuals who ate fresh soup. There is significant cause for concern, as the increase in BPA levels was seen after one serving of soup. This poses a risk for individuals who eat canned goods, including soup, on a regular basis. BPA is found in many items, some are harder than others to avoid. However, limiting your exposure to canned goods is a simple step for cardiac care, which will help to decrease your heart disease risk.

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Heart Disease

Heart disease is a group of diseases that affect the structure and function of your heart. Conditions that fall under the heart disease umbrella include: coronary artery disease, heart attack, angina, arrhythmias, and heart failure among others. If you want to live longer, you should implement cardiac care into your daily routine. Many heart diseases, such as a heart attack, can be fatal. In order to prevent heart disease and live longer, it is best to prevent the risk factors that can lead to heart disease such as: high blood pressure, obesity, high cholesterol, high stress, sedentary lifestyles, etc. In order to do this, diet and lifestyle modifications should be implemented as part of your cardiac care routine.

If you want to live longer, decreasing your exposure to sodium and BPA may help to lower your heart disease risk. Cardiac care begins with making healthy lifestyle choices. An easy solution to help you live longer is to eat fresh, organic food that is locally grown. This will provide you with numerous health benefits and will help with cardiac care and help to prevent heart disease.

Avocado’s have long been a cause for question amongst dieters. At first sight, the nutritional information of an avocado may scare a few people off – especially those concerned about heart disease risk and blood sugar. However, it has been shown through numerous studies that avocado is in fact a heart healthy food.

Research has shown that a diet including avocado reduces the risk of heart disease, regulates blood sugar levels and provides a number of other health benefits. Regardless of its fat content and caloric levels, avocado is one of the best heart healthy foods a person can eat.

The fats found in avocado are monosaturated fats that are known to reduce artery clogging LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) and raise heart healthy HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol). Therefore, the fat in an avocado is a “good fat” because it allows blood to move more freely through the body, opening clear pathways in the arteries. This reduces heart disease risk and the risk of heart attack.

Avocado also helps to keep blood sugar levels regular and help limit insulin spikes when consumed with high-sugar foods. Because of this, the American Diabetes Association recommends Type-2 diabetics make avocado a regular part of their diet. They help to initiate insulin control and blood sugar levels with their low-glycemic index (0).

Diets low in potassium and vitamin E are also found in avocado have been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. This heart-healthy food really does benefit the body in a number of ways. Another way that avocados can reduce heart disease risk is through its soluble fiber content. Soluble fiber works to improve glucose levels and clean out arteries, too.

In addition, recent studies conducted by Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore showed that avocado is a heart-healthy food. It was shown to help reduce heart disease risk as well as control blood sugar in a sample group of 164 people.

Participants in the Johns Hopkins University study all had mild-hypertension, which is often a pre-cursor to Type-2 diabetes. The group was then put on a series of three diets, each spanning six weeks, to compare the body’s ability to regulate blood sugar and maintain healthy insulin levels when consuming a high carb diet, high protein diet and finally, a diet rich in unsaturated fats (good fats). The research concluded that a balanced diet higher in unsaturated fats improved insulin much better than with a high-carb diet.

The fats in avocado work to regulate blood sugar by limiting the impact high-carb food has on the body.

As far as heart healthy foods go, avocado is near the top of the list. It’s make-up of important fats, vitamins and minerals have been shown to promote a healthy heart, regulate blood sugar and reduce heart disease risk. Don’t let the numbers scare you away – the calories found in an avocado are heart healthy!

A recent study conducted at NYU Langone Medical Center revealed that the dark meat of chicken, turkey, and some fish is linked to significantly lower risk of coronary heart disease in women. Heart disease is the leading cause of death among American men and women. It’s caused by the build-up of plaque in the arteries of the heart.

The NYU research team evaluated the impact of taurine in dark meat and discovered that the higher intake of taurine, the lower heart disease risk there was among women with high cholesterol levels. Taurine is a natural nutrient found in the tissue of dark meat.

Until now, the only research that linked taurine in dark meat to reduced heart disease risk came from animal studies. The human study was extensive; more than 14,000 women participated. The study concluded that women with high cholesterol who had high levels of taurine were 60 per cent less likely to develop heart disease or die from it.

According to the Mayo Clinic, taurine is an amino acid that helps regulate water and mineral salts in the blood. Some studies suggest it improves athletic performance. Today taurine can be found in many different types of energy drinks, but these drinks can also be high in sugar and caffeine which are both substances that can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, leading to heart disease.

Taurine is also available in supplement form and is said to have antioxidant properties. Dieticians who work in consultation with the Canadian Heart Association say there are natural heart disease remedies that people can apply on a daily basis.

Natural Remedies

Eating the right foods and exercising regularly can go a long way in lowering a woman’s heart disease risk. For instance dairy products are known to have taurine in them; however, they can also have fat so instead of 2 per cent milk and whole milk products like cheese and yogurt, try skim milk and non-fat cheeses and yogurt. Avoid red meat, sausage and fried foods and have fish, white meat from poultry, or shellfish that has taurine in it. Eat less white bread and substitute with whole grains. Lastly, avoid trans fats and saturated fats. You can have healthy fats found in nuts, olive oil and flax seeds.

Lowering your heart disease risk doesn’t necessarily have to involve a lot of heavy medications either. Studies have shown that exercise is one of the best natural heart disease remedies. In fact, Harvard Medical School research indicates that even as little as two hours of activity a week can make a difference in women’s heart disease risk level.

Exercise and proper diet are not the only natural heart disease remedies. Several studies, including one published in the well known medical journal “Circulation” states that magnesium is good for your heart. Magnesium seems to increase heart muscle strength and decrease abnormal heart rhythms.

According to the University of Maryland Medical Centre both ginger and garlic could be natural heart disease remedies. There appears to be some evidence that they reduce blood clotting. Researches on these, as well as many other herbs such as rosemary and cayenne are being conducted globally; as more consumers demand natural remedies to serious medical problems like heart disease.

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in Canada.  Detecting heart disease early is one of the best ways to prevent a fatal heart attack or stroke from happening to you or someone you love.

Most people know the common warning signs of an impending heart attack including: chest pain/discomfort, upper body discomfort, shortness of breath, nausea, and unexplained extreme fatigue.  However, there are some warning sign of underlying heart disease (which could lead to a heart attack) that might not be obvious to most people. Read on to learn about strange warning signs that could mean that you have some degree of heart disease.

Heart Palpitations

Most people can’t feel their own heartbeat throughout the day. However, those that experience heart palpitations can. Heart palpitations are unpleasant, often irregular, forceful beats of your heart. While some people that experience heart palpitations may have no underlying heart disease, some individuals have underlying heart arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms).  Arrhythmias can happen when your heart beats too slow, too fast or beats irregularly.  Abnormalities of different regions of the heart, including the atria, ventricles and the nodes can cause arrhythmias that result in heart palpitations. If you begin to experience heart palpitations, visit your family doctor for further investigation of your heart.  While it may be nothing serious, it may mean that you have some form of heart disease that needs to be monitored.

Sexual Dysfunction

While you may not feel that sexual health and heart health are related, they are.  If you are having difficulty performing in the bedroom it means that blood is not flowing correctly through your blood vessels. If blood isn’t flowing correctly, it could be affecting your heart, leading to heart disease.  Simple diet and lifestyle changes can significantly improve your sexual performance as well as prevent heart disease, including heart attack.

Migraines

Migraines are often caused by blood circulation problems in the body. If you have a vascular problem that is causing migraines, it could also be causing heart disease.  If you experience migraines, especially if they start later in life, speak with your doctor to rule out underlying heart disease.

Male Pattern Baldness

Male pattern baldness is not just an aesthetic problem; it is also a circulatory problem.  There is a correlation between male pattern baldness and an increased risk of heart disease.  Again, speak with your doctor to see if you have underlying heart disease.

Snoring

Snoring creates increased work for your heart.  A study from Emory University in Atlanta found that individuals who snore have an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.  Additionally, sleep disturbances can lead to high blood pressure and high cholesterol – both of which contribute to heart disease and possibly lead to heart attack. The good news is, if you have sleep problems, you can have a sleep test performed and treatment can be started to improve your sleep quality. Improving your sleep pattern will help decrease your heart disease risk.

The Stroke and Cardiovascular Health Connection

Most of us are aware that our overall cardiovascular health plays an important role in determining our heart attack risk, but did you know it also contributes greatly to your stroke risk? How you may ask? Well, many strokes occur because a buildup of deposits causes your artery walls to harden, and this reduces your body’s ability to deliver blood to your brain. Some other strokes occur because of a blockage of arteries within the brain. The most common cause of strokes however, is considered to be uncontrolled high blood pressure. If your cardiovascular health is in order, your arteries will remain healthy and elastic and your blood pressure will be stabilized; and your stroke risk should therefore be vastly reduced. Although there is no way to completely eliminate your stroke risk, supporting your cardiovascular system with natural heart remedies such as gingko and fish oil can help to lower your risk. Magnesium has long been revered as a natural heart remedy, and recent research suggests that a diet rich in this mineral also reduces your stroke risk.

Magnesium to Reduce Stroke Risk

Magnesium is the fourth most abundant mineral in your body. Recently Swedish researchers compiled data from seven separate studies that included more than 240,000 people, the results of which were published in the February 2012 issue of The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. The researchers examined the seven studies to see how much magnesium rich foods people consumed and how many of them had strokes, whilst statistically controlling for a variety of potentially confounding factors such as age, blood pressure, smoking, BMI, alcohol use, diabetes and family history. The researchers found a substantial correlation between a high dietary intake of magnesium and a lowered stroke risk. In fact, a “person’s risk of having a stroke decreased 8% for each additional 100 mg of magnesium,” they consumed per day.

Possible Reasons Why Magnesium Reduces Stroke Risk

Magnesium’s ability to reduce stroke risk may possibly be threefold. Firstly, magnesium is well known for its ability to reduce high blood pressure—the number one cause of strokes. Secondly, magnesium has been found to dilate arteries and increase blood flow throughout the body, including the brain. Finally, magnesium reduces the risk of blood clots and may thereby reduce thrombotic stroke risk, which occurs when a blood clot forms in one of the arteries that supplies blood to your brain.

Foods to Emphasize

The Swedish study only examined the effects of dietary magnesium and it did not confirm whether or not magnesium supplements would have the same stroke risk reducing effects. So until further studies are done, your best bet for lowering your risk for stroke is to emphasize the following magnesium rich foods: leafy green vegetables, legumes, beans, almonds, nuts and seeds, dairy products and whole grains.

In an upcoming April 2012 research article published in the Stroke, the official journal of the American Heart Association (AHA), the role of specific natural heart remedies in decreasing stroke risk and improving cardiac care is described.  The report is quite timely because there have been no comprehensive research investigations on the relationship of natural health remedies such as citrus fruit intake and heart attack, stroke, or cardiac care to date.  The first investigation that attempted to establish a correlation between citrus fruits as natural heart remedies to heart attack was published in the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1999.  Despite the large study population involved in this older study, the intake of citrus fruits was considered as a general group in this investigation.

In the newest report in the AHA journal, the association between specific citrus-derived flavonoids and stroke is presented.  Flavonoids are a large group of plant pigments with positive health effects, including those related to cardiac care.  Subclasses of flavonoids include anthocyanins, which are responsible for the red to purple coloration in plants, flavanones, which are predominant in citrus fruits, and flavonols, which are commonly present in fruits and vegetables.  The other components of natural heart remedies mentioned in the report also include flavones, flavan-3-ols, and the polymers.

The information contained in this AHA report can significantly enhance cardiac care by describing in finer detail the actual components of natural heart remedies that could decrease the occurrence of heart attack and stroke.  By actually identifying the specific plant compound and the corresponding plant source, readers can include specific fruits in their daily care, thus enhancing their total cardiac care.  In addition, the AHA report monitored the use of natural heart remedies in a large study population, initially consisting of 121,700 women within the age range of 30 to 55 years old.  The actual study did not start until 14 years later, as the investigators needed to establish baseline information on the participants, including lifestyle habits, previous medical histories and reports of stroke or heart attack.  It was also important for the study to collect as much information on each participant’s activities in relation to personal cardiac care and use of natural health remedies. Any participant that has been earlier diagnosed with a cardiovascular disorder, including heart attack and stroke, were removed prior to the start of the actual study.  In addition, only those participants who provided substantial information on their daily food intake were included in the research program.

Sea salt

In a U.S survey 61 per cent of people said that sea salt was better for your blood pressure. Sea salt is often advertised as a healthier alternative to regular table salt. The fact is the only difference between sea salt and table salt is the taste and texture, otherwise the two have the same impact on your blood pressure.

Table salt and sea salt both contain sodium, and a lot of people consume way too much. No matter which type you use, you should be limiting your intake to 2,300 milligrams per day. If you are over 50, black, or already have high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease or diabetes, you should only be having 1, 500 milligrams a day.

Salt retains water, thus promoting thirst. A lot of salt in the body creates fluid pressure on blood vessel walls. The walls respond by narrowing and thickening, requiring higher pressure for the blood to get pumped to organs.

Blood sugar factor

Recent studies have indicated that blood sugar problems can cause high blood pressure. In 2008 the University of Washington conducted a complex study that showed 70 % of people with diabetes had high blood pressure and that blood sugar problems were likely the reason. Some medical experts have been critical of this study because it only involved Caucasians; however, the authors believe it serves as a catalyst for further investigation.

It’s not just blood sugar problems and blood pressure that are related, cholesterol and blood pressure have a relationship as well. High cholesterol is when fat from food collects in your blood constricting your arteries and making it harder for blood to pump. When this occurs it can cause your blood pressure to rise. Cholesterol can be controlled by diet and exercise, which leads to another risk factor…eye health.

Eye Health

Researchers at the University of Sydney, Australia conducted a study with school-age children and came up with some interesting data. They determined that kids who spent a lot of time watching television or using the computer experienced a narrowing of the blood vessels in their eyes, which is an indicator of increased risk of high blood pressure. Children who exercised instead were much healthier. The study did take into account, weight, height, body mass index, and current blood pressure.

Similar studies that focused on cholesterol testing have come to the same conclusion. The research points out that not only is sedentary behavior unhealthy, past-times like watching TV tend to include snacking and those snacks are often high in cholesterol.

Doctors say while consumers are demanding food producers develop more low cholesterol snacks, there is still a large segment of the population that will lean towards the high cholesterol food.

In the past a lot of research focused on how blood sugar problems, diabetes and blood pressure were linked, and how they could lead to eye problems such as retinopathy, cataracts and glaucoma. Now more and more researchers are looking at how poor eye health can actually cause blood pressure issues.

It is interesting to note that high cholesterol has long been linked to eye health and specifically retinopathy. Organizations like the National Eye Institute and the Macular Degeneration Foundation are suggesting we all talk to our doctors about diet and activity to reduce high cholesterol risk, address blood sugar problems and ultimately keep blood pressure under control.

Lowering high blood pressure and high cholesterol will prevent heart attacks and strokes. It could even save your life. Doing things like limiting sea salt and TV watching seem like a small price to pay for a longer life.

There are nicotine replacement therapies such as the patch or gum that are supposed to help a smoker gradually kick the habit. However, there are some smokers that just don’t want to quit.  They’re addicted, not only to the nicotine, but to the routine that smoking provides them with.  They enjoy their cigarette with their morning coffee or their evening drink, they feel more relaxed when they smoke and they genuinely love the act of smoking.  For those individuals, there are a number of alternatives that have been developed and marketed to them.  The question is, are these alternatives safe?  Research shows that perhaps they aren’t….

Electronic Cigarettes

Tobacco cigarettes are known to have nicotine as well as over 4,000 toxins, some that are known to cause cancer among other health conditions including heart disease.  Just like tobacco cigarettes, e-cigarettes also contain nicotine.  They work using an atomizer that heats the liquid that contains the nicotine.  The heated liquid turns into a vapour that is inhaled, a cloud of smoke is also produced, similar to traditional cigarettes.  Manufacturers of e-cigarettes have made claims that this product is a safe alternative to tobacco cigarettes, providing the same look and feel of a regular cigarette.  However, the Food and Drug Administration found that two major brands of e-cigarettes had varying amounts of nicotine as well as traces of toxins and some known cancer-causing agents in them.  The FDA has advised that e-cigarettes are not necessarily a safe alternative and precaution should be taken before using them.

Smokeless Tobacco (including: chewing tobacco, snuff, snus, dissolvable tobacco, etc.)

Smokeless tobacco products are products that are generally chewed, sniffed or sucked on as opposed to being smoked. Some people feel that smokeless tobacco is less harmful than smoking tobacco.  While it may be slightly safer, it comes with its’ own serious health problems.   Smokeless tobacco also contains approximately 30 toxins, including cancer-causing substances as well as nicotine.  Some of the negative health effects of smokeless tobacco include:

-              Addiction – in addition to the toxins in smokeless tobacco, it also contains high levels of nicotine which is highly addictive

-              Cancer – some of the toxins in smokeless tobacco are known cancer-causing agents

-              Gum disease and pre-cancerous mouth lesions

-              Heart disease – long term use increases the risk of dying from heart disease or stroke

If you are a smoker, don’t turn to smokeless tobacco to help you quit.  In addition to all of the health problems mentioned above, there is no evidence that shows that using smokeless tobacco will help you to quit.

Cigars

Many people feel that smoking cigars is a safe alternative to smoking tobacco because you “don’t inhale”.  Don’t be fooled…smoking cigars is not any healthier for you.  Just like tobacco cigarettes, cigars contain many toxins, including some cancer-causing agents.  Here are some of the negative health effects of smoking cigars:

-              Addiction – cigars contain high levels of the highly addictive substance, nicotine

-              Cancer -  cigars also contain numerous cancer-causing toxins

-              Cardiovascular disease – regular cigar smoking increases your risk of heart disease

-              Gum disease

Additionally, because cigars are smoked, they create second-hand smoke, just like conventional cigarettes.  This second-hand smoke exposes other people to all of the toxins that are found in the cigar.  By smoking cigars, you are not only increasing your risk of serious health problems, you are also increasing the cancer and heart disease risk of individuals around you. Additionally, cigars are generally smoked for a longer period of time which means that the toxins are in the air for an extended period of time.

As can be seen, switching from traditional cigarette smoking to an alternative option isn’t a safer option.  All of the alternatives contain nicotine and toxins and have risks associated with them. Not only do all of the alternatives increase your cancer risk, they increase your risk of developing heart disease.  Heart disease can result in potentially fatal conditions including heart attacks.  If you are lucky to survive a heart attack you will likely be admitted to a cardiac care unit within the hospital. Once released from the hospital, you will have to undergo cardiac care in a rehabilitation setting.  Because our health care system is over-burdened, wait times for cardiac care programs can be quite lengthy which can negatively affect your recovery.  Even after under-going cardiac care rehabilitation, you may still have lingering heart problems -cardiac care is not guaranteed to fix your heart completely.

If you put down a tobacco cigarette and pick up one of these alternative options, you are virtually putting down one bad habit and picking up another.  The best thing to do is to quit smoking all together.

High blood pressure (also termed hypertension) is a chronic medical problem that increases the blood pressure in your arteries.  When your blood pressure is elevated, the performance of your heart is negatively affected. Your heart has to work harder to circulate the blood through the vessels of your body.  Normal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg or below while high blood pressure is repeatedly 140/90 mmHg or higher.  High blood pressure should not be ignored as it is a major risk factor for many health problems including stroke, heart attack, heart failure, aneurysms, arterial disease and kidney disease.

If your doctor detects that your blood pressure is heightened early, you should be able to manage it through lifestyle changes, including diet and exercise modifications. This doesn’t mean that you have to become a high performance athlete.  Simple changes to your daily routine will have a big impact on your blood pressure. It will take approximately one to three months of regular exercise for you to see noticeable changes in your blood pressure.

How are Exercise and Blood Pressure Connected?

All forms of exercise including, aerobic exercises, flexibility exercises and lifting weights, have a direct impact on your blood pressure.  Exercise improves the performance of your heart by making it stronger. A healthy, strong heart can pump blood more efficiently which means that it has to work less, lowering the blood pressure in the arteries.

If your blood pressure is in the healthy range, at or below 120/80 mmHg, then exercising will help to maintain the healthy blood pressure as you age.  Regular physical activity will help you to maintain a healthy weight so that you won’t need to lose weight later in life.  If you are overweight with normal blood pressure, exercising will not only maintain your blood pressure, but will help you to lose weight. Even if you currently don’t have high blood pressure, obesity increases your risk of developing it later in life, so if you lose weight, you will decrease your risk of developing this health problem.

What Types of Exercises Should you do?

To get the best possible health benefits, including increasing the performance of your heart and lowering your blood pressure, a combination of aerobic exercises and lifting weights should be incorporated into your exercise routine. Aerobic exercises are any activities that get your heart pumping – this is the type of exercise that will improve the performance of your heart the most.  Some performance enhancing activities include: household chores (mopping, vacuuming, etc.), brisk walking, biking, jogging, swimming, etc.  It is recommended that you do aerobic-type exercise for approximately 30 minutes per day. Keep in mind that aerobic exercise is cumulative.  This means that short bursts of exercise can be added throughout the day to reach 30 minutes – 10 minutes here, 10 minutes there and so on, it doesn’t seem to intimidating now does it?  Another great benefit of aerobic exercise is that it will help you to lose weight.

Lifting weights is another type of exercise that you should add to your exercise routine to improve the performance of your heart.  It is important to follow a few safety tips when you start lifting weights to minimize the risk of injury.

1. Use proper form – if needed, consult a personal trainer to learn the exercise properly

2. Breathe – do not hold your breath when lifting weights.  Holding your breath can cause an unwanted increase in blood          pressure

3. Lift light – to improve the performance of your heart, it’s better to lift a lighter weight for more repetitions.  If you lift heavy weights, you may have an increase in blood pressure due to the increase in exertion level

4. Don’t over-do it – if your body is fatigued, or you experience pain, stop what you’re doing to avoid injury

Keep in mind, that if you start doing cardio, lifting weights or any other type of exercise, you must continue to do so to keep your blood pressure in check.  If you stop working out, you will not maintain the blood pressure benefits and will have to look elsewhere to control it (such as prescription medication).  Exercises, including aerobic type activities and lifting weights will not only help you to lose weight, it will improve the performance of your heart in addition to improving the performance of many other body systems.  If you’re looking for a safe, natural approach to lowering your blood pressure, exercise is the answer!

In the event of a heart attack, the cardiac muscle cells of the heart are induced to undergo a process of self-destruction, called necrosis. It is thus critical for a person experiencing a heart attack to be given medical attention as soon as possible. Medical studies have shown that in a single episode such as this, an individual can lose approximately one billion cardiac muscle cells to necrosis, significantly decreasing the chances to live longer. For this reason alone, heart health has become one of the major goals of most medical-related organizations, including the World Health Organization.

One interesting fact about heart health is the correlation between the occurrence of a heart attack and the chance of suffering from heart failure and possibility to live longer. After a heart attack, a person still retains these necrotic cells in the heart and yet the entire organ has to supply blood to their entire body. Imagine a muscle machine such as the heart, with the size of your fist, working so hard to pump blood in and out at least 80 times each minute. It is possible that the heart would eventually stop pumping from fatigue, especially when a portion of its muscle cells has been damaged from an earlier heart attack. To live longer with a damaged heart is thus harder to imagine and to achieve.

Stem cells are the most promising therapeutic approach for the improvement of heart health. These cells are very unique in terms of their capacity to transform into specific cell types, depending on the composition of its immediate environment or where these are introduced into. In terms of heart health, stems cells derived from the bone marrow have the capacity to develop into muscle cells of the heart, arteries, and veins. Active research is currently being performed around the world, testing the potential of using stem cells in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases and ultimately, for people to live longer.

Several medical reports have described that injecting bone marrow stem cells into the heart of an individual who previously suffered a heart attack resulted in the development of new blood vessels in the site. In addition, the treated heart also showed an improvement in its capacity in contraction, thus preventing heart failure, improving heart health, and ultimately allowing the patient to live longer. Essentially, the introduction of bone marrow-derived stem cells improved the heart health of the patient by replacing cells and tissues that were damaged from a previous heart attack.

Clinical trials are now being conducted in different hospitals around the world, making use of stem cells from the bone marrow to improve the heart health of patients. Comprehensive clinic trials also examine specific features indicative of heart health, including the volume of blood that is pumped out of each ventricle. These medical research data are compared to those patients that did not receive any stem cells, or control subjects. So far, the reports show positive outcomes, yet there is still a need to further investigate the use of stem cells as a treatment strategy for improving the heart health patients and to basically live longer.

Despite the positive results of stem cell injection to heart health, it is yet interesting to determine the long-term effects of this novel therapeutic strategy. For example, should individuals with a high risk for a heart attack be given stem cells early on to prevent its occurrence later in life? Or by how many years will patients live longer when given stems cells for repair of damaged heart cells? And can a combination of stem cells and medications double the chances of a patient to live longer? There will be a need to conduct multi-center clinical studies to address these questions, using prospective screening of patients who have developed a heart attack and monitoring them through the years to determine if they indeed live longer.

According to the latest statement of the American Health Association (AHA) published in the journal Circulation, the accumulation of scientific and medical research efforts have discovered the actual mechanism by which particulate matter in the air affects heart health. Very fine particles of sizes less than 2.5 microns are present in the polluted atmosphere. The presence of these particles has been strongly associated with an increase in the incidence of vascular disorders, including heart attack and stroke. The general heart health of exposed individuals are also at risk to air particles, resulting in abnormal heartbeat or arrhythmia, and other deleterious vascular conditions such as heart failure. An alarming feature of the AHA statement is that heart failure and stroke can occur within hours or days in an individual with poor heart health.

The AHA heart health statement also describes smaller particulate matter (< 0.1 microns in size) in polluted air, which is actually present in gaseous fumes such as those emitted by automobiles during heavy traffic. These ultrafine materials can easily enter the vascular system of the human body and induce the tightening of blood vessels. This constriction can significantly lessen the amount of oxygen that is transported to the rest of the body, with an effect similar to that of a stroke, which is the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, preventing the circulation of oxygenated blood to the entire body.

Particulate matter in polluted air has also been reported to increase the systemic blood pressure of exposed individuals, further increasing the risk for vascular disorders and stroke. Additional effects of air pollution include changes in the capacity for blood clotting, which is the major feature of a stroke, and modifications in coagulant protein, thrombin. Air pollution has also been reported to decrease the body’s capacity to elicit an immune response to foreign particles, which occur at sites of infection or injury through the vascular system. Vascular tissues are thus more prone to inflammation, which in turn can result in the deterioration of heart health and more importantly, increasing the risk for stroke.

The AHA statement also emphasized the negative effect of particulate matter on the development of atherosclerosis, or the accumulation of fatty deposits on the walls of vascular tissues. The continuous deposition of fats can impede blood circulation, resulting in the degeneration of heart health. Furthermore, the blockage in the vascular tissues can also induce the occurrence of a stroke.

Air pollution can affect any individual, yet it is also important to know that there are certain groups that are prone to the negative effects of particulate matter on heart health and stroke risk. According to the AHA statement, young children and the elderly have a greater risk of developing vascular diseases from exposure to polluted air. In the case of children, air pollution can prevent further development of vascular and immune tissues, thus inhibiting these young individuals from reaching their best heart health condition when they reach adulthood. On the other hand, the elderly have limited capacity to fight foreign particles in their bodies, thus increasing their chances of suffering from a stroke, developing vascular disorders, and ultimately destroying their heart health.

Stepping out of the house in the morning can be quite refreshing when a fresh morning breeze hits your face. Unfortunately, this fresh morning breeze can only be observed in limited places around the planet. Extensive industrialization has resulted in poor quality of air, which has accumulated tiny particles that could affect heart health and increase the risk for a stroke. Recent research studies have determined that the current quality of outdoor air have exceeded the acceptable levels that are deemed safe for heart health. The levels of pollutants in the air were determined to be highest in urban areas, and yes—the air in rural areas are now also polluted.

According to the latest statement of the American Health Association (AHA) published in the journal Circulation, the accumulation of scientific and medical research efforts have discovered the actual mechanism by which particulate matter in the air affects heart health. Very fine particles of sizes less than 2.5 microns are present in the polluted atmosphere. The presence of these particles has been strongly associated with an increase in the incidence of vascular disorders, including heart attack and stroke. The general heart health of exposed individuals are also at risk to air particles, resulting in abnormal heartbeat or arrhythmia, and other deleterious vascular conditions such as heart failure. An alarming feature of the AHA statement is that heart failure and stroke can occur within hours or days in an individual with poor heart health.

The AHA heart health statement also describes smaller particulate matter (< 0.1 microns in size) in polluted air, which is actually present in gaseous fumes such as those emitted by automobiles during heavy traffic. These ultrafine materials can easily enter the vascular system of the human body and induce the tightening of blood vessels. This constriction can significantly lessen the amount of oxygen that is transported to the rest of the body, with an effect similar to that of a stroke, which is the rupture of a blood vessel in the brain, preventing the circulation of oxygenated blood to the entire body.

Particulate matter in polluted air has also been reported to increase the systemic blood pressure of exposed individuals, further increasing the risk for vascular disorders and stroke. Additional effects of air pollution include changes in the capacity for blood clotting, which is the major feature of a stroke, and modifications in coagulant protein, thrombin. Air pollution has also been reported to decrease the body’s capacity to elicit an immune response to foreign particles, which occur at sites of infection or injury through the vascular system. Vascular tissues are thus more prone to inflammation, which in turn can result in the deterioration of heart health and more importantly, increasing the risk for stroke.

The AHA statement also emphasized the negative effect of particulate matter on the development of atherosclerosis, or the accumulation of fatty deposits on the walls of vascular tissues. The continuous deposition of fats can impede blood circulation, resulting in the degeneration of heart health. Furthermore, the blockage in the vascular tissues can also induce the occurrence of a stroke.

Air pollution can affect any individual, yet it is also important to know that there are certain groups that are prone to the negative effects of particulate matter on heart health and stroke risk. According to the AHA statement, young children and the elderly have a greater risk of developing vascular diseases from exposure to polluted air. In the case of children, air pollution can prevent further development of vascular and immune tissues, thus inhibiting these young individuals from reaching their best heart health condition when they reach adulthood. On the other hand, the elderly have limited capacity to fight foreign particles in their bodies, thus increasing their chances of suffering from a stroke, developing vascular disorders, and ultimately destroying their heart health.

Approximately one million Americans have a heart attack every year, and 400,000 of them die as a result of it.

Interestingly, more heart attacks occur between 4:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. because higher blood levels of adrenaline are released from our adrenal glands during the morning hours.

When you are having a heart attack, your heart muscle dies and your heart muscle loss is permanent unless blood flow can be promptly restored, usually within one to six hours.

According to the American Stroke Association, a stroke occurs when a blood vessel carrying oxygen and nutrients to the brain is either blocked by a clot or bursts. When this happens, part of your brain cannot get the blood and oxygen it needs and it starts to die. Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death in North America

What Causes Heart Disease?

Coronary heart disease, also referred to as “hardening of the arteries,” is caused by the build up of fatty material and other substances, such as cholesterol, on the walls of your coronary arteries causing them to narrow. This build-up can slow down or stop the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart. If your heart doesn’t get enough blood and oxygen, you could have a heart attack.

Too much bad cholesterol (LDL) is a major risk factor for heart disease.

Sadly, the risk of heart disease increases with age, and you are also at risk if you are genetically predisposed to it. However, there are certain things you can do to prevent it.

Research has determined that diabetes, cholesterol, lack of exercise, smoking, high blood pressure, stress and having a stroke can increase your risk of contracting heart disease. So, to prevent heart disease, don’t smoke; limit your alcohol intake; engage in at least 30 minutes of exercise a day; get treated for stress and depression; manage your cholesterol levels and maintain a healthy weight.

A healthy diet is also critical for heart disease prevention. Eat more fruits, veggies, lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy, while avoiding salt and saturated fat and eating fewer cholesterol-laden foods, such animal products.

The Connection Between Heart Disease and Prostate Cancer

Researchers at the Duke Cancer Institute have recently discovered that what’s good for the heart may also be good for the prostate, suggesting that coronary heart disease and prostate cancer may have shared causes.

According to the Canadian Cancer Society, prostate cancer is the most common cancer in Canadian men. And in the United States, prostate cancer is the second most lethal cancer for men. Prostate cancer starts in the cells of the prostate gland, which is part of the male reproductive system.

The correlation between coronary heart disease and prostate cancer was discovered when researchers were analyzing a group of 6,390 men participating in a four-year prostate cancer drug trial.

Jean-Alfred Thomas II, M.D., a post-doctoral fellow in the Division of Urology at Duke University, is the lead author of the study, which was published on February 7, 2012, in the Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention journal.

Researchers found that having coronary heart disease increased the men’s risk of prostate cancer by 35 percent, with the risk rising over time.

Stephen Freedland M.D., associate professor of surgery and pathology in the Division of Urology at Duke and senior author of the paper, said the study has given them “a lot of good ideas for what to look at next” and that his research group will focus on the overlap between prostate cancer and other diseases associated with poor health habits.

More research is needed, but if future studies confirm that heart disease is a risk factor for prostate cancer, the same lifestyle changes that prevent heart disease and heart attacks will also apply to prostate cancer prevention.

Salsa Dancing

Salsa dancing is an effective and enjoyable way to get your heart pumping and break a sweat. In fact, you can burn 500 calories in just one hour of salsa dancing! So this weekend, resist the urge to be a couch potato or bar fly, both of which will only increase your risk for heart and vascular disease. Instead, strap on your dancing shoes and dance your way to a healthier heart.

Aerobics Classes

Most exercise clubs offer a variety of different aerobics classes ranging from Step Class to Tae Boe, to Cardio Pilates and everything in between. All types of moderate and high intensity aerobics classes will cause you to breathe faster and deeper and consequently, help to improve your hearts ability to pump blood throughout your body. According to Columbia University, aerobics also helps to lower your risk for heart disease and vascular disorders by reducing systemic inflammation and fatty build-up in your arteries.

Laughing Regularly

Laughter is not only good for the soul, a deep belly laugh is also an excellent way to reduce your risk for heart disease and improve your vascular health. According to a new study conducted the University of Maryland Medical Center, people with heart disease tend to laugh less and omit to find humor in everyday situations. In fact, the study found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less like likely to laugh in a variety of situations, compared to those who laughed regularly. Due to its ability to both increase heart rate and reduce stress, laughing is an enjoyable and effective method of cardiac care

Running or Jogging

Running and jogging are great ways to get your heart pumping and promote vascular health because you can do them anywhere and they do not require any monetary fees. According to the Journal of Health, Politics, Policy and Law, multiple studies confirm that jogging is one of the best ways to get your heart pumping, improve vascular function and reduce your risk for coronary heart disease. However, it is important to listen to your body when jogging or running and not to push yourself too hard, because over exertion can actually contribute to heart attack risk as opposed to lowering it.

Swimming

If you have a pre-existing heart or vascular disorder requiring cardiac care, are overweight or have arthritis consider swimming as part of your cardiac care regime, as opposed to jogging or running. Not only is swimming safer for individuals who fall into the above categories, according to the American Journal of Cardiology, swimming four times per week can improve your heart health and reduce your risk for heart disease equally as well as jogging and running.

1: Oatmeal

Oatmeal contains soluble fiber, which binds to cholesterol and prevents it from being absorbed into your bloodstream. Soluble fiber also helps to reduce your low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. This is important because LDL is considered the bad, unhealthy cholesterol the type that clogs your arteries and increases your risk for heart attack and stroke. For optimum results, consume 1 ½ bowls of oatmeal per day.

2: Soy

Multiple studies have confirmed that soy helps to lower the unhealthy triglyceride and LDL cholesterol levels, whilst also raising the healthy high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. Mary S Johnson states in the Journal of Nutrition that the flavones found in soy help to reduce risk for cardiovascular disorders such as heart attack and stroke by preventing the reduction in blood flow that contributes to these disorders. For optimum results, the FDA recommends consuming 25 g of soy protein per day. Soy milk, tofu and fermented soy products such a miso and tempeh are all great sources to include in your diet.

3: Cold-Water Fish

Cold-water fish such as salmon, mackerel, trout, sardines, herring, halibut and tuna are all excellent sources of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3s helps to lower your risk for heart attack, stroke and other cardiovascular disorders because they decrease platelet aggregation, lower inflammation, increase HDL cholesterol levels, reduce triglycerides and lower blood pressure. In fact, according the University of Maryland Medical Center, consuming just 2 servings of these fish per week can not only lower cholesterol but also lower your stroke risk by as much as 50%.

4. Almonds and Nuts

Consuming almonds and nuts in moderation can help you to reduce your cholesterol levels and keep your blood vessels healthy. The FDA recommends eating 1.5 ounces per day which amounts to approximately one handful of almonds, hazelnuts, peanuts, pecans, pine nuts, pistachios or walnuts. However, be sure that you choose plain, unsalted nuts, and raw when possible.

5: Onions

Onions contain two powerful nutrients that help to lower cholesterol levels: sulfur and chromium. According to a study conducted on rats and published in The Journal of Nutrition, when rats were fed a diet with sulfur containing amino acids their serum cholesterol levels decreased measurably. Research has also found that the chromium present in onions helps to prevent elevated triglyceride levels and support heart health, thereby reducing your risk for heart attack and stroke.

6: Olive oil

Olive oil contains potent antioxidants that can help to prevent free radical induced damage to your cardiovascular system. It has also been found to lower the unhealthy LDL cholesterol levels. For optimum results, consume 2 tablespoons per day and choose products that say “extra virgin” and “cold pressed” on the bottle. Also note that olive oil should be stored in an air tight container in a dark place. Finally, heating olive oil has been found to destroy many of its antioxidants and heart protective properties, so it is best to consume it right from the bottle, as a salad dressing or marinade, for instance.

7: Apples

Last but not least are apples. Studies suggest that eating apples daily will help to lower your cholesterol levels and thus reduce your risk for heart attack and stroke. Apples are so beneficial because they contain a soluble fiber called apple pectin, which helps to draw cholesterol out of your system and safely remove it. Apples also contain antioxidant dense nutrients called “flavonoids” which have been found to prevent LDL cholesterol from accumulating in your bloodstream. In fact, a recent study conducted at Florida State University found that that eating just one apple a day for a year reduces LDL levels by an average of 23%.

New research has found that swimming can lower blood pressure in people over the age of 50. In a small sample, seniors with largely sedentary lifestyles were able lower their blood pressure by swimming three to four times per week. All of the participants had initial blood pressures above the healthy levels of 120/80, placing them in a category known as pre-hypertension. Pre-hypertension is the level between healthy blood pressure and high blood pressure.

High blood pressure is reached at 140/90, at which point the risk for heart attacks and strokes becomes increased.

As people age and take on an increasingly sedentary lifestyle, they can increase their risk for heart attacks and strokes, research suggests. Such a lifestyle can cause arteries to thicken and accumulate plaque, resulting in increased blood pressure.

The study followed the progress of 43 subjects, aged 50 and older, and showed how swimming a few times per week for up to 45 minutes can substantially lower systolic blood pressure. Systolic blood pressure is the higher number in a blood pressure measurement, indicating the blood pressure when the heart is beating. The bottom, smaller number is the diastolic blood pressure, representing blood pressure when the heart is relaxed.

The study, published by the American Journal of Cardiology, is the first to indicate that swimming can lower blood pressure. The findings of the study group were compared to a control group that was exposed to relaxation exercises – things like yoga, meditation, deep breathing, etc. – during the same time frame. The results showed no improvement in blood pressure in the control group.

The average systolic blood pressure of the participants dropped from 131 to 122 over the three-month course of the study. It also found that vascular function improved and artery stiffness receded. This is important to note because stiff arteries, which are mainly found in seniors, have been linked to the onset of heart attacks and strokes.

Swimming provides a good source of light cardiovascular exercise because it works almost every muscle in the body. That means that the heart is pumping blood to transport oxygen to the muscles so they can function. This blood flow works against stiffening arteries and promotes healthy circulation that can reduce the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Heart attacks and strokes are largely caused by the bloods inability to move easily through the arteries. As they become stiff and clogged with plaque, blood pressure increases because it requires more force to move oxygen-rich blood through the veins. Stokes are the result of interrupted blood flow to the brain.

February is American Heart Month, so it can be a great opportunity to improve your cardiovascular fitness by getting active. Exercise is a proven method to lower blood pressure levels and reduce the risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Each year, roughly 70,000 Canadians have a heart attack – that’s one heart attack every 7 minutes. And every 10 minutes, someone has a stroke.

In fact, heart disease and stroke are two of the top three leading causes of death in Canada and the leading cause of hospitalization.

You may think you have nothing to worry about, but consider this: 90 percent of Canadians are at risk of contracting heart disease or having a stroke.

If you smoke, abuse alcohol, avoid exercise, are obese, have diabetes, high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol you are part of that 90 percent. This is why heart attack and stroke prevention are critical.

Heart Attack Warning Signs

The Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada lists these heart attack symptoms for both men and women:

- sudden discomfort or pain that does not go away with rest

- pain in the chest, neck, jaw, shoulder, arms or back

- pain that feels like burning, squeezing, heaviness, tightness or pressure

- chest pain or discomfort that is brought on with exertion and goes away with rest

- shortness of breath and/or difficulty breathing

- nausea, indigestion and/or vomiting

- sweating, cool/clammy skin, fear, anxiety and denial

If You are Having a Heart Attack

1. Time is of the essence. If you are experiencing any of the above heart attack symptoms, do not wait; call 911 immediately. If you hesitate, it may be too late to prevent permanent heart damage.

2. Do not ask someone to drive you to the hospital, unless you have no other choice.

3. If you experience heart attack symptoms when you’re alone in your car, pull over immediately and call 911. If you don’t have a cell phone, flag down another motorist.

4. Try your best not to panic by taking long, deep breaths. When the 911 dispatcher answers, simply say: “I think I’m having a heart attack.”

5. You may be told to chew and swallow an Aspirin, or if you’re already under a doctor’s care for heart disease, you may be told to place a nitroglycerin pill under your tongue.

6. If, while waiting for the ambulance, you feel faint or dizzy, unlock your door and lie down on the floor where emergency responders can see you when they arrive.

Stroke Warning Signs

When having a stroke, the blood supply to part of your brain is cut off, causing your brain cells to die, which can result in disability or death.

The American Stroke Association lists these stroke symptoms:

- sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body

- sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding

- sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes

- sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination

- sudden, severe headache with no known cause

If You Are Having a Stroke

1. Call 911 immediately.

2. Check the time. When did your stroke symptoms first appear? A clot-busting drug called tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) can reduce long-term disability if it is administered within 3 hours of the start of your stroke symptoms.

Heart Attack Prevention

Medications and lifestyle factors play a critical role in heart attack prevention and recovery.

According to the Mayo Clinic, if you’ve already had a heart attack or are at high risk for one, most doctors will prescribe a daily blood thinner such as acetylsalicylic acid (Aspirin). And if you are undergoing an angioplasty or stent procedure, you’ll probably be prescribed an anti-clotting drug, such as clopidogrel (Plavix).

Other heart attack prevention medications include: beta blockers, which lower your heart rate and blood pressure; angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, which allow blood to flow from your heart more easily; and medications to lower your cholesterol.

Lifestyle changes are also part of a heart attack prevention program. To keep heart attacks at bay: don’t smoke, remain physically active, eat healthy foods, maintain a healthy weight and manage your stress levels.

Stroke Prevention

Like heart attack prevention, you can reduce your risk of having a stroke by not smoking, losing weight, exercising more and consuming less alcohol.

It’s hiding in the foods you eat, some of which you aren’t even aware of.  This secret, silent, deadly killer…is salt.

The CDC report, released on February 7^th says that on average people are consuming 3,300 mgs of sodium on a daily basis – when they should be limiting intake to less than 2,300 mgs. More stringent recommendations are in place for salt intake if someone has a history of high blood pressure, kidney disease or diabetes, as well as anyone who is over the age of 51.

For the average adult, the recommended maximum salt intake level is 1,500 mg, or less than one teaspoon per day. The average level for healthy children is 1,000-1,500 mg per day.  Exceeding these levels puts you at risk for a serious onslaught of health problems.

Salt could be hiding in foods you eat, too, which makes its presence even more concerning. Common culprits of the hidden salt crimes include: processed food, frozen dinners, and canned vegetables.

Some other sources of sodium that might surprise you include:

-Ketchup
-Cheese
-Baking soda
-Baking powder
-Canned soups
-Frozen waffles
-Pizza
-Tomato sauce
-Popcorn

Limiting salt intake is an act that should be taken seriously. Kosher salt and sea salt are only considered nominally better for you than regular table salt – so keeping a keen eye on your purchases becomes imperative.

Buying fresh fruits and vegetables is a good place to start, and looking for products that specifically state “no salt added” on the label is another easy option. Keep in mind that products reading “reduced sodium” only mean 25% less sodium, and are best avoided.

The CDC report is clear in the implications of the over consumption of salt. It says “too much sodium increases a person’s risk for high blood pressure. High blood pressure often leads to heart disease and stroke”. And with more than 800,000 people dying each year from heart attack and stroke, it becomes important to be more aware of sodium consumption, and ultimately limiting it.

A heart attack happens when the heart is deprived of oxygen. When the heart is deprived of oxygen, even for a few minutes, the cells of the heart muscle begin to die. The chest pain that people usually report is the body’s way of saying it needs help.

Heart Attack Sign #1 – Chest Pain

This is the most common sign of a heart attack that men report.  Often, the chest discomfort is described as a pressure, tightness or heaviness.  The discomfort usually begins in the centre of the chest and can radiate to other areas of the body.  Additionally, the chest pain may come and go or it may be continuous. If you are experiencing chest pain, especially if it persists, call 911 immediately.  You may be having a heart attack and the sooner you receive treatment, the better your chance of survival.

Heart Attack Sign #2 – Upper Body Discomfort

While the most common sign of a heart attack is chest pain, pain does not always start there.  Sometimes, a person having a heart attack may complain of pain in one or both arms, the neck, jaw or even the stomach. Women that are having a heart attack are more likely to experience pain in the jaw or back compared to men.  These signs may signal a heart attack or another health problem.  It is important to call 911 if these symptoms come on suddenly or if they are seen with another sign of a heart attack.

Heart Attack Sign #3 – Difficulty breathing (shortness of breath)

If you are short of breath when you aren’t exerting yourself, this is a red flag. Sit or lie down and see if the symptoms dissipate. If the shortness of breath lasts longer than two minutes, call 911.

Heart Attack Sign #4 – Nausea, Sweating, Clamminess

These signs of a heart attack are much more subtle and are reported more in women who are suffering a heart attack.  If these symptoms appear suddenly or are seen with another warning sign of a heart attack, call 911.

Heart Attack Sign #5 – Extreme fatigue (tiredness)

Like nausea, sweating and clamminess, this is another subtle sign that you could be having a heart attack.  While you may be experiencing this sign as the result of another health problem, if it appears suddenly or with another symptom, call 911.

Risk Factors for Heart Attack

There are many risk factors for heart attack, some that are controllable and others that are not. Uncontrollable risk factors include: male sex, older age, family history of heart disease, race (African Americans, American Indians, and Mexicans are more likely to have heart disease than Caucasians).  Controllable risk factors are factors that can be modified and can help with heart attack prevention include: smoking, high HDL (“good”) cholesterol and low LDL (“bad”) cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, sedentary lifestyle, obesity, uncontrolled diabetes, high C-reactive protein (a marker of inflammation), and high stress levels.

Heart Attack Prevention

While medicine is advancing and has developed effective treatments for heart attacks, heart attack prevention is the best thing you can do for your health.  Heart attack prevention begins with living a healthy lifestyle.  This includes:

-   Quitting smoking

-  Managing your cholesterol levels by eating a healthy diet that is low in fat and cholesterol.  This will help to lower your cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease.  Medications are sometimes needed to control cholesterol levels.

-  Exercising regularly – this will help to raise your “good” cholesterol levels and decrease your “bad” cholesterol levels.  Regular exercise will also decrease your risk of heart disease.

-  Managing your stress levels (high stress levels can contribute to heart disease)

-  Managing your blood pressure (high blood pressure is a form of heart disease)

-  Managing your blood sugar levels if you are diabetic

- Managing your weight – excess weight puts strain on your heart.  It can also worsen other heart disease risk factors including diabetes, high cholesterol levels, and high blood pressure. Exercising and eating right will help control your weight and will reduce your risk of heart disease.

- Having regular check-ups with your doctor to monitor for risk factors, such as heart disease.

Using the steps above for heart attack prevention will help to lower your chance of suffering a heart attack.

It is important to implement changes to your life for heart attack prevention.  However, it is so important to know the signs that could mean you are suffering a heart attack.  Effective treatment does exist, but it is absolutely necessary to get it as soon as the symptoms appear or your heart attack could be fatal.

Researchers at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine and at Columbia University Medical Centre in New York determined that drinking diet soft drinks on a daily basis might increase your chances of heart attack, stroke and even vascular death.

Just over 2,500 people took part in the study which was published in the Journal of General Internal Medicine. Those who drank diet soda daily were 43 per cent more likely to experience a vascular episode than those who didn’t consume diet pop. People who drank one a month or 6 every week did not seem to increase their risk.

Controversy

The findings have sparked a lot of controversy. Beverage companies and even some nutritional experts argue that it may show a correlation between diet soda and vascular issues, but the study does not explain how or why this happens. The American Beverage Association points out that for year’s medical organizations have in fact been pushing the consumption of diet soda over regular soda as a weight management tool for people who are already at a high risk for vascular problems, heart attack or stroke.

The team of researchers at the University Of Miami Miller School of Medicine don’t dispute the fact that there are unanswered questions. They say they realize their study is not conclusive and more probing is needed to determine exactly why the body is responding to the diet soda the way it is. According to the Harvard School of Public Health, part of the problem with diet soda is that it can stimulate the craving for other sweet tasting food. This leads many diet pop drinkers to eat sugary food, gain weight and then place themselves in a category of higher risk for vascular disease. Researchers at Harvard say there is also some debate that diet drinks with artificial sweetener, uncouple sweetness and energy thus confusing the human brain. The brain responds to sweetness by wanting to eat more, followed by signals to slow down and stop eating. The argument is that artificial sweeteners confuse these feedback loops that involve the brain, stomach, nerves and hormones. If and when this happens it could confuse the body about how many calories are being taken in. Obesity can raise the risk of a heart attack and potentially a stroke, too.

This is not the first time that diet soda has been linked to potential heart attacks and stroke. Back in 2007 a study was conducted in Boston that focused on diet soda consumption and it came to a conclusion similar to the Miami/New York findings. It showed an increased risk of metabolic syndrome, a group of factors that boost the chance of having a heart attack, stroke or diabetes. The study looked at 9,000 individuals; both women and men of middle age. The incidence of vascular problems was increased substantially.

This study seemed to point at weight gain as a factor. Study subjects who drank one or more sodas a day; regular or diet, had a 31 per cent higher risk of becoming obese, a 30 per cent increased risk of adding on belly fat, and a 25 per cent higher risk of developing high blood sugar.

Here in Canada soft drink consumption appears to be declining; however we are still drinking well over 80 litres each per year. Given the latest study on diet soda consumption, and the unanswered questions, doctors and scientists are pushing for more research so that one day they can better guide consumers with the hopes of heart attack risk declines in years to come.

When the amount of sugar in your blood is higher than it should be, it is called high blood glucose or hyperglycemia.

If you have hyperglycemia, you may not have any symptoms – although many people do. The signs include frequent urination, excessive thirst, dry mouth, blurry vision, fatigue, increased appetite, unexplained weight loss and dry, itchy skin.

High blood glucose can result from an imbalance in your food consumption, physical activity and medications, and may also occur when you are sick or under stress.

It can also be extremely dangerous.

If hyperglycemia persists for several hours, it could lead to dehydration as well as dizziness, breathing difficulties, drowsiness, confusion or unconsciousness. You could need an insulin shot, or even fall into a coma.

High blood sugar is also a symptom of diabetes or pre-diabetes. So it’s critical to see your doctor if you are experiencing high blood sugar symptoms.

How to Lower Your Blood Sugar

If your physician has ruled out diabetes, but you still have high blood sugar, chances are you are overweight. Eating too much – especially carbohydrates – can cause a rise in blood sugar levels; and failing to exercise can reduce the functioning of insulin.

Your doctor may prescribe medication to help lower your blood sugar, but there are several inexpensive ways you can do it yourself.

Reduce Carbs: Try the Glycemic Index Diet

Studies have shown that a diet controlling carbs is better at lowering blood sugar than a diet that is simply low in calories. The Glycemic Index Diet involves the consumption of foods and beverages with low glycemic index rankings to help keep your blood sugar balanced. The glycemic index (GI) ranks carbohydrate-laden foods on a scale of 0 to 100, according to the extent to which they raise blood sugar levels after eating.

Add Fibre

The Canadian Diabetes Association recommends soluble fibre as a way of controlling blood sugar. This is because soluble fibre delays stomach emptying, retards the entry of glucose into the bloodstream and lessens the rise in blood sugar after we’ve eaten.

Drink More Water

According to diabetes.co.uk, “when your blood sugar levels are running high, your body will try to flush excess sugar out of your blood through the urine. As a result, your body will need more fluids to rehydrate itself. Drinking water can help the body with flushing out some of the glucose in the blood.”

Drink Less Alcohol

Men should limit their alcohol intake to a maximum of 14 drinks a week; and women should have no more than nine.

Sleep Better

Studies have shown that our body’s ability to regulate insulin production can be disrupted by the quality and duration of our sleep. A good night’s sleep can be achieved through the avoidance of caffeine several hours before bed, exercising earlier in the day, and keeping consistent sleep and wake-up times.

Reduce Caffeine

Caffeine causes our bodies to release adrenaline, which is known to raise blood sugar levels. Health care professionals recommend consuming no more than 200 milligrams of caffeine a day, whether that be in the form of coffee, cola, tea, energy drinks or chocolate.

Avoid Sugar

You can still be sweet without consuming sugar. According to a ScienceDaily report, “in 2005, the average American consumed 64kg of added sugar, a sizeable proportion of which came through drinking soft drinks.” Sugar is also lurking in most processed foods and, of course, in cakes, cookies, cupcakes and other tasty treats. Limit your intake or avoid them all together.

Move Your Body

Researchers have discovered that exercise is linked to the way our liver dispenses glucose. A 30-minute walk each day can lower your blood sugar and blood glucose levels. But if you’re not accustomed to physical activity, take it easy at first. Exercising for just 10 minutes at a time can help.

De-stress

Emotional and mental stress, as well as physical stress caused by injury, infections or surgery, can increase the release of glucose into our bloodstream. Try to relax by socializing with friends, pampering yourself at home or a spa, or even chatting with a mental-health professional.

Remember: if your blood sugar levels seem out of control, see your doctor.

According to a statement released by the American Heart Association, if a patient is able to walk or climb stairs in a lively manner without having chest pains, shortness of breath or irregular heartbeats, a normal sex life is possible. The AHA statement is being supported by cardiologists, physiologists and urologists.

It turns out that less than one percent of heart attacks take place during sexual intercourse and that number is even lower for heart patients who are physically active after their initial attack or illness. According to physicians if heart patients do not do light exercise and then engage in sex, their risk of a heart attack triples.

The European Society of Cardiology has gone on record saying that physicians are partly to blame for patient’s fear. They report that doctors rarely discuss the issue with their patients. In a study involving close to 2 thousand heart attack patients it was revealed that only 46 percent of men reported receiving instructions about resuming sexual activity and 35 percent of women received instructions. The ESC is suggesting it be part of the normal discharge check list at hospitals.

Both the American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology agree that the important issue for patients is when sexual activity should resume. This question is best answered by each person’s physician. The problem is that some patients have unstable or severe symptoms that need to be considered. Having said this, there are some standard guidelines that organizations like the American Heart Association have developed.

 Have a stress test first

• Avoid heavy meals before sex
• Avoid alcohol before sex
• Wait at least one week after heart attack
• Wait 6-8 weeks after open-heart surgery

Each year in Canada an estimated 70 thousand people suffer a heart attack and another 45 thousand go into cardiac arrest. Currently there is little information available in Canada about heart patients resuming sexual activity. However, the Canadian Cardiovascular Society has indicated that it will soon release its own set of guidelines for patients.

The best approach is still to speak to your doctor. Once you are given the go ahead to resume sexual relations, you may want to take some extra precautions. For example, the American Heart Association also reports that it is important for you to use a position that will allow you to breathe freely, and they suggest avoiding partners and surroundings that are unfamiliar to you. Studies have shown that the majority of deaths during sex involve extramarital relations.

Now that the American Health Association has released a statement on the subject of sex and heart health; along with guidelines, there is hope that both patients and doctors will feel more comfortable discussing the issue.

The INTERHEART case control study involved 29-thousand participants in 52 different countries including North America, South America, Europe, Africa, Australia, the Middle East and Asia. It concluded that car owners with a TV are 27 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack.

Behavior

The lead researchers attribute the findings to the fact that using a car and watching a TV are sedentary behavior. If you own and TV and a car they are essentially saying it is a double hit against your heart.

Now here’s the good news… the authors of the study are convinced that with a little exercise you can zap the bad right out of your worldly possessions. Data collected through Uppsala University in Sweden looked at levels of activity during both work and leisure periods. People who did light or moderate exercise at work had 22 percent and eleven percent lower risk of heart attack than those who did very little physical exercise.

Here in Canada studies support the car and television ownership theory. Statistics Canada released a report in 2008 that attributed obesity to watching television and using vehicles for transportation. It talked about the health implications. It turns out that 25 percent of men who watched television for more than 21 hours per week were classified as obese and put themselves at a high risk for diseases like heart attacks. Twenty-four per cent of women who watched for the same amount of time were labeled as obese and at risk. The study did take into consideration the family history and diet of each participant.

Watching TV

Sitting, watching television doesn’t activate the body. In other words, being a couch potato can kill you. Mild to moderate exercise can improve many functions within the human body. Small amounts of physical activity such as walking are good for our hearts.

Driving Cars

A recent study in Hong Kong determined that 20 percent of all deaths of people 35 and older could in some way be linked to lack of exercise. The report suggests walking and cycling to and from work would make a big difference in a lot of people’s lives. Ironically, our bodies are the opposite of automobiles. Car parts wear out the more they are used; however, doctors say our body parts need to be used in order to keep them strong and to ward off ailments. Blood, oxygen and nutrients are all activated by physical movement which can help us live longer. Here’s what mild to moderate exercise can do:

• Improve the flow of blood to the heart muscle
• Strengthen the heart muscle
• Make the heart more efficient
• Improve the heart’s ability to deal with stress

This most recent study linking cars and televisions to heart attacks points out that urbanization, and the use of other conveniences like computers, escalators, elevators and appliances are also contributing factors to a more sedentary lifestyle.

No one is suggesting we sell our cars or never watch another television program. However, riding our bikes or walking the local grocery store makes more sense.

Supporters of Alcoholics Anonymous might not agree. But a recent scientific discovery has shown that alcohol might, in fact, make you live longer.

The news came after the shocking lab discovery showed that just a small amount of alcohol given to a worm could actually double its lifespan.

The findings, made by researchers at the University of California has suggested that ethanol (found in alcoholic beverages) plays a significant role in delaying the aging process, or atleast it did when it came to the worms.
Biochemist Steven Clarke, senior author of one of the supporting studies found in PLoS One says the discovery is “shocking”. Clarke says he doesn’t know why alcohol would have such a dramatic increase in the worm’s lifespan, but the facts remained, it didn’t even take much alcohol to increase the slimy critters chances of growing old.

The PLoS study showed that half a tablespoon of ethanol in full bathtub of water was a good benchmark, or with beer, one bottle per 100 gallons of water.

The worm was originally used to study aging and cholesterol. Clarke says it was this research that then led him to discover that higher cholesterol led to longevity in worms. He then wondered if the new, longer lifespan was due to the cholesterol, or the ethanol used in the experiment.

Clarke says, “we saw that the life extension was entirely due to the ethanol, after being tested at a level of one part ethanol to 20,000 parts water” Not just the cholesterol test.

But one of the biggest concerns that scientists have is that people will begin hitting the bottle with vigor thinking it will lower their cholesterol or make them live longer. Clarke is careful to explain that this is still under debate. Alcohol is still considered to be a dangerous drug, so for the possible benefit to live longer one must be aware of the liabilities.

With GreenFacts.org showing a staggering 76 million people in the United States currently having alcohol disorders (such as excessive drinking and alcohol dependence) people are urged to be aware of that the findings are based on strict moderation of alcohol intake.

A little goes a long way in terms of alcohol being beneficial to your longevity.

Many people think that salt only comes from a salt shaker, however, it is found in many foods that we regularly consume.  Common culprits include: processed food, frozen dinners, and canned vegetables.  However, there are many hidden sources of sodium, that you may be eating without even knowing that they contain high levels of sodium.  These include:

-          Condiments (ketchup, mustard, soy sauce, etc.)
-          Salad dressings
-          Cheese
-          Canned tomato sauces
-          Canned beans and vegetables
-          Cereal
-          BBQ sauces
-          Baking soda and baking powder
-          Breads such as hot dog buns, bagels, Kaiser buns, whole wheat pita bread
-          Instant noodles
-          Canned soups
-          Canned and smoked fish
-          Frozen waffles
-          Clamato and V8 juices

It is also important to remember that kosher salt and sea salt are both still salt and must be limited.

While sodium lurks in many of the foods that we regularly eat, there are a number of things you can do to limit your salt intake, they include:

-          Buy fresh fruits and vegetables
-          Buy products that read “low sodium” or “no salt added”
-          Be sure to read the nutrition label on products before purchasing to check the sodium content
-          When dining out ask your server for a low sodium option
-          Try seasoning foods with herbs and spices as opposed to salt
-          Eat fresh meat, poultry and fish instead of canned or processed options
-          Eat unsalted nuts as a snack instead of salty snacks like potato chips
-          Limit processed meats such as cold cuts and hot dogs

The labels that explain the sodium content of a particular food can sometimes be confusing, to decipher the labels, take this into consideration.

1.  “Unsalted” – means that no salt has been added
2. “Sodium-free”- means that one serving has a sodium content of 5mg or less
3. “Very low sodium” – means that one serving has a sodium content of 35mg or less
4. “Low Sodium” – means that one serving has a sodium content of 140mg or less

Additionally, if a product reads “less sodium” or “reduced sodium” it usually means that there is 25% less sodium than the regular version of that product.  In general, these products still contain far too much sodium and should be avoided.

Reducing or limiting your salt intake will help to prevent many serious health conditions.  While it may seem difficult in the beginning, the benefits are immense.  If you continue to have difficulty, consult a dietician or a nutritionist to help you on your salt-limiting journey!

Cholesterol occurs naturally after you eat animal products, the only food that contains saturated fats. According to U.S. guidelines, you should aim to get 30% or less of your energy from total fat and, in particular, 10% or less of your energy from saturated fat. Unfortunately, many Americans far exceed this recommendation when consuming typical foods belonging to the Western diet.

The remedy for this problem is quite simple and can have far-reaching health benefits. The heart, after all, is an important organ. It must pump blood each and every day for you, tirelessly, without fail and without rest to ensure you remain alive. Doing whatever you can to help it out just makes sense from whatever angle you look at it. A four-week study recently found that adding certain vegetables to an already healthy diet will naturally lower LDL (bad) cholesterol and total cholesterol levels in your body. The study built upon the idea that you should get 10% or less of your energy from saturated fat.

Researchers attempted to see whether or not a plant-based diet (vegetables, legumes, and whole grains) could improve cholesterol levels because they were low in saturated fat, or because the nutrients within these foods actually lowered cholesterol. They looked at 120 adults between the ages of 30 and 65. Everyone had hypercholesterolemia, which involves higher than healthy lipid levels.

The participants in the study followed one of two low-fat diets that provided the 30% and 10% ratios as mentioned in the U.S. guidelines. The two diets differed in vegetable, fruit, legume, and whole grain content, but did have the same amount of fat, saturated fat, carbohydrates, and cholesterol. The only thing that changed was the amount of plant-based foods that the two groups ate.

After one month, the 59 adults whose diet included high amounts of these four food groups experienced significant improvements in LDL and total cholesterol levels.

So here’s more proof that vegetable-based diets could help lower cholesterol without the need for drugs or supplements. What a great way to keep cholesterol levels in check while boosting the health of the rest of your body at the same time.

It is based on restricting yourself to 2,000 calories a day. DASH lays out the number of servings you should aim for in all food groups. Following these rules could help drive your blood pressure down, and thus lower your risk of heart disease. DASH calls for eight to 10 servings of fruit and vegetables each day — far more than the two or three most adults currently get.

Here’s what DASH looks like on a serving-to-serving basis. The following rounds out to about 2,000 calories:

– Fruits: 4 to 5 servings each day
– Vegetables: 4 to 5
– Whole grains: 7 to 8
– Low-fat dairy: 2 to 3
– Meat, poultry, fish: 2 or less
– Nuts, seeds, beans: 4 to 5 per week
– Sweets: 5 or fewer a week
– Fats and oils: 2 to 3 a week

The DASH diet works in the walls of blood vessels. There are ingredients within some members of the produce aisle that account for the drop in blood pressure. The most integral ingredients are “nitrates,” found in leafy greens and beet root (to name just two), which, in your body, produce nitric oxide. This is a molecule that relaxes your blood vessels, which would naturally lower the pressure of blood flow. Nitrates prove that vegetables could prevent heart disease.

Researchers have proven that nitrate independently drops blood pressure levels. Nitrate supplements could have about the same effect as the DASH diet. For those who have a history of cardiac problems or who are trying to battle hypertension, following the DASH diet is a true medical tool.

While it’s hard to eat a huge amount of nitrate-rich foods, you can certainly help reverse hypertension by including more of them in your daily diet. These include virtually all types of lettuce, celery, spinach, beets, potatoes, green cabbage, broccoli, watercress, carrots, leeks, and radishes.

1. Olive oil: One of the best ones for you, it’s rich in monounsaturated fats. One ounce of extra virgin olive oil nets you more than 85% of your daily needs of these fats. The oil has high amounts of vitamin E, which provides antioxidant protection. In countries along the Mediterranean Sea (where olive oil is common in diets), the incidences of heart disease, clogged arteries and type 2 diabetes are much lower than over here. Adding just two tablespoons a day of olive oil could significantly lower LDL (“bad”) cholesterol. One ingredient in particular, oleic acid, has been identified as the key one that lowers cholesterol. It is a type of unsaturated fat.

2. Canola oil: Another great source of monounsaturated fat. It is very high in omega-3 fatty acid, a heart-boosting nutrient. Margarines made from canola oil are good to use as well. This oil is extremely low in cholesterol and salt, and extremely high in beneficial fats. Its name is derived from “Canada” where the oil may first have been used in cooking. Researchers have suggested that it might be the best oil to use to meet your healthy fat needs for the day.could reduce blood pressure and strengthen the walls of the aorta.

3. Peanut oil: Able to withstand high temperatures, this one calls about half of its fat “monounsaturated.” Another 30% is “polyunsaturated.” That leaves little of the bad stuff. It may help reduce cholesterol levels in your blood as well.

4. Sunflower or Sunola oil: Sunflower oil is high in oleic acid like olive oil. Many studies have shown that oleic acid is an incredibly healthy component of cooking oils. Researchers have found that cooking oils high in oleic acid actually promotes increased insulin sensitivity in the general population. This means that sunflower oil could help thwart diabetes. Sunola oil is very high in monounsaturated fats and is more stable than sunflower oil in heat.

5. Cold-pressed oil: These are oils that undergo very little processing, with cold water used to keep temperatures down. If done correctly, they are rich in the group of antioxidants called polyphenols, and rich in vitamin E. The best known is extra virgin olive oil, made from the cold pressing of olives, which come with a whopping 30 to 40 antioxidants. Cold-pressed oil will be darker than others, and stronger in flavor.

With all of these options, you can stay far away from oils and fats that have unhealthy concentrations of saturated fat in them. These include any of the following: palm oil, palm kernel oil, coconut oil, lard, ghee, cooking margarine, shortening, and solid frying oils.