Heart Disease - The Shocking Truth

By Michael Sheridan

Heart disease is the western world’s biggest killer. It is closely followed by stroke. In fact overall around 90% of westerners have at least one modifiable risk factor for heart, stroke and vascular diseases and 25% have three or more risk factors.

In Australia, for example, a country where sport is practically a religion, over 60% of the adult population is overweight, 51% have high levels of cholesterol, 30% have high blood pressure and a staggering 8% have diabetes.

Of the easily modifiable risks, 20% of the population are smokers and around 10% drink alcohol at levels considered injurious to health.

The figures are not much different in the United States and Europe, especially in countries like Germany, Russia and the UK.

While lack of exercise is without doubt a contributing factor, the greatest risks come from an unhealthy and unwholesome diet, heavy in sugars and saturated fats. It therefore follows that by changing your diet you can reduce your level of risk from cardiac and vascular diseases.

The impact of the food you eat on your health should never be underestimated. Although there is no such thing as a ‘magic’ food that will decrease the risk of developing heart problems, there is evidence to support the idea that some plant foods can help. This is particularly true of foods such as wholegrain cereals, legumes, nuts and fruit.

In addition, oily fish such as salmon, mackerel, sardines and tuna are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which are known to lower levels of bad cholesterol (ldl). These acids also improve blood vessel elasticity and thin the blood, making it less likely to form the kind of clots which lead to a stroke.

Some vegetable oils such as olive, corn, soy and safflower have a similar effect, which is why they are so much healthier to use in cooking than saturated fats like butter or dripping.

Other dietary weapons in the battle against heart disease include folate and the antioxidants which are found in practically all fruit and vegetables, as well as the high fibre content of wholegrain cereals. Dark green fruit and vegetables such as avocadoes and spinach are particularly rich in vitamin E, which acts as an antioxidant and helps protect against high levels of ldl.

Controlling blood sugar levels is another important consideration in order to avoid the onset of type 2 diabetes, often called ‘adult onset diabetes’ for a very good reason. It can strike at any age, but adults over the age of forty are particularly at risk as their lifestyle begins to slow down and their incomes support a ‘higher’ standard of living.

Eating unrefined carbohydrates with a low glycaemic index, such as wholegrain bread, cereals, rice and pasta, helps to keep blood sugar levels in check and are an important part of your diet, particularly if you are one of those who may be prone to diabetes.

For most people, moderating their diet is the simplest and easiest step they can take to ward of later age heart and vascular diseases. By coupling these changes with an increase in exercise, a surprisingly high proportion of those now at risk could not only improve their life expectancy, they could avoid these hidden dangers altogether. If you are one of those who may be at risk, don’t wait for heart disease to show itself before making the change. Act now. You might not get a second chance.

About the Author: Michael Sheridan is a chef and an acknowledged authority and published writer on cooking and dietary matters. His website at www.all-about-cooking.com, contains a wealth of information, hints, tips and recipes for busy home cooks.

               

Cholesterol And Heart Disease – The Basics

By James Madisonic

Heart disease is a potential threat to millions of people worldwide. A killer disease like heart attack can strike anytime, and threaten people with improper diet, lifestyles and certain genetic preconditions. Coronary Heart Disease afflicts about 14 million Americans.

Cause Of Heart Disease

Heart disease is caused by a buildup of fat and tissue in the arteries, the vessels that carry blood from heart to various parts of the body. The arteries are clogged with the buildup that leads to improper blood flow. This causes heart disease since the heart cannot receive oxygen carried by blood. This type of hardening of arterial walls is known as arteriosclerosis.

Risk Factors

There are several risk factors for heart disease. They include cholesterol, tobacco, fat containing diet and sedentary lifestyle. Obesity, diabetes and high blood pressure can also cause heart disease. Heredity is another major predictor of heart disease. If you lead a stressful life, then chances of heart disease are also high.

Risk factors are classified into modifiable and non-modifiable depending on whether you can reduce the risk by controlling the risk factors. Heredity, age and gender are non-modifiable risk factors, while cholesterol, smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure are modifiable risk factors.

Are The Risk Factors Good Predictors Of Heart Disease?

Heart disease is caused by the interplay of various risk factors, including cholesterol. Cholesterol is one of the major predictors of heart disease. Heredity, as mentioned, is another; people whose family members have been afflicted by heart disease should go for regular screening.

Symptoms Of Heart Disease

Heart disease may be known, as a “silent killer” since the onset of the heart attack can often be fatal. However, there are certain symptoms you should watch out for.

1. Pain in the chest.
2. Pain in upper abdomen.
3. Panting after strenuous activity.
4. Nausea and vomiting.
5. Dizzy spells.

Timely medical attention can spell the difference between life and death.

Preventing Heart Disease

Preventing heart disease is easy and a few precautions can go a long way in reducing your chances of getting heart attack. Keeping bad cholesterol levels low is very important. Traditional risk factors can identify people most at risk, so it is important to consult a medical practitioner and be sure that risk is minimized.

Lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on occurrence of heart disease. If you do not lead an active life, chances of heart disease go up multiple times. Stress is another major cause of heart disease. In order to prevent heart disease, you need to be physically active and have a low calorie, high fiber diet. Smoking and too much alcohol can also make heart disease a difficult condition to treat.

Tests For Heart Disease

Your doctor may ask for tests to confirm heart disease if he suspects you fall in the high-risk category. The tell tale signs physicians look for in a routine check include irregular heartbeat and murmurs. Tests include coronary angiography, ECG or electrocardiogram and CT scan. Your medical practitioner will recommend the best test. A chest x ray might also be recommended.

Heart disease can be prevented through changes in lifestyle and by reducing mental stress. Proper diet, exercise and a stress free lifestyle go a long way in countering one of the leading killers of the modern age. Modern medicine has also found better ways to cure heart disease, even for those prone to it due to hereditary and other factors. If you have crossed the age of 30 and think you are in the moderate or high-risk category, you should visit your medical practitioner today and get a thorough check up done.

About the Author: Lipistat may help prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease. For more information on Lipistat visit out site at www.mymedicenter.com/lipistat/lipistat.html

               

Know The Early Signs Of A Heart Attack Your Life Could Depend On It

By Mike Herman

Learn these important early signs of a heart attack to make sure you get help early before more damage occurs. Successful recovery for heart attack victims depends heavily on early treatment.

The first hour after signs of a heart attack begin is known in the medical community as the golden hour. The chances of recovery greatly improve if treatment begins within this first hour.

Still many people don’t get the help they need as quickly as they should. Many people have the mistaken impression that a heart attack will have strong and violent signs. They incorrectly think that there will be no doubt as to what is happening. In most cases, that is far from the truth.

Beginning Signs Of A Heart Attack

Yes, there are a few heart attacks that are sudden and intense. There’s no question about what’s happening. In most cases, heart attacks begin slowly. Mild pain or discomfort is the only sign. This causes people to wait too long before they get help.

Its important to realize that pain and discomfort is your body’s way of alerting you that something is not right. Its important to pay attention to your body and act quickly especially if heart attack is even a remote possibility. Memorize the common early signs of a heart attack so you can make sure you and your friends and family get the help they need quickly.

Discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes is one sign of a heart attack. This pain can feel like pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain. It can come and go.

Areas of the upper body can also experience pain during the beginning of a heart attack. This includes both arms, the neck, the jaw, or the stomach.

Shortness of breath is another early sign of a heart attack. It can occur with or without chest pain. Cold sweat, nausea, and lightheadedness can also be present in the beginning of a heart attack.

Its important to act quickly. If you or someone you know has any of the above symptoms don’t hesitate call 911 or get to a hospital as quickly as possible.

It’s much better to get checked and find out another its another cause than to ignore symptoms and find out later its a heart attack. Don’t be concerned about being embarrassed if there’s nothing wrong.

It’s much better to get checked than to risk damage to your heart or even death.

If you need additional information about symptoms of heart problems, including symptoms of angina, click on over to 4HealthConcerns.com/HeartDisease and find the help you need.

Article Source: EzineArticles.com/?expert=Mike_Herman