The Modern Epidemic of Heart Disease

By Dave Saunders

Cardiovascular diseases considered to be a modern day epidemic. At the beginning of the 20th century cardiovascular disease was so infrequent that was barely recognized. Today, we have more than a 50% chance of Donnie from heart disease. In the United States alone, more than 50 million people suffer from cardiovascular disease, a disease that barely affected our great-grandparents.

For many the first sign of cardiovascular disease is the life-threatening catastrophe that frequently ends in loss of life. Approximately 25% of those who experience a heart attack had no prior symptoms before the event.

In an effort to provide early detection for heart disease, cholesterol levels have been checked for the past several years. However research shows that cholesterol levels are only 50% predictive of a heart attack. In other words 50% of those who have heart attacks also have normal, non-drug altered cholesterol levels. In 2004 the American Heart Association recommended that C Reactive Protein tests become the standard for detecting signs of heart disease risk. This test is considered to be 80% predictive of a heart attack. Unfortunately CRP tests are not commonly administered today.

Many people don’t worry about heart disease until they pass their 40s. New studies are showing that signs of cardiovascular diseases can be detected in our teenage years. In one study one in six teenagers, who died in accidents, were found to have early signs of clogged arteries.

Because heart disease is a progressive condition that takes many years to develop into a diagnosable situation, we are never too young to begin thinking about good health and a healthy lifestyle that promotes good cardiovascular wellbeing.

Exercise is a simple change to our lifestyle that can improve cardiovascular health. It is never too late to benefits from increased physical activity. A simple walking program can assist in weight loss, strengthening of the heart muscle, improved blood flow, reduction of blood pressure and the raising of the good HDL cholesterol while lowering the bad LDL cholesterol. Sustained exercise also produces a metabolic by-product called lactic acid which is a natural chelating agent.

Dietary changes can also be very beneficial in reversing and preventing cardiovascular disease. Total fat intake is not the main problem when it comes to coronary heart disease. Instead it is the type of fat consumed that is a significant factor. Trans fatty acids can raise the bad LDL cholesterol levels while lowering the good HDL cholesterol levels while omega-3 fatty acids help the body reduce inflammation and contribute to the good function of living cells throughout the body.

Research published in the 1950s revealed a link between the consumption of refined sugar and heart disease. Highly refined foods may actually lower the body’s resistance to bacterial viruses in East which can lead to inflammation in both the heart and the arteries. Refined sugar can also lead to deficiencies in the vitamin B complex which is needed for healthy cardiovascular function.

The most effective weapon against cardiovascular disease is applied knowledge. An absence of symptoms is not an absence of disease, and by making simple improvements to your lifestyle you can improve your chances against having to deal with a totally preventable condition like heart disease.

As a national speaker on health and wellness, Dave Saunders has been helping people discover the amazing truth about how the body is able to restore, defend and protect itself against the effects of injury and disease. Make optimal health a reality: Discover vital truths about health and wellness at www.glycowellness.com.

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