Ten Heart Health Tips
February 16, 2009 by JD
Filed under Health, Information
1. What are some of the possible early signs of an oncoming heart attack? Most heart attacks are typically preceded by tightness or discomfort in the chest, arms, neck, or shoulders. If these symptoms pop up while exercising or during any other kind of strenuous activity, it may be an early warning sign of angina. Angina can lead to a heart attack if not treated.
2. There are two primary types of cholesterol in the body. HDL is known as the “good” cholesterol and works to keep the arteries and other blood vessels clear of plaque buildup. HDL will actually work to wash away and dispose of plaque from the walls of the vessels. What causes the buildup of plaque? That would be the “bad” cholsterol LDL. High levels of LDL can lead to a heart attack when plaque blockage becomes too severe. When viewing the results of a checkup, your cholesterol profile factors in the levels of HDL and LDL in the body.
3. Over 50% of American men over the age of forty exhibit symptoms of sexual impotence caused by localized arterial blockage. Smokers are twice as likely to show signs of this form of impotence as non-smokers. Impotence issues related to local arterial blockages are early warning signs of more serious heart disorders down the road.
4. Just because you’re young doesn’t mean you’re safe from heart issues. According to statistics released by the AHA, over 145,000 people killed by heart attacks each year are under the age of 65. That number does not even include all the instances where a non-fatal heart attack occured. In addition, one out of every twenty people under 40 has some degree of cardiovascular disease.
5. When you cut your finger, the body reacts by clotting at the site of the cut to stem the bleeding. Most heart attacks are initiated by a piece of plaque breaking off a vessel wall. This separation results in a small wound in the blood vessel that the body treats as a normal wound. A clot is formed at the site of the cut causing the blood vessel to contract and reducing the rate of blood flow to the heart.
6. We hear alot about the cholesterol levels of certain foods. Contrary to popular belief, although eggs and liver do contain relatively high levels of “bad” cholesterol, they are actually healthy for us in moderation. Both foods contain beneficial amounts of B vitamins, protein, choline, and lecithin. In addition, liver is low in fat and is an excellent source of folic acid and the other heart healthy B vitamins.
7. The brighter the better. Vegetables come in all sorts of colors. The brighter the color, the higher the level of heart healthy antioxidants that are present in the vegetable. Bright red and yellow peppers are especially high in valuable, free radical fighting antioxidants. Steaming or juicing vegetables insures they retain those valuable nutrients. Microwaving will destroy many of the beneficial substances.
8. The medical field has begun to embrace the use of herbs in the treatment of cardio disorders. Valerian, hawthorne, and motherwort all contain heart healthy substances. Hawthorne is very effective in the treatment of high blood pressure. Valerian, in addition to being used to manage high blood pressure levels, also contains substances that reduce anxiety.
9. Another check up result to pay attention to is the homocysteine toxicity level in the blood. Homocysteine toxicity is the level of protein byproducts in our circulatory system. These byproducts act as a slow poison and encourage the thickening and eventual clotting of the blood. Lowering homocysteine levels can be accomplished by taking a high grade B-vitamin supplement. Most high quality men’s multivitamins contain adequate levels of the critical Bs.
10. Taking a high quality multivitamin, especially we age, is a key component to insure we meet dietary requirements. The typical diet of processed and inorganic foods does not provide sufficient levels of the vitamins and minerals our bodies need to function at healthy levels. This is especially true for the body’s ability to maintain a healthy heart. For example, the body is unable to absorb adequate amounts of magnesium as we get older. Our ability to maintain a healthy heartbeat is dependent on sufficient levels of magnesium in the blood. Vitamin E is another substance that we generally don’t get enough of in our daily diet. Vitamin E works to condition and lubricate our blood, reducing the risk clots forming from platelets sticking together.
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