Healthy Heart facts

Herbal medications interact with heart disease medication

2010-02-04T23:45:00.000Z

Herbal medications are known for their many benefits on the immune system, however recent research has revealed that herbal medications do in fact interact with heart disease prescription medications.

St Johns Wort used to treat depression was one of the herbs shown to have an effect on heart disease drugs. St Johns Wort works by stimulating metabolising enzymes responsible for breakdown and removal of drugs from the body. This therefore decreases concentration of many essential heart disease drugs meaning they are not doing their job. One such group of drugs affected by st Johns wort are high blood pressure medications, therefore patients on this type of medication may end up with uncontrolled hypertension.

Garlic and Ginkgo Biloba were also shown to increase the risk of bleeding in patients taking warfarin or aspirin.

Before taking any herbal remedies please consult your physician if you are on any heart disease medications.

Skin condition leads to increased risk of heart disease

2009-06-22T13:46:00.002+01:00

More causes of heart disease are always being identified and the most recent cause of heart disease is psoriasis.

It seems as if psoriasis causes a build up of plaque in our arteries. It is thought that psoriasis may act due to its inflammatory properties, similar to rheumatoid arthritis and SLE which are both linked to an increased incidence of myocardial infarction (heart attack).

This is bad news for Americans as over 7 million suffer from the skin condition, and combine this with the high incidence of obesity in America and you have an even greater risk of heart disease than before. A recent study on people with psoriasis showed that they were more likely than those without the skin condition to have blood vessels disorders such as ischaemic heart disease, CVD, or peripheral vascular disease. Of course these blood vessel abnormalities lead to an increased risk of heart disease including heart attack and stroke.

Sleepless nights can cause hypertension

2009-06-11T19:21:00.000+01:00

If you are in your forties or older and get less than 8 hours sleep each night then you are at risk of high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure brings with it an array of health risks including heart disease, kidney problems and stroke.

Ideal blood pressure is set at 120/80 and as we get older our blood pressure increases. Insomnia is now thought to be one factor which is responsible for the increase in blood pressure in the middle aged. It is a well known fact that the stresses of employment, financial problems as well as troublesome teenagers can cause parents sleepless nights.

A five year study carried out in the US on over 500 adults showed that those adults with fewer hours of sleep had a higher chance of developing high blood pressure. Further to this it was shown that each hour of reduction of sleep was associated with a 37 percent increase in the risk of developing high blood pressure. Additionally those that slept less over the five year period had higher risks of developing high blood pressure.

This latest research may point towards curing sleep disorders in order to prevent high blood pressure.

How to measure your healthy resting heart rate

2009-04-13T11:33:00.003+01:00

A healthy resting heart rate is essential for a lower risk of heart disease including heart attack. A healthy resting heart rate should be between 60-90 heart beats per minute.

There are many ways to measure your healthy resting heart rate including a manual method and an electronic method.

Manual method

This method involves measuring your pulse at sites such as your wrist or your neck. I find it is much easier to count the number of heartbeats using the wrist method. Make sure you use your fingers, index and middle finger, on the opposite hand to count the number of heart beats per minute. For a more accurate representation, count the number of heartbeats for several separate minutes and take the average. Before starting to count make sure you can obtain a pulse. Do not start counting until you can find a regular pulse.

An electrocardiogram can also be used for a more accurate reading of heart rate and can determine whether you have a healthy resting heart rate or not.

While having your heart rate measured it is important to relax, as stress will increase your heart rate and give an inaccurate result.

Best ways to achieve your healthy resting heart rate

An aspirin a day may keep heart disease away

2009-03-19T19:15:00.003Z

Latest research has suggested that aspirin should be given to both men and women who do not have heart disease. Men between the ages of 45-79, and women between the ages of 55-79 are encouraged to take aspirin to reduce the risk of men having a first heart attack and to reduce the risk of women having an ischaemic stroke.

In normal circumstances aspirin is only recommended after men and women have had a previous heart attack or stroke respectively. By introducing aspirin use to those individual's at a greater risk it is postulated that many heart attacks and strokes will be prevented.

HOW DOES ASPIRIN PREVENT HEART ATTACKS AND STROKES

Aspirin is responsible for thinning the blood and preventing blood clots. Normally blood clots narrow the arteries and can block the oxygen supply to he heart leading to a heart attack. Therefore the prevention of blood clots helps to decrease the risk of heart disease.

However despite all the benefits of aspirin one must be careful as high doses of aspirin may lead to ulcers and GI bleeding. A dose as little as 82mg a day should be suffice but please ask a doctor before commencing daily aspirin.

Quit smoking cigarette with quit smoking pills

2009-03-14T21:18:00.003Z

Smoking cigarettes is a massive detrimental effect on your health, leading to breathing problems, many cancers and decreased life expectancy. Over 70% of smokers want to quit smoking cigarette but feel they cannot live without cigarettes for good.

There are many ways to quit smoking cigarette including nicotine replacement therapy and cold turkey. On many occasions these ways to quit smoking cigarette fail, leaving the smokers resorting back to their 20 a day habit. Another popular way to quit smoking cigarette is by using quit smoking pills.

There are several approved quit smoking pills on the market including Chantix which acts on the nicotine receptors on the brain to prevent nicotine addiction. Latest research showed that 44% of smokers who used Chantix were successful in quit smoking cigarette for the first 12 weeks. More longer term research is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of this quit smoking pill and as with any therapy some counselling and support is required.

Heart disease risk may be increased by anger and depression

2009-03-10T00:50:00.002Z

Heart disease accounts for thousands of deaths each and every year. There is massive research into the what causes heart disease and recent evidence points towards mental effects on heart disease.

In the US sudden death from cardiac arrest was found to be twice as likely in women who were suffering from major depression compared to those who were not depressed. Additionally those adults who are constantly angry were also shown to be around 20%more likely to develop heart disease than their mild mannered counterparts. For those that already have heart disease the presence of anger or hostility increases you risk of a poor outcome by as much as 25%.

This recent research then highlights the importance of treatment of mental illnesses such as depression. Further to this adults who have problems controlling their anger should seek help from a psychiatrist. More research is needed, but based on the latest heart disease causes it is fair to say that depression and anger can be thought of as two risk factors.

Weight loss for good - eat right!

2009-03-07T22:08:00.005Z

Everyone can go on a diet and shed a few pounds but how can you achieve weight loss for good. Heart disease is the main killer in the US and its incidence increases with obesity therefore weight loss in the obese is extremely important. However it is hard stay slim but the best way to keep weight loss for good is through eating a healthy diet.

Firstly cut down on fatty and sugary foods, and your fat content should be no more than 30% of your daily food intake. This means less fast foods and cakes, buns and chocolate bars.

Secondly increase your intake of
fruit and vegetables to at least 5 portions or up to 9 portions per day. There are a huge variety of fruits and vegetables and the intake should be spread out throughout the day.

Eat more fibre. This is easy to do if you increase your fruit and vegetable intake. Additionally you can eat high fibre cereals such as All Bran or Bran Flakes. By swapping white bread and white rice for their brown counterparts you are also increasing your fibre content.

Drink at least 2 litres of water per day. Water aids weight loss for good as well as flushing out toxins.

Cut out alcohol or drink it in moderation. Alcohol is full of calories and too many calories mean no weight gain.

There are many things you can do to achieve weight loss for good and if you follow the above tips you will be onto a winner. It is all about getting the right balance. Weight loss is essential for a healthy heart.

Noisy backgrounds lead to higher risk of heart attack

2009-02-03T23:57:00.005Z

Swedish scientists have been once again busy analysing heart attack risk and the things that cause an increased risk of having a heart attack. One such thing is traffic noise, and it was found that people living in areas with 50 decibel road traffic noise had a massive 40% higher chance of having a heart attack compared to those who lived in quieter areas. The study also showed that those with alot of bedroom noise had greater risks. These results are consistent with previous evidence which suggest a high degree of noise raises blood pressure. Individuals with hearing defects and exposure to other noise were factored out of the study and the increased risk was shown irrespective of other heart attack risk factors.

Such a study suggests that we should be particularly careful where we live as noise seems to be another one of the heart attack causes. I am lucky I live in a quiet residential area with not much traffic, but the news is not so good for those that live in city centres where the traffic is buzzing. Their heart attack risk is certainly much higher than mine.

Coronary artery disease to be diagnosed with urine test!

2009-01-30T16:12:00.002Z

Coronary artery disease frequently leads to heart attacks. Unfortunately for most people the disease is diagnosed too late, commonly after many people have had a heart attack. The current method of diagnosis involves an invasive angioplasty, where patients have to have dye injected into their arteries in order to see plaque deposited on arteries. This is a specialised procedure and is expensive and often misses early diagnosis of coronary artery disease.

Urine testing is much less invasive, is cheaper and is thought to help diagnose CAD in the early stages. The test involves analysing the protein content, specifically the peptide make up of the urine. Research showed that there are 17 peptides which are directly associated with CAD. This tool provides 84% accuracy when making a diagnosis of coronary artery disease. Earlier diagnosis means lifestyle modifications and drug treatment can be commenced sooner giving patients a better prognosis and less chance of having a heart attack.

Want to see what a heart attack looks like

2009-01-20T20:01:00.003Z

Heart attacks kill one person in the UK every 6 minutes and one American every 60 seconds. Most of these people dont even make it to the hospital ward but for those that do there is a new intervention that may help doctors treat them more effectively in order to prevent further heart attacks. Scientists have recently identified an imaging technique to identify internal bleeding within the human heart. Magnetic resonance imaging is able to highlight areas and extent of bleeding which correlates with the amount of damage to the heart muscle. This is extremely important for the patients future treatment to ensure they make a full recovery from the attack and dont suffer any in the future.

Picture of heart attack

Millions of Indians will get heart disease

2009-01-18T22:11:00.004Z

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in UK, US and Asia and almost 500 thousand Americans die from CHD each year. Many investigators are studying the causes of heart disease and ways to reduce the risk of heart disease. Recent genetic research has indicated that 60 million Indians are thought to have a single mutation which will lead them to develop heart disease later in life. The defect is in gene MYBPC3 which codes for a heart protein. The mutation is so widespread as it is passed on to carriers offspring, and the effects of it are only noticed in old age. When young you should be able to combat the effects of the abnormal protein by breaking it down, but when older, body systems are not as efficient and the effects of the protein will surface giving rise to symptoms such as high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy and sudden cardiac arrest. 90% of older Indians with this mutation had heart problems.

This is sure to be bad news for those living in Asia and no doubt will lead to mass research in order to combat the effects of the mutation and reduce the risk of heart disease.

Blood pressure combination therapy is dangerous!!

2009-01-17T15:46:00.004Z

High blood pressure is a massive health problem affecting one in four men and one in five men and is known as the silent killer. Fortunately for decades there has been blood pressure medication to help lower blood pressure and it is estimated that over 60% of those living in Canada are on a combination of several drugs including angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor blockers (ARB),calcium channel blockers and diuretics. However despite the benefits of these blood pressure drugs they should not be used together or with any other blood pressure medication and evidence has showed that using these ACE and ARBs in combination doesnt lower blood pressure as much as expected and it is best to stick to an individual drug.

Latest research has illustrated the fact that blood pressure combination therapy is associated with a higher risk of side effects than taking a single drug. Side effects such as diarrhoea, fainting, dizziness, nausea and elevated potassium levels which could lead to kidney failure and other heart problems.

Personally I believe it if is possible that one should try and lower blood pressure natural and reduce the risk of side effects. Lower blood pressure natural with these cheap easy high blood pressure remedies

Lower blood pressure natural the tasty way

2009-01-14T22:53:00.002Z

High blood pressure, the silent killer, remains undiagnosed in many people. The best treatment is prevention before any permanent damage is done. Good news is that you can make some simple dietary changes to lower blood pressure natural in order to achieve your ideal blood pressure. By dietary changes I am talking about incorporating two fruits into your diet on a daily basis. This should not be hard. Fruit in general is great for heart health but these two have the most potent effect on blood pressure.

Two cups of blueberries and strawberries daily will do wonders for your blood pressure. As well as containing very little calories, and a quantity of fibre, blueberries also contain antioxidants which help prevent hypertension, and strawberries contain magnesium and potassium which are both useful in lower blood pressure natural. These two fruits can be added to breakfast cereals, salads, desserts or as a snack alone. Start eating berries today in order to achieve your ideal blood pressure.

Other ways to lower blood pressure natural

Lower blood pressure natural

2009-01-09T23:10:00.005Z

High blood pressure (hypertension) is a massive worldwide problem and one which kills many thousands of people each year, this is a well known heart fact. It leads to heart problems, such as heart disease, heart attack, narrowing of arteries,stroke and kidney disease. Everyone should be aiming for an ideal blood pressure of 120/80, if your blood pressure is slightly above this I would suggest lowering your blood pressure naturally. However currently prescribed medications carry with them a range of side effects if used over a long period of time. Therefore it is better to lower blood pressure natural with natural remedies.

One natural component I found which is particularly useful is glutathione, which displays antioxidant properties when it is in the reduced state. As with every antioxidant it inhibits the production of free radicals, which damage and mutate cells and it is hypothesised that free radicals are involved in the development of hypertension. Several studies have found the benefit of glutathione in reducing blood pressure. In a study done on mice, it was found that a dose of 80mg/kg of glutathione reduced both systolic and diastolic blood pressure without affecting heart rate. Another study also demonstrated that reduced glutathione infusions lower blood pressure natural, perhaps by a mechanism involving increasing free intracellular magnesium levels. In hypertension there is a low amount of free magnesium within body cells.

These studies highlight the benefit of using glutathione to achieve your ideal blood pressure. Stay tuned while I bring you more natural remedies to lower blood pressure the natural way.

What is your ideal blood pressure

2009-01-07T20:42:00.003Z

Blood pressure is a necessity in order to get blood pumping around our bodies. Without blood pressure the heart would not be able to push the blood to our lungs, kidneys and other body organs. However there is an ideal blood pressure for the heart to function, that is one which is not too low or too high. Low blood pressure is an unwanted syndrome as it leads to dizziness and permanent organ damage if not treated. High blood pressure on the other hand is just as bad as it leads to increased risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney damage amongst other disorders.

An ideal blood pressure is 120/80 in men and women of all ages, but it is important to note that blood pressure does fluctuate on a daily basis, and what may be normal blood pressure for one person may not be for another. Additionally it also increases with age and in some disease states. A blood pressure of 140/90 is deemed high (hypertension)and should be avoided at all costs. If you feel you dont have a healthy blood pressure see your doctor for treatment as soon as possible.

Heart facts, everything you need to know about heart health

New stethoscope may detect heart disease at an early stage

2009-01-06T18:27:00.004Z

Heart disease is a killer and so many people have underlying heart defects which cause their heart to stop beating all of a sudden and it is estimated that 2 people under the age of 35 die every week in the Irish Republic from undiagnosed heart defects. It is for this very reason that a vast amount of research is being conducted in order to find a tool which lets us diagnose heart disease including coronary artery disease much sooner. A university in Dublin has been investigating a brand new sensitive stethoscope which has the ability to hear a much wider range of heart sounds than a normal stethoscope.

However scientists are expecting this to be a difficult process due to the large variation in sounds from the heart. The new stereo Stethoscope has a total of 6 microphones which have the ability to detect the loocation and type of fault. Cardiologists and scientists are working hard on the instrument in a dublin hospital.
It is anticipated that this new stethoscope will be able to be used in GP surgeries at some stage in the future. This should help cut down on the number of sudden deaths from underlying heart defects.

Read full story here

Heart facts -learn the signs of a heart attack like your ABCs

2009-01-03T20:04:00.002Z

Myocardial infarction (heart attack)is one of the most common causes of sudden death and it is estimated that around every minute someone in America dies of a heart attack. Pretty scary stuff! Even worse is the fact that most heart attacks occur outside hospital while you are at home. In order to save someone's life it is vitually important you know the signs of a heart attack which differ between individuals. By recognising the signs you can get someone to emergency department as quick as possible and may help save their life.

Probably the most common sign is a central crushing chest pain which feels as if someone is squeezing or putting immense pressure on your chest. Other parts of the body may also be affected with the pain extending to the arms, jaw or back. Another common sign you may be having a heart attack is shortness of breath. Symptoms which are not specific to a heart attack may also occur including nausea, dizziness due to lack of oxygen transport around the body, and cold sweats.

How to lose weight at christmas time

2008-12-24T13:08:00.003Z

Christmas time is a time for giving and receiving and also a time for eating and drinking, alot. Many people find it impossible to remain the same weight never mind lose weight at christmas time. So how can you lose weight and stay slim and thin at christmas, well luckily there are few things you can do.

Firstly do not overbuy sweetstuff, like shortbread, mallows, snowballs, roses, quality street,ferrero roche,etc. The list is never ending, but you should eat these foods in moderation. When you are slumped in front of the christmas television shows instead of filling up on these sweetstuffs why not get out your exercise bike and cycle as you watch. So not only are you enjoying the television you are also burning off some calories at the same time. Try and limit snacking between meals fullstop.

As for alcohol consumption, do not overindulge. You can also buy the lower calorie version of drinks, and add diet mixers instead of full drinks loaded with calories to spirits. If you want to indulge in alcohol stick to wine as it has less calories than beer and cocktails. This is the only option if you wish to lose weight at christmas.

Walk to the shops and do your christmas shopping rather than driving. All the walking and carrying shopping bags will help you tone up saggy skin as well as help you lose weight. After your christmas dinner how about going for a brisk walk with your loved one to help shed those extra pounds you have put on over the festive period.

If you think about it it is very easy to lose weight at christmas time, you just need a little motivation and forward planning.

I am not managing my work stress very well on night duty

2008-12-16T21:29:00.003Z

Just a few days ago I did a post on dealing with work stress, and I have to say last night in work I was immensely stressed out. So what did I do, well I went and talked to a work colleague, and ate some chocolate and that helped for a while but the stressful phone calls kept coming. I eventually decided to take some deep breaths, and have a real think why I was stressed. It is amazing that counting to 10 really helps!!

I believe that it is much easier to deal with work stress if you think why you are stressed. My reason was that I had alot of things to do in work which I was unsure of and I kept pushing them aside, so eventually I bit my tongue, and asked my work colleague for some help. We got out the written protocol and worked through it together. I have to say that the amount of pressure and stress on me was halfed, and as we got through the work and got it completed the stress vanished.

After successfully managing my work stress, I began to think why I was working a night shift and I realised that the reason was that it pays pretty well and when you go through things slowly and take your time they are not actually that bad. In future before I get stressed on night duty I will go over in my head why I get stressed and realise that its not worth it. Preparing to deal with work stress and eliminating the source of the stress before it hits you is sometimes the most effective measure, rather than having to manage it when it arrives.

Lets hope I will not be suffering from work related stress in the future.

Cholesterol reduce for longer happier life

2008-12-14T13:31:00.004Z

Cholesterol is an essential part of our diet, however health problems occur when these cholesterol levels become too high. High cholesterol is associated with a range of complications including heart disease, angina,heart attacks, stroke and diabetes. These conditions are all fatal if not treated. The best way to treat them is to prevent them, and the best way to prevent them is through cholesterol reduce.

There are many things that can be done to lower cholesterol. Firstly take a look at your diet. The thing is foods lower cholesterol, so perhaps you need to make some dietary changes to lower cholesterol. You need to increase the consumption of fruit and vegetables and decrease the consumption of cakes, buns and fast food. Try and aim to eat 5 portions of fruit and vegetables daily. These foods really do lower cholesterol levels. Another good thing to incorporate into your diet is oily fish which is high in omega 3 levels and is protective against heart disease.

Drink alcohol in moderation to lower cholesterol. Small amount of alcohol have actually shown to be protective against heart disease by reducing the negative effects of bad cholesterol, LDL and increasing the positive effect of the good cholesterol HDL through cholesterol reduce. Red wine is a particularly good source of alcohol, and the flavonoids and antioxidants present here are thought to protect against heart trouble.

These are some of the ways to cholesterol reduce through using foods and liquids.

How I deal with work stress

2008-12-13T22:51:00.005Z

Almost everyone gets stressed out at work,if you didnt get stressed out then you wouldnt care about your job. Whether you work as a sales assistant in the local grocery store or as a brain surgeon you are likely to encounter some form of stress on a daily basis. The best way to deal with work stress would be to quit your job or fire your boss, but unfortunately we all need that little thing called money, as they say money makes the world go round.

So how do you deal with work stress? Everyone has different ways of managing their work stress. Personally I dont deal with work stress very well. I bottle things up and dwell on them over and over again. Many nights I find myself awake at 2 or 3am going over and over things that happened in work the previous day or previous weeks. You see I am a worrier, I worry about anything and everything. If I am not worrying then there is something wrong. So basically in managing my work stress I have to stop worrying and over thinking. Here are three things I do to help me:_

1) If I am worrying about something specific I will talk to one of my work colleagues and try and rectify the problem. Sometimes by talking a problem over it makes it seem less stressful.
2) I exercise. As soon as I start thinking about something stressful I jump on my exercise bike or rowing machine, switch on a cd and lose myself in the music
3) I have a hot bath with radox lavender bubble bath 30 minutes before bed. This helps me unwind and helps me prepare for a long nights sleep.

These three things help me deal with work stress, perhaps they will help you manage your work stress too.

Selfish bosses can give you heart disease but theres hope if you are a mouse

2008-12-06T20:09:00.004Z

Swedish scientists have identified a relationship between bad bosses and the chance of developing heart disease including heart attacks. They conducted a 10 year study on more than 3000 men aged between 19-70 years old working in the Swedish capital of Stockholm, and shockingly found that those men who thought their managers were bad at their job had a 25% higher chance of heart trouble. Even worse those men who were loyal and worked to the same bad boss for over four years had more than 60% risk of developing heart disease. These results can not be accounted for by smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes or other environmental factors strengthening the relationship between incoherent bosses and increased risk of heart disease. It is thought that a poor relationship between your boss and yourself makes you feel unsupported and not appreciated. This can lead to stress, poor working practice, lack of interest at work and other behaviours to relieve stress such as smoking and alcohol consumption.

Despite this latest bad news for all employers who are struggling with their bosses, a recent study has shown that it is possible to reverse heart disease. This study focused on the role of micro RNAs in cardiac fibroblasts in mice models and found that cardiac cells of heart disease mice had higher levels of micro RNA 21 than cardiac cells of healthy mice. This micro RNA leads to a particular pathway which results in tissue damage and scarring associated with heart disease. When these micro RNAs were blocked heart function improved suggesting a possible future role in heart disease treatment. Studies in humans may take place in a few years so all those working to bad unsupportive managers have hope.

Links to full story

Easiest ways to stop stress at work and benefit your career

2008-11-23T18:25:00.004Z

As I mentioned in a previous post stress at work is one of the leading causes of heart trouble and cardiac arrest in young adults. Following on from this post I thought it was important to discuss ways in which we can reduce stress at work easily without having to quit your job.

There are many easy free ways to stop stress at work from taking over your life which will help benefit your career and homelife. Firstly look at the source of the stress, if it is a particular part of your working day such as a certain task, talk to your boss and ask for advice. Perhaps you may be able to drop this task or find ways to reduce its burden on you. It is also a good idea to find someone outside work to confide your stress and problems too,as they say a problem shared is a problem halfed.

Writing things down can also help you and I feel less stressed by writing this article and by reading this blog in general. By communicating your thoughts you can focus on finding ways to overcome each stressful event one by one at work rather than trying to multitask and sort all the stress at once. Staying in a positive frame of mind is also a necessity and this can be helped by doing relaxation and deep breathing techniques as well as socialising and meeting up with friends regularly.

Exercise is another great ploy to help you forget about your stresses. I know when I am seriously stressed I jump on my exercise bike and 30 minutes later I feel much better for it thanks to the release of mood boosting endorphins and a decrease in the stress hormone cortisol. With regards to diet it is important to eat a healthy diet and research has shown that adequate consumption of vitamins B,C and E are essential for maintaining low levels of stress. Regular sleep habits and at least 6-8hours per night should be aimed for so try and avoid insomnia. Going into work tired and worn out only adds to the stress and makes things seem 10 times worse and also makes you more likely to make mistakes which further multiplies the stress and does not benefit your career.

Just remember all that stress is not worth your life, so next time you are in a stressful situation, remove yourself from it and take deep breaths snd focus on what is really important in life.

A stressful week at work!

2008-11-14T20:51:00.003Z

I have had immense stress at work this week, and I hate being stressed out as it keeps me up all night thinking about things. Even more worrying is the fact that research has shown that work related stress is involved in the onset of heart disease. Everytime I stress out I try to tell myself that it is not worth it and is bad for my health.

Stress is thought to act in two ways. Firstly by activating the stress pathways and secondly by encouraging the development of unhealthy lifestyles such as poor eating habits, overconsumption of alcohol and smoking tobacco. Chronic work stress was shown to increase the risk if CHD in men and women under 50 years old by as much as 68% compared to their counterparts who were lucky enough to not be under stress at work. The regulation of the autonomic nervous system was found to be significantly affected by stress signals causing lowered heart variability,leading to heart instability. Another important finding was that greater levels of the hormone cortisol were found in stressed workers. For those that dont know this is a extremely bad thing. Cortisol is beneficial in small amounts but an excess of cortisol in the bloodstream is linked to hypertension, hyperglycaemia and increased abdominal fat, three processes which increase our risk of heart disease and heart attacks. Other negative effects include decreased thyroid function and a decrease in bone density which can lead to osteoporosis.

Therefore next time I am having a bad week at work, I am going to smile, take 10 deep breaths and think of my heart!!

Full article here

Are you at risk of having a cardiac arrest?

2008-11-04T21:46:00.002Z

Cardiac arrest or sudden cardiac arrest is normally a fatal incident which is thought to affect over 250 thousand Americans yearly. As it's name suggests, cardiac meaning heart and arrest meaning stop, refers to the fact that the heart literally stops beating. Unfortunately over 90% of people die a few minutes after having a cardiac arrest. This is because the heart cannot survive without oxygen for more than few minutes.

The scary thing is this particular type of heart condition is most prevalent in those aged from 35-45, so it is not an old person's disease. There are many other risk factors such as having hypertension,high blood cholesterol, smoking,over consumption of alcohol, increasing age, obesity, lack of exercise, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias,drug abuse and birth defects of the heart. Drastic changes in biochemical levels such as potassium and magnesium can also lead to cardiac arrest. If a member of your family has heart trouble then you too are at a greater risk. If you possess any of these risks you should try and eliminate them or reduce the effect of them as best you can. If you experience any angina it is best to get a full examination by a doctor to include an ECG, and Echocardiogram.

A study in 2005 by Thorgeirsson et al proved the severity of a few of the risk factors mentioned above. The greatest of which are having a previous myocardial infarction or coronary artery disease which accounted for 80% of the male cardiac arrests in the study. Smoking was another major factor,and it was showed that males who are currently smoking have an 70% increase risk of an arrest, while those that have stopped smoking have a reduced risk compared to current smokers. Another great reason why it is never too late to stop. Suprisingly smoking was not as significant a risk in women. Diastolic blood pressure was also shown to be one of the most significant risk factors for out of hospital cardiac arrest. Total cholesterol shockingly increased the risk for both sexes by as much as 40% per 1 mmol/L. This shows that it is vitally important to lower your cholesterol as much as possible.

Ref

Gestur Thorgeirsson, Gudmundur Thorgeirsson, Helgi Sigvaldason and Jacqueline Witteman (2005). Risk factors for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: the Reykjavik Study. European Heart Journal 26:1499-1505

Look out for my upcoming posts on CPR made easy,and cocaine overdose leading to cardiac arrest.

Can chicken be used to lower blood pressure?

2008-10-29T22:51:00.000Z

There is all sorts of interesting research going on out there in relation to agents which can be used to treat high blood pressure, and one of the recent candidates is would you believe it chicken.

We know that blood pressure is a significant risk fact for heart disease and stroke. It's estimated that around 1 billion people worldwide live with high blood pressure. Being able to control high blood pressure through food selection is very important.

The collagen in chicken is being researched for use as a blood pressure medication, with actions similar to ACE inhibitors (i.e. lisinopril). Japanese studies have found 4 proteins in the chicken that contain collagen with actions similar to the blood pressure medication when tested in rats.

Chicken legs and feet contain more collagen that chicken breast meat. FYI - The legs and feet are the yellow part of a chicken leg with a nail on the end. A "chicken collagen hydrolysate" was prepared in the study and fed to rats and the effects on blood pressure where examined. The rats showed a drop in blood pressure 4 hours after receiving the mixture orally, with the lowest blood pressure reading after 8 hours. Long term studies showed improved blood pressure after one week of treatment, with a significant reduction after 2 weeks.

The study states that the "chicken collagen hydrolysate" mixture used in the study is composed of foods that can be easily added to a typical daily diet. For individuals with high blood pressure, increasing intake of these foods will promote a normal blood pressure. What I want to know - who is going to eat a chicken leg/foot? How do the researchers think this will become a normal part of the diet? My question wasn't answered in the study results. I'm thinking it'll be made into a food additive that will allow certain foods to be marketed as "functional" for blood pressure reduction, but we'll have to wait and see.

The title of this post was only used to catch your attention. I'm not recommending you eat more chicken soup to lower your blood pressure. Way too much sodium added to soup for it to be beneficial!

Author Lisa Nelson
Source

Other reasons why you should give up smoking

2008-10-29T22:47:00.002Z

I cant emphasise enought he importance of giving up smoking and the benefits it has to your heart and lungs, however as this post describes smoking does just damage these organs it affects many other things too.

Despite the General Surgeon's warning that smoking is dangerous to health, many people still choose to smoke. It seems that smokers would rather sacrifice the health of their lungs just so they can puff on cigarettes everyday.

However, if you do smoke, your lungs are not the only organ in the body affected by cigarette smoking. If you are not afraid of emphysema, lung cancer and other-related diseases, then you might want to consider quitting on account of other harmful side effects of cigarette smoking. Read on.

1. Increases Risk of Lupus And Other Autoimmune Diseases

Several studies have found that heavy smoking can make a person more susceptible to developing lupus and probably other autoimmune diseases. Lupus is a disease characterized by swelling of the joints and degeneration of the tissues. The good news is that once you quit smoking, your risk of getting lupus is also diminished considerably.

2. More Prone To Age-Related Blindness

According to research, people who smoke are four times more prone to become blind than those who never tried smoking and this is due to macular degeneration -- an eye disease that is related to aging. However, studies also confirm that people who quit can significantly lower their chances of getting this disease. Ophthalmic surgeon Simon P. Kelly said that over 25% of those who suffer from visual impairment and macular degeneration were either past or current smokers.

3. Puts Infants At Risk

Women who are pregnant should absolutely refrain from smoking and even from being exposed to second-hand smoking. Aside from harming their body, mothers who smoke are also putting their child at risk. According to a European study, babies whose mothers smoke are at a higher risk of encountering SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, than those whose mothers never touched a cigarette in their life.

However, the main causes of SIDS are attributed to sharing the bed with the infant and also the position of the baby while sleeping. Aside from SIDS, infants who are exposed to cigarette smoke are also more susceptible to colic.

4. May Be The Underlying Reason For Your Impotence

Popping a pill for Erectile Dysfunction may not be the only way to treat your impotence. It may be a better idea if you stop smoking, which is known by many to contribute to infertility and impotence in men.

5. Accelerates Mental Degeneration

As you age, certain degree of mental decline is understandable, especially of you are already 65 and above. However, according to a study of 9,200 individuals, the rate of mental degeneration of men and women smokers who are above 65 years old are about five times faster than to those who are nonsmokers.

Cigarette smoking also raises incidence of blood clotting, artery damage and risk of stroke, which can all cause mental decline. Exposure to tobacco also accelerates the beginning of Alzheimer's disease.

Since quitting smoking is quite hard to do, you may want to seek help in how to do it. An effective way of starting your journey to quitting smoking is through detoxification, or the elimination of all toxins and chemicals inside your body. One way of body cleansing or detoxification is through the use of Colopril.

Author Janet Martin
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How Does Stop Smoking Laser Therapy Work?

2008-10-28T23:40:00.000Z

As you may have guessed there are tons of different ways to go about getting rid of smoking forever. Of course, as you may have also known, most of them do not last. It is said that everyone that has said that they are going to stop smoking tries 2 or 3 times before they actually win, and sometimes they do not win at all! Wouldn't it be nice if you could have a sure fire way to quite smoking in just one try? Well, what would you say if there was a way that you could do that. This is called laser therapy, and a lot of people call it laser quit smoking therapy. No matter what you call it, there is no turning down the fact that it has already helped thousands of people stop smoking once and for all. Today we are going to talk about how this laser quit smoking therapy works. We will also go more into detail about ways that it can help you!

First of all, you need to note that this kind of therapy works much like acupuncture, but without all the painful needles. With the laser, they have certain points of the body that they work on like the ears, nose, wrist, forearm and, of course, the hands. The great thing about these treatments is that they are very relaxing and completely pain free. In fact, this will be the most pleasant experience that you have ever had while trying to quite smoking! There are three main areas that this kind of laser therapy works on, and we will cover those three areas now. Also, keep in mind that this is going to do more for you than any other type of program that you may use to try and help yourself stop smoking.

The first thing that this treatment is going to do is treat the points of the body that can help you block your nicotine addiction. This, of course, is going to help you come up with the will power to stop smoking once and for all. The next thing that it is going to do is treat the diet points in your body to help you control your appetite during this time so that you do not have a lot of weight gain. As people stop smoking, they tend to eat more, and this will help avoid that. Last, but not least, it is also going to treat the stress points of your body. This will help you and the people around you not have to deal with the irritability and bad temperament that usually comes with quitting smoking on your own.

As you can see, this is one of the best ways to quit smoking once and for all. This amazing laser quit smoking therapy is the best and the easiest way to take back control of your life. Not only that, but this is a type of therapy that pays for itself. Once you stop smoking, all the money you save not buying cigarettes is going to really add up to pay off the therapy and then some.

Author Kelly Hunter

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Is your heart rate beating fast?

2008-10-26T22:28:00.000Z

Sit or lie down for a few minutes, take a deep breath and count your pulse for a minute. If your heart rate is higher than 75 beats per minute and you are aged between 40-55 years of age you are at increased risk of sudden death from heart attack.

Heart attacks are fatal in about 50% of all cases and claimed the lives of 132 Australians per day in 2006. About a quarter of these people would have died within an hour of first ever having symptoms. It is the silent nature of heart disease that leads to so many sudden deaths each year as many people living with the disease are unaware that they may be at risk.

Researches have struggled to come up with a test that clearly defines whether an individual is likely to have a heart attack. When assessing someone's risk of heart disease cholesterol levels, blood pressure, weight and various other biochemical markers must be taken into account.

New Research
While a lower resting heart rate has been thought to be associated with a healthy cardiovascular system for several decades, but there has been no consensus on an ideal resting heart rate. A recently published study that tracked the incidence of heart attack over 23 years in a large group of French males between the ages of 42 to 53 with no signs of cardiovascular disease has placed new emphasis on the importance of resting heart rate in assessing a person's risk of heart attack.
The study found that men whose resting heart rate was more than 75 beats a minute were nearly four times as likely to die of a sudden heart attack as those whose resting heart rate was fewer than 60 beats. Men who's heart rate responded poorly to exercise were also four times more likely to die from a sudden heart attack.

As more sophisticated and expensive tests are developed to assess cardiovascular health it is reassuring to see that simply monitoring the speed at which the heart beats helps assess a person's risk of heart attack. While these results focus on males between the ages of 40-55 specialists believe that they can be extrapolated to both females and people of a younger age.

Natural Treatments
There are many natural treatments that can help reduce pulse rate and improve other risk factors of heart disease such as high cholesterol and high blood pressure. These include:

Fish oil
Fish oil supplementation has been shown to reduce blood pressure and total mortality from heart attack. Fish oils have also been shown to reduce resting heart rate, especially in people with a high resting pulse rate. The correct dose of EPA and DHA, the therapeutic components of fish oil needs to be used and not all products are equivalent. For a complete healthcare and dietary plan you should seek the advice of a qualified Naturopath.

Co enzyme Q10
CoQ10 supplementation may reduce blood pressure, cholesterol levels and also improve heart function. It is particularly beneficial for people with existing heart disease. 100mg per day is the minimum dose required for therapeutic benefits.

Hawthorn extract
Hawthorn extract has been shown to reduce heart rate and blood pressure and also improve heart function. The correct part of the plant needs to be used and the right dose of the extract needs to be used for the correct length of time to achieve significant results. Some commercially available extracts are not very effective due to low quality plant material being used. For a complete healthcare and dietary plan that addresses all aspects of heart function you should seek the advice of a qualified Naturopath.

Magnesium
Magnesium has been shown to have a beneficial effect on blood pressure, heart rate and the heart's response to exercise. At least 300mg needs to be taken daily for maximum therapeutic results.

Cardiovascular Risk Assessment
If you are concerned about your risk of developing cardiovascular disease or heart attack you should get a full cardiovascular risk assessment from your doctor or Naturopath. In practice I test for several biochemical markers as well as measuring resting heart rate and blood pressure blood to assess total cardiovascular risk, rather then just relying on a cholesterol test alone. This gives you the best chance of assessing your risk and also provides a baseline set of results that can be monitored as natural treatments and dietary interventions are implemented.

Author Kristy Lee
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7 drug free ways to lower Blood Pressure

2008-10-26T22:20:00.001Z

Are you concerned about your high blood pressure but would rather not use prescription drugs? These 7 methods have been proven to lowering blood pressure naturally without the need of prescription drugs.

1) If you are overweight, bringing your weight down to a normal level will have a great impact in lowering your blood pressure naturally. There are also other dietary factors that can be helpful. These include a high-fiber, low fat, and low sugar diet. Along with diet, exercise will help with the weight loss and will also contribute to lowering your blood pressure. Excessive alcohol consumption also elevates blood pressure. Excessive is more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women.

Lowering your salt consumption can be beneficial in lowering your blood pressure, however, do not eliminate it altogether. Sodium is a necessary ingredient in your diet and you should consume at least 1200 mg per day.

2) Make sure you have optimal levels of vitamins A, C, and D plus magnesium.

3) Include a calcium supplement which you would take a bed time. Dosage should be

500 -1000 mg.

4) Potassium is a mineral that's important to good health and along with sodium it helps to regulate blood pressure. Studies have shown that people who consume more potassium have lower blood pressures than those who consume less. Good sources of potassium include many fruits, such as cantaloupe, bananas, watermelon, oranges and orange juice, as well as potatoes, spinach, and zucchini.

5) Coenzyme Q10 200 milligrams a day can also be very effective. With some people it has lowered blood pressure as much as 30 to 40 points in some severe cases. Coenzyme Q10 deficiency is especially common in people taking cholesterol-lowering medications. Make sure you use a quality product.

6) Dark chocolate. Although it only lowers blood pressure by 3-4 mm, it tastes good and is a good source of anti-oxidants. Make sure you eat the dark chocolate, as other types such as milk chocolate do not have the same effect.

7) Lastly, the mind/body factor will affect your blood pressure. Some of us tend to keep our anger and frustrations within ourselves and over time this 'pressure' builds and can contribute to an elevated blood pressure. It's important to let this 'steam' out when it builds up and it will help to lower your blood pressure naturally

Author Bob Storrs

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Food stuffs to help lower LDL part 1!!

2008-08-13T20:45:00.003+01:00

High cholesterol specifically high LDL levels is a massive worldwide problem and one of the modifiable risk factors in preventing heart disease. High levels lead to clogged arteries which is a precursor to strokes and heart attacks. Current prescription drugs carry with them a range of side effects, so alternatives are being researched. Luckily many herbal products have been found which are successful in lowering LDL levels.

1) Green Tea - this is my favourite product as it I find it very easy to incorporate into my diet. The more green tea you drink the more beneficial effect you will see, however a study by Kono et al in 1996 demonstrated that drinking 2 cups of green tea per day could reduce your LDL levels by a few mg daily. If you fancy drinking 10 cups a day the researchers showed a decrease in LDL by around 6.2mg per day. More importantly the catechins in green tea are thought to inhibit the conversion of LDL to the more harmful plaque initiating oxidised LDL.

2) Vitamin C and E- Vitamins are found in everyday foodstuffs and the good news is that these two antioxidants help in reducing the conversion to the harmful oxidised LDL. It has also been shown that combining the consumption of Vitamin C with green tea drinking helps increase the absorption of the beneficial antioxidant green tea catechins.

In a few days I will look at more natural not so well known products to reduce cholesterol levels.

Fats that are good for you!

2008-07-26T16:39:00.001+01:00

We are always hearing that we should cut down the amount of fat we eat and that too much fat in our diets is leading us to an early grave, but is all fat bad?? The answer is NO.

Have you ever heard of HDL cholesterol? High density lipoprotein is not bad for you at all, in fact it is quite the opposite and has been shown to be protective against heart disease in many studies. It is thought that HDL cholesterol can remove the build up of atheroma within arteries, therefore reducing artery blockage and narrowing of the arteries which all leads to a decreased risk of myocardial infarction and other heart complaints.

The best ways to boost your HDL levels are by doing aerobic exercise for thirty minutes three times a week,as well as making some dietary modifications such as reducing fat intake as well as removing trans fatty acids from the diet. Weight loss and taking cod liver oil supplements which contain the beneficial omega 3 fatty acids as well as the addition of soluble fibre to the diet is also advantageous.

California banning fat!!

2008-07-26T13:52:00.001+01:00

California supported by Arnold Schwarzenegger,is set to follow New York, Seattle and Philadephia by deciding to punish those food retailers and restaurants who put trans fats into their food products. Punishments will not be slight and may cost retailers up to a whopping $1000.

The new law will come into force in 2010 and is created to reduce the number of deaths from coronary heart disease. These new enforcements are sure to provide a major challenge for those in the food industry as trans fats have long been used as a preservative to extend shelf life.

But recent research has highlighted their dangers and one study showed that consumption of this particular type of fat increased the levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol which has well known links with many heart disorders. The trans fat has no particular nutritional value and can be replaced with other oils. A reduction is consumption is predicted to reduce heart disorders by up to 20% on an annual basis.

Paid to stop smoking!

2008-06-22T13:40:00.001+01:00

Smoking is one of the biggest risks involved in developing many diseases including cardiovascular disease so it is no surprise that there is a huge emphasis to help people stop smoking. In poor areas in Dundee, Scotland smokers were offered £150 for quitting over a 12 week period. In order to ensure they had definately not smoked during this period a carbon monoxide test was performed on them to ensure they had low levels in their bloodstream, as smoking increases carbon monoxide levels. The money was put onto a card for them so that they could purchase groceries and the card ensured that none of this money could be spent on cigarettes.

This is surely an excellent idea to keep those with little money to stop smoking! But what next, money to lose weight??

Read the full story here

Vitamin D has potential to be used for heart failure treatment!

2008-06-12T17:02:00.002+01:00

Vitamin D, dubbed the 'sunshine' Vitamin has been shown to be linked to a variety of diseases including cancer, diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Around one third of Americans over the age of 50 are said to be deficient in Vitamin D and many of these are in the age group to suffer from heart failure.

In heart failure, heart muscle cells expand in size in order to cope with the extra pressure and stress on the heart. This makes the heart work harder to pump blood around the body causing symptoms such as fatigue, breathlessness and fluid retention.

Study used two types of rats, those fed a high salt diet that were prone to heart failure and those on a normal diet. The rats fed the high salt diet were used to represent humans who eat a high fat diet. The rats on the high salt diet were prone to develop heart failure.

After 13 weeks the two groups of rats fed the high salt diet had noticeable differences. The group that received the Vitamin D supplementation had a significantly lower heart weight, less workload on the heart, and absence of other heart failure parameters compared to the the rats not given any Vitamin D.
Additionally those rats on a normal diet who were supplemented with vitamin D showed differences from the control group given no treatment. They had a lower heart weight.

In conclusion Vitamin D was shown to reduce the increase in heart muscle cells in those rats fed a high salt diet. Therefore Vitamin D could prove useful in humans to decrease the progression of heart failure.

Biggest risk factors for myocardial infarction

2008-06-08T14:03:00.001+01:00

The good thing is that many of the major risk factors are modifiable,and can easily be changed. The American Heart Association has deemed that the following 6 factors are important precursors of heart disease in general; smoking, lack of exercise, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, and high cholesterol. You may notice that some of these risk factors overlap, for example lack of exercise and high cholesterol from a fatty diet may lead to obesity, which may lead to diabetes and high blood pressure, therefore it is important to reduce all these risk factors.

Other major risk factors include those which cannot be altered such as genetic susceptibility, age, sex, and race.

Myocardial infarction-know the symptoms

2008-06-08T12:05:00.001+01:00

A myocardial infarction is the medical term for a heart attack. Heart attacks are one of the most common medical complaints affecting over a million people a year in the US alone, 50% of these will die due to the complication. Therefore it is extremely important to know the signs and symptoms of a heart attack. The most common symptom which most people associate with a heart attack is chest pain which is unbearable and resembles someone placing enormous pressure or squeezing your chest. Other symptoms are non specific such as nausea, vomiting,dizziness and breathlessness due to the reduced supply of oxygen to the brain,lungs and other body tissues. Many sufferers will also experience pain moving down their neck, shoulders and arms. However it is important to note that many people dont actually get any warning signs which is unfortunate. For those that do experience warning signs medical attention must be sought immediately.

Why I decided to create this blog?

2008-05-10T02:42:00.001+01:00

Being a health care professional I have an interest in health issues and I feel that the human heart is the most powerful body organ. People do not look after their heart or realise the added stress and dangers their lifestyle is putting on this essential organ.

I want to give an insight into the workings of the heart, the disorders that affect it and the way todays lifestyle is adding to the complications experienced by many people. Finally I will also look at some ways including natural remedies and medical treatments which can prevent or reduce our risk of these complications. I will also focus on current research being carried out on disease, diagnosis and treatment of all heart disorders.

Healthy Heart Facts Privacy Policy

2008-03-01T17:35:00.002Z

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