Sunday, August 2, 2009
Is Heart Diseaese Preventable
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America. Heart disease is often thought of as an older woman's disease, and it is the leading cause of death among women aged 65 years and older. Heart disease is a very general term, and is not a single condition, but an aggregation of different disease and conditions. Heart disease is a major cause of death throughout the world, and many of its variants are considered silent killers because of their asymptomatic nature. Heart disease is a broadly used term to describe several conditions, all of which are potentially fatal, but can be treated. Diseases of heart and stroke rank as the #1 killer of Latino Americans.
Heart disease begins when plaque buildup begins to adversely affect health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. Heart disease is on the rise, causing 27% of all deaths (650,000) in 2006 in the US. Heart attacks and strokes are by far the deadliest complications associated with heart disease. Heart problems are the leading cause of death among people with diabetes, especially in the case of adult onset or type II diabetes, also known as non insulin dependent diabetes. Heart attacks occur more frequently among people who smoke. Heart attacks are common among people that are obese. Heart disease conditions, aside from coronary heart disease, other diseases classified under this condition include congenital heart defects, heart valves disease and heart attacks.
Women seem to become more vulnerable to heart disease only after their estrogen levels fall with menopause, and so they tend to suffer first heart attacks later than men. Women with diabetes have a higher risk for heart disease than men with diabetes. Women develop the condition later in life. Their symptoms are often different from men's or more subtle, and they are affected more by certain risk factors, such as high levels of triglycerides (a fat in the blood). Women still haven't gotten the message that heart disease, not cancer, is most likely to send them to their graves. Women often don't experience the hollywood like heart attack symptoms that men do, but women may experience fatigue, indigestion, shoulder jaw and neck pain. In 2004, all cardiovascular diseases combined caused the deaths of 461,152 American women. Women are more aware of their risk for heart disease now than in the past. Women and men are affected differently by a wide range of conditions.
Blood pressure can be reduced by losing weight, becoming more physically active, limiting alcohol intake and taking blood pressure medicine. Blood pressure can vary with activity and with age, but a healthy adult who is resting generally has a systolic pressure reading between 120 and 130 and a diastolic pressure reading between 80 and 90 or lower. Blood pressure is a measure of the force at which your blood flows through your veins.
Health trends documented over the past 30 years of reduction in risk for heart disease is not as strong as is widely perceived and, in fact, the trend has flattened, according to a new analysis of national data by Mayo Clinic. Healthy living and a heart healthy lifestyle are smart choices that can pay big dividends as we age. Health care expenditures are 36% higher for obese than for non obese persons.
Risk factors are divided into two categories, major and contributing. Learn which risk factors are inherited and which can be modified or controlled. Risk factors including high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity, may also be passed from one generation to another. Risk factors for stroke include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. Strokes are caused by broken blood vessels, blood clots, or a lack of blood flow to the brain. Lifestyle risk factors that contribute to heart disease include lack of exercise, high fat diet, emotional stress, and having a type A personality (aggressive, impatient, competitive).
Cholesterol consists of two ingredients; HDL cholesterol (the good cholesterol) and LDL cholesterol (the bad cholesterol). Cholesterol should be closely monitored and tested on a regular basis. Cholesterol, a fat like substance carried in your blood, is found in all of your body's cells. Fatty deposits build up on blood vessel linings, which narrows the passage, causing the heart’s blood supply to decrease.
Coronary artery disease is a disease of the artery caused by the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium. Coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries, producing blockages in the vessels which nourish the heart itself. Coronary artery disease, the most common form of cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause of death in America today. Coronary artery disease and the reduced blood flow that follows can lead to other heart problems, such as chest pain and heart attacks. Coronary heart disease is the most common form of heart disease in both men and women. Coronary heart disease is the most common kind of heart disease that causes deaths in the US.
Symptoms of heart disease include heart attack, stroke, arrhythmia, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. Symptoms of heart disease usually occur during exercise or activity. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Symptoms typically linked with this heart disease include shortness of breath, and chest pain.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among both men and women. Cardiovascular disease can take many forms like high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, valvular heart disease, stroke, or rheumatic fever-rheumatic heart disease. Cardiovascular disease is any of a number of specific diseases that affect the heart itself or the blood vessel system, especially the veins and arteries leading to and from the heart.
Research has shown that smoking increases heart rate, tightens major arteries, and can create irregularities in the timing of heartbeats, all of which make your heart work harder. Research on disease dimorphism suggests that women who suffer with cardiovascular disease usually suffer from forms that affect the blood vessels while men usually suffer from forms that affect the heart muscle itself.
The first step in preventing heart disease is to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Treatment methods should be discussed with a physician, and keep in mind that many of the medications are available through prescription. Exercise continues to be important as the risk of heart disease doubles in people who remain inactive as opposed to those who don’t. Exercise helps to strengthen your heart and purify your bloodstream, preventing heart attacks and stroke.
Exercise also strengthens the heart muscle and makes the arteries more flexible.
Smoking also raises blood pressure, which increases the risk of stroke in people who already have high blood pressure. Smoking is a major risk for several diseases including heart disease,stroke, and several cancers. Smoking causes fatty buildups in the arteries, blood clots, artery spasms and rhythm problems, which all contribute to these attacks.
Stress may also contribute to other risk factors. Stress is considered a contributing risk factor for heart disease because little is known about its effects. Stress can lead to hypertension and coping habits that raise cholesterol. Stressful situations raise your heart rate and blood pressure, increasing the your heart's need for oxygen. Stress can increase the risk of heart disease, although we still do not know how this happens.
Lupus endocarditis usually causes the surfaces of the heart valve to thicken or develop wart like growths (lesions). Lupus can cause inflammation of the myocardium, the muscle tissue of your heart. Lupus is a chronic life long disease in which the immune system fails to tell the difference between foreign invaders, such as viruses and bacteria, and the body's own cells.
Heart disease is preventable as long as one consistently makes good lifestyle choices, such as regular exercise, consuming low sodium and fat diets, and avoiding alcohol and smoking are among these choices. Heart disease is commonly caused by atherosclerosis, and this process can also cause strokes. Heart disease is the #1 killer of men and women in the US, but many cases are preventable. Heart disease is a highly preventable and reversible disease. Heart disease is potentially reversible by attending to risk factors like cholesterol, blood pressure and smoking. Heart disease is not caused by cholesterol alone and probably the root cause of heart disease is free radicals. Heart disease is reversible by decreasing free radicals and increasing HDL. Cancer, the second largest killer, accounts for only half as many deaths. Family members live together, eat together and can influence one another's attitudes toward smoking, exercise, weight, diet, portion sizes and other factors that have an impact on heart health and disease. Controlling your blood pressure and sugar, maintaining a healthy weight, and not smoking will also help you have a healthy heart, according to doctors. Reduce fat intake and include fruits and vegetables in your daily diet.
Omega 3 Fatty Acid Is Essential For Physical and Mental Health
Omega threes are called essential fatty acids because they are essential to life and they can't be reproduced in the body. Omega threes are evidenced to reduce the risk of heart disease and are an essential nutrient in the formation of tissue. Omega threes are an anticoagulant and increase HDL cholesterol. Omega threes are an incredible anti aging, anti-oxidant compound that healthy bodies thrive on.
Omega Three and Omega Six act out a push-me pull-you hormone dance. Omega Three or Six chemical production is in a sense self-fuelling. Omega Six was always a scarce, seasonal, and precious resource. Omega Six instructs the body to store fat. Omega Six and Omega Three are truly external agents, only available through diet. Omega 3 and 6 are building blocks, fuel, chemicals raw materials, and hormone controllers. Omega Six is a key raw material, and an important controller of hormones and steroids. Flax seed oil and many other vegetable oils can also be a source of omega three fatty acids, but for a variety of reasons, fish oils are far superior in delivering long chain omega 3 fatty acids. Flax seed oil, though not as good as fish oil, is the best vegetarian source of omega threes. Increased hormones levels, due to increased Omega Six in the fat reserves, higher Omega Six chemicals, and lack of DHA give rise to hormonal disturbance and changes, which are leading to a rise in fertility related conditions. Increased levels of DHA reduce the long chain Omega 6 hormone and steroid production.
Fish oil contains omega 3 fatty acids. Mackerel, salmon, lake trout, herring, sardines and albacore are cold water fish which are awesome for their omega threes. Fish oil reduces the production of Omega Six inflammatory chemicals such as prostaglandin E2 and thromboxane A2. Fish is important as a moderator of mental function, and well being. Fish is sacred in Christianity, forms part of the christian symbolism, was talked about in parables, and traditionally was part of the Christian diet. Eating two oily fish meals a week or taking a daily fish oil supplement supplying 1g omega 3 has been proven to reduce the chance of premature death from a heart attack. Eating fish more than once a week halved the risk compared with those who ate fish less than once per month.
Fats are the raw materials for massive families of very influential chemicals. Fat is used for energy, and so omega sixes and omega threes are all destined to be broke down and burnt. Fat also carries a number of nutrients into the blood stream from the intestinal tract. Fats are the source of hormones and steroids. Fats, protein and carbs are all good for us when eaten in balance and not excess.
Studies have found that omega threes are particularly implicated in depression, anxiety, and age related mental decline. Studies with depressed patients have shown lower than average blood levels of the omega 3s and a study with severely depressed patients showed dramatic improvements when they were treated with fish oil. Studies show that the best way to increase omega three in our bodies is to eat more fish, seafood and fish oil.
Researchers have discovered that supplementation with omega three fatty acids can actually build up their concentration within the membranes of the white blood cells. Researchers found that they continued to show greater problem solving ability and better decision making skills. Researchers have investigated different therapeutic doses of fish oil, but the most effective dose is yet to be conclusively determined.
Omega Threes are essentially anti inflammatory by a number of mechanisms. Omega threes are a special kind of fatty acid, vital to human growth and health, that are found in many foods, but especially in fish oil. Omega Six is essential to manufacture of hormones at all locations. Omega Three will improve your hair, eyes, skin, nails, and possibly fertility and sex life. Omega threes encourage the body to burn fat and make small fat cells. Omega three produces protective products called protectins and resolvins. Oil rich fish and supplements such as fish oil and cod liver oil, are the richest and most readily available sources of these omega 3s. Daily omega three supplements are also perfect for people who seek better mental health or natural arthritis cures but do not like to eat fish or seafood. There is overwhelming evidence to support the role of the omega-3 long chain fatty acids in protection against heart attack and sudden death. Taking fish oil regularly is the best way to supplement your omega threes in your daily diet. Seafood and flax are excellent additions to almost any diet, but even if you eat these foods regularly, it can still be difficult to take in the correct ratio of omega three. Adding a fish oil supplement to your daily routine will benefit your ration.
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