One of the biggest problems with PAD is that people will often write off simple leg pains and aches as being no big deal. PAD is sometimes not even reported to the doctor until it is very severe, making it even harder to treat. If you feel pain in your legs that is fairly regular, and is situated in the muscles and not the joints, then you should report that to your doctor. They can screen you for PAD and make certain you are not at risk.

PAD is one of the many things that can contribute to coronary artery disease and stroke. Patients with PAD have an increased risk of most all coronary problems and stroke. It is absolutely vital that you report any concerns to your doctor as soon as you consider them yourself. Mention PAD to your doctor and he can help you decide if you need to be screened or not. Keeping our heart healthy often means taking care of other areas of our bodies.

Common risk factors for PAD include smoking, weight gain, high blood pressure, diabetes, lack of exercise and cholesterol problems. Each of these things we can control to some degree. If you are falling short in any of these areas, you can do something about it. See your health care provider for plans on how to control this risk factors and get on the path to a heart healthy future.

Most people will get a significant amount of benefit from a moderate walking plan.  The biggest benefactors are those that have trouble with their good cholesterol being too low and their bad cholesterol being too high.  There are some studies that say that triglycerides respond favorably to walking and exercise. Cholesterol issues are responsive to walking because the exercise helps to lower or raise those numbers.

Walking is also highly effective because some patients are unable to do other forms of exercise.  Jogging for example is a great form of exercise, but it is too high impact for some.  Not everyone is able to do such moderate exercise, and walking gives them a safe yet effective way of maintaining good heart health.

Walking is also great because you can do it most anywhere.  Some people walk around the block, while others get their walking in at a local park during their break at work.  This flexibility makes walking one of the easiest forms of exercise to stick to.  Any doctor will tell you that exercise you will stick to is the most effective form there is.   The biggest problem with exercise is sticking to the regimen.  Because you can walk anywhere, it is very easy to ensure you do.

While walking is far from perfect, it is the closest thing to perfect exercise that we know of.  Doctors universally agree to the benefits of walking.  In spite of this unanimous opinion, one should still be sure to consult their doctor about a walking regimen.  This way they can tailor your walking plan to fit your needs and safety.

There are many people in America today that have become worried about heart disease but unfortunately have been using ineffective ways to prevent it. Here are some of the more common myths and simple solutions that been proven very effective in the fight against heart disease.

Myths

The same drugs that are used to treat high cholesterol are also effective in the fight against heart disease. This is a truly false statement and most medicines will tell you so right on their labels. All this medicine can do for you are lower your cholesterol and will not help with the other underlying factors that are associated with it.

The age old margarine versus butter battle is yet another great myth. There are many people that feel that margarine is actually better for them than butter and this is actually false. Most of the margarines that are available on the market today actually contain hydrogenated oils that can actually cause damage to your arteries and as a result will increase your overall chances for a heart attack. On the other hand butter is made up of stable fat so therefore it is healthier for you in the long run.

A diet that is lower in fat will lower your chances of a heart attack. Unfortunately against popular belief this is strictly false. A lower fat diet will not lower your chances of having a heart attack.

Ways To Prevent

There are a variety of different things that you can do to lower your chance of a heart attack. The main ones are listed here.

First off you need to be sure that you do regular exercise. This has been proven by almost all of the doctors in America to be the most effective in the battle against heart disease. You do not have to do anything to strenuous in this category it can be as simple enough as a quick walk around the park. The main focus here is to get your blood pumping faster to help the heart work more efficiently.

Mediation is another great way to prevent the risk of heart disease. When you meditate at least two times a day doctors have found that it is just more effective in lowering your blood pressure than most of the prescription medications available on the market today.

Finally eating foods that are high in anti oxidants will also help reduce your chances of heart disease. These are usually found in most fresh fruits and vegetables. Not only are these foods great at reducing heart disease but also will help keep your arteries clean by way of doing away with the more harmful oxidants that are often found in your body.

There a variety of different myths and treatments that are associated with heart disease. The best way to find out how to prevent heart disease in your own life would be to talk to your doctor.

]]> http://fatheart.com/?feed=rss2&p=79 http://fatheart.com/?p=76 http://fatheart.com/?p=76#comments Wed, 30 Dec 2009 20:55:27 +0000 admin http://fatheart.com/?p=76 Unfortunately heart disease is the number one silent killer in America today. According to statistics there are at least 2.4 million people that die each and every year in America and at least 36 percent of these are due to the silent killer heart disease. For a lot of people that have died from this disease it has snuck up on them and they were unaware of their upcoming heart attack as a result. If you learn to recognize the signs and symptoms before a major emergency it can mean a big difference between both life and death.

So what are some of the symptoms that you should be on the lookout for? Well first of the entire most important thing that you need to do is contact your doctor. Early detection can mean a world of difference when it comes to overall treatment of heart disease. There is however other symptoms that you need to be aware of and if you notice them in your own body then you will need to contact a doctor right away.

1. Angina

• If you are suffering chest pain this is one of the major signs that you are having heart attack. If you happen to be suffering from angina you need to be sure that you contact your doctor right away. One of the main problems with this is a lot of people leave their angina untreated till they experience a heart attack. Unfortunately if they do this more often than not it’s too late.

1. Numbness and Tingling

• If you happen to experience any of these symptoms it can be a red flagged to clogged arteries that allow blood to flow to your heart muscles. However if you also happen to have slurred speech, headache, and also loss of balance you need to seem immediate medical attention as it is a sign that you are having a stroke which is also caused by heart disease.

1. Shortness of Breath

• If you happen to have problems with your respiratory system it can also be the sign of heart disease. If your problem persists however you need to be sure that you are seeking medical attention right away.

1. Dizziness and Fainting

• If you are experiencing dizziness and fainting spells that you may have not experienced before it can be a sign of heart disease as well. This is especially true if you happen to experience this after you have done any physical exercise in general.

1. Fatigue and Weakness

• If you feel tired and weaker then normal then you need to be sure that you contact your physician as it is also a sign of heart disease.

Once again heart disease is a very dangerous disease if left untreated for too long. The sooner you get a diagnosis the better chance that you will have at overall recovery and treatment.

Of the numerous diets out there, one of the most highly touted is the
Mediterranean diet which, among its benefits, can help keep your heart
healthy, even likely reversing the risks associated with heart disease. A
Mediterranean diet emphasizes eating a lot of fresh fruit, vegetables (oh
those veggies again) and fish, cutting back on red meat and using healthy
fats like olive oil.

This diet has been linked to decreases in what is known in the medical
community as “metabolic syndrome,” a collection of heart risk factors
which include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, elevated blood sugar
and abdominal fat.

A group of researchers from Spain, led by Dr. Jordi Salas-Salvadó,
performed a study that maintained adding a handful of nuts to the daily
Mediterranean diet mix can be very beneficial; even healthier than
increasing your intake of olive oil.

Aren’t nuts high in calories you might ask? They can be depending on the
type of nuts and/or the amount you eat. But adding a few in lieu of
snacking on potato chips isn’t going to kill you (unless you’re allergic
to nuts, of course).

In the Spanish study, conducted over a year, over 1200 subjects were
divided into 3 diet groups: low-fat diet, Mediterranean diet with daily
servings of olive oil and Mediterranean diet with extra nuts. Both of the
Mediterranean diet groups used olive oil for cooking, but the second group
had to consume more than four tablespoons of olive oil per day.

The results showed that adding nuts to the Mediterranean diet improved
cholesterol and blood pressure and reduced belly fat in those
participants. That’s because nuts contain unsaturated fat, a “good fat”
that can increase good cholesterol and help the body burn fat. The “nutty”
Mediterranean diet group in fact showed the most favorable decrease in
metabolic syndrome. Dr. Salas-Salvadó’s study is published in the December
8, 2008 issue of Archives of Internal Medicine.

So go nuts - pop a few hazelnuts, almonds or walnuts daily for extra
health benefits.

About the Author

Valery Fortie is the National Awareness Coordinator of
Mediterraneanbook.com. Valery is also the editor of the mediterranean diet
blog, a directory and news source focused on healthy eating habits to
prevent effects of high blood pressure to live longer and better.

Mediterraneanbook.com is a non commercial website created to preserve the
Italian Healthy Eating Traditions. Founded in 2004 in Italy,
Mediterraneanbook.com feels very strongly about having informed consumers
on duty in all healthy eating fields.

A retired Navy counselor submitted “ when I worked, I literally couldn’t think until I had had my first cup of coffee”, he further stated “ there have been periods when I cut way down or mixed decaffeinated coffee with regular, but I definitely missed the caffeine”. In fact what he thought about coffee is stress buster and there are millions to share his thought. But, in fact, coffee is just opposite to what it is considered to be. If aggravates the stress, it has been found by the researchers of Duke University Medical Center. The study reveals that the effect of caffeine remains throughout the day.

What is more concerning that researchers concluded that caffeine present in three to four cups of coffee raise the blood pressure and that last for many hours. Though the increase appears to be modest but this reverses the effect of drugs that one takes to keep his or her blood pressure under control. So, this moderate increase of blood pressure is sufficient to cause heart attack or stroke, as observed by lead author Dr James D. Lane, PhD.

In United States alone 85 per cent of adults consume caffeine in the form of tea, coffee or soda. The average number of cups a coffee drinker takes is 3.3, and 64 % of all coffee is consumed at breakfast.

Dr. Lane advise them who are concerned about their blood pressure and want to cut down the stress; they better quit coffee ,it is easy ; since they are likely to feel a lot better. Withdrawing from coffee may give some withdrawal symptom like mental fogginess, sleepiness or difficulty to concentrate; but once you come out of it, it is lot better and healthy for your heart.

1. Get lots of vitamin C
Take at least 1,000 mg of vitamin C each day. Numerous studies have found that taking at least this much vitamin C reduces your risk of heart attack by 25 to 40 percent.
In addition, to the extent you are able to, eat several daily servings of high vitamin C fruits and vegetables, such as citrus fruit, berries, melons, bell peppers and salad greens. In addition to the vitamin C, the soluble fiber; micronutritients; and other vitamins and minerals you’ll get will also protect your heart and health.

Animals generate internally what, in us, would be 5,000 to 7,000 mg of vitamin C daily - and more when ill or under stress. We don’t. Compared with this, taking 1,000 mg once or twice a day is moderate. In fact, many experts recommend 1,000 mg 3 or more times a day - more when ill.
Such quantities can upset your stomach; but that simply reducing the dosage slightly or building up to it gradually will prevent this.

And, taking 1,000 mg of vitamin C or more has many other health benefits: it will reduce the severity and duration of colds; cut the severity and frequency of allergies; and it will reduce your chances of infection - one study showed that 1,000 mg per day of vitamin C sharply reduced infections in people undergoing surgery. Since some infections are caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria, this can be life saving.

2. Take at least 200 IU of vitamin E daily
Since some people report feeling less energetic on 600 IU or more, our recommendation is for 200 to 400 IU daily.

Two related studies found that women who took at least 100 IU of vitamin E daily for two years had a 41 percent drop in heart attack risk while men had a 41 percent drop. In one large European study: low blood levels of vitamin E were predictive of a heart attack 70 percent of the time while high cholesterol and high blood pressure were only 29 and 25 percent of the time respectively.

Although wheat germ and sunflower seeds are among the most nutrition packed and healthful foods and excellent food sources of vitamin E, a large daily serving of both won’t get you to even 100 IU of vitamin E, so take supplements to get enough vitamin E.

As with vitamin C and the carotenoids, vitamin E is an antioxidant; and studies show it is also as protective against many forms of cancer as it is against heart attacks. The literature also suggests that it boosts the immune system and, through its antioxidant effect, slows aging. For example, it protects against cataracts in your eyes. One study found people who took vitamin E had only one third as many!

If you are already taking anti-clotting or “blood thinning” prescription drugs consult with your doctor before taking vitamin E. And, if you are taking vitamin E, check with your doctor and pharmacist before beginning such drugs.

3. Seriously consider taking deodorized garlic.
One study found a 66 percent reduction in heart attack risk for those taking garlic supplements!
According to many studies, virtually all of the blood measures of risk for heart disease improve with garlic supplementation:

The key HDL to LDL ratio goes up: In a study, in those with cholesterol levels above 200, the undesirable LDL’s dropped 15 percent, the level of protective HDL’s rose by 10 percent and the overall level of cholesterol dropped 10 to 12 percent. In addition, triglycerides dropped by 15 percent.

Diabetics, women, those on a low fat diets, and people who eat a lot of sweet treats often have undesirably high levels of triglycerides. And, high triglycerides also contribute to heart disease.
In another study people with problems with blood platelet clumping, which was reducing their blood flow and increasing their heart attack risk, had their platelet clumping eliminated; their blood pressure dropped 9.5 percent; and their small blood vessel blood flow improved nearly 50 percent.

And, if you like garlic in food, enjoy it that way often! Garlic has a mild anti-clotting effect, so, as with vitamin E, before mixing it with prescription anti-clotting drugs or taking it in the few days before surgery, check with your doctor.

Vitamin C, vitamin E, and deodorized garlic, especially when taken in addition to a standard multivitamin, are easy, cheap, effective, and they start to protect you immediately.
Our strongest recommendation is for you to take them! Are they guaranteed to be enough in your particular case? No. But, they certainly put the odds more in your favor!
777 words

Regular aerobic exercise increases the protective HDL cholesterol levels; and also increases the blood level of tpa, the natural clot-buster that is used in larger
amounts to stop heart attacks.

Exercise tends to both increase your collateral circulation by adding extra capillaries to bypass blockages and to increase the diameter of the major blood vessels enough to tend to prevent blockages.
And, of course, aerobic exercise strengthens your heart.

The ideal is to exercise almost every day - five or six days a week. But, even three or four nonconsecutive days will help.

It is important to put as many of the non-exercise heart protecting techniques in place as you can before beginning to exercise - or to add these techniques right away if you are already exercising vigorously.

This is extremely important if you have existing heart disease, have lots of risk factors, or have reason to suspect you have heart disease. It’s also important if you do or plan to do vigorous exercise.
And, if you have existing heart disease, let your doctor know you exercise or are beginning to.
You should be able to begin with five or ten minute walks at an easy pace with no trouble. Once you build up to twenty minute walks, that alone, if you do it at least five times a week, will help a lot. According to one study, you get a full forty percent of the health benefits of an ideal exercise program from 500 calories a week of exercise which five twenty minute walks will give you.

Even ten minutes three times a week will help; and, it’s a lot easier to build on than no exercise at all!
When you do get into a more vigorous exercise program, build up to full intensity gradually over a period of four to six weeks. You’re much less likely to overtax your heart; and you’re less likely to develop injuries.
It’s important to take the other steps to protect your heart before starting a vigorous exercise program - or to add those steps right away if you’re already exercising vigorously.

To repeat: If you have existing heart disease, coordinate your exercise plans with your doctor. For severe disease it may well be important for you to exercise in a supervised program - or at least to use feedback devices to be sure you avoid pushing your heart to too high a rate.

1…Reduce the size of your waist
The fitness trainers apply different measurement of body to assess the health of the person as a whole. But out of those several measurements there is one measurement that best explains the risk of cardiovascular problem. This is the waist size. The waist size is directly related to the heart disease risk. In simpler words the larger the size of the waist the greater will be the risk of heart disease. No matter if the person has a normal body mass index, if the waist size is larger than this person is at the increased risk of heart attack.

Following are the ways to reduce the waist size:
Burn Excessive Fats To reduce your wais size you don’t need to go for the fad diet. You simply have to burn excessive calories let’s say 200 per day with the reduced intake of 200 calories in your daily diet. By simply following the above formula any one can lose one pound in a week. There will be a calorie deficit of 2800 calorie in one week. It is the simplest method of reducing the weight and the waist size to prevent the risk of heart related problems.
Burn Belly Fat Another way of reducing waist size is by burning the belly fat. There are many choices to do so, some are mentioned below
Seaweed Extract
The seaweed extract can reduce the waist size by burning away the belly fat.
Fucoxanthin
It is a brown marine vegetable. It burns the stored fat and converts it into the energy.
Irivingia
It is a West African plant which cuts the number of consumed calories by activating leptin. Leptin is a specific hormone that informs the brain that body has enough food now.

2…Keep the cholesterol level in the healthy range
Low levels of HDL and high levels of LDL cholesterol are the major contributing factors of cardiovascular disease. Conventional over-the-counter products to maintain cholesterol levels have few benefits but contain a lot of side effects. Luckily there are some clinically proven natural supplements that help to keep the optimum levels of cholesterol. Regular intake of these natural supplements sometimes eliminates the requirement of any prescribed medicine.
One can maintain best level of LDL cholesterol by taking Citrus extract, Yeast rice and Plant Sterols
One can maintain best level of HDL cholesterol by taking Indian Gooseberry Extracts and Niacin.

3…Maintain good blood pressure levels
The increase in blood pressure pushes the heart to work harder. The harder the heart has to work, the greater are the risk of heart related diseases. The healthy blood pressure lowers the workload of heart and maintains the proper functioning of heart. To maintain the blood pressure in the healthy range one can take some nutritional supplement or the healthy diet.

Better do not increase the salt consumption from 2.5 gm/ day. Eat foods that are rich in magnesium, calcium and potassium.
One can also supplement his diet with the help of grapes seed extract, milk peptide and pomegranate extract.

By following these three steps you can easily be on the way of having a healthy heart.