Lower Blood Pressure Naturally » Heart Disease

What Does Having heart Disease Mean?

admin — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 16:00:56 +0000

Heart disease is not something that goes away. If you have it you’re in for a lifelong commitment to managing it. The severity can range from person to person, some have little or no heart damage and few symptoms. Others are more limited in their daily lives and require more aggressive treatment. The heart needs oxygen in order to do it’s job and there are blood vessels that wrap around the outside of the heart to supply it with blood and oxygen. When plaque from cholesterol builds up, the coronary arteries narrow and not enough blood can get to the heart. Generally the more vessels that are blocked the worse your symptoms are. Your doctor can do testing to determine how many and which arteries are blocked and guide you with the appropriate treatment.

Anxiety May Increase Heart Disease

admin — Mon, 19 Jul 2010 16:00:47 +0000

When I read this study I was not very surprised. People with anxiety disorders also have heart trouble such as an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, heart failure and death. Many clinics are stressing that it’s important to get treatment for your anxiety as it’s part of managing your heart health as well as your mental health. Currently scientists are conducting research to help them understand the impact of anxiety disorders on medical prognosis so they can produce evidence based on approaches to patient care. There may be a link with anxiety and surges in “fight or flight” hormones that can be related to heart risks, or people that have existing issues with anxiety may be more likely to seek medical attention when they have symptoms related to the heart. It is also possible that there is a common underlying factor that may increase the risk of both anxiety and heart events. Doing what you can to reduce your stress is good overall for your mental and heart health.

Processed Meats Shown to Raise Risk of Diabetes and Heart Disease

admin — Tue, 25 May 2010 20:53:53 +0000

A Recent article published in the journal “Circulation” shows that those that eat processed meats have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. The study covered more than one million people from 10 different countries. It was found that eating 2 ounces of processed meat each day resulted in a 42% increase in the risk of heart disease and a 19% increase in the risk of diabetes. The researchers concluded that it is the processed salt and chemical additives in the processed meat that caused the issues. Sodium nitrite is a poison that is in most processed meats used as a color fixer. It makes dead gray meat look red and fleshy. It seems that only those consumers who are ignorant of the true health risks are still buying and eating processed meats like bacon, sausage, and beef jerky.

Working Overtime Can Boost Heart Attack Risk

admin — Fri, 21 May 2010 20:53:37 +0000

According to a recent study by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in Helsinki people who put in long hours at work increase their risk of dying from heart disease and heart attack. The study showed that people who work three or more hours of overtime in a day have a 60% increased risk of heart-related problems. Researchers are not clear as to why working overtime increases the risk but they speculate that those that choose to work overtime may be those with a so-called type A personality. These personality types are more aggressive, competitive, tense and time conscious. It is also a possibility that people who have more freedom over work-related decisions may have a lower risk of heart disease even if they work overtime.

Bottling Your Anger Can Hurt Your Heart

admin — Thu, 06 May 2010 21:04:42 +0000

Reuters recently published an article about cardiac patients who suppressed rage. Those with heat disease are urged to take a careful look at how they handle their angry feelings. Those who suppress their anger triple their risk of having a heart attack or dying over the next 5-10 years. This does not mean that those who suppress their anger should be having angry outbursts. These people really need to find positive ways to channel their anger or get help in resolving their issues with anger. Anger can choke the blood flow in the heart and can lead to abnormal heart rhythms which can increase the risk of heart disease. Many of these people have a hard time expressing their negative emotions and their anger. If you have issues with anger, or expressing your anger, talk to your doctor or someone that can help you work through your anger issues.

Take Care of Your Heart and Improve the Earth

admin — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 20:48:25 +0000

The heart and the Earth are similar by being fragile and susceptible to demise if not taken care of properly. However, there are things that you can control to boost your heart health and help out the Earth. You can start but doing your exercise outdoors. Walking, hiking, bicycling are great ways to stay in shape and can be modes of transport instead of driving a car. Take a break from technology even if it’s for a short period of time. Give yourself some time to relax and unwind and you will be conserving energy while you do. By buying and eating organic foods you will be doing your body a great service and not contributing to the pesticides found in our air, water and land. Try going vegan which cuts out a lot of saturated fat and cholesterol as well as cutting down on the consumption necessary to feed the animals being eaten. Eating pre-packaged foods that are high in sodium can increase blood pressure and the risk of heart disease. Make your meals from scratch at home, you’ll be cutting down on waste and you’ll know exactly what’s in your food. These are just a few small things that you can do to take care of your heart and the Earth.

Nutrition is Critical for Heart Health

admin — Tue, 30 Mar 2010 20:32:45 +0000

It’s not a secret that what you eat has a lot of bearing on how well your body functions. In order to help reduce the risk of heart disease, changing your eating habits may greatly reduce that risk. Add more fruits, vegetables and whole grains to your daily meals. Look for foods that are low in fat, carbs and low in saturated fats. limit your sodium intake especially table salt, try alternative no salt seasonings. Start out with small portions when eating meals you may find that it’s plenty and you don’t need seconds. Avoid fried foods and if you can’t give up meats look for organic free range meats and bake or broil them. You want to still enjoy what you eat but it’s important to really know what’s going into your body and protect yourself from disease.

Processed Meats Harmful to Your Heart

admin — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 18:54:22 +0000

Harvard researches have found that eating processed meats can increase the risk of heart disease and diabetes. “Processed” means any meat that has been preserved by curing, salting, smoking or by the addition of chemical preservatives. Specifically meats like hamburger, beef, pork and lamb. Examples of meats to avoid would be bacon, hot dogs, sausage, and processed deli meats. It makes sense when you really think about what’s in processed meats, salt, preservatives, and fat which all contribute to an unhealthy heart. Other health issues that can occur are lung cancer, liver cancer, prostate cancer, bone cancer and bladder cancer. Do your best to find meats that are free-range organic and processed as little as possible.

Cranberry Juice Can Protect Your Heart

admin — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 19:20:49 +0000

I read about a study that was done at Queen Mary University that looked at the heart protective potential of several beverages including green tea, wine, cocoa and cranberry juice. Researchers found a group of chemicals known as oligomeric procyanidins that block the body’s production of another chemical that causes blood vessels to constrict. These are flavonoids that work mainly as antioxidants in the body. These antioxidants are also found in grapes, berries, and green tea. Cranberries also contain these antioxidants and can help lower blood pressure and protect the heart from damage.