Heart disease is currently the nations #1 killer of men and women, while cancer is climbing and may surpass these statistics in the near future. In most cases, heart disease is preventable but there are genetic factors to be considered. Other diseases such as Diabetes, predisposes a person to the devastating effects of heart disease.

I have been a registered nurse for 30 years and worked in the areas of cardiac care and intensive care most of my career. As such, I have cared for those experiencing the sometimes fatal effects of heart disease – heart attacks. A heart attack occurs when a portion of the heart muscle dies. When a part of the heart dies, it can never be recovered since the damage has been done. Prevention is the key, and is the bases of this article. Some heart attacks are worse than others. I will be discussing this topic in future articles.

The best way to prevent heart disease from happening in the first place involves several life-style changes. Smoking, obesity, and high cholesterol, are just a few factors that can be changed. Predisposing factors such as Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, and Kidney Disease may be genetic and more difficult to cure but they can be controlled. Annual check-ups with your physician is the first step in the prevention of the disease. Healthy daily exercise and dietary changes will greatly reduce the chances of developing heart disease.

What Is Heart Disease?

Heart disease occurs when the arteries surrounding the heart develop plaque. This plaque hardens and narrows the passage of proper blood flow to the heart. When blood flow is significantly reduced or stops completely, a portion of the heart muscle dies. Nothing can rejuvenate this dead tissue since the damage has already been done.

Dietary Changes

When you think of dieting, most people do this on a temporary basis. However, with heart disease, it is a life long change. Always consult your physician before making any drastic dietary changes. A diet consisting of low sodium, low fat, low cholesterol is preferred. Be sure to check labels at the grocery store. Stay away from processed and canned foods because they tend to be very high in sodium. Don’t add extra salt to your meals. Remember, where salt goes, so does water. Eating foods high in sodium will cause water retention, swelling in your ankles, shortness of breath, high blood pressure, and make the heart work harder than normal.

Lab Work

Your physician will order some necessary lab work for early detection of heart disease. These tests will include Cholesterol, HDL, LDL, Lipids and Triglyceride levels. HDL is the “good cholesterol” and the LDL is the “bad cholesterol”. The High Density Lipoproteins or HDL is considered “good” because it moves along more readily within the arterial walls, whereas, Low Density Lipoproteins or LDL is “bad” because it tends to “hang around” and adhere to the arterial walls causing plaque build up. These lab tests will require that you fast for a minimum of 12-15 hours. Don’t eat high cholesterol meals before your testing because this will alter the results and may cause some false positives.

If your Cholesterol is normal and your Triglycerides are high, this usually means that it is hereditary. Triglycerides are your “sweet tooth”, so refrain from eating those pies, cakes, and pastries. Cholesterol is your fatty meats and eggs. Try to keep your egg consumption down to no more than 3 per week. Egg beaters are a good substitute and contain no cholesterol.

The prevention of heart disease is critical in maintaining a healthy heart. Small changes can go a long way in reducing the risk of a heart attack. It is important to also remember that once damage to the heart has been done, nothing will correct this. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

 About the Author:

Danette Braunstein is a Registered Nurse with 30 years experience in caring for those with heart disease. She has written many informational articles relating to health issues.
http://www.FreeMedicalFacts.com

Heart Disease And Exercise

Exercise And Heart Disease – The Link

Scientific studies indicates that there is evidence that exercising your heart is a very healthy thing to do. Regular activity for your heart will keep the heart and it’s muscles fit and strong. By exercising frequently you decrease by about fifty percent the probability of you ever having a heart attack. Fine news indeed about heart disease and exercise… the association between the two. Naturally if you have any concerns about your heart’s capacity to withstand exercising, perhaps because of ill health or age… seek advice with your doctor first before prior to an exercise program.

HDL And LDL

Exercise has the tendency to increase your HDL (high density liproteins – good cholesterol.) HDL is able to pick up cholesterol from within arteries and remove it from the body. Alternatively LDL (low density lipoproteins – bad cholesterol) tends to stickto blood cell walls. This can obstruct the flow of blood and cause one to have a stroke or heart attack. The resulting condition is well known as arteriosclerosis.

Benefits Of Exercise To Minimize Heart Disease Risk

Just as any other muscle in our body, your heart gets stronger by stimulation of it with activity. Your heart’s power to drive blood as needed throughout the body, is directly dependent on the power of the muscles of the heart. Exercising moderately just three to five times a week for about 30 minutes will definitely strengthen the heart and it’s muscles. Other benefits from regular exercise are: overall body endurance and strength which will also assist avoid injury to the body from strains such as falls; stress reduction which will relax you; boost the strength of your bones and thus lessen the chances you will develop osteoporosis.

Moderate to vigorous exercise not only helps to avert heart disease but also has a helpful affect to your brain and how good you feel. Walking rapidly augments blood flow and oxygen levels throughout the body. Memory skills in the elderly, research have shown, were improved, by going for walks as part of their habitual lifestyle.

Endorphins

Chemicals in the brain called endorphins are produced by just 20 to 30 minutes of intermediate exercise. Produced in the brain… endorphins… the body’s natural pain reliever. To accomplish metabolic results from exercise, you need a minimum of 15 to 20 minutes of consistent physical activity. Most everyone has heard of the runner’s high… that is the effect of the creation of endorphins. Should you experience any heart pains in relation to activity that is an warning you are making your heart stressed.

Maybe you did not know that heart disease and exercise, lack of exercise that is, have such a association as is made known in this publication. If you are what they call label a “couch potato” it may be time you became a bit more active… A lack of regular activity, greatly raises your risk of stroke, heart attack. It is a fact… a bit of activity on a regular basis is better for your heart and your body than none at all. If you have any concerns about your heart’s health, check with your doctor, before going forward with an exercise program to prevent heart disease.