National Heart Awarenss Month: Keeping Up with Heart Health

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

National Heart Awarenss Month: Keeping Up with Heart Health

 

The heart provides the power we need to live. Arguably the most

important muscle we have. In an average lifetime, the heart beats

more than two and a half billion times, without ever pausing to rest.

The heart supplies the force to circulate blood throughout the body.

The blood transports oxygen and nutrient to the cells of the body and

carries waste and other substances from the cells. It pumps an

average of 6000 quarts of blood daily.

 

The heart is made up of four chambers. There are two chambers on each

side of the heart. One chamber is on the top and one chamber is on

the bottom. The two chambers on top are called the atria. The atria

fill with the blood returning to the heart from the body and lungs.

The heart has a left atrium and a right atrium.

 

The two bottom chambers are called the ventricles. The heart has a

left ventricle and a right ventricle. They pump out blood to the body

and lungs. Running down the middle of the heart is a thick wall of

muscle called the septum. The septum separates the left and right

side of the heart.

 

The atria fill with blood, then pump it into the ventricles. The

ventricles then pump blood out of the heart. While the ventricles are

pushing, the atria refill for the next contraction. Four valves

control the flow of blood through the chambers.

 

Two of the heart valves are the mitral valve and the tricuspid valve.

They let blood flow from the atria to the ventricles. The other two

are called the aortic valve and pulmonary valve. They control the

flow as the blood leaves the heart. These valves all work to keep the

blood flowing forward. They open up to let the blood move ahead, then

they close quickly to keep the blood from flowing backward.

 

The heart is monitored by two vital statistics; checking the blood

pressure and the pulse. Your doctor could also do an Echocardiograph

and Electrocardiograph, which are two techniques that provide

detailed information about the heart without causing any discomfort

to the patient. If these procedures do not provide enough

information, exploratory procedures may need to be performed. Cardiac

catheterization and angioplasty are two common methods for exploring

the heart.

 

Heart disease is still the number one killer of both men and women.

Awareness is the first step. Know your cholesterol, blood pressure

and ideal weight. Lower risk factors and prevent early disability,

illness or even death from heart disease or stroke.

 

 

Risk Factors for Heart Disease

 

1. Maintain a Healthy Weight with Exercise Move it! The body was

designed to move, so do not be stationary. Incorporate the right

amount of cardiovascular aerobic exercise to get your heart pumping

and a regular regimen of weight baring exercise and gentle

stretching!

 

2. Eat Heart Health Foods These foods include non meat sources of

protein (grains, tofu, nuts), fish, poultry, lean meat (35-60 grams

per day), skim or low-fat milk, cottage cheese, margarine , non

hydrogenated, that is high in vegetable oils (such as corn,

cottonseed, safflower, sunflower, sesame, or soybean). Also onions,

garlic, chickpeas, fresh vegetables and fruit.

 

3. Check Your Cholesterol Cholesterol is a type of fat that is an

essential nutrient for your body. High levels of saturated fats can

cause an excess of cholesterol to build up in the arteries.

Cholesterol is considered abnormal when the Total cholesterol is 200

or higher. HDL or " good " cholesterol level is less than 40. LDL

or " bad " cholesterol is more than 160.

 

4. Maintain A Normal Blood Pressure Range Those with high blood

pressure are three times more likely to have a heart attack! The

upper (systolic) number represents the pressure while the heart

contracts to pump blood to the body. The lower (diastolic) number

represents the pressure when the heart relaxes between beats. Blood

pressure below 120 over 80 mmHg (millimeters of mercury) is

considered optimal for adults.

 

5. Stop Smoking Period! No ifs, ands or butts! Smoking increases the

risk of heart disease by raising blood pressure, abnormal blood

clotting and hardening of the arteries or Arteriolosclerosis, not to

mention lung disease.

 

6. Control Blood Sugar Levels A normal fasting blood sugar is 100 or

less. A fasting blood sugar of 126 or greater indicates diabetes.

Overweight and too little exercise is what increases the risk of type

2 diabetes. Diabetes can lead to heart disease, stroke, kidney

disease, and even blindness.

 

7. Maintain Lean Body Mass According to The Cleveland Clinic, A BMI

(Body Mass Index) of 40 or more indicates morbid obesity, which

increases a person's risk of death from any cause by 50% to 150%.

 

8. Balance Stress and Emotional Tension The fight or flight reaction

to a stressful situation is normal and important. The constant

bombardment with stressful, over stimulating situations over time,

causes adrenaline levels to rise, becoming chronic and abnormal. This

continues pattern promotes hardening of the arteries and the

formation of blood clots. Drug use, especially the use of cocaine has

been shown to cause heart attacks. Say NO to drugs.

 

9. Work on Anger Management The " Type A Personality " has been

recognized as a definable risk factor. This personality type usually

has higher blood pressure, higher blood cholesterol levels and both

higher and lower levels of certain hormones.

 

10. Know Your Family History Although you can't help heredity, you

can certainly " be aware " of any risk factors that may have been

passed down through your family tree. Especially your immediate

family. Below, you will find a list of family medical history

questions about heart disease.

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac

http://www.peacefulmind.com/heart_health.htm

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spririt

[Guest guest]

Systemic inflammation is now identified as a major risk factor for heart

disease. Fifty percent of people who have heart attacks have what is considered

good cholesterol and many of those have acceptable blood pressure. Inflammation

results when the body is injured whether it is from an infection, heredity, or

other medical conditions that increase inflammation. Inflammation of the

arteries make them more susceptible to irritation and injury thus increasing the

risk of blood clots. Arterial plaque is more likely to attached to arterial

walls affected by inflammation regardless of a person's LDL levels. Rheumatoid

arthritis is now considered a risk factor for heart disease due to inflammation

that occurs. Having C-Reactive protein measured is a way to identify systemic

inflammation and is an inexpensive test. Inflammation can be reduced through

diet, prescription medications, identifying and treating infections, maintaining

good dental health, and with supplements. Omega 3 & 6 fatty acids are helpful

in reducing inflammation.

 

Richard

 

Fear is a natural reaction to moving closer to the truth.

 

---Pema Chödrön