Wednesday, August 29, 2007

Myocardial Stunning - A Weakened Heartbeat After Surgery

Weight-Loss Surgery

Gastric bypass lowers death risk for severely obese

Severely obese people who undergo gastric bypass surgery cut their risk of death from heart disease, cancer and diabetes significantly, a new study has found. Copyright (c) CBC 2007.


Friday, August 24, 2007

Rheumatic Heart Disease Symptoms

A serious medical condition is bad on its own, but when one condition leads to another and two conditions compound one another making the situation even worse is a serious grave situation to be in. Such is the case with rheumatic heart disease as it is a serious heart condition that derives from rheumatic fever, a debilitating condition that has serious effects.

Looking at Rheumatic Heart Disease:

The compounding of two or more conditions on top of each other makes treatment very difficult. It also makes the recovery time difficult and longer. As such, rheumatic heart disease is a complicated and difficult situation to deal with. Keep note that just because the situation is difficult does not mean that the situation is dire.

There are a number of ways in which rheumatic heart disease can be treated and reduced from life threatening level provided certain steps are taken to properly treat the condition. Before understanding how to treat the condition, one needs to understand the symptoms and complexities that define rheumatic heart disease.

Strep Throat* and Rheumatic Heart Disease:

Rheumatic heart disease often derives from strep throat infections. This is a cause for alarm for many people because strep throat, while often avoidable, is a fairly common condition that afflicts many people who do not treat a minor sore throat infection in time.

However, there is no reason to panic if one does contract strep throat as the possibility of contracting rheumatic heart disease from strep throat is rare, although not impossible. In fact, the sheer volume of cases of rheumatic heart disease has decreased drastically since the 1960’s.

Rheumatic Heart Disease and Heart Failure:

If rheumatic fever is contracted and leads to rheumatic heart disease, the condition can be treated in a manner that is much easier than the common treatments for other forms of heart disease. This treatment would include taking cortisteroid anti-inflammatory medication to reverse any potential cardiac problems the fever might induce. This does not rule out the possibility for the requirement for more involved treatment such as surgery, but it does represent the potential for a simple, yet effective treatment. Hopefully, an individual who contracts such a condition can avoid the complicated treatment.

*Strep throat is an acute sore throat caused by the bacterium Streptococcus pyogenes and accompanied by fever and inflammation.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Yoga And Heart Disease

According to the American Heart Association, the leading cause of death for both men and women in United States is Coronary Heart Disease, this heart disease causes approximately 1.5 million heart attacks each year.

Recently, studies have shown that yoga and meditation that aim to improve breathing and blood circulation can reduce blood pressure, regulate heart rhythm and improve the elasticity of the arteries. In short, practicing Yoga is good for the heart.

One of the major causes of heart disease is stress. When we are dealing with a stress situation, the stress hormones get released and these hormones are known to be harmful to our heart and blood vessels. Little stress is okay but extensive recurrent exposure of the stress hormones can lead to a serious heart problem. Yoga exercises promote relaxation of your minds and body, it plays a vital role to reduce the stress hormones and lowers blood pressure.

The way we breathe can strongly influence the heart rhythm. Namaste Yoga is a style of yoga that focuses on using the hands and the third eye to control our breathing. To perform Namaste yoga, you place the hands together at the heart chakra, close to the eyes, and then bow the head. This is considered as being an especially deep form of respect, and Namaste yoga is considered as being one of the most respectful types of yoga.

Click the image below to see a 5 minutes video preview of Namaste Yoga.


While Practicing yoga you will automatically be led to choose a healthier lifestyle, which involves avoiding alcohol, fatty foods, cigarettes, refined sugar and caffeine. This practice of healthier lifestyle will greatly reduce your risk of getting a heart disease.

Sunday, August 19, 2007

Congestive Heart Failure Disease

Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart does not pump enough blood to the other organs in the body. Congestive heart failure can often result from heart disease and narrowed arteries. Rheumatic fever can result in heart valve disease which can result in congestive heart failure and coronary artery disease.

A heart of a patient who suffers from congestive heart failure disease works a lot less efficiently than it should be. This can further cause problems. Symptoms often include swelling and edema, shortness of breath and kidney problems which in turn can lead to unexplained weight gain. High blood pressure and excessive alcohol can also lead to congestive heart failure disease.

A patient may be tested for congestive heart failure disease if they have previously suffered from heart disease, are alcoholic, have a family history of heart problems or display symptoms that are caused by congestive heart failure. There are various examinations that will assist a doctor in diagnosing this heart condition. Treatment should begin immediately, starting with changes in diet and regular exercise. Further treatment should be consulted and assigned by a doctor.

Treating Congestive Heart Failure Disease

Congestive heart failure disease can create a large amount of symptoms and treatment often includes less activity, a modified diet and various drugs.

Drugs like Angiotensin (converting enzyme inhibitors) and vasodilators will expand blood vessels and allow blood to flow easily without becoming blocked or congested. Other drugs like beta blockers improve the ventricle pumps in the heart. Digitalis increases the pumping of the heart while diuretics help the kidneys to remove excess water and salt in the body.

Because congestive heart failure is caused by various diseases and conditions, the treatments can vary. Some may be limited to a certain type of treatment while others require a surgery.

Want to know how to keep your heart healthy without any surgery? Then check out these Healthy Heart Books.

Saturday, August 18, 2007

The Relationship Between Stress and Heart Disease

Most of the present medical literature about the relationship between stress and heart disease refers to the physical stress, however most people when talking about stress are actually relating to the emotional stress. Both kinds of stress can be related to heart disease, although each relates to it in a different way.

Physical Stress and Heart Disease

The physical form of stress is the one that places measurable and reproducible demands on the heart. Physical stress is generally acknowledged as being good for the heart. In fact the lack of physical stress is what constitutes as being a major risk factor for coronary artery disease.

Emotional Stress and Heart Disease

Emotional stress is generally the type of stress that people are talking about when they are referring to stress causing heart disease. So the relationship between emotional stress and heart disease is a dangerous one. With emotional stress, you are not only vulnerable to heart disease but other ailments as well.

There is a great deal of evidence that associates emotional stress with heart disease and early death. The main reason that stress is so likely to cause heart disease is because the surge in adrenaline that is caused by severe emotional stress results in causing the blood to clot more readily, thus greatly increasing the risk of heart attacks and other coronary problems.

What can be Done

If you are interested in learning about what can be done to avoid the negative effects caused by the relationship between stress and heart disease, then one of the first things you should consider is acquiring a healthier lifestyle. This means if you smoke or drink alcohol then you should quit as soon as possible. Also, make sure that you eat a healthy and nutritious diet and get a proper amount of physical activity on a regular basis.

By maintaining a healthy lifestyle, you are not only less likely to suffer from a heart disease but also less vulnerable to other illnesses.

Want to know what it means to be Vibrantly Healthy? Then click the image for more information.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Heart Disease And Exercise

How Exercise can Help to Prevent Heart Disease

It is a well known fact that regular exercise can lower the risks of developing a heart disease. Even a small amount of exercise can improve the chances to a certain extent. In order to be healthy, many health experts advise that we should have a physical activity no less than an hour per day.

But for many people who have busy schedules, going to the gym and spare an hour every day for exercise seems like an impossible task (not to mention the time needed to commute).

If you really can’t spare an hour a day for exercise, try this solution: “Walking To Work”.
Walking can make you healthier both in the long and short term. It is probably the easiest, cheapest and healthiest form of exercise for most people. If you think you can manage to change some of your normal routine, you should try it.

My personal experience: it takes me 45-50 minutes to walk to work from where I stay. I walk to work at least 3 or 4 times a day. I always wear a comfortable shirt when I walk and get changed to my office wears when I reach the office. Sometimes I even walk back after work or after a dinner near my office. This is to ensure that I have at least the minimum amount of exercise per day.

In fact, walking on the street is considered to be more strenuous and more beneficial than walking on a treadmill in a gym. So this type of exercise and anything else you can fit in on a regular basis could help prevent heart disease from developing. Regular exercise will improve your overall health, it can also improve your heart in its functions.

Treatment of Heart Disease Using Exercise

In the past, heart disease often led to a stop in engaging in any form of exercise. Bed rest was often thought to be the best treatment for a patient. However, many patients and doctors now believe that a certain amount of exercise can be the ideal solution for those who suffer from heart disease.

Significant improvements can often be seen in patients who suffer from heart disease that have taken part in a formal exercise program. Patients who suffer from heart disease need not be afraid of exercise as it has been shown to provide a longer and healthier life.

Exercise can help heart disease by improving vascular function and the way the heart works. It can also improve the muscles and give an overall feeling of good health. The advantages of exercise for people who suffer from heart disease are many.

Those who suffer from heart disease and want to begin an exercise routine should discuss the situation with a doctor and get their advice on what are the best options for you. Exercise is very helpful but if it’s over exerted, it could do more harm than good. It is therefore necessary to consult an expert opinion beforehand.

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Hypertensive Heart Disease

Hypertensive heart disease is a more serious and dangerous type of heart disease and it is typically caused by uncontrolled and prolonged high blood pressure. It can lead to a variety of changes in the myocardial structure, coronary vasculature, and conduction system of the heart.

The pathophysiology of hypertensive heart disease is a very complex interplay of various different hemodynamic, structural, neuroendocrine, cellular and molecular factors. Although valvular disease is not known to cause hypertensive heart disease, what is known is that chronic and severe hypertension can cause aortic root dilatation, which can in turn lead to significant aortic insufficiency.

Heart Failure:

Heart failure is a common complication of hypertensive heart disease, and it is frequently unrecognized, partially because of how at the time that heart failure actually develops, the dysfunctioning LV is unable to generate the high blood pressure, which results in obscuring the etiology of the heart failure.

Diastolic Dysfunction:

This is another common complication of hypertensive heart disease, and it is usually but not always accompanied by LVH. There are various factors that are considered as being able to contribute to the development of diastolic dysfunction, and this includes: coexistent coronary artery disease, aging, systolic dysfunction, and structural abnormalities such as fibrosis.

Treatment:

Treatment for hypertensive heart disease is quite complex. There is an option for non-medicinal treatment, which includes dietary sodium restriction, regular moderate exercise, smoking cessation and weight reduction when appropriate. Then there is also the option of medicinal therapy for hypertension, for which the primary goal is to normalize systolic and diastolic blood pressures. A wide variety of medication classes are recommended as an initial therapy for achieving blood pressure control.

As long as you get examined by your doctor regularly and work together with them in order to treat your hypertensive heart disease as best as possible, then you will be able to come out with the most effective and positive results. You just need to remember that even if your heart disease is successfully treated, you should maintain the healthy lifestyle in the future. This means having a healthy and nutritious diet and getting a good balance of physical activity in your daily schedule.

By doing this you will not only prevent your heart problems from returning but you will be able to protect yourself against various other ailments as well. So having a healthy lifestyle will benefit you in many more ways.

Causes Of Coronary Heart Disease

Whenever the walls of blood vessels get affected by a disease, it is known as coronary heart disease, which can easily be prevented from happening by knowing the causes. Such a condition is most noticeable in people that are aged between forty and seventy and the major symptoms are sure to be thickened as well as hardening arteries. When the blood vessels lose their elasticity and the arteries narrow or even get blocked, there are high blood pressure conditions present that, when left untreated, will cause a heart attack and even a stroke.

Diagnosis Is Generally Made Late:
The causes of coronary heart disease may even begin when the patient is in his or her early adolescent years though diagnosis usually takes place much later in his or her life or even after a stroke or heart attack has occured. Thus, if the diagnosis is made early regarding the causes of coronary heart disease, it can lead to an early halt to the development of coronary heart disease, and thus keep the patient from experiencing a medical emergency situation.

The are many things that can cause a coronary heart disease, among them are being obese, smoking, having high blood pressure, being diabetic and not exercising or performing physical activities. In addition, other causes of coronary heart disease include menopause in women, getting on in age, especially after reaching sixty-five years of age and finally, the arterial walls being struck down with infections. Also, men will be more prone to coronary heart disease as compared to women.

There is no doubt the fact that understanding the possible causes of coronary heart disease will be a major step forward in preventing the disease, and not many would argue that prevention is much better than cure. In this regard, people at risk of coronary heart disease should make it a point to have check-ups regularly and also stick to the instructions that doctors provide to them.

Knowing the causes of coronary heart disease can help you in taking preventive measures that include lessening the level of cholesterol in your body, keeping to a proper body weight and also eating healthy foods, and exercise regularly.

Health is a very precious thing that can’t be retrieved once it is lost. A change in lifestyle and proper diet and regular exercises will go a long way in eliminating many of the causes of coronary heart disease, and help a person stay healthy and live longer.

If you feel that you are suffering from coronary heart disease, make sure to get help from a doctor without any delay and get the doctor to understand your condition and provide a proper treatment, this can prevent serious medical conditions from developing.

Want to know what it means to be Vibrantly Healthy? Then read this book: Health Myths Exposed!

Sunday, August 12, 2007

A Guide to Heart Disease Treatment

Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States as well as in other parts of the world, and it is also a major cause of disability. There are many different forms of heart disease, with the most common cause being a narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, which are the blood vessels that work to supply blood to the heart itself.

If you have heart disease then you will need to have some form of heart disease treatment in order to deal with the problem. There are a variety of treatment options that are available.

Heart Disease Treatment Options:

There are some milder and simpler forms of heart disease treatment, many of which can also be a form of prevention, if done before you actually have heart disease. Smoking is a big issue here, and so if you smoke, you must quit. This is one of the first lifestyle changes that you need to do. After three years of not smoking, your risk of heart disease will drop to the level of a nonsmoker.

You also want to lower the cholesterol level in your blood and lowering your cholesterol will work by keeping the plaques from building up in the coronary arteries. Your total cholesterol level should be kept to below 200mg/dL, and your LDL cholesterol level below 130mg/dL.

If you have a problem with blood pressure or diabetes, then you need to make sure that you keep it properly under control, as uncontrolled blood pressure and diabetes are both considered as being major causes of heart disease.

If your heart disease is more serious then most likely you will also have to use more serious methods of heart disease treatment. This includes medical treatment, which will usually be started immediately, even before a definite diagnosis of a heart problem is made.

This medical treatment may include oxygen through a tube in the nose, oxygen through a face mask, nitroglycerin under the tongue, pain medicines, and aspirin. There are also clot dissolving medicines which are often given, and the earlier these drugs are given, the better the chances of opening the blocked artery and protecting the cardiac muscle from further injury.

You should never start any type of treatment for heart disease without speaking to your doctor first, unless it is something that is obviously safe for you to do, such as quit smoking and drinking.

Saturday, August 11, 2007

Heart Disease In Women Is A Leading Cause For Most Fatalities In Women

The facts relating to heart disease in women are quite alarming. Today heart disease in women is the leading cause for their deaths, which leads to the conclusion that for women to live longer, they need to prevent the onset and development of heart diseases by using whatever means are available.

Recognition Of The Problem Often Comes Too Late:

With today improved technologies, there is no doubt that doctors are able to diagnose and treat heart disease much better than in the past. However, most often women who realize that they have heart disease may already in an advanced stage, and thus little can be done to help them. Often, the matter only comes to light after the woman has been struck down by a stroke or has had a heart attack.

The most likely contributing factors to heart disease in women are cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, high blood pressure, being relatively inactive and suffering from diabetes, or being obese. These are all the major risk factors.

Heart disease in women can also come about due to age, effect of menopause, heredity and other factors. Women need to become more knowledgeable about the risk factors that cause heart diseases, and use this knowledge in fighting and avoiding falling into the habits that promote heart diseases in them.

Using her understanding of the facts that leads to heart disease in women, and also taking preventive measures will greatly reduce the high rate of mortality suffered by women as a consequence of heart diseases, and if she uses the right techniques, such a problem can be greatly reduced in women.

Some preventive measures you can take to prevent heart disease are taking vitamins and certain over-the-counter medications such as Sytrinol, Potassium and M.S.M. A product such as Sytrinol has been found effective in keeping the cholesterol levels at low normal, and this is achieved by reduction in triglycerides as well as low low-density lipoprotein levels.

Using M.S.M., women can develop protein in their bodies and keep the connective tissues strong. For more information regarding heart disease in women and the possible treatment and preventive methods, you should consult your doctor or healthcare professionals that can recommend proper means to reduce the chances of having heart disease.

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

Heart Disease Prevention

Heart disease prevention means making changes to a more healthy lifestyle. There is a connection between heart diseases and diabetes. It is a fact that if you happen to have diabetes, your chances of encountering a heart attack will double and in some cases it’s even four times as high. In fact, the numbers that die due to heart diseases also show that diabetes is a major cause of such deaths.

Although certain risk factors such as sex, genetics and also age are not within our control, we can minimize the chances of getting heart disease by adopting a healthy lifestyle and diet.

There is also other means by which heart disease prevention can be practiced, and according to what the American Heart Association suggests, one must control obesity even in children and also make a concerted effort to take proper diet that contains adequate nutrition including consuming fruits, vegetables and whole grains that will help prevent heart diseases.

The best heart disease prevention may not be a single course of action, rather there are many approaches combined into one that will prove to be more effective, and you can choose approaches such as changes in diet, along with regular exercise and also keeping blood sugar levels low as well as taking dietary supplements that are recommended by health experts.

Good heart disease prevention may also mean keeping the blood pressure under control and also having LDL cholesterol at low levels, and the best way to achieve these goals is by making proper changes to diet and even by taking prescription medications if so recommended by the doctor. Obviously, having low blood sugar levels will count as heart disease prevention and so too is the consumption of dietary supplements; especially, if they contain antioxidants and also vitamin B as well as folic acid.

One of the better dietary supplements you may want to consider for heart disease prevention is mangosteen puree that is rich in antioxidants. Mangosteen is not the same as your usual mango and is rich in vitamin B and also folic acid that helps keep homocysteine low, which if they rise will lead to arteriosclerotic disease.

Sunday, August 5, 2007

Living With Heart Disease Doesn't Have To Be Difficult

If a person was diagnosed to have heart disease, the first thing he or she must know is the state or condition of the disease. Are you just on the watch list because your cholesterol is high? Or it’s a more serious heart condition that you suffer? Living with heart disease will depend a lot on the state of your heart condition.

If you have a mild form of heart disease, you may depend on medication in the form of pills to keep your heart problem under control. Taking medication (or heart pills) on a daily basis will be part of living with heart disease. If possible most heart disease sufferers would prefer to take medication rather than heart surgery as the latter has higher risk factor.

Another part of living with heart disease is of course regular exercising. If your heart disease is serious, you should take care not to exert your body too much during the exercise. Taking a slow walk daily is a great exercise for heart disease sufferers. Don’t remain inactive and sitting in one place all the time as that can lead to clots.

Of course another very important aspect of living with heart disease is your diets. Try your best to avoid all fatty foods, choose foods that are fiber rich such as cereals, beans, spinach, sweet corn, carrot, and fruits (such as bananas, apple with skin and oranges).

Living with heart disease is really about taking prescribed medication on a daily basis, eating healthy foods, and staying active without over-exerting yourself of course. Always consult your doctor for more information. You can also get on the Internet and search for “heart disease forums” and join them. Forums are great places for you to learn and share information with people who also suffer from heart disease.

You can also check out the following ebooks that will teach you about heart disease and how to keep your HEART healthy:
  1. How to Prevent and Even Reverse HEART DISEASE Without Drugs or Surgery.

  2. Heart Secrets Revealed - How to Save Your Life from Cardiovascular Disease Without Drugs & Surgery.

Thursday, August 2, 2007

How Do You Get Diagnosed with Heart Disease

How do you get heart disease? This is a very important question to ask… Understanding and be aware of heart disease is the first step to fight against such diseases. Everyone should be concerned with heart disease and discuss with their doctors just how do you get heart disease and how do you treat it. But some doctors are not willing to examine patients for diseases unless there are certain situations such as a family history or lifestyle choices.

High blood pressure, loss of breath, hereditary circumstances, heavy smoking or drinking, obesity, high cholesterol, inactivity and diabetes could all lead to a patient being tested for heart disease through their own request or because of a doctor’s personal opinion. When these tests are run, the patient can then be diagnosed with heart disease if this is what has developed. Diagnosis is based on certain examinations and the doctor must then ascertain the type of treatment that should begin.

There are many things that can lead to heart diseases such as high blood pressure, hereditary circumstances, heavy smoking or drinking, obesity, high cholesterol, inactivity and diabetes.

How Do You Get Heart Disease Treatment:

When a person was first diagnosed with heart disease, he/she will normally be advised on the most natural type of treatments such as adopting a healthier lifestyle by taking frequent exercise, eating good food and avoiding alcohol and cigarettes. The next treatment will more than likely involve medications. This can be a variety of different types medication all aimed at specific problems to do with the heart.

The type of treatment for any heart disease should be discussed with a doctor but most of the medications will be available on prescription. If the medication does not seem to be working for the patient or if their condition deteriorates, surgery may be necessary. There are a wide range of surgery types that can be performed and many of them are less invasive than in the past times so the patient should have a quick recovery time.

If you are interested to learn how to keep your HEART healthy, check out the following two credible resources...
  1. How to Prevent and Even Reverse HEART DISEASE Without Drugs or Surgery.

  2. Heart Secrets Revealed - How to Save Your Life from Cardiovascular Disease Without Drugs & Surgery.