In a study published by ahajournals.org, Robert A. Kloner, MD, PhD, conducted a study to see if there were any correlation between heart attacks and the winter seasons. He found that during a 12-year period there were consistently more deaths from ischemic heart disease during the winter months than the summer. About 1/3 more deaths were recorded in December and January, than June through September in Los Angeles County. His team initially thought that the results could be explained by colder temperatures. But, winter temperatures in Los Angeles are mild compared to other climates. The next thing they took note of were the death rates among November, December, and January. They noticed and increase of death rates around Thanksgiving, which climbed through Christmas and reached its peak at New Years day. Emotional stress and changes in diet during these months is an important factor to consider.
Visit links for the complete article.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Thursday, November 24, 2011
Need a Yummy/Healthy Thanksgiving Recipe?
Cheesy, Guacamole Bean Dip! This recipe is from Alicia Silverstone's book, the kind diet.
It makes a great appetizer or side dish.
2 cups shredded vegan cheddar cheese
1 packet taco seasoning(see note)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread a layer of re fried beans in the bottom of an 8"X8" quart glass baking dish. Pit and peel the avocados, and place in a bowl. Mash the avocados together with the lime juice, and spread on top of the re fried beans. Stir together the sour cream and taco seasoning, and spread over the avocado.
Sprinkle the chilies over the sour cream, and top with a layer of black olives. Add the tomatoes, and sprinkle with the cheese. Heat the dip for 15 to 30 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is a bit melted.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Note: We use Burritos organic taco seasoning, but it does contain a touch of cane sugar. If you're avoiding all white sugar, make your own by combining chili powder, ground cumin, onion powder, hot paprika or cayenne, and salt.
It makes a great appetizer or side dish.What you'll need....
1(16-ounce) can re fried beans
1/2 cup diced mild green chilies, drained
3 large avocados
1/2 cup sliced black olives, or more if you like
3 tablespoons fresh lime juice
5 tomatoes, chopped
2(8-ounce) containers nondairy sour cream 2 cups shredded vegan cheddar cheese
1 packet taco seasoning(see note)
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spread a layer of re fried beans in the bottom of an 8"X8" quart glass baking dish. Pit and peel the avocados, and place in a bowl. Mash the avocados together with the lime juice, and spread on top of the re fried beans. Stir together the sour cream and taco seasoning, and spread over the avocado.
Sprinkle the chilies over the sour cream, and top with a layer of black olives. Add the tomatoes, and sprinkle with the cheese. Heat the dip for 15 to 30 minutes or until heated through and the cheese is a bit melted.
Serve warm or at room temperature.
Note: We use Burritos organic taco seasoning, but it does contain a touch of cane sugar. If you're avoiding all white sugar, make your own by combining chili powder, ground cumin, onion powder, hot paprika or cayenne, and salt.
Wednesday, November 23, 2011
Why Love Handles Are Linked to Heart Disease
Some people gain weight and it goes to their bottom, face, and stomach. But, why is belly fat the most dangerous?
This fat is also called visceral fat. This fat lies inside the abdominal wall and surrounds important organs. This fat is metabolically active, it directly effects your body chemistry. This fat wraps around your liver, which interferes with insulin production and promotes diabetes, which is a strong risk factor for heart disease. Visceral fat also lowers your HDL's(good cholesterol) and raises your LDL's(bad cholesterol). Another reason belly fat is deadly, is because it pumps out hormones and proteins, promoting inflammation, a major contributor to many health problems. When hidden plaque becomes inflamed, it can burst. Platelets and blood-clotting molecules drawn to the site form a plug that can block the artery walls and cause a heart attack.
This fat is also called visceral fat. This fat lies inside the abdominal wall and surrounds important organs. This fat is metabolically active, it directly effects your body chemistry. This fat wraps around your liver, which interferes with insulin production and promotes diabetes, which is a strong risk factor for heart disease. Visceral fat also lowers your HDL's(good cholesterol) and raises your LDL's(bad cholesterol). Another reason belly fat is deadly, is because it pumps out hormones and proteins, promoting inflammation, a major contributor to many health problems. When hidden plaque becomes inflamed, it can burst. Platelets and blood-clotting molecules drawn to the site form a plug that can block the artery walls and cause a heart attack.Tuesday, November 22, 2011
Red Meat and Heart Disease
Below is a study I retrieved from npr.org. It discusses the health problems linked to red meat.
"A lot of research has shown that eating red meat can increase your risk of heart disease and certain cancers, especially colon cancer. Now, a large study suggests that eating a lot of those juicy burgers and steaks may actually shorten your life. NPR's Patti Neighmond looked into what that study means for meat lovers.
PATTI NEIGHMOND: This was a large study, over half a million men and women over the age of 50. They answered questions about specifics of their diet, and then researchers documented who died over the next 10 years.
They found that people who ate the most red meat - that's beef, lamb and pork -were 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease or any type of cancer.
While the study's biggest weakness is that it relied on people's memories of what they'd eaten over the previous year, epidemiologist Michael Thun, with the American Cancer Society, says the findings support what research has found over the last 20 years: Limit the amount of red meat in your diet.
Dr.MICHAEL THUN (Epidemiologist, American Cancer Society): Choose fish, poultry or beans as an alternative. And when you eat meat, eat smaller portions, select leaner cuts, and don't consider it the main course every day or even more than one time a day. Consider it a treat.
NEIGHMOND: Which doesn't mean eliminate all red meat from your diet. While that wouldn't be a bad idea, Thun says it's okay to eat meat but, like so much else, in moderation. A few times a week is probably fine. A few times a month is better. And when you do eat red meat, he says, be careful how you cook it.
Dr.THUN: When you heat meat, and particularly fat, at very high temperatures, you can produce a number of chemical groups that damage DNA.
NEIGHMOND: So the American Cancer Society recommends baking, broiling or poaching instead of frying or grilling. And if you do grill, they say, try microwaving meat first to reduce the fat content, and then put it on the grill.
Another problem the study found: processed meat, meats which are preserved, salted, smoked. The message here is simple, says nutritionist Barry Popkin from the University of North Carolina. Avoid them or at least, cut way back.
Dr.BARRY POPKIN (Nutritionist, University of North Carolina): There are a bunch of people that consume a pepperoni pizza daily or a hot dog a couple times a week, and they need to really cut that down to once a month.
NEIGHMOND: In the study, the women who ate the most red meat were more likely to die from heart disease than men who ate a lot of red meat. Researchers don't know why. Epidemiologist Michael Thun says it's important to remember the risk associated with red meat is a lot less, even in fairly large quantities, than risks that result from other lifestyle choices like, for example, smoking.
Dr.THUN: And smoking, depending on the age at which you're doing it and how long you've done it, is, say, tripling the death rate from all causes.
NEIGHMOND: Compare that tripling of risk, a 300 percent increase in death, to what the study found about red meat, a 30 percent increase.
Dr.THUN: I mean, smoking is in a class by itself, approached only, really, by moderate to severe obesity.
NEIGHMOND: Researchers say the take-home message from the study is clear. When you do eat meat, make it mostly fish or poultry. In the study, people who ate more of these meats had the lowest death rate. Researchers don't know whether that was because something in the white meat was beneficial, like omega-3 fatty acids in fish, for example, or whether eating white meat just meant people ate less red meat. Patti Neighmond, NPR News."
"A lot of research has shown that eating red meat can increase your risk of heart disease and certain cancers, especially colon cancer. Now, a large study suggests that eating a lot of those juicy burgers and steaks may actually shorten your life. NPR's Patti Neighmond looked into what that study means for meat lovers.
PATTI NEIGHMOND: This was a large study, over half a million men and women over the age of 50. They answered questions about specifics of their diet, and then researchers documented who died over the next 10 years.
They found that people who ate the most red meat - that's beef, lamb and pork -were 30 percent more likely to die from heart disease or any type of cancer.
While the study's biggest weakness is that it relied on people's memories of what they'd eaten over the previous year, epidemiologist Michael Thun, with the American Cancer Society, says the findings support what research has found over the last 20 years: Limit the amount of red meat in your diet.
Dr.MICHAEL THUN (Epidemiologist, American Cancer Society): Choose fish, poultry or beans as an alternative. And when you eat meat, eat smaller portions, select leaner cuts, and don't consider it the main course every day or even more than one time a day. Consider it a treat.
NEIGHMOND: Which doesn't mean eliminate all red meat from your diet. While that wouldn't be a bad idea, Thun says it's okay to eat meat but, like so much else, in moderation. A few times a week is probably fine. A few times a month is better. And when you do eat red meat, he says, be careful how you cook it.
Dr.THUN: When you heat meat, and particularly fat, at very high temperatures, you can produce a number of chemical groups that damage DNA.
NEIGHMOND: So the American Cancer Society recommends baking, broiling or poaching instead of frying or grilling. And if you do grill, they say, try microwaving meat first to reduce the fat content, and then put it on the grill.
Another problem the study found: processed meat, meats which are preserved, salted, smoked. The message here is simple, says nutritionist Barry Popkin from the University of North Carolina. Avoid them or at least, cut way back.
Dr.BARRY POPKIN (Nutritionist, University of North Carolina): There are a bunch of people that consume a pepperoni pizza daily or a hot dog a couple times a week, and they need to really cut that down to once a month.
NEIGHMOND: In the study, the women who ate the most red meat were more likely to die from heart disease than men who ate a lot of red meat. Researchers don't know why. Epidemiologist Michael Thun says it's important to remember the risk associated with red meat is a lot less, even in fairly large quantities, than risks that result from other lifestyle choices like, for example, smoking.
Dr.THUN: And smoking, depending on the age at which you're doing it and how long you've done it, is, say, tripling the death rate from all causes.
NEIGHMOND: Compare that tripling of risk, a 300 percent increase in death, to what the study found about red meat, a 30 percent increase.
Dr.THUN: I mean, smoking is in a class by itself, approached only, really, by moderate to severe obesity.
NEIGHMOND: Researchers say the take-home message from the study is clear. When you do eat meat, make it mostly fish or poultry. In the study, people who ate more of these meats had the lowest death rate. Researchers don't know whether that was because something in the white meat was beneficial, like omega-3 fatty acids in fish, for example, or whether eating white meat just meant people ate less red meat. Patti Neighmond, NPR News."
Saturday, November 19, 2011
Laughter Is the Best Medicine
Laughter, along with an active sense of humor, may help protect you against a heart attack, according to a recent study by cardiologists at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore. The study, which is the first to indicate that laughter may help prevent heart disease, found that people with heart disease were 40 percent less likely to laugh in a variety of situations compared to people of the same age without heart disease. "The old saying that 'laughter is the best medicine,' definitely appears to be true when it comes to protecting your heart," says Michael Miller, M.D., director of the Center for Preventive Cardiology at the University of Maryland Medical Center and a professor of medicine at the University of Maryland School of Medicine. "We don't know yet why laughing protects the heart, but we know that mental stress is associated with impairment of the endothelium, the protective barrier lining our blood vessels. This can cause a series of inflammatory reactions that lead to fat and cholesterol build-up in the coronary arteries and ultimately to a heart attack."
In the study, researchers compared the humor responses of 300 people. Half of the participants had either suffered a heart attack or undergone coronary artery bypass surgery. The other 150 did not have heart disease. One questionnaire had a series of multiple-choice answers to find out how much or how little people laughed in certain situations, and the second one used true or false answers to measure anger and hostility.
Miller said that the most significant study finding was that "people with heart disease responded less humorously to everyday life situations." They generally laughed less, even in positive situations, and they displayed more anger and hostility.
"The ability to laugh -- either naturally or as learned behavior -- may have important implications in societies such as the U.S. where heart disease remains the number one killer," says Miller. "We know that exercising, not smoking and eating foods low in saturated fat will reduce the risk of heart disease. Perhaps regular, hearty laughter should be added to the list."
Miller says it may be possible to incorporate laughter into our daily activities, just as we do with other heart-healthy activities, such as taking the stairs instead of the elevator. "We could perhaps read something humorous or watch a funny video and try to find ways to take ourselves less seriously," Miller says. "The recommendation for a healthy heart may one day be exercise, eat right and laugh a few times a day."
Wednesday, November 16, 2011
Know Your Symptoms
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense; however, most heart attacks start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort. Often people affected aren't sure what's wrong and wait too long before getting help. Here are signs that can mean a heart attack is happening:
- Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
- Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
- Shortness of breath. May occur with or without chest discomfort.
- Other signs. These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness.
Tuesday, November 15, 2011
Get a Pet
"For years we have known that psychological stress and anxiety are related to cardiovascular events, particularly heart attacks."
Qureshi said having pets probably helped to relieve stress. The researchers said dogs probably had a similar effect, but there weren't enough dog owners in the study to show this conclusively. Previous research has linked contact with pets to heart benefits, they said.
Qureshi and colleagues extracted data on 4,435 Americans aged 30 to 75, from the second National Health and Nutrition Examination Study that took place from 1976 to 1980. 2,435 of the participants were current or former cat owners, while the remaining 2,000 had never had a cat.
Using the main outcome as death from all causes, including stroke and heart events, the researchers found that over a 10 year follow up period, cat owners showed a 30 per cent lower risk of death from heart attack compared to non cat owners.
Monday, November 14, 2011
Local Miracle Procedure
Delores Davis experienced crippling leg pain on a daily bases. This was the result of advanced peripheral artery disease, an excruciating disorder caused by blocked or narrowed blood vessels in the legs. Within a short time, she had suffered a stroke, had one toe amputated, and undergone several procedures to help restore blood flow to her legs. The pain was only getting worse and her only option seemed to be amputation. Then she started visiting a new cardiologist, Dr. Jihad Mustapha at Metro Heart and Vascular. He is the pioneer of a new procedure that could free her from pain and also, save her limb.
"I had lost all hope. Everyone else said that I would certainly lose my leg. But Dr. Mustapha said he could help me, and he did," said Delores. "My pain is gone! He saved my leg and gave me back my life!"
Here is an excerpt of a question and answer interview with Dr. Mustapha about the new procedure...
"Tell us about the new standard for amputation at your institution."
"We have implemented an amputation prevention program at Metro Health Hospital (Wyoming, MI). All referred patients who are scheduled for amputation are seen within 24 hours of referral. If there is no contraindication, patients will then undergo peripheral angiography with planned intervention within 48 hours. We have found that early revascularization has led to limb preservation in more than 95% of our patients who were previously scheduled for amputation.
Referring physicians are just becoming aware of the new technology and interventional techniques that are available to help this population. Over the past year, we started to receive more and more patients that were already scheduled for amputation or patients that were told that they did not have any other option. I strongly believe that many patients scheduled for amputations can still have their limbs preserved."
"I had lost all hope. Everyone else said that I would certainly lose my leg. But Dr. Mustapha said he could help me, and he did," said Delores. "My pain is gone! He saved my leg and gave me back my life!"
Here is an excerpt of a question and answer interview with Dr. Mustapha about the new procedure...
"Tell us about the new standard for amputation at your institution."
"We have implemented an amputation prevention program at Metro Health Hospital (Wyoming, MI). All referred patients who are scheduled for amputation are seen within 24 hours of referral. If there is no contraindication, patients will then undergo peripheral angiography with planned intervention within 48 hours. We have found that early revascularization has led to limb preservation in more than 95% of our patients who were previously scheduled for amputation.
Referring physicians are just becoming aware of the new technology and interventional techniques that are available to help this population. Over the past year, we started to receive more and more patients that were already scheduled for amputation or patients that were told that they did not have any other option. I strongly believe that many patients scheduled for amputations can still have their limbs preserved."
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Music and Your Body
Research has shown that music has a profound effect on your body and psyche. In fact, there’s a growing field of health care known as music therapy, which uses music to heal. Those who practice music therapy are finding a benefit in using music to help cancer patients, children with ADD, and others, and even hospitals are beginning to use music and music therapy to help with pain management, to help ward off depression, to promote movement, to calm patients, to ease muscle tension, and for many other benefits that music and music therapy can bring. This is not surprising, as music affects the body and mind in many powerful ways. The following are some of effects of music, which help to explain the effectiveness of music therapy:
With all these benefits that music can carry, it's no surprise that music therapy is growing in popularity. Many hospitals are using music therapists for pain management and other uses. Music therapists help with several other issues as well, including stress.
Using Music On Your Own
While music therapy is an important discipline, you can also achieve many benefits from music on your own. Music can be used in daily life for relaxation, to gain energy when feeling drained, for catharsis when dealing with emotional stress, and in other ways as well.
- Brain Waves: Research has shown that music with a strong beat can stimulate brainwaves to resonate in sync with the beat, with faster beats bringing sharper concentration and more alert thinking, and a slower tempo promoting a calm, meditative state. Also, research has found that the change in brainwave activity levels that music can bring can also enable the brain to shift speeds more easily on its own as needed, which means that music can bring lasting benefits to your state of mind, even after you’ve stopped listening.
- Breathing and Heart Rate: With alterations in brainwaves comes changes in other bodily functions. Those governed by the autonomic nervous system, such as breathing and heart rate can also be altered by the changes music can bring. This can mean slower breathing, slower heart rate, and an activation of the relaxation response, among other things. This is why music and music therapy can help counteract or prevent the damaging effects of chronic stress, greatly promoting not only relaxation, but health.
- State of Mind: Music can also be used to bring a more positive state of mind, helping to keep depression and anxiety at bay. This can help prevent the stress response from wreaking havoc on the body, and can help keep creativity and optimism levels higher, bringing many other benefits.
- Other Benefits: Music has also been found to bring many other benefits, such as lowering blood pressure (which can also reduce the risk of stroke and other health problems over time), boost immunity, ease muscle tension, and more. With so many benefits and such profound physical effects, it’s no surprise that so many are seeing music as an important tool to help the body in staying (or becoming) healthy.
With all these benefits that music can carry, it's no surprise that music therapy is growing in popularity. Many hospitals are using music therapists for pain management and other uses. Music therapists help with several other issues as well, including stress.
Using Music On Your Own
While music therapy is an important discipline, you can also achieve many benefits from music on your own. Music can be used in daily life for relaxation, to gain energy when feeling drained, for catharsis when dealing with emotional stress, and in other ways as well.
Monday, November 7, 2011
Bean Chili
I know I just posted a recipe but I love sharing great finds! This is my favorite chili and it is simple/delicious!
1 can Red Kidney Beans
3 medium tomatoes
3 cups baby spinach
1 medium onion
2-3 minced garlic cloves
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp cumin powder
Sprig of cilantro
Heat Olive oil in pot, add onions and garlic for 5 minutes. Now add chopped tomatoes, red kidney beans, baby spinach, cayenne pepper, cumin and 1 cup of water. Bring it to a boil then let simmer for 20 minutes. Stir in some fresh cilantro and serve.3 medium tomatoes
3 cups baby spinach
1 medium onion
2-3 minced garlic cloves
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
1/4 tsp cumin powder
Sprig of cilantro
retrieved recipe from http://www.thecandidadiet.com/
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Non-dairy chocolate peanut butter cups...oh so yummy too!
Saturday, November 5, 2011
Sleep!
Most of us are not getting enough sleep. This plays a huge role in our aging. People who sleep fewer than six hours a night have a 50 percent increased risk of viral infection and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Plus, lck of sleep iaassociated ith mental decline and overeating. A big problem is that most of us don't think a lack of sleep is a big problem. We continue to drudge through our daily lives while bieng tired, caffeine infused, and zoned out. Lack of sleep isn't just making you irritated, it could be killing you. The pineal gland, which is the only endocrine gland that is in contact with the oustide world, senses when were exposed to light. It's known that the pineal gland plays a role in aging because research has shown that putting young pineal glands in old animals helps reverseaging. Mice with new pineals lived 25 percent longer. To live longer and healthy its important to know about the pineal gland because it produces melatonin, which conducts the harmony of your homrones. Melatonin helps lower heart rate and blood pressure, increases immune function and helps decrease stresss by blocking the body's repsone. Plus, it helps regulate sleep. The bottom line? get some sleep.
Friday, November 4, 2011
Bad Genes and Short Telomeres
We have a tendency in our society to blame our own health problems on other people. High cholesterol? I must have got that from all my great aunts who have died from heart disease. NO! This is probably one of the most annoying things I see in health care. Someone eating a fried chicken sandwich with extra bacon and cheese, blaming their heart disease on bad genetics. It's an excuse to keep this person from making difficult changes with their habits. While your genes are important, they don't necessarily determine your destiny. Your genetics make you more or less predisposed to health-related problems. But you can modify and make adjustments to protect yourself from the abnormalities found in your genes. When it comes to your body, here's what we know, primarily through studies of identical twins:your longevity is based one-quarter on your genetics and three-quarters on your behaviors and lifestyle choices. It's not about what genes you have but how you express them. Genes work by manufacturing proteins, but whether or not a specific gene is turned on or off is largely under your control. So, maybe you've been dealt a bad hand of genetics, but that doesn't mean you can't exchange a few cards, or at least change how you play them.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Anger Management
Do the opposite. Research has found that "letting it rip" with anger actually escalates anger and aggression and does nothing to help you resolve the situation. In general, to cope with an emotion, you have to do the opposite. This means to have empathy. Instead of swearing at the person who cute you off, think that maybe there's a reason they did, like they just got a call that there has been a family emergency and need to get to the hospital. It helps to remind yourself that few people are jerks on purpose.
Find your pattern. Keep thought records with no censorship of all the emotions you feel during the day. This helps you identify and find a pattern in the core beliefs that are associated with your anger. Do you get angry at a lack of respect, or wasted time, or insults?
Do push -ups. Somehow, you do have to acknowledge that you are experiencing a physiological response to your anger. Telling yourself to "stay calm" is one of the worst things you can do, because were supposed to act out when we feel threatened and are angry. So act out in a way that doesn't burn bridges, by doing push-ups or stretching or deep breathing. This dissipates the physiological burden of anger.
Choose smart words. Be careful of words like never or always when talking about yourself or someone else. These words are not only inaccurate, they serve to make you feel that your anger is justified and that theres no way to solve the problem. They also alienate and humiliate people who might otherwise be willing to work with you on a solution.
Sunday, October 23, 2011
The Last Heart Attack
Happy Sunday all! There's nothing better than relaxing to a video on our lazy Sundays. Below I'm posting a documentary by CNN, entitled The Last Heart Attack. It documents former President Bill Clinton's old lifestyle habits, to his current habits. It's loaded with information from leading Cardiologists in the country. It also informs you of new tests that are in place to help YOU know what your risk factors are. It's key focus is to show America that we have the potentially to have virtually no more heart attacks, if we eat differently and get the check ups we should. Take a look!
http://www.skinnybliss.com/bill-clintons-vegan-diet-cnn-last-heart-attack-sanjay-gupta-m-d-video.html
http://www.skinnybliss.com/bill-clintons-vegan-diet-cnn-last-heart-attack-sanjay-gupta-m-d-video.html
Saturday, October 22, 2011
Yoga!
A recent study done by researchers at the University of Kansas Hospital took a look at 49 people with an average age of 61, who had atrial fibrillation a condition that increases the risk of stroke and heart failure. During the first three months patients participated in any type of physical activity they chose; in the next three months they joined a supervised yoga program consisting of breathing exercises, yoga postures, meditation, and relaxation 45 minutes a day three days a week.
The participants experienced about half as many episodes of atrial fibrillation when they were practicing yoga than when they weren’t. They also reported improved quality of life and reduced depression.
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Women and Heart disease: quick facts
Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a "man's disease," it is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States, and women account for nearly 50% of heart disease deaths.
In 2007, heart disease was the cause of death in 306,246 females.
Heart disease is often perceived as an "older woman's disease," and it is the leading cause of death among women aged 65 years and older. However, heart disease is the third leading cause of death among women aged 25–44 years and the second leading cause of death among women aged 45–64 years. Remember that many cases of heart disease can be prevented!
In 2007, heart disease was the cause of death in 306,246 females.
Heart disease is often perceived as an "older woman's disease," and it is the leading cause of death among women aged 65 years and older. However, heart disease is the third leading cause of death among women aged 25–44 years and the second leading cause of death among women aged 45–64 years. Remember that many cases of heart disease can be prevented!
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women in the United States. In 2006, 315,930 women died from it.
- Heart disease killed 26% of the women who died in 2006—more than one in every four.
- Although heart disease is sometimes thought of as a "man's disease," around the same number of women and men die each year of heart disease in the United States. Unfortunately, 36% of women did not perceive themselves to be at risk for heart disease in a 2005 survey.
- Heart disease is the leading cause of death for women of most racial/ethnic groups in the United States, including African Americans, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Hispanics, and whites. For Asian American women, heart disease is second only to cancer.
- In 2006, about 6.9% of all white women, 8.8% of black women, and 6.6% of Mexican American women were living with coronary heart disease.
- Almost two-thirds of the women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previous symptoms. Even if you have no symptoms, you may still be at risk for heart disease.
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
5 Medication Free Strategies
I can't speak for everyone; but I know for myself I would rather prevent heart disease, then try and fix it after the damage has been done. Why get ourselves to place where we need a toolbox of medications and a counter filled with bottles to the point of not knowing what were taking and why we're taking it. Here are five things we can all do to help prevent heart disease:
1. Don't smoke OR use tobacco. (Smoking or using tobacco is one of the most significant risk factors for developing heart disease. Chemicals in tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis can ultimately lead to a heart attack.
2. Exercise for 30 minutes on most days of the week.
Physical activity helps you control your weight and can reduce your chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. It also reduces stress, which may be a factor in heart disease.
Try getting at least 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity most days of the week. However, even shorter amounts of exercise offer heart benefits, so if you can't meet those guidelines, don't give up. You can even break up your workout time into 10-minute sessions.
3. Eat a heart-healthy diet.
Eating a special diet called the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan can help protect your heart. Following the DASH diet means eating foods that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt. The diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, which can help protect your heart. Beans, other low-fat sources of protein and certain types of fish also can reduce your risk of heart disease.
Limiting certain fats you eat also is important. Of the types of fat — saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and trans fat — saturated fat and trans fat increase the risk of coronary artery disease by raising blood cholesterol levels.
Major sources of saturated fat include:
Heart-healthy eating isn't all about cutting back, though. Most people need to add more fruits and vegetables to their diet — with a goal of five to 10 servings a day. Eating that many fruits and vegetables can not only help prevent heart disease, but also may help prevent cancer.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. As you put on weight in adulthood, your weight gain is mostly fat rather than muscle. This excess weight can lead to conditions that increase your chances of heart disease — high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
5.Get regular health check-ups.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heart and blood vessels. But without testing for them, you probably won't know whether you have these conditions. Regular screening can tell you what your numbers are and whether you need to take action.
1. Don't smoke OR use tobacco. (Smoking or using tobacco is one of the most significant risk factors for developing heart disease. Chemicals in tobacco can damage your heart and blood vessels, leading to narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis). Atherosclerosis can ultimately lead to a heart attack.
2. Exercise for 30 minutes on most days of the week.
Physical activity helps you control your weight and can reduce your chances of developing other conditions that may put a strain on your heart, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. It also reduces stress, which may be a factor in heart disease.
Try getting at least 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense physical activity most days of the week. However, even shorter amounts of exercise offer heart benefits, so if you can't meet those guidelines, don't give up. You can even break up your workout time into 10-minute sessions.
3. Eat a heart-healthy diet.
Eating a special diet called the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan can help protect your heart. Following the DASH diet means eating foods that are low in fat, cholesterol and salt. The diet is rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products, which can help protect your heart. Beans, other low-fat sources of protein and certain types of fish also can reduce your risk of heart disease.
Limiting certain fats you eat also is important. Of the types of fat — saturated, polyunsaturated, monounsaturated and trans fat — saturated fat and trans fat increase the risk of coronary artery disease by raising blood cholesterol levels.
Major sources of saturated fat include:
- Red meat
- Dairy products
- Coconut and palm oils
- Deep-fried fast foods
- Bakery products
- Packaged snack foods
- Margarines
- Crackers
Heart-healthy eating isn't all about cutting back, though. Most people need to add more fruits and vegetables to their diet — with a goal of five to 10 servings a day. Eating that many fruits and vegetables can not only help prevent heart disease, but also may help prevent cancer.
4. Maintain a healthy weight. As you put on weight in adulthood, your weight gain is mostly fat rather than muscle. This excess weight can lead to conditions that increase your chances of heart disease — high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes.
5.Get regular health check-ups.
High blood pressure and high cholesterol can damage your heart and blood vessels. But without testing for them, you probably won't know whether you have these conditions. Regular screening can tell you what your numbers are and whether you need to take action.
Friday, October 14, 2011
Feed Your Heart
Fruits and vegetables. Many fruits and vegies-specifically red grapes, cranberries, tomatoes, onions, and tomato juice-contain powerful antioxidants called flavonoids and carotenoids. Found in colorful foods, flavonoids and carotenoids are vitamin-like nonessential substances that seem to decrease inflammation by handcuffing those damaging oxygen free radicals and stimulating your body to take them out of your system through urine.
Garlic. While it is still being debated, most doctors believe a clove a day can help thin your blood and lower you blood pressure. If you don't like the taste, you may also take 400 milligrams a day in pill form.
Foods with magnesium. Foods like 100 percent whole-grain breads and cereals, soybeans, lima beans, avocado, beets, and raisins help lower blood pressure and reduce arrhythmia's by dilating the arteries. Get 400 milligrams a day.
Foods with soy protein. Getting 25 grams a day of soy protein in foods like tofu and other soybean products decreases your bad LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels.
Stanols and sterols. Good plant cholesterol in foods like the spread Benecol or Take Control helps your arterial health by displacing the lousy cholesterol in your arteries.
Dark chocolate. Recent studies show that eating dark chocolate may lower blood pressure as effectively as the most common antihypertensive medications and may increase HDL cholesterol and lower LDL cholesterol. Interesting fact: The Kuna Indials, who live on islands near Panama, have little age-related hypertension. They drink More than five cups of flavonoid-rich cocoa a day.
Thursday, October 13, 2011
You CAN undo what's been done.
Don't like surgery? Well if you are not in an emergency situation where you need a bypass or stent put it, you don't need it.
If you just eliminate the behaviors that contributed to your heart disease and replace it with new healthy behaviors, you can reverse your heart disease.
You will need to make exceptional changes to your diet, exercise routines, and ways you manage stress. Dr. Dean Ornish is the man behind this method, writing a book titled "the spectrum."
For more information on ways to reverse heart disease you can follow the link below. This link will also show you where you may purchase Dr. Dean Ornish book.
http://dailyhealthweb.blogspot.com/2010/04/dr-oz-reverse-heart-disease-without.html
If you just eliminate the behaviors that contributed to your heart disease and replace it with new healthy behaviors, you can reverse your heart disease.
You will need to make exceptional changes to your diet, exercise routines, and ways you manage stress. Dr. Dean Ornish is the man behind this method, writing a book titled "the spectrum."
For more information on ways to reverse heart disease you can follow the link below. This link will also show you where you may purchase Dr. Dean Ornish book.
http://dailyhealthweb.blogspot.com/2010/04/dr-oz-reverse-heart-disease-without.html
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Facts and Statistics
Heart Disease is the Number One Cause of Death
About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 had a recurrent attack. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one.
The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. People who have survived a heart attack can also work to reduce their risk of another heart attack or a stroke in the future.
Race of ethnic group % of deaths
African-Americans 25.8
American Indians or Alaska Natives 19.8
Asians or Pacific Islanders 24.6
Hispanics 22.7
Whites 27.5
About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The most common heart disease in the United States is coronary heart disease, which often appears as a heart attack. In 2010, an estimated 785,000 Americans had a new coronary attack, and about 470,000 had a recurrent attack. About every 25 seconds, an American will have a coronary event, and about one every minute will die from one.
The chance of developing coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control factors that put people at greater risk. Additionally, knowing the signs and symptoms of heart attack are crucial to the most positive outcomes after having a heart attack. People who have survived a heart attack can also work to reduce their risk of another heart attack or a stroke in the future.
Race of ethnic group % of deaths
African-Americans 25.8
American Indians or Alaska Natives 19.8
Asians or Pacific Islanders 24.6
Hispanics 22.7
Whites 27.5
Saturday, October 8, 2011
Oatmeal...just do it.
Cholesterol. The difference between the good and the bad; how can we manage?
Knowing your numbers and what they mean is a good start to managing a healthy heart. Too much of the bad when your body doesn't produce enough of the good is where we find trouble. Your liver and other cells in your body create about 75% of cholesterol. The other 25% comes from the food you eat. Cholesterol is only found in animal products(which is why more doctors are pushing for heart patients to eat plant based diets).
Lets get down to numbers. You want your LDL's(low-density lipoprotien) is the "bad" cholesterol. You really want this number to remain below 100, especially for those of us who are at an increased risk of heart disease. 100-129 is near optimal, but anything over that 129 and you will want to consider things you can do differently to lower that number. I recommend starting with diet and exercise modifications before starting on any medications. Getting healthy by our own doings is always more beneficial. The next number we want to look at is our HDL's(high-density lipoprotein) also known as the "good" cholesterol. The reason we like this cholesterol is because it behaves as a cholesterol scavenger, picking up the excess cholesterol in your blood and carrying it back to your liver where it can be broken down. So, the higher your HDL level the lower your LDL level will be, which is what we want! For men and women, the desirable level of HDL's are to be above 60mg.
Two years ago when my levels came back with less than desirable results, I started to modify my diet only slightly. By my next appointment my numbers were right where I wanted them to be. For me, I cut back on the cheese. I was eating a pretty large amount on daily basis so I cut that out completely. Then I just added one thing...oatmeal! No, not the instant oatmeal that is loaded with sugar. Real oatmeal! I thought, ok, if I'm going to eat this stuff, I'm going to do it right. I tried it a few times plain jane and I couldn't handle it; so I started thinking of ways I could sweeten it up. What I came up with? fresh fruit! My favorite way to prepare oatmeal is to add some blueberries and bananas to the mix. This sweetened my bland little breakfast up in a natural and healthy way. If you don't care for those fruit choices try replacing them with fruit of your choice. Give it try!
Knowing your numbers and what they mean is a good start to managing a healthy heart. Too much of the bad when your body doesn't produce enough of the good is where we find trouble. Your liver and other cells in your body create about 75% of cholesterol. The other 25% comes from the food you eat. Cholesterol is only found in animal products(which is why more doctors are pushing for heart patients to eat plant based diets).
Lets get down to numbers. You want your LDL's(low-density lipoprotien) is the "bad" cholesterol. You really want this number to remain below 100, especially for those of us who are at an increased risk of heart disease. 100-129 is near optimal, but anything over that 129 and you will want to consider things you can do differently to lower that number. I recommend starting with diet and exercise modifications before starting on any medications. Getting healthy by our own doings is always more beneficial. The next number we want to look at is our HDL's(high-density lipoprotein) also known as the "good" cholesterol. The reason we like this cholesterol is because it behaves as a cholesterol scavenger, picking up the excess cholesterol in your blood and carrying it back to your liver where it can be broken down. So, the higher your HDL level the lower your LDL level will be, which is what we want! For men and women, the desirable level of HDL's are to be above 60mg.
Two years ago when my levels came back with less than desirable results, I started to modify my diet only slightly. By my next appointment my numbers were right where I wanted them to be. For me, I cut back on the cheese. I was eating a pretty large amount on daily basis so I cut that out completely. Then I just added one thing...oatmeal! No, not the instant oatmeal that is loaded with sugar. Real oatmeal! I thought, ok, if I'm going to eat this stuff, I'm going to do it right. I tried it a few times plain jane and I couldn't handle it; so I started thinking of ways I could sweeten it up. What I came up with? fresh fruit! My favorite way to prepare oatmeal is to add some blueberries and bananas to the mix. This sweetened my bland little breakfast up in a natural and healthy way. If you don't care for those fruit choices try replacing them with fruit of your choice. Give it try!
Friday, October 7, 2011
Just try it!
Monday, October 3, 2011
What is Cardiovascular Disease?
Cardiovascular disease — includes numerous problems, many of which are related to a process called atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This buildup narrows the arteries, making it harder for blood to flow through. If a blood clot forms, it can stop the blood flow. This can cause a heart attack or stroke. A heart attack occurs when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked by a blood clot. If this clot cuts off the blood flow completely, the part of the heart muscle supplied by that artery begins to die. Most people survive their first heart attack and return to their normal lives to enjoy many more years of productive activity. But having a heart attack does mean you have to make some changes. The doctor will advise you of medications and lifestyle changes according to how badly the heart was damaged and what degree of heart disease caused the heart attack.
An ischemic stroke (the most common type) happens when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets blocked, usually from a blood clot. When the blood supply to a part of the brain is shut off, brain cells will die. The result will be the inability to carry out some of the previous functions as before like walking or talking. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel within the brain bursts. The most likely cause is uncontrolled hypertension.
Some effects of stroke are permanent if too many brain cells die after a stroke due to lack of blood and oxygen to the brain. These cells are never replaced. The good news is that some brain cells don't die — they're only temporarily out of order. Injured cells can repair themselves. Over time, as the repair takes place, some body functioning improves. Also, other brain cells may take control of those areas that were injured. In this way, strength may improve, speech may get better and memory may improve. This recovery process is what rehabilitation is all about.
Other Types of Cardiovascular Disease
Heart failure: This doesn't mean that the heart stops beating. Heart failure, sometimes called congestive heart failure, means the heart isn't pumping blood as well as it should. The heart keeps working, but the body's need for blood and oxygen isn't being met. Heart failure can get worse if it's not treated. If your loved one has heart failure, it's very important to follow the doctor's orders.
Arrhythmia: This is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. There are various types of arrhythmia's. The heart can beat too slow, too fast or irregularly. Bradycardia is when the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute. Tachycardia is when the heart rate is more than 100 beats per minute. An arrhythmia can affect how well the heart works. The heart may not be able to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
Heart valve problems: When heart valves don't open enough to allow the blood to flow through as it should, it's called stenosis. When the heart valves don't close properly and allow blood to leak through, it's called regurgitation. When the valve leaflets bulge or prolapse back into the upper chamber, it’s a condition called mitral valve prolapse. When this happens, they may not close properly. This allows blood to flow backward through them.
An ischemic stroke (the most common type) happens when a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets blocked, usually from a blood clot. When the blood supply to a part of the brain is shut off, brain cells will die. The result will be the inability to carry out some of the previous functions as before like walking or talking. A hemorrhagic stroke occurs when a blood vessel within the brain bursts. The most likely cause is uncontrolled hypertension.
Some effects of stroke are permanent if too many brain cells die after a stroke due to lack of blood and oxygen to the brain. These cells are never replaced. The good news is that some brain cells don't die — they're only temporarily out of order. Injured cells can repair themselves. Over time, as the repair takes place, some body functioning improves. Also, other brain cells may take control of those areas that were injured. In this way, strength may improve, speech may get better and memory may improve. This recovery process is what rehabilitation is all about.
Other Types of Cardiovascular Disease
Heart failure: This doesn't mean that the heart stops beating. Heart failure, sometimes called congestive heart failure, means the heart isn't pumping blood as well as it should. The heart keeps working, but the body's need for blood and oxygen isn't being met. Heart failure can get worse if it's not treated. If your loved one has heart failure, it's very important to follow the doctor's orders.
Arrhythmia: This is an abnormal rhythm of the heart. There are various types of arrhythmia's. The heart can beat too slow, too fast or irregularly. Bradycardia is when the heart rate is less than 60 beats per minute. Tachycardia is when the heart rate is more than 100 beats per minute. An arrhythmia can affect how well the heart works. The heart may not be able to pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.
Heart valve problems: When heart valves don't open enough to allow the blood to flow through as it should, it's called stenosis. When the heart valves don't close properly and allow blood to leak through, it's called regurgitation. When the valve leaflets bulge or prolapse back into the upper chamber, it’s a condition called mitral valve prolapse. When this happens, they may not close properly. This allows blood to flow backward through them.
Sunday, October 2, 2011
Greetings!
Greetings all =) What Young at Heart is all about? I'm constantly meeting people who struggle with weight issues, poor dieting habits, and overall unhealthy lifestyles. "I don't know how to be healthy," or "I'm too old to do anything about it now," are the two most common remarks I hear from those who want to take control of their health, but are unsure where to start. I think this speaks for a majority. The second comment is the most upsetting, it's also the most untrue. What is true, is that we live in a society that has taught us to eat by convenience. We need to slow down, tune out the garbage, and eat for our health.
I started changing my own eating habits about five years ago when I became a vegetarian (don't worry, this blog is not intended to turn you into a vegan, tree hugging, hippie...). When I started my path to a healthier lifestyle I had no clue what I was doing. I researched for hours and spent much of my time and money in book stores scoping out the latest cook books. With that said, I know how time consuming it can be and I want you to use this page as your one stop shop. I will make my best effort to post a few times a week, updating you with the latest research, information, and food tips. I want this blog to be a fun/stress free place to visit. So, feel free to post comments, correct me when I'm wrong, and add your own personal tips. This is all about learning, growing and reaching our own personal health goals =)
I'll be back soon
Jess
He who takes medicine and neglects to diet wastes the skill of his doctors. ~Chinese Proverb
http://www.heart.org/
I started changing my own eating habits about five years ago when I became a vegetarian (don't worry, this blog is not intended to turn you into a vegan, tree hugging, hippie...). When I started my path to a healthier lifestyle I had no clue what I was doing. I researched for hours and spent much of my time and money in book stores scoping out the latest cook books. With that said, I know how time consuming it can be and I want you to use this page as your one stop shop. I will make my best effort to post a few times a week, updating you with the latest research, information, and food tips. I want this blog to be a fun/stress free place to visit. So, feel free to post comments, correct me when I'm wrong, and add your own personal tips. This is all about learning, growing and reaching our own personal health goals =)
I'll be back soon
Jess
He who takes medicine and neglects to diet wastes the skill of his doctors. ~Chinese Proverb
http://www.heart.org/
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