Did You Know?

1. Every day the average heart beats (widening and narrowing) to 100,000 times and able to pump approximately 2000 liters of blood. If until the age of 70 years, the human heart will beat 2.5 billion times as much non-stop.
2. Atherosclerosis comes from the Greek, which means athero is clay, and sclerosis, meaning hardening. This term is used to label a process in which a collection of fatty substances, cholesterol, cellular waste, calcium and fat compounds formed on the inside of the artery wall. This formation is often also called plaque. Generally affects the large arteries and medium size. Naturally, hardening of the arteries also occurs when we age.
3. Angina, is a condensation of "angina pectoris" is a Latin language to express pain in the chest. Basically, angina is a feeling pressured, uncomfortable or painful neck, shoulders back, and arms. Angina attacks usually occur for a few minutes and will disappear when we rest and take medicine.
4. Myocardial Infarction, is used to express a heart attack. Is due to blockage of blood flow in one or more branching arteries that supply oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. Termination of oxygen-rich blood flow to the heart muscle can cause permanent damage to the heart muscle. Somewhat different from the pain of angina, heart attack pain will generally last more than 15 minutes and not relieved by rest.
5. PTCA, an abbreviation of Percutaneus Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty, which means; through the skin (percutaneus), in the vessel (transluminal), which related to the blood vessels of the heart (coronary) and blood vessel dilation (angioplasty)
6. PCI, which stands for Coronary Intervention Percutaneus meaningful treatment with stent stenosis.
7. Stenosis, derived from the Greek shorthand which means narrowing. This term describes the narrowing of the arteries by atherosclerosis plaques. Generally, coronary stenosis diagnosed at advanced stages, where the stenosis was 75% reduced blood flow.
8. Restenosis, is a term used to describe the narrowing of the back of a blood vessel, which at that location previously dilaksakan Ballon Angioplasty with stents or installation
9. Drug Eluting stents (DES), is a type of heart stents drug dilapisis surface. Drugs found on the surface of the DES is intended to prevent the emergence of Restenosis.

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Coronary Heart Disease ( Information for Patient)

Causes - Diagnosis - Treatment

The heart's like a pump work consisting of several rooms. Heart organ covered with muscles and with a variety of blood vessels in and out. The flow of blood from the lungs, where blood in the oxygen, flowing into the heart and pumped out to all parts of the body.

When the blood has been sent that contain oxygen to body tissues, they will return to the heart and is pumped back into the lungs.

The heart needs more oxygen to function optimally. But there is blood in the heart of the room itself is not functioning to supply oxygen to the heart muscle.

Special blood vessels in the outer parts of the heart, called coronary arteries, in charge of supplying the oxygen-rich blood and nutrients to the heart muscle to function properly. Three major blood vessels and blood vessels are much smaller this task.

When one or more blood vessels are blocked (usually due to the formation of blood clots in the lumen of blood vessels), blood will not reach the heart muscle at the bottom of the blockage, preventing the supply of oxygen to the heart muscle.

Coronary Heart Disease
Coronary heart disease usually caused by the emergence of "atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), a process in which deposits of fatty material containing cholesterol (plaque) formed along the artery walls. When plaque is formed, blood vessels become narrowed.




The Causes of Coronary Heart Disease
Although Coronary Heart Disease seems to be a part of natural aging on arterial blood vessels, but he'd formed at different speeds on each person, based on a variety of factors as follows:
- High blood pressure
- Blood cholesterol levels are abnormal
- The habit of smoking
- Diabetes
- Men
- Obesity
- Lack of exercise
- Family history with Coronary Heart Disease
Each of these factors can damage blood vessels and / or accelerate the formation of plaque.

Consequences
Narrowing of blood vessels, are not capable of delivering oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is required for activity, and this will lead to a situation that is called angina.

Angina usually occurs after the patient perform physical activity or stress, when the heart muscle must work harder and requires more oxygen, such as:

• Exercising
• Physical activity is more severe
• Eat (fatty and alcoholic beverages)
• Experiencing stress is accompanied by a sudden spike in blood pressure

Angina is not the same as a heart attack, but a symptom of a heart disease in general and occurs when the arteries have narrowed by plaque that is not capable of supplying oxygen to the heart muscle (blood flow is reduced). If the coronary artery becomes blocked total (there was no blood flow), blood flow to the heart muscle will stop, and a heart attack (Myocardial Infarction) can occur, which would cause damage to our heart.

The doctor will perform various tests to diagnose Coronary Heart Disease, through:

• An electrocardiogram (EGG or EKG) that measures the electrical activity of our heart. This test can show a part of the heart muscle that have experienced damage from a heart attack.
• Stress Test, to record the electrical activity when our physical activity and can be the basis of information abgi doctor if part of the heart has been damaged.
• Heart Catheterization (Angiography) is an act performed by a cardiologist in Catheteriazation Lab. This action requires a contrast dye squirted into the arteries that will appear at the time of X-rays emitted. This procedure can show if there has been a blockage or narrowing of heart arteries. So that the doctor can determine what actions should be implemented.

Management of Coronary Heart Disease.
Management of Coronary Heart Penyakti can be done through a combination of lifestyle changes and physical activity, diet, and Action Medical. Nitroglycerin generally be granted if the patient complains of pain arising in the chest, but please note this drug is not intended to treat the blockage itself:
1. Dilation with balloon / balloon dilatation (PTCA)
2. Installation of heart stents (PCI)
3. Arterial vein graft Shortcuts (CABG)
Determining which actions to be taken, based on the general condition of the patient and the level of damage, and the number of blockages that occur in heart arteries.

1. Balloon dilatation (PTCA)
Development of coronary artery heart is invasive measures undertaken to widen a clogged artery. PTCA is the medical term most often used.
At the time of PTCA, a catheter (very small tube, and subtle) is equipped with a balloon diujungnya, will be inserted through a vein (usually in the groin area) and are encouraged to enter into the heart arteries are narrowed. The balloon will be developed gradually, so as to suppress the fat tissue that causes narrowing of blood vessels and arteries dilate.

2. Installation of heart stents (PCI)
Many patients who have been executed with balloon dilation (PTCA) will experience a narrowing of the back or called restenosis, the treated area. Heart stent could reduce the risk of blockage or narrowing again after PTCA.

Heart stent is a cinicin that can be developed and made of metal (non-stainless steel or cobalt-chromium metal). This stent will be attached to a balloon and inserted similar to the action PTCA. When the balloon expanded, a stent will also be widened, and then locked in a blockage and will serve as a permanent buffer. Stent is what will keep narrowing of the arteries that remain open. So a stent in the artery will be permanently, holding the blood vessels so that blood flow to the heart muscle no longer disrupted.


3. Arterial vein graft Shortcuts (CABG)
Arterial vein graft Shortcuts (CABG) surgery is performed for patients with Coronary Heart Disease, to overcome angina and reduce the risk of heart attack.

A vein or artery from another part of the patient's body will be grafted from the aorta to the heart arteries, to be a shortcut blockage caused by atherosclerosis and will increase blood flow to the myocardium (heart muscle)

Reference:
B. Braun Melsungen AG - Germany

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10 Healthy Heart Key Things to avoid Heart Disease

10 Key for Healthy Heart

1. Cholesterol levels should be below 200 mg%
2. LDL try always less than 100 mg%
3. Try triglyceride levels less than 200 mg%
4. HDL always try atas50 mg%
5. Fasting glucose levels less than 120 mg%
6. Glucose 2-hour postprandial (after meal) does not exceed 160 mg%
7. Virgin pressure should not exceed 140 mm Hg for systole and not exceeding 90 mm Hg for diastole.
8. Do not smoke or environmental tobacco smoke.
9. Can be well controlled stress (positive stress)
10. Regular exercise, gradual and measured (preferably a type of flu, such as breathing exercises, sports games, etc.)

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Coronary Heart Disease Treatment

Heart surgery have long known is a coronary artery bypass surgery with the surgical procedure performed to relieve symptoms of chest pain and reduce the risk of death caused deari a heart attack. Performed by moving the arteries or veins from elsewhere in the patient's heart to bypass (bypass) the blood vessels that have refinements to improve coronary blood vessels that supply oxygen to the heart muscles. This operation is usually performed on the heart is stopped while using the Cardiopulmonary machine called Off Pump. Heart disease in adults who require surgery in general is largely due to a process Atherosclerosis of coronary arteries, the arteries responsible for blood circulation of the heart muscles.

Atherosclerosis is a vascular disorder characterized by thickening, loss of elasticity and calcification in the walls of blood vessels that causes decreased blood flow to the heart muscles. Flow blockage of blood vessels is mainly caused by cholesterol build up.

Atherosclerosis blockage due process can be accelerated by the smoking habit, high blood pressure, increased cholesterol and diabetes (diabetes).

Someone will be higher risk for Atherosclerosis occurs when she was aged between 45 to 55 years, or found a family with a history of heart disease.

If the blockage has exceeded 50-70% of the blood vessel opening, the coronary blood flow becomes insufficient to supply the heart muscle with oxygen at the time of patient activity.

At the time the patient will experience symptoms of pain called angina, or chest. However, 25% of the patients sometimes do not feel the chest pain called Silent Angina (chest pain that is hidden). This is dangerous because the patient may experience a heart attack go unnoticed.

According to the AHA (American Heart Association) as many as 427,000 coronary heart surgery performed in the United States in 2004, making this operation a major operation most often committed. For the diagnosis of coronary heart disease may take several investigations such as electrocardiogram (ECG), Stress Test, Exercise Treadmill known, echocardiography, cardiac catheterization Scanning and CT Angiography.

Coronary Heart Disease Treatment
Beberapar treatment for coronary heart disease, including provision of drugs, intervention with catheterization procedures (Balloon & stents) and coronary bypass surgery. Techniques of operations by surgeons from Argentina, DR. Rene Favaloro at Cleveland Clinic (USA) in the late 1960s. When compared with the provision of drugs alone, the action catheterization or bypass surgery is more effective. Bypass surgery techniques but better than the catheterization in patients with blockage of blood vessels that much.

However, with the development of cardiovascular medicine technology by using more recent results were not under the operation.



ACC (American College of Cardiology) / AHA (American Heart Association) Guideline of 2004 provides guidelines for bypass surgery indications as follows:

1. Coronary heart disease is the base of the left coronary artery.
2. Coronary heart disease is about three kororner blood vessels (three vessels)
3. Coronary disease are numerous and widespread (diffuse) are not suitable for treatment with catheterization.

ACC / AHA Guideline Bypass in 2005, adding that bypass surgery is the treatment chosen for patients with high risk such as patients with impaired ventricular function or with diabetes.

What the Heart Surgery?
Because the heart within the chest cavity the heart surgeon will cut the skin on the chest area and cutting the breastbone (median sternotomy). During the bypass surgery procedure is the patient's heartbeat stopped for a moment or operations performed in beating heart is still hanging with the patient's condition. During opearsi paused heartbeat and heart function as a blood pumping machine was taken over by the heart-lung bypass. This machine will replace the function of the heart and lung function during the surgical procedure.



For blood flow to the heart of the previously used konduit disrupted blood vessels that come from the Internal Mamary right and left artery, vein Saphena Magna, radial artery, or of the right artery Gastroepiploica.

Bypass operations include sewing konduit connect with coronary artery beyond the area experiencing ayng narrowing or large arteries of the aorta, except, Mamaria Internal Gastroepiploica Artery and arteries that the other end is already connected from the beginning. This surgical procedure lasted for more than 3 hours. However long the operation depends on how much that will be bypassed. That means that the number of bypass is performed depending of the number of existing blockage in coronary arteries.

After surgery, patients will be treated specially in the room of Cardiac Intensive Care Unit (CICU). If there is no problem, in general, long treatment in CICU is up to 2 days. One day later the patient will be transferred to the regular ward for treatment and rehabilitation of injuries.

Treatment After Coronary Heart Surgery
Wound healing will take 7-14 price, while the sternum will connect again after 6 weeks. Patients should avoid sudden movements like getting up from his seat or bed, raised her hand to avoid exceeding the limit of the head.

Vein taken from the leg will cause the blood flow through the legs back to the heart will cause the foot to be swollen: Patients disaranakan to use stocking socks to reduce swelling. The swelling will be reduced or hilan after 6-8 weeks. Patients can return light activity within one week after surgery, driving a vehicle after 4 weeks and patients can return to work after 6 weeks.
In addition patients are also advised to make lifestyle changes, such as getting used to:
Exercise regularly, avoid eating fatty foods, stop smoking, control blood pressure and blood sugar levels and control blood cholesterol levels.

Bypass Surgery Risk
Overall success rate of bypass surgery is 97%. This number depends on the patient's condition and disease before surgery. The success of the operation will greatly depend on several factors. Risks will increase when the elderly patients (aged 70 years and over), decreased heart function, blockage at the base of the left coronary artery, no diabetes, have chronic lung disease, and there is chronic kidney disease.

Possible Complications
Some complications may occur after heart bypass surgery such as post perfusion syndrome, neurocognitive disorders as related to a heart lung bypass machine. Sternum bone is not united, cardiac infarction due to embolization or lack of blood flow, graft obstruction, renal dysfunction, stroke, wound infection or germs in the body, a thrombus in the veins. Compilation can generally be overcome.

The length of Graft Open
Blood vessels used as bypass graft is called. Graft can be damaged and clogged in a matter of months or years after bypass surgery.
Graft is said to remain open as well if the blockage is still more than 70% diameter.

Patensi (open and functioning) of the graft depends on several factors, including type of graft used, the size of the coronary arteries and the skill of surgeon. Average patensi best obtained when using the internal bypass surgery Artery Mamary still attached to the subclavian artery. Blood vessels smallest average is patensinya radial artery and internal Mamary artery that is not attached to the subclavian artery. This is the same if the origin is Saphena Vena Magna

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Stop Smoking and Alcohol for Prevent Heart Disease

Smoking.

One of the most important things you can do to reduce your risk of heart disease is to stop smoking. Smokers younger than 50 are five times more likely than non-smokers to die of coronary heart disease .

By stopping, you not only lower your risk of heart disease but also help reduce your risk of lung diseases such as cancer and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The key to successful quitting is to pick a method that's right for you. For example, if you're motivated by other people and enjoy their company, you may find encouragement and support by joining a group.

If you prefer to go it alone, you may find it helpful to buy a book or tape. Your GP can prescribe aids such as nicotine replacement therapy or, alternatively, you may benefit from a complementary therapy such as acupuncture.

Drinking.

First the good news: a moderate amount of alcohol can help protect against coronary heart disease.

And the bad? Regular heavy drinking (more than the number of recommended units), or binge drinking, can increase your risk of drink-related heart problems. There's no need to give up alcohol altogether but it's important to drink sensibly.

Always eat when you drink: take a tip from the Mediterranean countries and always have a meal or snack when you drink alcohol.

Know your limits: To reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, don't exceed 1-2 units of alcohol a day. A unit is equal to half a pint of regular strength beer or lager, one small glass of wine or a small (pub measure) of spirits.

Watch your glass size: it's easy to exceed safe limits by using a bigger glass.

Mix and match: if you're at a party or drinking socially, try to have a non-alcoholic drink for every alcoholic drink you consume. Once you've consumed your daily units, drink only soft or non-alcoholic drinks.

This article was last medically reviewed by Dr Trisha Macnair in January 2007.
First published in June 2001.

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Keep Your Heart Health by Diet with Fish.

Fish has achieved health food status due to research that shows eating fish lowers the risk of heart disease. Public health agencies have recommended eating fish for several years. But new research continues to support additional links between diets that include fish and various measures of heart health.

While fish is a healthy source of lean protein, it is the omega-3 fatty acid content of fish, particularly fatty fish like salmon and tuna that is thought to help protect against heart disease. The key to lowering your risk of heart disease with fish seems to be eating enough fish each week to raise your blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids.

A recent study compared the omega-3 fatty acids in the blood of Japanese men living in Japan, Japanese men living in the U.S. and American men living in the U.S. Japanese men living in Japan had twice the blood level of omega-3 fatty acids and the lowest rate of heart disease as the other two groups. In addition, higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids in the Japanese men improved at least one measure of atherosclerosis. This and other studies provide ample evidence that it may be omega-3 fatty acids from fish and seafood that are keeping the rates of heart disease in Japan so low compared with other countries.

The omega-3 fatty acids are richest in fish with the most fat. The American Heart Association recommends that healthy people eat fish at least two times per week and to include fish like salmon, albacore tuna, mackerel, lake trout, herring and sardines. These fatty fish are rich in two of the long chain omega-3 fatty acids associated with lower rates of heart disease.

There are many ways that omega-3 fatty acids might help the heart. They are thought to reduce platelet aggregation and make the blood thinner, reduce triglyceride levels, and prevent arrhythmia. Supplementing the diet with fish or fish oil seems to greatly reduce the chances of having a heart attack. Supplementation is even being considered as a common intervention for people at a very high risk of having a heart attack.

But eating other types of fish can be heart healthy as well. Fish is low in saturated fat and eating fish can help keep levels of dietary saturated fat low and lower your risk of heart disease. And while fatty fish are highest in omega-3 fats, most fish have some of the heart these heart healthy fats. The levels of omega-3 fatty acids also vary with the diet fed to the fish. So, farm raised fish can have a very different fatty acid profile than wild fish of the same species. Because of this variability, a good approach is to eat a different types of fish and to consistently include fatty fish.
A new study compared fatty fish and lean fish for their affects on heart disease risk. While heart disease patients who were placed on a diet that included fatty fish several times per week had higher blood levels of omega-3 fatty acids at the end of the study, blood pressure actually decreased in the patients who ate lean fish several times per week. The effect of eating fish on blood pressure may be due to some other component of fish than omega-3 fatty acids.

What's the best way to gain the heart health benefit of omega-3 fatty acids from fish? Eating fatty fish is the best way. Many research studies support the heart health benefit of eating fish. But if you can't eat fish, don't like fish, or can't eat enough to meet recommendations, supplementing with omega-3 fatty acids or fish oil is a good alternative. Intervention studies have proven some benefit of taking these supplements to reduce the risk of heart disease. Talk with your health care provider if you are considering taking a dietary supplement.

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When you think of clogged arteries, high blood pressure, and heart disease, what do you think of?

If you were asked to name a cause of clogged arteries what would you say? What would come to mind? Probably, cholesterol. Haven't you heard that over and over? Haven’t you heard that high cholesterol, bad cholesterol, leads to high blood pressure and heart disease? Actually, it is a partial truth. There is more information available about the cause of clogged arteries.

What actually starts the process of clogged arteries is a lack of vitamin C or ascorbate. Technically, this is called subclinical scurvy. Tiny cracks form in the arteries due to a lack of ascorbate. The body uses cholesterol to bandage over and patch these cracks. This is a protective measure on the body's part to overcome the existence of these cracks. Otherwise, there would be internal bleeding. So it is not actually the cholesterol that starts the process of clogged arteries, it is the lack of ascorbate that begins the process of plaque being created in the arteries. Plaque is the name given to cholesterol as it builds up to cover the arterial cracks and then hardens in the arteries to form clogged arteries.

What can be done to clean clogged arteries? Give the body ascorbate. The body knows how to clean clogged arteries when given the proper substances. Buffered mineral ascorbates can be used to help heal the clogged arteries. There are other synergistic substances that can be used as well to help clean and restore clogged arteries.

Related articles:
1. Heart Disease Symptoms
2. Heart Disease and Lowering Cholesterol

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Green Tea Benefits for Heart Disease?

Over the last few years, green tea has garnered much attention for the possibility that it has many health benefits. Green tea has been used in Asian cultures for centuries to prevent and treat all sorts of diseases. This, coupled with the lower incidence of many serious diseases in Asian cultures, has led researchers to seriously study the health benefits of green tea.

One of the areas where green tea may have real health benefits is in preventing and treating heart disease. For example, Japanese men have one of the lowest incidences of heart disease in the world, and the Japanese are some of the most faithful drinkers of green tea; often consuming 8-10 cups per day. This information is even more compelling when you consider that nearly 75% of Japanese men smoke.

Green tea has been shown to be effective in lowering LDL cholesterol. In addition, it inhibits the formation of abnormal blood clots. Blood clots, or thrombosis, are the leading cause of heart attacks and strokes. You may find doctors beginning to prescribe green tea in addition to exercise, dietary changes and medications for lowering cholesterol.

In addition to its ability to lower cholesterol and inhibit blood clots, it also appears that the polyphenols in tea prevent the oxidation of low density lipoproteins (ldls). This is the substance that causes arterial plaque. This plaque sticks to your arteries, restricting blood flow to your heart (artherosclerosis). The plaque can also cause blood clots to form. Drinking green tea seems to prevent the buildup and reduce the risk of getting blood clots, too.

There have been a number of studies that have supported the idea that green tea is healthy for the heart. A study from the Center for Preventive Medicine at Kyushu University in Japan showed that among 302 men and 210 women, there was a significant difference in the level of atherosclerosis between the male participants who drank green tea and those who did not.*
The difference was not significant in women. The difference was noticeable in participants who drank as little as 2-3 cups per day, but was even more noticeable in those who drank 4 or more cups per day. This study concluded that green tea may be effective at preventing atherosclerosis, at least in men.

In addition to its preventive properties, there is also evidence that green tea may help patients who already have heart disease. A study from Harvard Medical School showed that tea drinkers among heart attack patients might survive longer than those who drink something else.
In this study, participants who drank at least 14 cups of tea per week were 44 percent less likely to die than those who didn't drink tea; moderate tea drinkers (those who consumed fewer than 14 cups per week) were 28 percent less likely to die for up to four years after than those who didn't drink tea.

Even the Journal of the American Heart Association has come on board. In 2001, they reported that consumption of green tea is likely to be beneficial to patients with heart disease. And, the Journal of Nutrition reported in 2003 that green tea was known to protect against heart disease and lower cholesterol.

Of course, the research will continue, and we will learn more about the benefits of green tea for heart disease and other health issues. One thing seems for sure; green tea does have healthy benefits, primarily due to its powerful anti-oxidants.

Anti-oxidants are one of our bodies' best defense mechanisms because they fight free radicals that are created during the process of converting the food we eat into energy. Left unchecked, free radicals damage our cells and DNA. The cell and DNA damage caused by free radicals cause us to age more quickly, weaken our immune system and make us more susceptible to a host of serious diseases, including cancer.

But, anti-oxidants combat these free radicals, ridding our bodies of them.
Fruits and vegetables, as well as green tea are good anti-oxidant sources, and can help us fight free radicals regularly if we make them a part of our daily life.

It's important to ensure that if you're drinking tea for your health that it is green tea rather than traditional black tea. While black tea is a healthy beverage, it is not as healthy as green tea. This is because black tea goes through a fermentation process that changes the anti-oxidants from their original state. When this happens, some of the health benefits are lost.

So, drink up. Though there is more research to be done it does seem certain that drinking green tea is good for you. With just a few cups of this delicious beverage each day, you may be extending your life and making it healthier, too!

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Heart Disease and Lowering Cholesterol

When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries, causing a process called atherosclerosis, a form of heart disease. The arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack.

How to Lower Your Cholesterol
Cholesterol is a waxy, fat like substance that your body needs to function normally. Cholesterol is naturally present in cell walls or membranes everywhere in the body, including the brain, nerves, muscles, skin, liver, intestines, and heart.

Your body uses cholesterol to produce many hormones, vitamin D, and the bile acids that help to digest fat. It takes only a small amount of cholesterol in the blood to meet these needs. If you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, the excess may be deposited in arteries, including the coronary (heart) arteries, where it contributes to the narrowing and blockages that cause the signs and symptoms of heart disease. Normally all of the colesterol the body need made on liver, but cholesterol also enter to body from food, such as animal-based foods likes milk, eggs, meat. Too much cholesterol in your body is a major risk factor for heart disease.


How Does High Cholesterol Cause Heart Disease?
When there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it builds up in the walls of your arteries, causing a process called atherosclerosis, a form of heart disease. The arteries become narrowed and blood flow to the heart muscle is slowed down or blocked. The blood carries oxygen to the heart, and if enough blood and oxygen cannot reach your heart, you may suffer chest pain. If the blood supply to a portion of the heart is completely cut off by a blockage, the result is a heart attack.

There are two forms of cholesterol:
1. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL or "bad" cholesterol)

• LDLs have litle protein and high levels of cholesterol
• LDL is the main source of artery clogging plaque

2. High-density lipoprotein (HDL or "good" cholesterol).

• HDLs have high level protein and very litle cholesterol
• HDL actually works to clear cholesterol from the blood

Triglycerides are another fat in our bloodstream. Research is now showing that a high levels of triglycerides is also linked to heart disease.


What Are the Symptoms of High Cholesterol?
High cholesterol itself does not cause any symptoms; so many people are unaware that their cholesterol levels are too high. Therefore, it is important to find out what your cholesterol numbers are because lowering cholesterol levels that are too high lessens the risk for developing heart disease and reduces the chance of a heart attack or dying of heart disease, even if you already have it.

What Numbers Should I Look For?
Some recommend that everyone over the age of 20 should get their cholesterol levels measured at least once every 5 years. The test that is performed is a blood test called a lipoprotein profile. That includes:

• Total cholesterol level
• LDL (the "bad" cholesterol)
• HDL (the "good" cholesterol)
• Triglycerides

Here is how to interpret your cholesterol level:
*/ HDL (good) cholesterol protects against heart disease, so higher HDL number is better


What Affects Cholesterol Levels?
A variety of factors can affect your cholesterol levels. They include:

• Diet. Saturated fat, trans fat, and cholesterol in the food you eat increase cholesterol levels. Reducing the amount of saturated fat and trans fats and cholesterol in your diet helps lower your blood cholesterol level. Increasing the amount of fiber and plant derived sterols can also help lower LDL cholesterol.
• Weight. In addition to being a risk factor for heart disease, being overweight can also increase your cholesterol. Losing weight can help lower your LDL, total cholesterol levels, and triglyceride levels, as well as raise your HDL.
• Exercise. Regular exercise can lower LDL cholesterol and raise HDL cholesterol. You should try to be physically active for 30 minutes on most days.
• Age and Gender. As we get older, cholesterol levels rise. Before menopause, women tend to have lower total cholesterol levels than men of the same age. After menopause, however, women's LDL levels tend to rise.
• Heredity. Your genes partly determine how much cholesterol your body makes. High blood cholesterol can run in families.
• Medical conditions. Occasionally a medical condition may cause an elevation of cholesterol levels in the blood. These include hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid gland), liver disease and kidney disease.
• Medications. Some medicines, like steroids and progestins may increase the "bad" cholesterol and decrease the "good" cholesterol.

How Is High Cholesterol Treated?
The main goal in treating high cholesterol is to lower your LDL. To lower cholesterol, eat a heart-healthy diet, exercise regularly, and maintain a healthy weight. Some may also need to take cholesterol lowering drugs.

Doctors determine your "goals" for lowering LDL based on the number of risk factors you have for heart disease.

Major risk factors include: age (men 45 years and older, women 55 years and older), cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, an HDL less than 40 mg/dL, family history of premature heart disease in a male first degree relative less than 55 years and female first degree relative less than 65 years of age.

• If you have 0-1 risk factor for heart disease, you are at low-to-moderate risk. Generally, lifestyle changes are effective in keeping the cholesterol in check.
• If you have 2 or more risk factors for heart disease, you are at moderate risk, depending on what heart disease risk factors you have. Sometimes your doctor will try lifestyle changes, but most people require cholesterol-lowering drugs or drugs to raise HDL plus an appropriate diet and exercise program.
• If you have known heart disease, diabetes, or multiple risk factors, you are at high risk. Most people in this group will require a combination of cholesterol-lowering drugs and lifestyle changes to control their cholesterol levels.

LDL cholesterol goals include the following:

• Category I, Highest Risk (ten-year risk greater than 20%*): your LDL goal is less than 100 mg/dL. For those with a very high risk (those who have had a recent heart attack, those with cardiovascular disease or peripheral artery disease combined with diabetes or poorly controlled risk factors, or those with metabolic syndrome), it may be most effective for the LDL goal to be less than 70 mg/dL.
• Category II, Next Highest Risk (ten-year risk 10-20%*): your LDL goal is less than 130 mg/dL. Your doctor may set your LDL goal at less than 100 mg/dl if your LDL is 100-129.
• Category III, Moderate Risk (ten-year risk less than 10%*): your LDL goal is less than 130 mg/dL. Your doctor may set your LDL goal at less than 100 mg/dl if your LDL is 100-129.
• Category IV, Low Risk (0-1 risk factor*): your LDL goal is less than 160 mg/dL.
• Risk categories are based on the Framingham Heart Study to estimate 10-year risk for coronary heart disease (heart attack and coronary death). It is based on adults aged 20 and older who do not have heart disease or diabetes. The risk factors included in the Framingham calculation are age, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, treatment for high blood pressure, and cigarette smoking.

To reduce your risk for heart disease or keep it low, it is very important to:

• Control any other risk factors you may have, such as high blood pressure and smoking.
• Follow a low saturated fat, low cholesterol eating plan
• Maintain a desirable weight.
• Participate in regular physical activity.
• Begin medication therapy as directed by your physician.

What Drugs Are Used to Treat High Cholesterol?
Cholesterol-lowering drugs include:

• Statins
• Niacin
• Bile-acid resins
• Fibric acid derivatives
• Selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors

Cholesterol-lowering medicine is most effective when combined with a low-cholesterol diet and exercise program.

Statins
Statins block the production of cholesterol in the liver itself. They lower LDL, the "bad" cholesterol, and triglycerides and have a mild effect in raising HDL, the "good" cholesterol. These drugs are the first line of treatment for most people with high cholesterol. Side effects can include intestinal problems, liver damage, and in a few people, muscle tenderness or weakness.
Examples of statins include:

• Altocor
• Crestor
• Lipitor (atorvastatin)
• Lescol (Fluvastatin)
• Mevacor (lovastatin)
• Pravachol (pravastatin)
• Zocor (simvastatin)

Advicor is a combination of a statin and niacin (see below).
Caduet is a new drug that is a combination of a statin (Lipitor or atorvastatin) and a blood pressure-lowering drug called amlodipine (Norvasc). Vytorin is a combination of a statin and a cholesterol absorption inhibitor((simvastatin + ezetimibe).

Niacin
Niacin is a B-complex vitamin. It's found in food, but is also available at high doses by prescription. It lowers LDL cholesterol and raises HDL cholesterol. These drugs also lower elevated triglycerides. The main side effects are flushing, itching, tingling, and headache, yet aspirin can reduce many of these symptoms. However, speak with your doctor first. Niacin or nicotinic acid, includes the brand names Niacor, Niaspan, or Slo-niacin. Over-the-counter preparations include extended-release, timed-release, and controlled-release. Niacin found in dietary supplements should not be used to lower cholesterol. Your doctor or lipid specialist will let you know what type of niacin is best for you.

Bile Acid Sequestrants
These drugs work inside the intestine, where they bind to bile and prevent it from being reabsorbed into the circulatory system. Bile is made largely from cholesterol, so these drugs work by reducing the body's supply of cholesterol, thus lowering total and LDL cholesterol. The most common side effects are constipation, gas, and upset stomach. Examples of bile acid resins include:

• Questran and Questran Light (cholestyramine)
• Colestid (colestipol)
• WelChol (colesevelam)

Fibrates
Fibrates lower triglyceride levels and can increase HDL and lower LDL cholesterol. The mechanism of action is not clear but it is thought that fibrates enhance the breakdown of triglyceride-rich particles and decrease the secretion of certain lipoproteins. In addition, they induce the synthesis of HDL.
Examples of fibrates include:

• Tricor (fenofibrate)
• Lopid (gemfibrozil)
• Lofibra (fenofibrate)

Selective cholesterol absorption inhibitors
Zetia (ezetimibe) works to lower LDL by inhibiting the absorption of cholesterol in the intestines. Vytorin is a newer drug that is a combination of Zetia (ezetimibe) and a statin (simvastatin), and can decrease total and LDL cholesterol and raise HDL levels.
In some cases, patients may be prescribed more than one cholesterol-lowering drug to achieve the desired results.

What Are the Side Effects of Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs?
The side effects of cholesterol-lowering drugs include:

• Muscle aches*
• Abnormal liver function
• Allergic reaction (skin rashes)
• Heartburn
• Dizziness
• Abdominal pain
• Constipation
• Decreased sexual desire
• Memory problems

*/ If you have muscle aches, call your doctor immediately. This could be a sign of a life-threatening condition.

Are There Foods or Other Drugs I Should Avoid While Taking Cholesterol-Lowering Drugs?
Ask your doctor about the other drugs you are taking, including herbals and vitamins, and their impact on cholesterol-lowering drugs. You should not drink grapefruit juice while taking cholesterol-lowering drugs, as it can interfere with the liver's ability to metabolize these medications.

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Information About Cholesterol and Heart Disease

Many of us know what cholesterol and heart disease are. What most of us don't know is that there are arguments whether cholesterol is the main cause of heart disease. Some experts say that cholesterol is one of the main cause of heart disease while there are others who think otherwise.

Experts from the Framingham Heart Study have determined that high blood cholesterol is one of the factors for a coronary heart disease or CHD. The result of their study showed that the ones who have a higher cholesterol level is the most likely he will have a coronary heart disease or CHD. Coronary heart disease is unusual at low cholesterol levels. A connection between high blood cholesterol and heart disease was also confirmed by another group of experts. Their studies showed that lowering the total LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol) levels drastically reduces coronary heart disease. Recently, a series of trials of cholesterol using statin drugs showed that lowering the total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol greatly reduces the chance of experiencing a heart attack, angioplasty (a bypass that requires surgery) and dying of coronary heart disease-related causes.

What are the risk factors that increases the risk of developing heart disease? The risk factors are the condition that one has. Even though some risk factors can be modified some risk factor can not be changed. All in all, the more risk factor that you have the more chances you will be experiencing a heart disease. Here are some of the risk factor that can not be modified:

• Age (55 and above for female while 45 and above for male)
• Family history (parents or sibling who died of a heart disease at the age stated above)

Here are some known risk factors that one can change:

• High total cholesterol and high LDL (bad) cholesterol
• Low HDL (good) cholesterol
• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Diabetes ( the risk of developing a heart disease is high if you are diabetic)
• Physical inactivity
• Obesity or overweight

It is advisable to go to a physician if you are not sure if you have a high blood cholesterol.
Although some expert agree that the high blood cholesterol and heart disease is somewhat connected; there are also a few expert who tend to disagree that too much animal fat or high cholesterol and heart disease go together. They argued that there is no such thing as "bad" or "good" cholesterol. They believe that mental stress, physical activity and change of body weight may influence the level of the blood cholesterol and that a high blood cholesterol is not dangerous but only reflects an unhealthy condition. There lots of factors that some experts disagree with each other. Whatever causes of high cholesterol and heart disease are. The only sure thing is... to live a healthy life.

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Heart Disease Treatment

Heart disease has become the number one cause of premature death in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is also a debilitating malady that disables many people. Heart diseases treatment methods are thus vital for improving the quality of life of people suffering from these illnesses. The most common form of heart diseases is the narrowing or blockages in the coronary arteries - blood vessels that supply the heart itself with blood. Fortunately various forms of treatment are available for many heart diseases.

Treatment Options
Some treatments take the form of prevention rather than cure. There are simple lifestyle adjustments like the cessation of smoking. Smoking cigarettes is a major contributing risk factor for heart disease and treatment options would have to include stopping this habit. It is very important to bear in mind that after a mere three years after smoking is stopped, any risk of heart disease lowers to that of a non-smoker.

It will also be of vital importance for heart treatment to lower blood cholesterol levels. By lowering these levels, the build up of plaque in the coronary arteries is reduced. Cholesterol levels should be kept below 200mg/dL and below 130mg/dL for LDL cholesterol.

Also to be taken into consideration are the problems you might experience with any treatment should you also suffer from ether high blood pressure or diabetes. These conditions need to be under control as both are recognized contributory factors causing heart diseases.

It is possible that you might have to resort to more serious treatment methods if your disease status is of a more serious nature. This route usually means that medication will have to be commenced with immediate effect; perhaps even before a proper diagnosis of your particular type of heart disease is made.

Medical treatment such as pain medication, nitroglycerine taken under the tongue, aspirin and oxygen, where the oxygen is administered via a nose tube or face mask. Aspirin may also be prescribed as it thins the blood and helps prevent clotting. Other drugs may also be given to prevent clotting. The sooner treatment is given the better, as this may preclude the chance of the arteries becoming blocked.

When Heart Disease Requires Surgery
Although heart disease surgery is an option for the treatment of heart problem, it is a very risky procedure. To endure the discomfort of surgery and the relatively long recuperation period are unpleasant consequences of surgery. Heart disease can affect anyone at any stage of life.

Surgery can be performed at any age for people suffering from heart diseases. Such surgery is only resorted to if other methods have failed. People who do not respond to medication or have a rapid decline in their heart condition become candidates for the surgery. There are some instances when surgery is the only method available to repair the heart disease and offers the patient the possibility of good health subsequently. Repeat surgery is needed in some cases and could be for something as simple as ridding the body of extra fluids that might have built up in the chest cavity. But anyone suffering with some form of heart diseases should face the fact that they might require heart disease surgery one day.

Less Invasive Surgery for Heart Diseases
It is not surprising that many people suffering from heart diseases that requires surgery would rather opt for less invasive methods. Heart disease surgery is a major operation and the time needed for recuperation and rehabilitation is extensive. Less invasive techniques involve less pain and scarring as incisions are much smaller and recovery times are much quicker. This kind of heart disease surgery is becoming a routine alternative to the big heart operations.

Less invasive heart disease surgery does not require the entire chest cavity to be opened up since small incisions are used in this less complex form of operation. In addition, there is no need for vessel grafts from the arms or legs and no need for huge equipment like heart lung machines. This type of heart disease surgery also means a shorter stay in hospital and a lesser chance of complications for the patient.

No heart disease treatment should be embarked upon without first consulting your physician or health professional. You can discuss your family history regarding the incidences of heart disease among close family members since in some cases there is a genetic predisposition for heart disease. Your physician will be able to ascertain the incidence of any heart disease after conducting the necessary examinations and tests. If any issues are discovered, they will suggest corrective measures to be taken in the form of a treatment plan. In the meantime, eat healthily, exercise adequately and keep off all vices like smoking and excessive drinking.

Related article: Use Antidepressant for Heart Treatment

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The Usage of Antidepressants for Heart Treatment

It is said that psychology is the first and basic reasons for all occurring diseases and health problems. It means there is very close relationship between mind (psychology) and diseases. And so heart attack or heart disease in the exceptional disease. Every patient of each disease comes under pressure. It is observed that almost 50% patients of heart disease have symptoms of depression. 20% heart patients who suffer from depression can be cured with antidepressants.
While antidepressants can improve mood by boosting the better chemicals in the brain, they do not treat the real cause of the depression. Because of this, decline rates are high once drug treatment is stopped. In difference, the emotional insights and coping skills obtained during therapy can have a more lasting effect on depression.

In other words, antidepressants also play important role for heart patients. It is also come to know that some heart patients would die due to depression at the hospitalization time. This ratio is 2 to 5 times more likely than average to suffer further conditions or to die. Reappearance of cardiovascular is closer to depression than smoking, diabetes, cholesterol, or high blood pressure.
Mind and mood both factors affect the cardiovascular method. The instant reactions of damaging blood vessels, sensation of heart, become constants or even slow if the heart patient is seriously anxious or depressed. Selective antidepressants like serotonin (serotonin reuptake inhibitors SSRI) are very useful for the heart patients. Sometimes such antidepressants can also reduce the future heart problems and save lives.

Heart specialists often prescribe antidepressants that helps to reduce the depression so that they can care themselves better. However, it is difficult to declare effects and reasons in the link between heart disease and depression. Even though the symptoms of both heart disease and depression might be same but the instant study of the case is different. Heart specialist can ask the patients about their depression, stress. At this time patients should provide proper and real information so that doctor could prescribe better antidepressants.

Keep in mind, SSRIs, do not prevent heart attack completely but can definitely reduce the degree of the disease. Antidepressant treats the depression and patient becomes relax and danger can be avoided. Whether to use antidepressants or some other mechanism should use, is determined after studying the case clearly. Many times doctors prescribe SSRIs to reduce the heart attacks only. This is simple and first purposes to prescribe the SSRIs.

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Child Heart Disease

Heart disease is a disorder, which affect the proper functioning of the heart. Child heart disease is common affecting many newborn and older children. This article examines the various child heart diseases and their treatment.

Congenital Heart Disease
Heart disease is a serious ailment and often leads to premature death. Many children can also suffer from heart disease. Child heart disease is actually quite a common worldwide. When a child is born with an existing defect in the heart, it is called congenital heart disease. Congenital heart disease is fairly. It affects almost one percent of all newborn.

Often, the first diagnosis of child heart disease is made during routine examination when the pediatrician detects heart murmur. Heart murmur is the noise that the blood makes as it flows through the heart. Heart murmurs are fairly common in children. It is not necessarily a sign of child heart disease.

If a heart murmur is due to a problem in a child's heart, it is caused either by a hole in the heart, a leaky heart valve, or constricted heart valve. To confirm the diagnosis, an examination by a pediatric cardiologist is necessary. Pediatric specializes in child heart disease.

Abnormalities of the heart may or may not be noticeable at birth. For example, a hole in the heart wall will allows blood to travel from one side to the other. In such case, the baby may have blue lips or fingers. This is one of the signs of child heart disease.

Another example of child heart disease is an abnormal heart valve, which allow blood to flow in the opposite direction. Such a problem will usually require surgery once the child is older.

Congenital heart disease must be treated promptly or it will lead to more serious complications. Hence, early detection is important. Unfortunately, many heart defects are not detected at birth resulting in more damage to the heart and requiring more extensive treatment.

Some forms of congenital heart disease are actually self-healing. However, in many cases, major surgery will be required to rectify the problems.

While there are risks associated with surgery, the chances of full recovery and a normal life are very high. So the situation is not hopeless.

Connection between Premature Infants and Heart Disease
A baby is considered premature if born before 37 weeks. Most premature babies are born with some form of heart problem. A premature infant's organs are also not fully developed, and thus require special care in a nursery or intensive care unit while their organ systems continue growth.

Although there is no sure way to avoid premature labor, one of the most important preventive measures to receive proper prenatal care. Statistics show that proper prenatal care greatly reduces the odds of premature birth and related deaths.

The pregnant mother should also maintain a healthy lifestyle, eat a diet that is rich in fresh fruits and vegetables, keep well hydrated and have at least 30 minutes of exercise each day.

Hereditary Heart Disease
Hereditary heart disease refers to heart disease, which is passed down through genes. It is not preventable. If one has a history of heart disease in the family then one is at risk of hereditary heart disease.

The risk is greater when first-degree relatives, such as your mother, father, brother, sister and so on, have heart disease.

In rare cases, high cholesterol level runs in the family. This is called familial hypercholesterolaemia. It is a genetic problem, which results in exceptionally high level of cholesterol. As a result, there is a high of heart disease.

Hereditary heart disease is caused by various factors. Sometimes, it is merely a pattern of heart disease rather than true hereditary heart disease. These are actually avoidable. For example, the family lifestyle such as poor diet, lack of exercise and smoking. All of these factors contribute to heart disease and can be the start of the chain of hereditary heart disease. In such cases, changing these risk factors will reduce the likelihood of heart disease. This means eating a proper well-balanced diet, getting plenty of exercise, as well as avoids smoking and excessive drinking.
By living a healthy lifestyle, it is possible to reduce the risk of developing heart disease, even if one's genes are predispose to heart disease.

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Heart Disease and Associated Problems

To be told you have heart disease can strike fear into anyone hearing it for the first time, however it's not as bad as it sounds.

In this article I am going to explain some of the terms, causes and remedies associated with heart disease.

Heart disease is a general term used to describe several different conditions, all of which are potentially fatal, but are also treatable and/or preventable.

Heart disease is primarily a disease of lifestyle, and is largely preventable through risk factor awareness and modification.

However it is a serious condition and if ignored it is a major cause for heart attacks (myocardial infarction), congestive heart failure, angina pectoris, stroke, sudden cardiac arrest (SCA), and ischemia (reduced blood flow).

The most common form of heart disease is coronary heart disease, also known as coronary artery disease

CORONARY
Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease, it is caused by a narrowing or clogging of the coronary arteries that supply the heart with oxygen and nutrients.

Coronary artery disease and the resulting reduced blood flow to the heart muscle can lead to other heart problems, such as chest pain (angina) and heart attacks myocardial infarction).

The risk of coronary heart disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control those adverse factors that put people at greater risk for heart disease and heart attacks.

CHOLESTEROL
If you have too much cholesterol in your bloodstream, the excess is deposited in arteries, including the coronary arteries, where it contributes to the narrowing and blockages that cause the signs and symptoms of heart disease.

High levels of the wrong type of cholesterol (LDL) can be life threatening especially because this type of cholesterol has the capability to choke the arteries and thus cause a heart attack.

What happens is that the levels of the lipoprotein, which is made in the liver and in cells lining blood vessels, rise with things that make heart disease more likely, like smoking, obesity, high cholesterol and diabetes.

Conversely the levels fall when patients stop smoking, lose weight and get their cholesterol and diabetes under control.

Cholesterol levels should be less than 5.5. If your cholesterol level is 6.5 mmol/L or greater your risk of heart disease is about 4 times greater than that of a person with a cholesterol level of 4 mmol/L.

The best defense against high cholesterol is simply controlling the risk factors that could lead to coronary artery disease, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, smoking, stress, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and being overweight.

Regular aerobic activities have a good effect on blood vessels and cholesterol.
Dietary aids to lowering cholesterol

1. Reduce cheese intake and/or substitute low fat varieties
2. Choose reduced fat milks
3. Substitute polyunsaturated margarine for butter
4. Choose lean cuts of meat and remove all visible fat
5. Eat skinless chicken, fish or beans
6. Beware of pies, pasties, fish and chips and commercial cakes (hidden fat)
7. Make cakes at home with polyunsaturated fat, cook chips with polyunsaturated or monounsaturated oil
8. Lose weight if overweight.

High blood pressure also causes many other types of cardiovascular disease, such as stroke and heart failure.

ARTERIES
Coronary artery diseases are diseases of the arteries that supply the heart muscle with blood.
If you suffer from CAD it generally means that blood flow through the coronary arteries has become obstructed, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle.

Like any muscle, the heart needs a constant supply of oxygen and nutrients, which are carried to it by the blood in the coronary arteries.

When the coronary arteries become narrowed or clogged by cholesterol and fat deposits (atherosclerosis), the heart cannot get enough and the result is coronary heart disease (CHD).

STROKE
Other cardiovascular diseases include stroke, high blood pressure, angina (chest pain), and rheumatic heart disease. Smoking and uncontrolled high blood pressure are important risk factors for stroke.
Although stroke is highly preventable, certain risk factors such as; family history, age, sex and race can't be controlled.

People with diabetes are also two to four times more likely to die of heart disease and experience stroke.

PREVENTION
Although heart disease is a serious condition that requires constant monitoring, there are many things you can do to reduce your risk for cardiovascular problems and live a full, active life, even if you should suffer a heart attack.

Study results indicate that heart disease is almost twice as likely to develop in inactive people as in those who exercise regularly.

However studies have also shown that after five years of giving up smoking, the risk of developing heart disease is the same as for someone who never smoked.

As well, if you exercise on a regular basis, the chance of your developing heart disease is about half that of people who do no exercise at all.

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How to Live With Heart Disease

The agony of finding out that you may be suffering from some form of heart disease is usually traumatic. Your doctor has just received the laboratory test results for the battery of tests that you have completed during your recent checkup. From what the results indicate, if you do not stop eating all those fatty foods that you love so much, you are going to require bypass surgery very soon. Do not worry that your quality of life will get worse since there are modern treatment plans that get you on to the road of recovery as long as certain lifestyle changes are made.

Living With Heart Disease
The first consideration when living with heart disease is the type of heart problem you are suffering from. Is your doctor tracking your cholesterol levels? Or, is it something a lot more serious? The severity of your heart condition will shed a great deal of light on the kind of lifestyle you can have when living with heart diseases and how it actually affects you.
If the type of heart problem is currently a very mild form, you should be able to keep a lid on it with medication. But for many people in a state of denial, they will refuse to or do not like taking their medication since they would be admitting to the fact that they are living with the disease.
So if you have heart medication to take for your condition and you are too stubborn to take it, understand the consequences of this action. Is it better to take a couple of pills on a daily basis or would you prefer to have to go to the extent of requiring heart surgery? Surely no one wants to undergo heart surgery. So think carefully before rejecting medication. It is a lot easier to deal with than other more complicated treatment methods.
Getting adequate amount of exercise on a regular basis is another facet of living with heart problem. If the heart problem in your case is of the more serious kind, you may not want to overtax yourself. If you sit still all day long you have a higher risk of getting blood clots. So get off your butt and get some exercise. Start with brisk walking over short distances and gradually build up.
There are some more difficult aspects to living with heart disease. One of them is giving up delicious fatty food and desserts. But then again it all boils down to whether or not you would like to prolong your life. There are trade offs in all situations. Nowadays there are so many more options though. Just a few years ago we could not obtain half the low fat option foods that are available today. Not only are they delicious, they are also healthier options.
Your doctor will be able to provide you with information about heart diseases and the Internet has many reputable websites. Some of the heart health websites host forums where you can communicate with other people suffering from the same disease.
Living with heart disease is really just about taking your prescribed medication, ensuring that you eat in a healthy manner and remaining active. With research you will find all the information you ever need to know to manage your condition better.

The Progress Of Heart Disease Research
Due to the debilitating effects of various forms of heart disease, medical technologists around the world are working towards developing more effective treatment methods through heart disease research.The search for knowledge about what heart disease really is and the pursuit of solutions to use to prevent and treat heart disease is extremely vital. There are many companies and organizations that either conduct heart disease research, or support the cause for heart disease research.

Heart Disease Research Organizations
The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease is a non-profit organization established to raise awareness of and find solutions for prevention of stroke and heart disease. Its reach is worldwide and it concerns itself with all types of heart disease and stroke. The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease designs, implements and evaluates projects that educate people with regards to the risk factors for these illnesses and motivates them to practice good habits in the quest for reducing them.
The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease operates from Buffalo General Hospital. There are several full-time and part-time staff members and they make use of contractors who have a background in communications, health care management and computer programming for heart disease research. During the past ten years of their existence the Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease has built a very good reputation.
Another heart disease research organization is the British Heart Foundation. This organization is considered to be the British nation's heart charity. The British Heart Foundation focuses in particular on three very important issues. They invest in pioneering heart disease research, support and care for heart patients and they provide essential information to assist people to reduce their risk of premature death from heart or circulatory related disease.
Harvard Medical School should also be mentioned. It is a center that concentrates its efforts on heart disease research. Harvard Medical School has been in the heart disease research arena for several decades. They have a vast amount to offer in terms of information and education regarding heart disease: what it is, what its causes are, up-to-date research findings and many statistics.
Research into heart diseases is the only solution that will help to clarify heart related diseases throughout the world today. There is always hope that sometime, preferably in the near future, research will show the way to completely avoid heart related diseases for everyone.

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Dispelling Myths About Heart Disease

Misconceptions about cardiovascular diseases -- heart attacks, stroke and high blood pressure -- have existed for many years and have in effect become myths. Most of them stem from factual observations during the early phase of the current global epidemic and have become deeply rooted in the minds of policymakers, health professionals and the public alike. Since these misconceptions adversely influence the allocation of resources and undermine actions to prevent and control cardiovascular diseases, they need to be firmly squashed.

Myth 1: Heart disease is a problem of developed countries
Every year, cardiovascular diseases cause around 15 million deaths in the world (30% of all deaths), and of these about two-thirds occur in developing countries. So the absolute number of deaths from these causes is twice as high in developing countries as in the industrialized world. Over twice as many deaths from stroke occur in developing countries as in industrialized countries; and the numbers of deaths due to heart attacks are equal in poor and rich countries. It is estimated that in China and India combined, which account for half the population of the developing world, between five and six million deaths are caused each year by cardiovascular diseases.

Myth 2: Heart disease is a problem of the rich
All societies include "early adopters" and "late adopters" of lifestyle changes. Early in the heart disease epidemic, affluent people in developing countries had the means and the opportunity to adopt new lifestyles, involving behaviour such as choosing foods rich in fat and calories, buying cars and using tobacco. Since these goods have become affordable for mass consumption "unhealthy" behaviour of this kind has become common across all social classes. Today, affluent people, especially the urban rich, have better access to health information concerning risk factors in the media and they also possess the means to modify their behaviour in favour of a healthier lifestyle (healthy diets, leisure-time physical activity, abstinence from tobacco). They constitute the "early adopters", while the urban poor and rural communities -- with limited access to information and little time or money for "healthy foods" and "fitness clubs" -- lag behind. As a result, risky behaviour develops, and risk factors increase.

Recent studies from Latin America and South-East Asia, where coronary heart disease is particularly common, indicate that many coronary risk factors are more prevalent among those with lower socioeconomic standing and that the poor are, indeed, at higher risk of heart attacks.
In industrialized countries too, where the epidemic began among the urban rich, though some decades earlier than in the developing world, cardiovascular diseases are now more common in the relatively poor. When the worldwide heart disease epidemic fully develops, the poorest countries and the poorest people within society will be the worst affected.

Myth 3: Heart disease is mostly a man's disease
While coronary heart disease is, in general, less common in pre-menopausal women than in men, in many parts of the world it is the most common cause of death in women, even those aged under 65. Heart disease, as well as its risk factors, varies to a surprising degree between populations. For example, women aged 35-64 years in Glasgow, Scotland, and in Belfast, Northern Ireland, have higher heart attack rates than men in some parts of southern Europe, according to a recent WHO study on trends in cardiovascular diseases (the WHO MONICA Project).

Hypertension and stroke are also major problems that affect women. Given the longer life expectancy of women, they contribute increasingly to cardiovascular deaths and disability after the sixth decade. The result is that, over their entire lifespan, women and men are equally affected by heart attacks and stroke -- a fact that has long been neglected by doctors and health professionals, and by women themselves. Furthermore, pregnancy-associated hypertension is an important health problem in the developing world, where it is the major cause of premature birth and perinatal death, and is also responsible for up to one-third of all maternal deaths.

Myth 4: Heart disease is a problem of old age
Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart disease and stroke) and hypertension increase with age. But research in industrialized countries shows that about one-third of heart attacks and one-quarter of strokes occur in people below the age of 65. Many of the deaths due to cardiovascular diseases also occur early, one-quarter of them below the age of 70. In the developing world, the situation is even more marked: up to half of all deaths attributable to heart diseases occur in persons younger than 70; and a great number of working-age adults suffer from these diseases. This has an enormous impact on the economic situation of individuals and families as well as on society as a whole, and hampers efforts to alleviate poverty.

Myth 5: Heart disease is not susceptible to community action
The predominant factors contributing to the risk of cardiovascular diseases appear to be acquired, and to be lifestyle-related rather than genetic. Risk factors can be modified within a "healthy environment" that supports appropriate lifestyle practices, and most cardiovascular diseases are preventable. The prevention of heart diseases in individuals calls for the active promotion of health in populations.

Programmes that combine community mobilization with governmental regulation through taxation, legislation and pricing policies have proved to be effective in controlling tobacco and encouraging healthier diets in numerous industrialized countries. From these experiences, it is clear that community, national and even global action are key elements in combating the advancing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in the developing world. Community mobilization can best be attained through educating the public, patients, professionals and policymakers, based on the advice of health professionals.

Myth 6: Heart disease is no longer a public health issue
There is a widespread mistaken belief that the total burden of cardiovascular diseases is diminishing. Despite declining mortality, heart disease remains the dominant public health problem in industrialized countries. Eastern European countries are at present experiencing the highest mortality rates due to cardiovascular diseases. A major cause for concern is the projected rise of these diseases in developing countries in the next century. It is predicted that by 2020 the number of deaths due to heart attacks and stroke in the developing world will have doubled as compared with 1990.

The reasons for this anticipated acceleration of the epidemic are increasing life expectancy related to a decline in infant mortality, unhealthy lifestyle changes related to industrialization and urbanization, and longer periods of exposure to the risk factors of heart disease because of improved socioeconomic conditions.

The public health consequences of an uncontrolled epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in the developing world would be disastrous. Not only would millions of productive years of life be lost, but the high costs of technology-intensive management of these diseases would impose a heavy financial burden on affected individuals, their families and society as a whole. The global epidemic needs a global response now, in the form of an international effort to create awareness and stimulate action in all countries and all sectors of society.

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Some Tips to Avoid Heart Disease

The human heart's job is to pump nutrient-rich blood throughout your body. If you smoke, take d rugs, or drink alcohol excessively, you are giving your heart extra work. how do you feel when you have too much work to do? Your heart cannot handle too much extra work over a long period of time. Over time, the health of your heart will suffer.

Scientists have proven that smoking doubles your risk of having a herat attack and doubles, triples or quadruples your risk of sudden cardiac eath. each year, over 300,000 Americans die of smoking-related heart disease. There is hope! Former smokers can completely lower their risk of sudden cardiac death within ten years of quitting.

Because they are foreign substances, any drug can affect your heart. With illegal drugs (cocaine, heroin, marijuana, amphetamines, etc.) YOU have to control the effect on your heart. Even a small amount of a drug can be potentially fatal.

While Drinking alcohol in moderation may not pose a risk, drinking excesively does pose a serious hazard to your heart. While alcohol flows in your blood stream, the nutrient-rich blood is less able to nourish the heart. If the alcohol content is excessive, your heart will be in danger.



Everyday heart health tips
Follow some of these tips in your everyday routine to be more active:

• Take the stairs instead of an elevator at school or the mall.
• Park your car at the far end of the parking lot. The short walk to and from the store or school helps your heart.
• If you can, spend a few minutes of your lunch break taking a stroll around the campus grounds, it should help you to stay awak after lunc.
• Think of housework as an extra chance to exercise. Vacuuming briskly can be real workout.
• If you have a dog, think of the dog as an exercise machine with fur. A brisk walk with the dog is good for both of your hearts.

Heart Diet Tips
To control the amount andk ind of fat, saturated fatty acids, and dietary cholesterol you eat:

• Eat no more than 6oz (cooked) per day of lean meat, fish, and skinless poultry.
• Use cooking methods that requrie little or no fat: boil, broil, bake, roast, poach, steam, saute, stir-fry, or microwave.
• Choose skim or 1% fat milk and nonfat or lowfat yogurt and cheeses
• Eat 5 or more servings of fruits or vegetables per day
• Eat 6 or more servings of breads, cereals or grains per day, making 3 of the servings whole grai

Reference: American Heart Association

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