0 Positive outlook reduction in cardiac events such as heart attacks

People with cheerful temperaments are significantly less likely to suffer a coronary event such as a heart attack or sudden cardiac death, new Johns Hopkins research suggests.

Previous research has shown that depressed and anxious people are more likely to have heart attacks and to die from them than those whose dispositions are sunnier. But the Johns Hopkins researchers say their study shows that a general sense of well-being — feeling cheerful, relaxed, energetic and satisfied with life — actually reduces the chances of a heart attack.

A report on the research is published in the American Journal of Cardiology.

"If you are by nature a cheerful person and look on the bright side of things, you are more likely to be protected from cardiac events," says study leader Lisa R. Yanek, M.P.H., an assistant professor in the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "A happier temperament has an actual effect on disease and you may be healthier as a result."

Yanek cautioned that cheerful personalities are likely part of the temperament we are born with, not something we can easily change. While some have suggested its possible that people lucky enough to have such a trait are also more likely to take better care of themselves and have more energy to do so, Yanek says her research shows that people with higher levels of well-being still had many risk factors for coronary disease but had fewer serious heart events.

She emphasized that the mechanisms behind the protective effect of positive well-being remain unclear. She also noted that her research offers insights into the interactions between mind and body, and could yield clues to those mechanisms in the future.

For the study, Yanek and her colleagues first looked at data from GeneSTAR (Genetic Study of Atherosclerosis Risk), a 25-year Johns Hopkins project sponsored by the National Institutes of Health to determine the roots of heart disease in people with a family history of coronary disease. They analyzed information gathered from 1,483 healthy siblings of people who had coronary events before the age of 60 and who were followed for five to 25 years. Siblings of people with early-onset coronary artery disease (CAD) are twice as likely of developing it themselves.

Among other things, study participants filled out well-being surveys and received a score, on a scale of 0 to 110, which gauged cheerful mood, level of concern about health, whether they were relaxed as opposed to anxious, energy level and life satisfaction. Over the course of an average 12-year follow-up, the researchers documented 208 coronary events — heart attacks, sudden cardiac death, acute coronary syndrome, and the need for stents or bypass surgery — in the sibling group.

The researchers found that participants positive well-being was associated with a one-third reduction in coronary events; among those deemed at the highest risk for a coronary event, there was nearly a 50 percent reduction. The findings took into account other heart disease risk factors such as age, smoking, diabetes, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure.

To validate their result, the researchers then looked at similar information in a general population using data from 5,992 participants in the first National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). In this population, over an average 16-year follow-up, there were 1,226 coronary events (20.5 percent). They found that this group also benefitted from a cheerful temperament, which reduced their risk of a coronary event by 13 percent.

The findings held whether the participants were white or African-American, men or women.

0 Exposure to Traffic Linked to Heart Attack

In June I posted an article that cited research describing how exposure to traffic and air pollution was especially unhealthful for people with diabetes:

Another Reason to Clean the Air

Heres a related study that appeared in the New England Journal of Medicine last October. It found that exposure to traffic just about tripled their subjects risk for heart attack within an hour.

Time spent in cars, motorcycles, bicycles, or on public transportation consistently increased the risk for heart attack. Again, people with diabetes were found to be more susceptible.

It may not be possible to change your commuting routine. But in light of research that suggests traffic and poor air quality can compromise cardiovascular health, coupled with the recent need for energy conservation, it may be wise to consolidate errands and limit trips when you can.

Also, as one commenter said:

"We cant avoid all pollution, but sufficient use of antioxidants and a healthy diet with proper exercise should help."

________
For a summary of the study:
Sitting in Traffic Ups Risk of Heart Attack

For the study itself (abstract only, subscription required for full article):
Exposure to Traffic and the Onset of Myocardial Infarction

0 Today is World Heart Day

Visit the World Heart Days site for news and activities in your region. (They have a section on diabetes that includes a number of recent news articles.)

The World Health Organization (WHO), a major sponsor of World Heart Day, is warning that the rapid increase in weight seen globally forecasts a daunting burden in caring for chronic diseases linked to weight. They estimate there are a billion people worldwide who are currently overweight; and they predict that number to rise by 50% over the next 10 years if trends continue.

Overweight and obesity are risk factors for many chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes.

Yet, according to Dr. Robert Beaglehole, WHO Director of Chronic Diseases and Health Promotion, many chronic diseases attributable to weight are preventable:

"Approximately 80% of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes, and 40% of cancer could be avoided through healthy diet, regular physical activity and avoidance of tobacco use."

One method of determining overweight or obesity is by assessment of a persons Body Mass Index (BMI).

BMI Categories:
Overweight is a BMI ≥ 25
Obesity is a BMI ≥ 30

Do you know your BMI?

If not, you can calculate it here. Just enter your height and weight.

________
Links:

World Heart Day - Sunday, September 25

The World Health Organization Warns of the Rising Threat of Heart Disease and Stroke as Overweight and Obesity Rapidly Increase

National Institutes of Health - BMI Calculator

0 Vitamin D deficiency increases risk of heart disease

New research from the University of Copenhagen and Copenhagen University Hospital shows that low levels of vitamin D are associated with a markedly higher risk of heart attack and early death. The study involved more than 10,000 Danes and has been published in the well-reputed American journal Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.

Vitamin D deficiency has traditionally been linked with poor bone health. However, the results from several population studies indicate that a low level of this important vitamin may also be linked to a higher risk of ischemic heart disease, a designation that covers heart attack, coronary arteriosclerosis and angina. Other studies show that vitamin D deficiency may increase blood pressure, and it is well known that high blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack.

"We have now examined the association between a low level of vitamin D and ischemic heart disease and death in the largest study to date. We observed that low levels of vitamin D compared to optimal levels are linked to 40% higher risk of ischemic heart disease, 64% higher risk of heart attack, 57% higher risk of early death, and to no less than 81% higher risk of death from heart disease," says Dr. Peter Brøndum-Jacobsen, Clinical Biochemical Department, Copenhagen University Hospital.

The scientists have compared the 5% lowest levels of vitamin D (less than 15 nanomol vitamin per litre serum) with the 50% highest levels (more than 50 nanomol vitamin per litre serum). In Denmark, it is currently recommended to have a vitamin D status of at least 50 nanomol vitamin per litre serum.

The higher risks are visible, even after adjustment for several factors that can influence the level of vitamin D and the risk of disease and death. This is one of the methods scientists use to avoid bias.

Blood samples from more than 10,000 Danes
The population study that forms the basis for this scientific investigation is the Copenhagen City Heart Study, where levels of vitamin D were measured in blood samples from 1981-1983. Participants were then followed in the nationwide Danish registries up to the present.

"With this type of population study, we are unable to say anything definitive about a possible causal relationship. But we can ascertain that there is a strong statistical correlation between a low level of vitamin D and high risk of heart disease and early death. The explanation may be that a low level of vitamin D directly leads to heart disease and death. However, it is also possible that vitamin deficiency is a marker for poor health generally," says Børge Nordestgaard, clinical professor at the Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen and senior physician at Copenhagen University Hospital.

Long-term goal is prevention
The scientists are now working to determine whether the connection between a low level of vitamin D and the risk of heart disease is a genuine causal relationship.

If this is the case, it will potentially have a massive influence on the health of the world population. Heart disease is the most common cause of adult death in the world according to the World Health Organization (WHO), which estimates that at least 17 million people die every year from heart disease.

"The cheapest and easiest way to get enough vitamin D is to let the sun shine on your skin at regular intervals. There is plenty of evidence that sunshine is good, but it is also important to avoid getting sunburned, which increases the risk of skin cancer. Diet with a good supply of vitamin D is also good, but it has not been proven that vitamin D as a dietary supplement prevents heart disease and death," says Børge Nordestgaard.

0 Healthy diet may help prevent recurrent heart attacks strokes

If you have cardiovascular disease, a heart-healthy diet may help protect you from recurrent heart attacks and strokes, according to new research in the American Heart Association journal Circulation.

"At times, patients dont think they need to follow a healthy diet since their medications have already lowered their blood pressure and cholesterol — that is wrong," said Mahshid Dehghan, Ph.D., study author and a nutritionist at the Population Health Research Institute, McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. "Dietary modification has benefits in addition to those seen with aspirin, angiotensin modulators, lipid-lowering agents and beta blockers."

For the study, 31,546 adults (average age 66.5) with cardiovascular disease or end organ damage were asked how often they consumed milk, vegetables, fruits, grains, fish, meat and poultry in the past 12 months. They were also asked about lifestyle choices such as alcohol consumption, smoking and exercise. Total scores were determined by daily fruits, vegetables, grains and milk consumed and the ratio of fish to meats consumed.

During a follow-up of nearly five years, participants experienced 5,190 cardiovascular events.

Researchers found those who ate a heart-healthy diet had a:

35 percent reduction in risk for cardiovascular death;
14 percent reduction in risk for new heart attacks;
28 percent reduction in risk for congestive heart failure; and
19 percent reduction in risk for stroke.
Food habits in different regions of the world varied considerably; however, a healthy diet was associated with prevention of recurrent cardiovascular disease throughout the world in countries with different economic levels, Dehghan said.

A diet rich in vegetables and fruits with a higher ratio of fish to meats appeared to be more beneficial for preventing heart disease than for preventing cancer, fractures or injury.

"Physicians should advise their high-risk patients to improve their diet and eat more vegetables, fruits, grains and fish," Dehghan said. "This could substantially reduce cardiovascular recurrence beyond drug therapy alone and save lives globally."

0 Magnesium Essential to Heart Health Lowers Blood Sugar

(Article first published as Magnesium Slashes Heart Attack Risk, Helps Prevent Diabetes on Technorati.)

Magnesium is one of the most common elemental minerals in the human body yet experts believe that more than 90% of adults are deficient, placing them at extreme risk of sudden death from a heart attack and developing diabetes. Hundreds of biochemical functions that drive energy metabolism and DNA repair are fueled by magnesium.

We rely on eating vegetables and other natural foods grown in magnesium rich soils as our source of this vital mineral. Most people don’t eat enough fresh vegetables to supply adequate magnesium while poor farming practices have depleted the mineral from most commercially grown crops. You can ensure that you receive magnesium though diet and supplementation to stave off heart disease and metabolic dysfunction.

Magnesium Deficiency Linked with Diabetes

Magnesium is used by hundreds of enzymes in our body to regulate blood sugar metabolism. The mineral is known to dampen the flames of inflammation that interferes with healthy blood sugar and can lead to insulin resistance. The results of a study published in the journal Biologic Trace Elements Research shows that as magnesium levels in the blood increase, the risk of Type II diabetes declines in a corresponding fashion. By boosting levels of fat storage hormones such as adiponectin, magnesium plays a critical role in protecting metabolic function and lowering risk of diabetes.

Magnesium Protects Against Sudden Cardiac Death

Sudden cardiac death is a leading cause of heart-related deaths among those 40 and older. More than 250,000 people die each year for this preventable condition. Research that was part of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study demonstrates that those individuals with the highest magnesium in blood circulation had a 40% lower risk of dying from a heart attack as those with the lowest levels.

Magnesium is necessary to relax blood vessels and arteries while maintaining normal blood pressure. Further research has demonstrated the effect of magnesium on dangerous plaque formation. Low levels of magnesium are associated with the development of foamy plaque on the inner lining of the coronary arteries as well as thickening of the artery walls. High levels of magnesium were shown to decrease arterial wall thickness by 42%.

Magnesium from Diet or Supplements

The typical diet of ined foods does not supply sufficient amounts of magnesium to counteract disease. Manufacturers process out most of the nutrients necessary for health and are a poor choice to optimize health. Good sources of magnesium are nuts, seeds and beans in their natural state as well as organically grown vegetables and leafy greens. Most people will need to supplements to reach the daily intake of 400 mg recommended by experts.

Magnesium levels are grossly deficient due to mineral depletion from soils and a diet of synthetically produced foods. It`s no coincidence that humans have evolved to be reliant on a natural mineral to prevent heart disease and metabolic dysfunction. Magnesium has been plentiful in our food for generations and must be consumed as part of a natural diet or through supplementation to ensure optimal health.

0 Eight Daily Servings of Fruits and Vegetables Slash Heart Disease Risk

Researchers publishing in the European Heart Journal have released the result of a study examining the diet of more than 300,000 men and women from eight European countries. They found that those individuals eating the most fruits and vegetable servings per day experienced the lowest level of ischemic heart disease (IHD), the most common form of the illness.

Ischemic heart disease is characterized by a reduced blood supply to the heart due to narrowed vessels from coronary plaque or chronic levels of inflammation that constrict blood flow. The end result is a greatly increased risk of heart attack as blood flow to the critical organ is shut off.

Eight Servings of Fruits and Vegetables Shown to Lower Chronic Disease Risks

Data from this research comes from the long-running European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study that began in 1992. An analysis shows that people eating at least eight servings of fresh fruits and vegetables each day have a 22% lower risk of dying from IHD compared to those taking less than three daily servings. A serving is defined as approximately 80 grams or the equivalent of a small banana or medium apple.

Dietary analysis was determined by using a standard questionnaire, and factors including health, socio-economic status, and lifestyle, as well as smoking, drinking and exercise habits were taken into account. Dr. Francesca Crowe of the University of Oxford in England observed “This study involved over 300,000 people in eight different European countries, with 1,636 deaths from IHD. It shows a 4% reduced risk of dying from IHD for each additional portion of fruit and vegetables consumed.”

Natural Food Diet Lowers Heart Disease Risk by Nearly One-Quarter

In an effort to better understand the result of data collected over the eight and a half year course of this leg of the study, researchers made allowances for external factors such as differences in lifestyle and eating habits. The researchers did caution that people tend to report a higher intake of fruits and vegetables when completing questionnaires and that may skew the results slightly in either direction.

The final analysis of this leg of the EPIC study provides conclusive evidence that increased consumption of fruits and vegetables have a consistent and measurable impact on the risk of death from a heart attack. Professor Michael Marmot, director of the University College London in an accompanying editorial explains, “Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death. A reduction of 22% is huge. Reductions in cancers of several sites, in blood pressure and stroke, would add to this reduction in fatal CHD. Moving to a diet that emphasizes fruit and vegetables is of great importance to public health.”

The association between lowered heart attack risk and increased consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is well known among health-minded people. The ongoing results from the EPIC study continue to reinforce the importance of a diet high in natural foods to maintain health and lower the risk from ischemic heart disease.

0 How to Lower Risk of Heart Disease by 85

(Article first published as Top Tips to Lower Risk of Heart Disease by 85% on Technorati.)

Nearly 1,000,000 Americans will succumb to heart disease this year, with millions more living a reduced quality of life in fear of death from a heart attack. Heart disease is largely a lifestyle condition that is the result of years and decades of poor diet and lifestyle habits that deteriorate the delicate vascular system. The end result is a decline in physical function as atherosclerosis weakens the ability of the heart to pump efficiently.

Study Identifies Top Strategies to Prevent Heart Disease

Researchers from Scotland identified five critical lifestyle factors that contribute to the development and progression of heart disease. The result of their study was published in the journal Archives of Internal Medicine and shows that those individuals with just one poor lifestyle habit were 85% more likely to die from a heart attack over a 20 year follow up period. Those with 4 poor habits were 349% more likely to die during the same period. The study authors identified the following modifiable factors as being most important to prevent heart disease.

1. Avoid Tobacco and Smoking: Smoking is widely considered to be the most important lifestyle event to prevent heart disease (as well as many other chronic illnesses). Smoke from cigarettes, cigars and pipes contains more than 300 chemicals that are known to promote arterial hardening that leads to high blood pressure and dramatically increased risk of heart attack.

2. Increase Physical Activity and Exercise: Researchers recommend at least 30 minutes of exercise each day of the week. This does not have to be heart-pounding aerobic conditioning, but should be enough to raise the heart rate slightly. Exercise sessions can be broken into 10 minute cycles, 3 times a day to accommodate busy schedules.

3. Achieve Your Ideal Body Weight: Carrying extra weight, especially around the abdomen is a significant risk factor for heart disease and diabetes. Studies demonstrate that losing as little as 5 to 10% of your body weight can lower blood pressure, protect your arteries and lower blood sugar.

4. Eat a Well Balanced, Reduced Calorie Diet: Next to smoking, healthy diet is the next most important factor that will impact your risk for heart disease. Eliminate all sugar, ined carbohydrates and processed convenience foods. Fresh vegetables and greens should make up the core of your meal. Compliment with small quantities of lean meats, nuts, seeds and monounsaturated fat sources.

5. Drink Alcohol in Moderation: Avoid alcohol, or severely limit the number of daily drinks. Men should have no more than 1 or 2 drinks per day, while women should limit their intake to one. While some research has shown a small protective effect for alcohol consumption, if you don’t drink, don’t start.

Information from this study underscores the importance of making modifications for the prevention of heart disease. Extensive research provides undeniable proof that heart disease can be prevented, treated and reversed by making small changes to diet and lifestyle. Following all five of the suggestions outlined in this report will lower the risk of developing heart disease three-fold and dramatically improve your quality of life.

0 What Is Heart Disease

Bring up heart disease, and most people think of a heart attack. But there are many conditions that can undermine the hearts ability to do its job. These include coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, and heart failure. Keep reading to find out what these disorders do to the body and how to recognize the warning signs.

What Is a Heart Attack?

Every year, more than 1 million Americans have a heart attack – a sudden interruption in the hearts blood supply. This happens when there is a blockage in the coronary arteries, the vessels that carry blood to the heart muscle. When blood flow is blocked, heart muscle can be damaged very quickly and die. Prompt emergency treatments have reduced the number of deaths from heart attacks in recent years.

Heart Attack Symptoms


A heart attack is an emergency even when symptoms are mild. Warning signs include:

    * Pain or pressure in the chest.
    * Discomfort spreading to the back, jaw, throat, or arm.
    * Nausea, indigestion, or heartburn.
    * Weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath.
    * Rapid or irregular heartbeats.

Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

Women dont always feel chest pain with a heart attack. Women are more likely than men to have heartburn, loss of appetite, tiredness or weakness, coughing, and heart flutters. These symptoms should not be ignored. The longer you postpone treatment, the more damage the heart may sustain.

Signs of Coronary Artery Disease

A precursor to a heart attack, coronary artery disease or CAD occurs when  sticky plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. This narrows the arteries, making it more difficult for blood to flow through. Many people dont know they have CAD until a heart attack strikes. But there are warning signs, such as recurring chest pain caused by the restricted blood flow. This pain is known as angina.

Inside a Heart Attack

The plaque deposited in your arteries is hard on the outside and soft and mushy on the inside. Sometimes the hard outer shell cracks. When this happens, a blood clot forms around the plaque. If the clot completely blocks the artery, it cuts off the blood supply to a portion of the heart. Without immediate treatment, that part of the heart muscle could be damaged or destroyed.

Dont Wait to Be Sure

The best time to treat a heart attack is as soon as symptoms begin. Waiting to be sure can result in permanent heart damage or even death. If you think you may be having a heart attack, call 911. And dont try driving yourself to the hospital. When you call 911, the EMS staff can start emergency care as soon as they reach you.

Sudden Cardiac Death

Sudden cardiac death (SCD) accounts for half of all heart disease deaths in the U.S., but its not the same as a heart attack. SCD occurs when the hearts electrical system goes haywire, causing it to beat irregularly and dangerously fast. The hearts pumping chambers may quiver instead of pumping blood out to the body. Without CPR and restoration of a regular heart rhythm, death can occur in minutes.

Arrhythmia: Erratic Heart Beat

Regular electrical impulses cause your heart to beat. But sometimes those impulses become erratic. The heart may race, slow down, or quiver. Arrhythmias are often harmless variations in rhythm that pass quickly. But some types make your heart less effective at pumping blood, and that can take a serious toll on the body. Let your doctor know if youve noticed your heart beating abnormally.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a disease involving changes in the heart muscle. These changes may interfere with the heart’s ability to pump effectively, which can lead to a chronic condition called heart failure. Cardiomyopathy is sometimes associated with other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart valve disease.

Heart Failure

Heart failure doesnt mean your heart stops working. It means the heart cant pump enough blood to meet the bodys needs. Over time, the heart gets bigger to hold more blood, it pumps faster to increase the amount of blood moving out of it, and the blood vessels narrow. The  heart muscle may also weaken, reducing the blood supply even more. Most cases of heart failure are the result of coronary artery disease and heart attacks.

Congenital Heart Defect

A congenital heart defect is one thats present at birth. The problem could be a leaky heart valve, malformations in the walls that separate the heart chambers, or other heart problems. Some defects are not found until a person becomes an adult. Some need no treatment. Others require medicine or surgery. People with congenital heart defects may have a higher risk of developing complications such as arrhythmias, heart failure, and heart valve

Testing: Holter Monitor

A Holter monitor is a portable heart rhythm recorder. If your doctor suspects a heart rhythm problem, she may ask you to wear one for 1 or 2 days. It  records the hearts continuous electrical activity day and night, compared with an EKG, which is a snapshot in time. The doctor will probably also ask you to keep a log of your activities and to note any symptoms and when they occur.

Testing: Cardiac CT

Cardiac computerized tomography (known as cardiac CT) takes detailed images of the heart and its blood vessels. A computer stacks the images to create a 3-D picture of heart. A cardiac CT can be used to look for plaque or calcium buildup in the coronary arteries, heart valve problems, and other types of heart disease.

Smoking and Your Heart

If you smoke, your risk of heart disease is 2 to 4 times greater than a nonsmokers. And if you smoke around loved ones, youre increasing their risk with secondhand smoke. Each year in the U.S., more than 135,000 people die from smoking-related heart disease. But its never too late to quit. Within 24 hours of quitting, your heart attack risk begins to fall.

Heart Disease Prevention

The key to preventing heart disease is a healthy lifestyle. This includes a nutritious diet, at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week, not smoking, and controlling high blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation – no more than one drink a day for women, two drinks a day for men. Ask your friends and family for help in making these changes. Theyll benefit, too.

Diet and Your Heart

What you eat makes a difference. Be sure you get plenty of whole grains, vegetables, legumes, and fruits to help keep your heart healthy.  Plant oils, walnuts, other nuts, and seeds can also help improve cholesterol levels. And dont forget to eat fish at least a couple of times each week for a good source of heart-healthy protein.

0 Dietary Fiber May Reduce Risk Of Death From Heart Disease

Research from Japan this month finds that dietary fiber from fruit and cereals/grains, but not from vegetables, reduced the risk of death from cardiovascular disease:

Dietary Fiber Intake Is Associated with Reduced Risk of Mortality from Cardiovascular Disease among Japanese Men and Women, The Journal of Nutrition, August 2010

The study which involved over 58,000 men and women was prospective with a 14-year follow-up.

Both soluble and insoluble fiber provided benefit, but insoluble reduced risk more than soluble. Fruit fiber reduced risk more than cereal/grain fiber.

The findings are in good company:

"The inverse associations of fruit and cereal fiber intakes, but not vegetable fiber intake, with mortality from [coronary heart disease] in the present study were consistent with findings from previous studies: the Womens Health study, Nurse Health study, Cardiovascular Health Study, and the pooled analysis of 10 American and European cohort studies."

Possible mechanisms:

• Fiber, especially soluble, may improve lipid profile via cholesterol lowering.
  
• Fiber may lower blood pressure
  
• Fiber may reduce abdominal obesity
  
• Fiber may improve insulin sensitivity
  
• Fiber may inhibit a postprandial rise in glucose and triglycerides
  
• Fiber, especially insoluble, may improve fibrinolytic activity (reduce blood clotting)

Those in the highest fiber intake group consumed about 14 grams/day, about double what those in the lowest intake group consumed. The authors state this may have been underestimated and that the actual mean (not maximum) fiber intake was about 15 grams/day.

The hazard ratio, in the highest vs. lowest quintile, for insoluble fiber:

• For men: 0.48
  
• For women: 0.49

Insoluble fiber cut their risk of death from coronary heart disease in half.

The American Heart Association recommends adults consume about 25 grams of fiber a day from foods rather than supplements.

These finding dont bode well for low-carb, low-cereal-fiber Atkins-like diets.
________

0 Beware heart failure can increase the risk of cancer

Beware, heart failure can increase the risk of cancer - Turns heart failure and cancer risk are related. At least thats what was discovered by researchers in Minnesota. Their latest research shows that people with heart failure are more at risk of getting cancer.

Yet these findings do not necessarily indicate evidence that heart failure, which occurs when the heart fails to pump enough blood throughout the body, can cause cancer. Scientists said it will conduct further studies to clarify the relation.

"People do not consider the link between heart failure and cancer, at least they do not expect to get cancer after diagnosis of heart failure," said researcher Dr. Adrian Hernandez of Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, as reported by Reuters.

But Dr Sudhir Kushwaha, researchers from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester explains that the association of these two diseases are quite reasonable. This is because the organs are deprived of blood and oxygen due to heart failure might run into problems. Kushwaha emphasizes that heart failure patients should always be vigilant about any new symptoms that appear.

The results obtained after the researchers observed 961 patients with heart failure with people who do not have heart disease. After eight years, 244 people were still in the study diagnosed with various cancers.

After considering various factors such as the risk that participants held the weight and smoking habits, Kushwaha and colleagues found that patients with heart failure have a 68 percent chance of developing cancer is higher than participants who did not have heart failure.

Kushwaha research group revealed several reasons that could explain the link they found. Some heart medications can increase the risk of cancer, or stress, and inflammation of heart failure can also lead to cancer because the organ is starved of oxygen. In addition, the frequency of screening performed by patients with heart failure are also considered to be the cause.

0 Teeth as a Source of Heart Disease

Health for human | the readers already know the information that turned out to heart disease was spread through our teeth .. I got this info from the internet ... and I will share with the readers of the article about the "teeth as a source of heart disease"

okay just read the following article


Heart disease is the leading cause of death in developed countries. In the U.S. alone an estimated 12.4 million people suffer from this disease and 1.1 million people will be exposed to serious heart problems this year.

In 2000, 16.7 million people died of this disease, or approximately 30.3% of total deaths worldwide. More than half reported from developing countries. IN Indonesia, the prevalence of heart disease from year to year increase.

In addition to classic risk factors (smoking, obesity, cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, less activity, diabetes mellitus, stress), the results of recent research states that the inflammatory reaction (inflammation) of chronic infectious diseases may also be a risk factor. Even so, only proven chronic dental disease associated with heart disease.

The mechanism for distributing

The spread of dental disease to other organs can be explained by the theory of focal infection.

Focal infection is a chronic infection somewhere and trigger the disease elsewhere. Toxins, waste materials, as well as penginfeksi microbes can spread to other places in the body such as kidneys, heart, eyes, skin. The impact of dental disease on the heart may be a coronary heart disease, inflammation of muscles, and heart valves (endocarditis).

Bacteria that shipped with the blood flow can produce enzymes that speed up the formation of blood clots so hardened walls of coronary arteries (atherosclerosis). Bacteria can also be attached to the coating (plaque) of fat in blood vessels and strengthen heart plaque. All that, impede blood flow and distribution of food resources and oxygen to the heart, so the heart does not function properly.

Early symptoms may include chest pain, include a burning feeling, depressed, and a heavy load on the left chest, which may extend to the left arm, neck, chin, and shoulders. Chest pain is also felt in the middle of the chest for several minutes. After the event is usually followed by nausea, vomiting, dizziness, cold sweat, leg and arm became cold, panting, and shortness of breath.

Will lead to prolonged angina heart attack (myocardial infarction). However, coronary heart disease often take place without any symptoms, it does not cause problems until the situation is severe.

Alternatively, the inflammatory reaction caused by dental disease increases plaque formation that spur blood vessel wall thickening. Research shows people with dental disease have a two times higher risk of coronary heart disease.

endocarditis

Bacteria found in dental plaque is one of the factors causing endocarditis.

Bacteria in cavities or damaged gums can enter the blood circulation through the gums are bleeding. These bacteria are easily attack the heart valves or heart muscle has been weakened. Symptoms include fever, heart murmur, bleeding under the skin, even embolization (blockage) of small blood vessels in other organs.

Although rare, this disease can be fatal and sometimes require emergency heart valve surgery. It is also highly recommended antibiotics for prophylaxis in people who suffer from heart valve prolapse, rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart defects, prior to getting dental treatment measures.

Because preventing is always better than cure, need good dental care and regular dental examinations. How to prevent the formation of tartar quite simply, is to diligently and thoroughly clean your teeth properly and correctly. Scrubbing of the tongue for 30 seconds also shown to reduce the number of bacteria in the mouth.

Brochures brushing is good and right can be obtained easily in every dentists practice. Use dental floss (dental floss) is also very important to clean areas not easily reached by a toothbrush, especially antargigi area and also on the teeth crowding.

0 Keeping Heart with Healthy Lifestyle

Keeping Heart with Healthy Lifestyle | How to maintain a healthy heart? Maintaining heart health is very important. Everyone wants live in a healthy life. With a healthy life, we can perform a variety of activities well, such as work, school, housekeeping, and other activities. What happens if our bodies are sick or have health problems? Of course all the usual activities will be hampered, even not at all feasible.

Our bodies consist of vital organs, which in synergy with each other. If any of these organs susceptible to interference, the performance of other body organs will be disrupted. One organ that becomes the engine of life is the heart organ. The heart as a machine body of work to pump blood throughout the body. If a cardiac disorder, cardiac performance will not function properly. The impact could affect the health of the body.

Causes of cardiac disorders including heart disease. Heart problems caused by weak heart muscle or heart attack. The cause is a blockage of blood vessels in the heart due to accumulation of fat or cholesterol. If no action is taken promptly, can lead to heart failure and death. Before the disturbances in the heart organ was attacked, do prevention by adopting healthy lifestyles.

Keeping Heart Health - Healthy Lifestyle with Exercise

Preventing health problems in the heart of a healthy lifestyle can do with exercise. Exercise should be done regularly. Exercise portion adapted herself ability, age, and level of our health. It is better to consult your doctor what type of exercise appropriate to do. Do not let exercise make your body sick or injured because of the wrong type of exercise.

All kinds of sports good for health. However, to maintain fitness and heart health better Aerobic exercise types of work involving the heart. Here are some types of aerobic exercise that can be done to maintain heart health.

1. Healthy Walk
Do not underestimate this sport. Road has the benefit of maintaining a healthy heart. Walking motion is always dynamic organ pumping spur more active. Take the time to do brisk walking at least 30-60 minutes every day to maintain fitness and heart health.

2. Jogging
Performing regular jogging can keep in shape. When jogging, organ heart will beat faster to pump blood and the heart muscles become stronger. Jog 3-5 times a week can improve heart health and body.

3. Swimming
This is done in water sports (swimming pool). By swimming regularly at least three times a week can improve fitness and heart health. Swimming can strengthen the muscles of the body, can also lose weight.

4. Bicycle
Cycling also has the benefit of maintaining physical fitness and heart health. Cycling three times a week doing enough to keep them healthy. In addition, cycling can be done while tour with family or friends.

Keeping Heart Health | Applying Healthy Living Behavior

In addition to exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy heart must be accompanied by implementing healthy behavior. Here are some healthy behavior should be done.

1. Drinking Water
Lack of fluid in the body is very dangerous for health. Every day our bodies secrete fluid through the skin, kidneys, and lungs as much as a liter more. NII therefore, inadequate fluid needs by drinking lots of water.

2. Choosing Healthy Foods
Food intake to the body should be nutritionally balanced and adequate nutrition. Limit your intake of carbohydrates and protein. Increase consumption of vegetables and fruits. Avoid eating fast food.

3. Reduce Salt Consumption
Eating too much salt can cause hypertension, which can affect the heart. Reduce salt intake to keep your heart healthy.

4. Avoid Cigarettes
Smoking habits cause the heart. Reducing smoking has no effect on heart health. If you want a healthy heart, stop smoking now.

5. Breakfast
Breakfast is very important because the body requires energy sources for a day of activity. Breakfast does not need to eat calorie-dense food because it can cause drowsiness during the day or at work. Inadequate breakfast with fruit or juice.[Source: anneahira.com]

May this tips be useful, you also interest in how-to-get-rid-of-acne

0 Mediterranean Diet Good for Heart

Mediterranean Diet Good for Heart | Want to far from heart disease? it could not hurt to try the Mediterranean diet. A mention of the other research done Mediterranean-style diet for three months can reduce the risk of heart disease by 15 percent.

The study, headed by Dr. Denis Lairon of the Faculty of Medicine Timone, Marseille, France said that the Mediterranean diet consists of the consumption of foods rich in whole grains, fruits, vegetables, nuts and olive oil and red meat in moderation can help reduce the risk of heart attack.

The results are recorded in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition examined the 212 respondents who rated men and women at risk of heart attack or a Mediterranean diet to choose low-fat diet for three months.

Mediterranean diet participants were instructed to eat fish four times a week and red meat once a week. Men are allowed to drink two glasses of red wine every day but only one glass for women.

Meanwhile, for the low-fat dieters are encouraged to eat meat from poultry products and stay away from pork, beef or other mammals, eat fish two or three times a week, away from animal products in saturated fat, eating vegetables and fruit, low fat dairy products and vegetable oils.

The researchers also found that eating habits are very influential in the two groups. All participants consumed fewer calories and more protein and carbohydrates, less fat and saturated fat consumption. Both groups showed significant results for the decrease in body mass index.

Meanwhile, participants who did the Mediterranean diet, noting positive results, with total cholesterol was down to 7.5 percent, 4.5 percent lower than the low-fat dieters. Based on this reduction, the researchers also noted the Mediterranean dieters experiencing heart disease risk reduction down to 15 percent low-fat dieters while only 9 percent.

source: Indonesiaindonesia.com

0 Spicy in Chili be Healthy Heart

Spicy in Chili be Healthy Heart | Recent studies have shown that the compound in hot peppers can have significant benefits to protect against heart disease.

The study, led by Professor Zhen Yu Chen from the Chinese University of Hong Kong was disclosed in a forum National Meeting of the American Chemical Society to-243 in San Diego, USA.

From their testing more and more evident, the compound capsaicin that gives chili spicy flavor to be able to increase cardiac work.

Capsaicinoid substances in the capsaicin can reduce the accumulation of cholesterol in the body, with increasing damage to the fats are bad, then throw it out through the feces. Capsaicinoid block cyclooxygenase-2, a gene that makes the arteries to contract and may block blood flow to the heart.

Capsaicinoid also effectively trigger a decrease in fat in the blood vessels. This fat can narrow arteries and trigger heart disease or stroke. In conclusion, a substance belonging to the capsaicinoid help improve the health of the heart and blood vessels.

However, Chen warned, excessive consumption of chili is also not recommended for the health of people with heart disease. Therefore, the chili is not a substitute for medicine for heart disease that has existed at this time.

"Its basically a good diet is a balanced diet. Chili may be regarded as supplements," added the expert knowledge of nutrition and the food.

0 Fresh juices Can Prevent Heart Disease

Health for human | Heart disease has become the scourge of the biggest causes of death for all people around the world, including Indonesia. Drink fresh fruit juice is one effective way of preventing heart disease. Any juice?

Recent studies show that heart disease is one of the most significant causes of death worldwide, including Indonesia. Unhealthy eating habits play a very important role in causing heart disease.

Most people do not include fruits and vegetables in the daily diet, whereas fruits and vegetables is an innovative and effective ways to ward off heart disease. Some fruits and vegetables have outstanding nutritional value and beneficial for heart health.

Here are some fresh juice which can prevent heart disease, as reported by Buzzle, Monday (01/02/2012):

1. orange
Citrus fruits contain lots of hesperidin, vitamin C can lower diastolic blood pressure and improve endothelial function (blood vessel walls).

2. wine
Wine, especially red and purple grapes contain many flavonoids and resveratrol can improve improve the health of cells lining the blood vessels.

3. pomegranate
Pomegranate is rich in polyphenols which are very beneficial for the heart, among others, to prevent and reduce atherosclerosis (thickening of artery walls), controlling cholesterol by reducing LDL (bad cholesterol and raise HDL (good cholesterol).

4. apple
Apples contain many phytonutrients (phytochemicals) and pectin which acts as an antioxidant and works to lower bad cholesterol (LDL).

5. kiwi
Kiwi is very rich in vitamin C content is very good as an antioxidant and increases the elasticity and strength of blood vessels.

6. avocado
The best content of avocados is potassium and sodium which can control the tension in the arteries and cholesterol.

7. strawberries
Strawberries are rich in potassium, magnesium and vitamin C that can regulate blood pressure, acts as an antioxidant and helps in the relaxation of arterial muscle.

8. cantaloupe
Cantaloupe contains beta-carotene, vitamin C and vitamin B complex that acts as an antioxidant and an anticoagulant (blood thinner), and prevent atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in artery walls) and high blood pressure.

9. Aloe vera
Aloe vera contains beta-sitosterol which can lower cholesterol, improve blood circulation and strengthens the veins and arteries.

10. carrots
The content of carrots is beta-carotene, glutathione (GSH), which reduce cholesterol levels and reduce systolic blood pressure.

11. tomatoes
Tomato contains lycopene, phytonutrients (glycoside-esculeoside A), flavonoids (chalconaringenin), 9-oxo-octadecadienoic acid, which inhibits platelet aggregation, lowering cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and also acts as an antioxidant.

12. cucumber
Cucumbers contain beta-carotene, manganese which act as antioxidants and help ward off free radicals.

0 Eat Eggs Can Prevent Heart Disease

Eat Eggs Can Prevent Heart Disease - Most of us would love to eat the eggs. Healthy food ingredients is increasingly feared many people because it is considered a source of cholesterol. It is true that one grain of chicken egg yolk contains 213 mg cholesterol, but the white part does not contain cholesterol. While the daily cholesterol consumption in the limit of 300 mg. for that reason, the egg intake should be limited indeed.

But in the right amount and not excessive, the egg can take care of your health. Heres some of the benefits:

Eat Eggs Can Prevent Heart Disease

Maintain Heart Health
The consumption of eggs in the safe limit be healthy for your heart. Omega-3s that contained in eggs can decrease cardiovascular health problems (heart and blood vessels), offered by Nutraingredients. Eggs contain omega-3 fatty acids contain saturated fatty acids are good for heart health.

Maintain Skin Firmness
The firmer skin is supported by a good protein. If you want to have a skin smooth, toned and youthful, consuming the eggs could become a natural way. Everyone needs 45 grams of protein per day. Whereas one medium-size eggs already has 8 grams of protein.

Maintain Eye Health
Egg yolks not only contain cholesterol as believe by many people. In the yolks, there are deposits of lutein. Lutein can improve the health of the eyes. It is excellent if you each and every day working in front of a computer or laptop.

Boost Brainpower
Did you know, in 50 gram chicken egg, contains choline as much as 26.5 percent. Choline is an important compound and can play an active role in improving the ability of the brain, as reported by Whfoods.

0 Heart Attack Symptoms in Women

Heart Attack Symptoms in Women - In Indonesia, heart disease still the leading cause of death among men. But, that does not mean women can not be affected by this disease. There are several symptoms which mark the most common occurrence of heart attacks like tightness in the chest, pain, and dizziness. However, the question is, whether the symptoms of a heart attack in men and women equal? The answer, no!

Dr. Larry Weinrauch said, in essence, very little pre-menopausal women who have heart attacks. Except, if they are smoking, diabetes, or taking birth control pills for long period of time. However, he continued, smoking is still the biggest risk factors related to heart attacks in women.

The following are Heart Attack Symptoms will be the emergence of a heart attack in women, as described by Weinrauch:

• Nausea and vomiting that will not stop
• Shortness of breath (but do not sigh) or especially if you wake up at night
• Chest inconveniences which starts from the back of the sternum and radiating to the shoulder or arm, neck, jaw.
• Discomfort in the lower jaw
• Discomfort in the upper back, especially if it occurs only with the power or will not go
• Discomfort in the chest or back that occurs when you eat a lot
• All of a sudden heart beats very fast along with the pulse
• All of a sudden loss of consciousness
• Physical unable to do normal housework

So, who are most at risk of experiencing these symptoms? The point is, the more risk factors you have, the greater your risk of getting heart attacks, such as:

• Stop Menstrual
• Smoking
• Family history of heart disease before age 60 years
• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Diabetes
• Obesity
• High Cholesterol

0 Common Signs of Heart Attack

Common Signs of Heart Attack | Heart attacks strike without warning. Can now sleep, work, or even exercising. Unpredictable, if the slender, more secure than a heart attack compared to the obese. Indeed, obese people have the potential of having a heart attack is greater than their ideal body.


Cause of a heart attack can be various. Cholesterol blockage in the coronary arteries is often the case that is often found. High blood pressure also trigger this problem. So, pay attention to cholesterol levels and keep blood pressure to be some prevention of heart problems. In addition, need to maintain themselves when under stress.

If you want to know how healthy it is necessary to condition the heart of a series of tests. For example, stress test, lipid profile, annual check-up, ECG, blood sugar, until the treadmill. This test can see how far your heart strong and predict the potential of having a heart attack.

Sometimes a heart attack show certain signs. If you find these signs in your body, immediately contact your local health care providers to check your heart.

Here are Common Signs of Heart Attack

1. Chest discomfort. Heart attacks are usually marked feelings of "difference" in the chest. Especially in the middle of the chest, discomfort that can occur a few minutes. Guess it could go, or even back again. This is a common sign.

2. Discomfort in your upper body. Discomfort also spread to other body parts. For example, in one or both arms, back, neck, jaw, or stomach. May also feel pain in it.

3. Shortness of breath. This tightness may occur with chest discomfort accompanied or not.

4. Another sign appeared in the form of a cold sweat, nausea, or dizziness.

Source: sidomi