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High cholesterol tends to cause the narrowing and hardening of the arteries, which in turn can lead to heart disease or stroke. What does blood cholesterol level depend on? Many people would say it depends on the kind of food we eat but this is not the whole truth when it comes to high cholesterol. High cholesterol can also be caused in part to how cholesterol is made in your liver.

There are two kinds of cholesterol - the good HDL cholesterol, and the bad LDL cholesterol. HDLs are transporters that carry excess cholesterol to the liver where it can be broken down. LDLs cause the build-up of cholesterol in the arteries leading to high blood pressure and risk of heart attack.

Vitamin C has been found to be a very effective treatment for high cholesterol. Pectin from fruit and vegetables seems to help in fighting high cholesterol by flushing out the excess from the system. Two or three carrots a day is said to be beneficial in lowering high cholesterol. Strawberries, apples, spinach, potatoes and tomatoes are also useful in the treatment of high cholesterol. Vitamin E prevents the oxidation of cholesterol and can therefore prevent hardening of the arteries.

Garlic, turmeric and cinnamon are also very beneficial natural treatments of high cholesterol. Ask your doctor which foods will work best for you.

Tagged with: heart attack • Heart Disease • high blood pressure • lowering high cholesterol • stroke

Recently the news carried the story that a researcher had discovered that taking vitamin E at a level of 400IU or more increases the risk of death. But is this true?

Hundreds of studies have shown the beneficial effects of vitamin E on numerous diseases including cancer, heart disease, arthritis, fibrocystic breast disease, epilepsy and infertility.

The researcher who claimed Vitamin E can be harmful investigated mortality statistics from existing studies and came to a conclusion that people should not take 400IUs of vitamin E or they may die.

When looking at the details behind this, there remains no basis for suggesting that high levels of natural vitamin E are dangerous, but rather, there is significant reason for believing that vitamin E is a good thing.

However, are vitamin E supplements necessary? No, not if you are eating a varied diet of raw, organic, natural foods, exercising daily and are not subject to any workplace or other environmental pollutants. If that is not how you are living, then 400IU of a natural vitamin E tocopherol mix is a very good idea. This replaces what would be present in a natural raw diet and helps offset modern toxins, pollutants and stresses. It is also supported by a mountain of good scientific research.

Ask your doctor before beginning any supplements.

Tagged with: cancer • Heart Disease • natural vitamin E • supplements

African Americans have a heart disease rate of over 36%. Millions of African Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease and the numbers are nearly one in five.

African Americans have a higher rate of heart disease due to three of the risk factors: high blood pressure, being overweight and higher rates of diabetes.

As well, the statistics for African-American women are alarming.

Lack of physical activity is a major concern. Physical inactivity is more prevalent for women, African Americas and Hispanics. For African American females age 18 and older, over 50% are inactive, compared to fewer than 40% of Caucasian females.

A prominent professor of medicine at the University of Minnesota Medical School warns the “there is a critical need for greater awareness about the risk of heart disease among African-American women” and adds that “all women need to be conscious of their own personal health risk, and the statistics for heart disease”.

The American Heart Association wants to address this. The ADA offers information to help African Americans understand why their risks are higher and shares information on what you can do to stay heart healthy.

As well, consult your physician for information on keeping your heart healthy.

Tagged with: African Americans • African-American women • Heart Disease • statistics for heart disease

Recent studies have shown that as many as 65% of people who have a heart attack feel depressed. Women who have been depressed before and people who feel alone, without emotional support are at a higher risk for feeling depressed after a heart attack. Two new studies have shown that women are more likely to experience chronic depression after suffering a heart attack and lead lives of poorer quality following their treatments.

Being depressed can make it harder for a patient to recover. People that are quickly able to get back to their usual routines seem to experience less depression.

Can heart disease trigger depression or depression trigger heart disease?

Either of the above may be true, one thing seems clear. The two often go hand in hand, therefore controlling one may help control the other.

According to The American Academy of Family Physicians, research has shown that people who are depressed and have pre-existing cardiovascular disease have a 3.5 times greater risk of dying of a heart attack than patients with heart disease who are not depressed. As well, in a recent study, depression was shown to be associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease in men and women. Depression was shown to increase mortality related to coronary heart disease in men but had no effect on mortality in women.

Ask your doctor about using lifestyle changes like avoiding alcohol, illegal drugs, smoking, starting a regular exercise program, eating a balanced diet, reducing stress and getting sufficient rest to fight heart disease and depression.

Tagged with: chronic depression • coronary heart disease • depression • heart attack • Heart Disease

The flax plant provides the fiber from which linen is woven, as well as seeds and oil. Flax Seed Oil can be found in an edible form, mostly at health-food stores. Like olive, canola, and most other plant oils, it is highly unsaturated and heart-healthy. And flaxseeds have yet another very interesting component,  lingam,  which may have anti-cancer properties.

Studies have shown that the health benefits of flaxseed oil are many. It controls high blood pressure, helps to lower cholesterol and guards against heart disease. Flaxseed oil also protects against angina and could prevent a second heart attack.

Also, flax seed oil has some estrogen-like effects and also possible anti-estrogenic effects, both of which have been studied for possible protection against certain types of breast and prostate cancers. However study results were inconclusive.

Flax seed oil promotes good health. Flaxseed and flaxseed oil are rich in alpha-linolenic acid (ALA), an essential fatty acid that appears to be beneficial for heart disease. ALA belongs to a group of substances called omega-3 fatty acids. When used to treat lupus, flaxseed oil not only reduces inflammation in the joints, kidneys and skin, but also lowers cholesterol levels that may be elevated by the disease.

If you are considering adding flax seed oil to your diet, ask your doctor first.

Tagged with: ALA • alpha-linolenic acid • flax seed oil • Heart Disease • omega 3 fatty acids

Chelation therapy is a process that cleans the arteries by using intravenous chelating agents along with dietary supplements. Lifestyle changes that focus on diet, exercise and stress reduction are also implemented.

The term ‘Chelation’ means “combining with metal.” The major chelator used is ‘EDTA’, a synthetic amino acid, which removes toxic heavy metals from the body by stuicking to them and removing them through the kidneys. ‘EDTA’ is non-toxic when used properly and according to the guidelines of the American Board of Chelation Therapy. ‘EDTA’ also sticks to calcium which builds up as plaques on the walls of the arteries.

Chelation therapy is a world-recognized treatment for heart arrythmias as well.

Chelation therapy can treat and reverse degenerative illnesses also. However, Chelation therapy is mainly used to treat heavy-metal toxicity and cardiovascular disorders like hardening of the arteries and high blood pressure.

Chelation therapy involves intravenous injection of ‘EDTA’ into the blood in sessions that last three to four hours. A series of chelation treatments usually include twenty to thirty treatments.

There are severl products and programs available for Chelation therapy such as :Carrdio Renew and Angioprim. Ask your doctor which products he recommends.

Make sure you find a practitioner qualified by the American Board of Chelation Therapy for your therapy.

Tagged with: Angioprim • cardiovascular disease • Carrdio Renew • Chelation therapy • EDTA • Heart Disease

A pacemaker is a small, battery operated medical device designed to electrically stimulate the heart in order to restore normal heart rhythm.

A pacemaker has two main parts: the pulse generator and pacing leads. The pulse generator is where the battery and electronic circuits are located. These circuits contain timers that regulate how often the pacemaker sends impulses to the heart.

Pacemaker surgery complications:
The most common complications of the pacemaker surgery are blood loss, infection, and lead dislodgement. However, the percentage of any of these complications occurring is very low.

The patient is given a single dose of antibiotics during the surgery to prevent infection. Antibiotics may also be given after the operation in selected cases.

If blood loss is excessive, which is very rare in pacemaker surgery, a blood transfusion may be necessary.

If a pacemaker lead moves from its proper position (highly unlikely), a second surgical procedure may be needed to reposition the displaced lead.

Restrictions for pacemaker patients:
Following the procedure, the patient will have certain restrictions for days or weeks. All patients with pacemakers are asked not to participate in contact sports. This restriction may be life-long.

In addition, patients will be asked to avoid interaction with certain electronic devices that may interfere with the pacemaker’s proper function.

Ask your doctor to give you all your post surgery instructions for your new pacemaker and be sure that you understand them.

Tagged with: • cardiovascular disease • Heart Disease • heart failure • pacemaker • pacing leads • pulse generator

A normal heartbeat comes from the heart’s natural pacemaker called the “sinus node.” When the sinus node sends signals, a wave of electricity then moves across the upper chambers of the heart causing the upper chambers to contract.

The electrical impulse then moves to the lower chambers of the heart resulting in contraction there.

These contractions allow for blood to be pumped to the body. This blood supplies the body with oxygen and nutrients, as well as eliminates waste products.

When the hearts natural pacemaker doesn’t function normally, an artificial pacemaker may be needed.

Some people are born with sinus dysfunction as a result of some congenital heart defects. As well sinus misfiring can also be the consequence of certain surgical procedures.

Many other patients may need a pacemaker with conditions such as abnormally fast heart rates, patients who pass out, patients on medications that slow the natural heart rate, patients with heart valves that leak, patients with an abnormally thick heart and patients with poor heart function.

An artificial pacemaker helps to restore the heart rhythm towards a normal rhythm. This improves the heart’s ability to circulate blood through the body and the wear and tear on the heart it self.

Ask your doctor for more information about on pacemakers.

Tagged with: cardiovascular disease • Heart Disease • irregular heart beat • normal rhythm • pacemaker

The normal function of a heart includes two main blood vessels leaving the heart: the aorta carrying blood to the body and the pulmonary artery that delivers blood to each lung.

In patients with truncus arteriosus there is only one great blood vessel or trunk leaving the heart, which then feeds the blood vessels that go to the lungs and the body.

A patient with truncus arteriosus usually begins to have problems in the first week of life. Their oxygen levels are usually lower than normal.

Because of the excessive amount of blood flow to the lungs with this malformation, congestive heart failure develops very quickly. With an X-ray, the heart looks enlarged and the lungs look hazy.

Indications of congestive heart failure included rapid breathing, shortness of breath, wheezing, grunting or very noisy breathing, nasal flaring, and restlessness.

The liver may be enlarged; neck vein distention, poor feeding, and facial swelling are also seen.

While truncus arteriosus may be suspected, an echocardiogram will confirm the presence of the disorder.Initial treatment begins with stabilizing the patient. Medications to control congestive heart failure such as diuretics are often started.

The use of a feeding tube or intravenous feeding may be needed. Surgical correction is typically carried out in the first few weeks of life after the infant is stabilized and the surgical repair of truncus arteriosus requires the use of heart-lung bypass machine.

Currently over 90 percent of patients survive repair of truncus arteriosus. As the patient grows, they will need to be followed by their cardiologist.

Tagged with: • cardiovascular disease • congestive heart failure • Heart Disease • heart failure • truncus arteriosus

There are many things one can do to bolster heart health naturally. Below are some tips to do just that.

1. Avoid as much processed food as possible such as; cooked oils, white flour, red meat, white sugar, and any foods, which have been over processed or have chemical additives.

2. Eat lots of whole grains, fresh vegetables and fruits.

3. Occasional juice fasting helps to purify the blood vessels. Fasting on grapes is considered one of the most effective ways to purify the blood. (ask your doctor first)

4. Vitamins and antioxidants help with heart health: A, C, E, and Lecithin, B complex (especially B3, B2).

5. Reflexology massage has been shown to bring circulation to organs, which cannot be affected by other means. By massaging the reflex point on the bottom of the foot we are able to bring blood flow to the various interior organs, so as to revitalize them.

6. All forms of movement and activity are helpful. Yes, exercise is always on the list for heart health. (ask your doctor first)

7. Deep breathing facilitates the return of the blood through the veins to the heart and reduces stress. When we breathe deeply and slowly, we help the blood to return to the heart an also move the lymph through the system.

These are just a few of the suggestions to naturally promote heart health. Your doctor will be able to provide you with more ways to keep your heart healthy.

Tagged with: cardiovascular disease • Heart Disease • heart health • irregular heart beat • pulmonary arteries • pulmonary hypertension