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Heart rate monitors are gadgets that are a very wonderful tool to have for both those who have heart related problems and those who are looking to improve their workouts. They are used to monitor your heart rate at all times during the day.

If you are exercising to lose weight, your goal should be to maintain your heart rate in the ideal ‘zone’ for fat burning. However, too much of a good thing is not good either. The heart rate monitor allows for accurate measurement of ones heart during exercise so that the recommended levels for your age/fitness level are not exceeded.

Choosing a heart rate monitor can be tricky. The following is a review of some:

The Polar F11: This heart rate monitor is a great version. You can use the program “Keeps U Fit Workout Program” to meet your personal goals. OwnZone is another feature that allows one to monitor the heart and it tells you how many calories you are burning. It uses a coded transmitter to find your heart rate and you will not have interference from other monitors.

Polar A3: This model is less expensive. It works like a personal trainer in its ability to allow you to track the previous workouts. It’s easy to use and very accurate.

Garmin Forerunner 301. This heart rate monitor uses GPS to help you throughout your journey through health fitness. Runners can use this monitor to track how far they have gone what the heart rate is during that time. When your heart rate improves this monitor will adjust your target zone to keep pushing you to the next level.

Acumen Eon Basix ES: This is for the beginner. It’s easy to use and has the beginning functions. It has a target zone function that you can program.

Of course, always ask your doctor for his recommendation on heart monitors for your specific needs.

Tagged with: cardiovascular disease • Heart Disease • heart failure • heart rate monitor • heartattack

Panic attack is a symptom of an anxiety disorder that has emotional and physical symptoms. Emotional symptoms associated with a panic attack include intense feelings of unreasonable and unexplainable fear. Physical symptoms associated with a panic attack include dizziness, a feeling of choking, feelings of faintness, clammy hands, racing heart, and severe shaking, which can all feel like a heart attack

Many people each year end up in hospital emergency rooms with heart attack symptoms that are then diagnosed as panic attack. The symptoms of heart attack and panic attack or so similar that one should not ignore them as it will take a professional to make a correct diagnosis.

A panic attack - or numerous, repeated panic attacks — can be brought on by a traumatic life event or drug misuse. Other statistics suggest that those more likely to experience a panic attack are people who suppress their emotions. As well as causing panic attack, none of these is good for your health and can cause heart attack as well.

Anyone who has ever experienced a panic attack explains that it can happen anytime or anywhere. A panic attack can happen when the person is alone or with others. It can happen at home or in public. A panic attack can even happen when a person is waking up from a sound, restful sleep.

Although experiencing a panic attack is highly unpleasant, there are no long-term side effects once treatment has been completed and if it is maintained. However, the symptoms are too close to heart attack to be ignored. If these symptoms occur one should seek help for the correct diagnosis.

Tagged with: cardiovascular disease • Heart Disease • heart failure • heartattack • panic attack

The entire complex of B vitamins is essential for health, but B12 is for heart health. 

Vitamin B12 is required for the body’s manufacture of the essential amino acid, methionine, and the associated enzyme, methionine synthase. An inadequate supply of this enzyme may lead to an excess of homocysteine. This is a naturally occurring protein in the body and has been associated with the risk of cardiovascular disease. Studies show that people with blood homocysteine levels in the top 20% of the range faced a more than doubled risk of cardiovascular disease.

Given that elevated homocysteine levels are accepted as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, and that supplementation with the B vitamins is known to reduce homocysteine levels, it makes sense that an adequate intake of these vitamins, including B12, would be a protector against cardiovascular disease.

Science is searching for the definitive answer. But in the meantime, given the relatively small amounts of these vitamins required by the body, and the absence of any reported toxicity or adverse side effects, it is really not worth running the risk of a deficiency.

The Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) for vitamin B12 is only 2.4 mcg a day, an amount which should be readily obtainable, except perhaps for those following a strict vegetarian diet. A single 3 oz serving of fish or red meat may provide this quantity. Sea food may provide a lot more, and chicken, turkey, eggs, milk and cheese are also good sources.

Deficiencies in B12 are commonly found even in younger as well as older individuals and cardiovascular disease is a problem which may develop without symptoms over many years. Therefore, it would seem to be a strong argument for supplementation amongst the general population. However, check with your doctor first.

Tagged with: B12 • cardiovascular disease • Heart Disease • heart failure • heartattack

This is a difficult topic. Not much is known about the various causes of CHD (congenital heart disease) on a pregnant woman, in the first three months of pregnancy. This is when development of the heart in the uterus is expected to be complete.

Because of this the best thing would be that all pregnant mothers must undergo a routine ultrasound, and if some abnormality is suspected, fetal echocardiography must be undertaken for the precise detection of CHD.

Heredity may play some role in CHD in the fetus. If the mother has any congenital defect in her heart, the chances, though minimal, of a defect in the heart of the expected baby may increase. Genetic counseling may help in such cases before you get pregnant.
Some conditions worth mentioning, which must be avoided by a pregnant mother, are as follows, as there are some likely factors which may disturb the development of the heart in the fetus.

If the mother is diabetic, it must be controlled. Diabetes, and even pre-diabetes, is known to cause CHD. Also if the mother is suffering from epilepsy, the effects of antiepileptic drugs must be kept in mind. Fetal echocardiography is a must in these cases to assess the condition of the heart.

Pregnant mothers, especially in the first three months of pregnancy, must avoid contracting any viral infection, particularly infection caused by the virus of German measles. A good diet is also essential during pregnancy, and don’t drink.
Drugs like thalidomide, which is a known teratogenic, and one used in psychiatry, should also be stopped.

However, in spite of taking best possible precautions, the child may still be born with some CHD. However, remember that even though there may be a little congenital lesion in the heart, it may

Make sure to get early prenatal care, follow your doctor’s instructions and lead a healthy lifestyle to ensure the health of your unborn child.

Tagged with: cardiovascular disease • CHD • Heart Disease • heart failure • heartattack