I Love my Heart

6 Surprising Heart Attack Triggers

2011-04-26T10:20:00.000-07:00

Heart attacks often come without warning, and although it’s well documented that they’re caused by atherosclerosis (plaque buildup on arterial walls), there are certain triggers that can set off a heart attack in people who are at risk. This week, Belgian researchers published a study in The Lancet ranking various heart attack triggers according to their prevalence in people who are already at risk for cardiac problems. Here’s a list of some of their more surprising findings, and some ways to protect yourself from heart attack triggers:

#1: Traffic Exposure

Commuters beware: Traffic exposure triggers about 8 percent of heart attacks among those who are vulnerable, according to the study, and it can affect you if you’re a driver, a passenger, or even a bicyclist riding along the road. Previous research on the link between traffic and heart attacks has been inconclusive as to whether it’s traffic-related pollution, the stress of being in traffic, or some combination of the two that causes heart attacks. But the clear message is that getting stuck in rush-hour jams isn’t good for anybody. Save your ticker and ask your boss if you can work from home one day a week. Telecommuters are healthier, past studies have shown, and they even work longer hours while still maintaining a better work-life balance than their colleagues in cubicles.

#2: Physical Exertion

Second on the list of heart attack triggers was physical exertion, accounting for just over 6 percent of cases. But they weren’t talking about the good kind of exertion that comes from exercise. The study authors noted that people who are sedentary most of the time, and then suddenly engage in heavy-duty physical activity, are most at risk. The best protection against this is at least 150 minutes per week of regular exercise. But if you’re already sedentary and need to, say, shovel out four feet of snow from a recent storm, be sure to warm up first, and delay the strenuous activity till later in the morning. Strenuous exercise first thing in the morning is a shock to your system and can up the risk of a heart attack.

#3: Alcohol and Coffee

These drinks, whether to get you going or calm you down, each contribute 5 percent to total risk of triggering a heart attack. Heavy alcohol intake is the primary villain, although doctors aren’t sure how it triggers heart attacks. A few theories are that too much alcohol can increase inflammation and interfere with your body’s ability to dissolve blood clots. But keep in mind that one glass of wine or other alcoholic beverage per day can help prevent heart disease because of the beneficial polyphenols in wine and beer. Coffee, on the other hand, seems to work in exactly the opposite way. Most studies linking coffee to heart disease have found that people who drink it less frequently are more prone to heart attacks than people who drink a lot of coffee. So if you drink less than one cup of coffee per day, consider switching to tea to get your caffeine boost.

#4: Air Pollution

Smog, vehicle exhaust, and all those tiny particulates emitted by burning woodstoves all combine to form a potent, but silent, killer. Air pollution triggers 4.75 percent of heart attacks among those vulnerable, and even though it’s one of the lowest percentages, the authors considered it most concerning because no one can avoid air pollution. For that reason, experts in a new field of medicine called environmental cardiology agree that preventing heart attacks in other ways is more effective than trying to cope on the individual level with air pollution. Minimize stress, treat migraines if you have them, don’t eat red meat and salt, and do eat a Mediterranean diet. You’ll protect yourself against air pollution and all the other heart attack triggers included in the study.

#5: Feeling Happy and Feeling Mad

Strong emotions seem to trigger a heart attack even if they’re good ones. Anger and negative emotions contribute more to your risk—almost 7 percent—than positive emotions, which contribute just 2.5 percent. “Both intense positive and intense negative emotions can cause stress to the body,” says Jeffrey Rossman, PhD, director of Life Management at Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Massachusetts, and a Rodale.com advisor.

All strong emotions increase adrenaline output, heart rate, and the stickiness of red blood cells, which combined can trigger heart attack. But there’s a reason you should still try to embrace more positive emotions to ward off heart attacks. “Positive emotions generally result in more balanced heart rhythms than negative emotions, and disrupted heart rhythms are a contributing factor in some heart attacks,” Rossman says.

Furthermore, he adds, “Because we tend to resist negative emotions, they produce more muscle tension than positive emotions, including tension in the muscles in the periphery of blood vessels. This blood vessel constriction also makes negative emotions more likely than positive emotions to contribute to heart attacks.”

#6: Sex

Rounding out the top seven heart attack triggers is sex, which increases your chance of heart attack by 2.2 percent, the authors found. All that horizontal activity can raise blood pressure and heart rates, triggering a cardiac event. The various studies looking at the link between sex and heart attacks have all concluded that this risk is still relatively low for healthy people, somewhere around 1 chance in a million. But people already at risk for heart attacks should take it easy. The good news, according to a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, is that regular exercise can keep you from succumbing to a sex-induced heart attack.

Have a Healthy Heart. eat lots of Vitamin C and Vitamin D foods and fruits.

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Shortness boosts Heart Disease Risk

2010-06-21T02:13:00.000-07:00

Short people have a significantly higher risk of developing heart disease.

Over the years, there has been conflicting evidence on whether shortness is associated with heart disease. Height is used to calculate body mass index (a measurement of body fat), which is widely used to quantify risk of coronary heart disease.

To see the association between height and risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, researchers analysed data from 52 studies that included more than 3 million people. Short people were considered those under 5’3” and tall people were just over 5’8”. Separated by gender, short men were under 5’5”, and short women were under 5’. Tall men were over 5’9”, and tall women were over 5’5”.

Compared with the tallest people, the shortest people were almost 1.5 times more likely to die from cardiovascular disease or to live with heart disease or suffer a heart attack. Considering men and women separately, short men were 37 percent more likely to die from any cause compared with tall men, and short women were 55 percent more likely to die from any cause compared with taller women.

The researchers speculated that shorter people have smaller coronary arteries that may get blocked earlier in life due to other risk factors such as poverty, poor nutrition and infections that result in poor early life growth.

P.S. protect your heart by taking Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods.

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Warning Signs of a Heart Attack or Stroke in Walking

2010-06-14T00:57:00.000-07:00

Over the years, I've lost walking friends due to heart attacks, some of them even while they were walking. While walking and other moderate intensity exercise can reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke, it is only a reduction, not an elimination of risk.

It is critically important for walkers of every age to know the warning signs of a heart attack or stroke and get immediate medical attention.

The biggest challenge is to overcome your embarrassment. Nobody wants to be labeled a hypochondriac. Men seem especially loathe to get check-ups and work-ups for heart disease.

At the very least, if you know the symptoms and how to perform CPR and use an AED, you may be able to get a friend or loved one to seek medical care before it is too late.

Stop walking and seek immediate care if you have any of these:

* Tightness in your chest and possibly extending into your left arm or neck.
* Palpitations
* Chest pain or pain in your arms or jaw, often on the left side
* Wheezing, coughing, or other difficulty in breathing.
* Severe shortness of breath
* Dizziness, faintness or feeling sick to your stomach
* Excessive perspiration
* Cramps, severe pain or muscle aches
* Severe, prolonged fatigue or exhaustion after exercise.
* Nausea.

Seconds count when you are having a heart attack.

* Immediately call 911 or the other emegency number for your area to bring an ambulance with a defibrillator. Swiftly getting a unit to you is the single most important factor in surviving the heart attack. Seconds count.

* AED (automatic external defibrillator): These are simple portable defibrillators with simple instructions on the unit which anyone may use. Programs are underway to stock them in all public places. Many malls and fast food restaurants, as well as police and fire units will have them. Current Red Cross CPR classes will cover how to use them. If your distress happens in or near a mall, have someone ask for the AED.

* Does it happen? Yes, in 1999 I was at two walking events where friends had heart attacks. These shocking events are a reminder to all of us to be trained in CPR and to know where the nearest phone is to call 911.

* Summon help from those around you. Better to risk embarrassment than to die.

Normal signs of exertion

* Increased heart rate, you may feel or hear your heart beat.
* Increased breathing rate, but should be able to carry on a conversation.
* Mild to moderate sweating.
* Muscle aches and tenderness that might last a day or two as you get started.

P.S. protect your heart. Eat Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods.

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How the shock of prostate cancer diagnosis raises risk of heart attack by up to 11 times

2009-12-31T16:59:00.000-08:00

The shock of being diagnosed with prostate cancer greatly increases the likelihood of a fatal heart attack, researchers have warned.

Men are up to 11 times more likely to die from cardiac problems in the week after being told they have the disease, with younger men and those with no history of heart disease at particular risk.

The threat stays high for the first year after diagnosis and the likelihood of suicide is also raised, a Swedish study involving more than four million men found.

Prostate cancer kills 10,000 British men every year and researchers say it is vital doctors are aware of the dangerous effects of the stress of diagnosis.

They said: 'Careful monitoring of the psychological health of newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients is needed.

'It is not unreasonable to believe that similar effects could be observed among women with breast cancer.'

The researchers analysed the medical records of 4.3million men, including 170,000 diagnosed with prostate cancer between 1961 and 2004, the journal PLoS Medicine reports.

In Britain, Dr Sarah Cant, of the Prostate Cancer Charity, urged caution over the findings.

She said: 'The study fails to take into account several well established risk factors for cardiovascular and suicide, such as age, high blood pressure or mental illness.

'It is important to remember that even if further research did prove a strong association between a diagnosis of prostate cancer and cardiovascular disease or suicide, this does not mean that being diagnosed with prostate cancer causes cardiovascular disease or men to commit suicide.

'There is much research still to be done do understand why possible link exists between these two events.'

But she added: 'This research does underline the need for all men diagnosed with prostate cancer to be given information about, and access to, the support services they need to help them cope with impact that the diagnosis and treatment of the disease can have.'

P.S. protect your HEART by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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What You Must Know About Heart Disease

2009-12-29T11:35:00.000-08:00

Here are some lifesaving facts about the number one killer of women.

Each year some 88,000 women ages 45 to 64 have a heart attack -- which is why knowing how to protect yourself is crucial. It's time to separate the rumors from the facts about this deadly disease -- and lower your risk now.

True or False?

The telltale sign of a heart attack is crushing pain in your chest.

False. Up to 70 percent of female heart attack victims experience no chest pain at all. More common symptoms include nausea or vomiting; cold sweats; shortness of breath; a heartburnlike pain; light-headedness or fainting; and pain in the jaw, throat, back or arm that won't go away. You may also notice unusual fatigue and have problems sleeping. "If routine things like climbing the stairs now take you twice as long to do or leave you out of breath, see your doctor," says cardiologist Nieca Goldberg, M.D., author of The Women's Healthy Heart Program.

True or False?

Body Mass Index is the best way to predict whether you'll have a heart attack.

False. Waist-to-hip ratio may be a better gauge, says a recent study published in the journal Lancet. To find out your ratio, divide your waist measurement in inches by your hip measurement. For women, 0.85 or above means you're at risk of having a heart attack. The higher the number, the higher the risk.

True or False?

Drinking alcohol can help lower your risk.

True -- but only in moderation. Having one alcoholic beverage a day (12 oz. of beer, 4 oz. of wine or 1 oz. of liquor) can decrease your heart disease risk by up to 40 percent. Why that's so: Alcohol is thought to slightly increase good cholesterol, and it also contains resveratrol, a substance that helps prevent blood clots. (Teetotalers, take heart: You can get similar benefits by drinking red or purple grape juice.) For optimum health, choose red wine; it's high in flavonoids, antioxidants that protect heart cells from damage. Warning: Drinking more than what's recommended can raise blood pressure.

True or False?

An aspirin a day keeps a heart attack away.

False. Aspirin lowers the risk of heart attack for those who've already had one, but it doesn't do much to prevent first-time attacks.

True or False?

If a product is labeled "heart-healthy," it will improve your heart health.

False. As long as manufacturers don't claim that a food prevents or treats a specific disease or condition, phrases such as "heart-healthy" or "heart-smart" can pop up anywhere, says Bonnie Liebman, R.D., director of nutrition at the Center for Science in the Public Interest in Washington, DC. "However, if a food touts an ability to lower cholesterol or fight heart disease, the claim is backed by good evidence and has been approved by the FDA." Yoplait's Heart Healthy Yogurt, Benecol margarine and Nature Valley Healthy Heart Granola Bars all contain plant sterols, extracts that inhibit the absorption of cholesterol in the body. Aim for 0.8 g of sterols each day -- about two (6 oz.) yogurts, 1 tbsp. of Benecol or two granola bars.

True or False?

A little chocolate helps your heart.

True -- but only dark chocolate. It's rich in flavonoids, which also lower blood pressure. "It's still best for your health -- and waistline -- to have chocolate only as a treat and instead choose healthier flavonoid-rich snacks such as apples, raspberries or green tea," says Goldberg.

True or False?

Not catching enough z's can harm your heart.

True. Women who sleep five hours or less a night are 30 percent more likely to have heart disease, according to research from Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston. But snoozing more than nine hours often can be a bad sign, too. The connection: Insomniacs are often tense, while oversleepers tend to be depressed. These psychological stressors have been linked to high blood pressure and higher levels of cholesterol, insulin and cortisol (a stress hormone), says Sharonne Hayes, M.D., director of the Mayo Clinic Women's Heart Clinic in Rochester, MN. Have sleep issues? Talk to your doctor so you -- and your heart -- can rest easier.

P.S. protect your HEART by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Suppressing Anger May Cause Heart Problems

2009-12-27T09:46:00.000-08:00

When people think they're treated unfairly at work, does the way they deal with their anger affect the health of their heart?

THIS STUDY involved 2,755 male employees, 41 years old on average, who never had suffered a heart attack. About a fourth of them were supervisors. In the next 10 years, 47 had a heart attack or died of heart disease. Men who used avoidance tactics to deal with conflict or unfair treatment at work -- including walking away from the situation or letting things pass without saying anything -- were twice as likely to have had a heart attack or died of heart disease as were men who openly expressed their anger. Risk was highest for those who walked away.

WHO MAY BE AFFECTED? Men who experience job-related stress or anger. Some studies have linked emotionally upsetting events, especially those involving anger, with heart problems. CAVEATS Behavioral data came from the men's responses on a questionnaire. The study did not suggest what might be healthier coping strategies.

FIND THIS STUDY Nov. 24 online issue of the Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health.

P.S. Protect your HEART by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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What Are Beta-Blockers? What Are Beta-Blockers For?

2009-12-26T10:45:00.000-08:00

Beta-blockers, also known as beta-adrenergic blocking agents, beta-adrenergic antagonists, or beta antagonists, are a type of drug that block the action of the sympathetic nervous system of the heart, resulting in a relief of stress on the heart.

A beta-blocker blocks beta-adrenergic substances, for example adrenaline (apinephrine) in the involuntary nervous system (autononomic nervous system). Beta-blockers slow down the heart beat, reduce the force of the heart muscle's contractions, and decrease blood vessel contraction in the heart, brain, and the rest of the body.

Patients with cardiac arrhythmias (abnormal heart rhythms), tachycardias (accelerated heart rates), or irregular heart rhythms (atrial fibrillation), such as premature ventricular beats may be prescribed beta-blockers. They may also be useful in treating angina because they lower the heart muscle's demand for oxygen - angina pectoris occurs when the heart's demand for oxygen is greater than the supply.

Beta-blockers are useful in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension) because their effects on blood vessels lowers blood pressure. They are also key drugs in improving survival rates for patients after a heart attack.

Beta-blockers are also used for preventing migraine headaches and some familial or hereditary tremors.

In other words, beta-blockers are known as beta- adrenoreceptor blocking agents and are used to treat:

Commonly

Angina
Heart failure
High blood pressure (hypertension)
irregular heart beat (atrial fibrillation)
Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

Less commonly
Prevention of migraine
Thyrotoxicosis (overactive thyroid)
Anxiety
Tremor
Glaucoma (as eye drops)

The first clinically useful beta adrenergic receptor antagonist was called Propranolol. It was invented by Sir James W. Black (born 1924), a Scottish doctor and pharmacologist. Sir James also synthesized Cimetidine (for the treatment of heartburn and peptic ulcers) and was awarded the Nobel Prize for Medicine in 1988. Propranolol revolutionized the medical management of angina pectoris - it is considered as one of the major contributions to clinical medicine and pharmacology of the 20th century.

According to Medilexicon's medical dictionary

beta-adrenergic blocking agent

"a class of drugs that competes with β-adrenergic agonists for available receptor sites; some compete for both Beta₁ and Beta₂ receptors (propranolol) whereas others are primarily either Beta₁ (metoprolol) or Beta₂ blockers; used in the treatment of a variety of cardiovascular diseases for which beta-adrenergic blockade is desirable."

Types of beta-blockers

There are various types of beta-blockers (beta-adrenoceptor blocking agents). Which one a patient has depends on his/her condition.

Below are some examples:

Pindolol

What do beta-blockers do?

Beta-blockers block the release of noradrenalin in parts of the body. Noradrenalin is released by the nerves when they are stimulated - it is a chemical that conveys messages to other parts of the body, including muscles, blood vessels and the heart.

Heart problems - for a patient with heart problems beta-blockers can reduce the workload for the heart; so that it does not have to work so hard to supply all parts of the body with oxygen-rich blood. For people with angina, heart failure, or after a heart attack, reducing the heart's workload is crucial.

Beta-blockers can also block the stimulation of the heart form electrical impulses - they can control irregular heartbeats - thus lowering the activity of the heart and slowing down the heart rate.

Hypertension - beta-blockers lower blood pressure by slowing down the heart rate, as well as reducing the force of the heart. Blood still gets to all parts of the body, but at reduced pressure.

Glaucoma - pressure within the eyeball is reduced with beta-blocker eye drops. The medication lowers the production of fluid inside the eye ball (aqueous humor).

Things to bear in mind with beta-blockers

The following people should not take beta-blockers:

Patients with a history of asthma (unless the doctor says so)
Patients with a history of bronchospasm (unless the doctor says so)
Patients with second or third degree heart block
Patients with severe peripheral arterial disease (including Raynaud's syndrome)
Patients with worsening, unstable heart failure (can be used for stable heart failure)

For the following people, beta-blockers should be used with caution:

Patients with diabetes, especially those with regular episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia)
Patients with MG (myasthenia gravis)
Patients with a slow heart rate (bradycardia)
Patients with low blood pressure (hypotension)
Patients with hypertension that results from an adrenal gland tumor (pheochromocytoma)
Patients with high blood acid levels (metabolic acidosis)
Patients with Prinzmetal angina

Pregnancy and breastfeeding - in some cases certain types of beta-blockers may be used.

Getting off beta-blockers - Patients must not stop taking beta-blockers suddenly without their doctor's advice and close supervision. Suddenly ceasing beta-blocker treatment may exacerbate the patient's condition, especially after a heart attack or for the treatment of angina.

What are the side effects of beta-blockers?

The most common side effects are:

Cold feet
Cold hands
Diarrhea
Fatigue
Nausea
Very slow heartbeat

The following less common side effects are also possible:

Sleeping difficulties and disturbances
Bad dreams (nightmares)
Erectile dysfunction (male inability to achieve or sustain an erection during sex)

Driving - some patients may experience dizziness or fatigue; in such cases they should not drive. However, this is rare.

Beta-blocker interactions with other drugs

Drug interaction is the extra effects two different medicines can have on the body when taken together - effects beyond their primary purposes. Beta-blockers can interact with the following medications:

Antipsychotics - these medications are commonly prescribed for patients with bipolar disorder or schizophrenia. When taken with some beta-blockers the risk of arrhythmias is greater.

Clonidine - a medication prescribed for either patients with hypertension (high blood pressure) or migraines. A patient who is taking both clonidine and beta-blockers and then suddenly stops taking clonidine has a greater risk of experiencing a sudden and sharp rise in blood pressure (rebound hypertension).

Digoxin - prescribed for patients with congestive heart failure and certain cardiac arrhythmias. When taken with beta-blockers there is a higher risk of slow heart rate (bradycardia).

Diltiazem - a medication that dilates blood vessels, prescribed for patients with angina pectoris or hypertension. When taken with beta-blockers there is a higher risk of slow heart rate (bradycardia).

Drugs to control high blood pressure (antihypertensives) - when taken with beta-blockers the patient may experience hypotension (a serious drop in blood pressure).

Drugs to control irregular heartbeats (anti-arrhythmics) - when taken with beta-blockers the risk of impaired function of the heart (myocardial depression) is greater, as is the risk of irregular heartbeats (arrhythmias).

Mefloquine - a drug for the treatment of malaria resistant to chloroquine phosphate. When taken with beta-blockers the result may be bradycardia.

Nifedipine - this drug reduces calcium ions available to heart and smooth muscle, used in the treatment of angina pectoris. When taken with beta-blockers there is a higher risk of hypotension (low blood pressure).

Nisoldipine - a calcium channel blocker used in the treatment of high blood pressure (hypertension). When taken with beta-blockers there is a higher risk of hypotension (low blood pressure).

Verapamil - used in the treatment of hypertension, angina pectoris, and certain cardiac arrhythmias. When taken with beta-blockers there is a higher risk of hypotension (low blood pressure).

Check with your pharmacist or doctor for a more comprehensive and up-to-date list of beta-blocker interactions.

P.S. Boost your Heart Health by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Heart drugs may help treat colon cancer

2009-12-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

A group of drugs used to treat heart failure shows promise for fighting colon cancer, researchers in Sweden said.

Jenny Felth and Joachim Gullbo both of of Uppsala University and colleagues said cardiac glycosides -- a family of naturally derived drugs used to treat congestive heart failure and abnormal heart rhythms -- may prove useful in fighting many types of cancer.

As part of a larger study to screen and identify natural substances with activity against colon cancer, the researchers tested five of these heart drugs against laboratory cultures of human colon cancer cells and found they were all effective, to varying degrees, in killing the cancer cells.

The sensitivity was rather low when compared with that of other cancer cell types reported previously. However, several of the drugs also showed increased anti-cancer activity when combined with certain drugs used for standard chemotherapy.

The findings, published in the Journal of Natural Products, suggest the heart drugs may affect colon cancer outcome when used alone or in combination with conventional chemotherapy drugs.

P.S. Protect your HEART by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Sulfonylureas for Diabetes increase risk of Heart Disease and Death, Study finds

2009-12-23T09:37:00.000-08:00

Sulfonylureas, the first family of oral drugs used for treating type 2 diabetes, increase the risk of death from all causes by as much as 61% compared with the newer drug metformin, British researchers have found. Some researchers have suspected that the drugs carry an increased risk, but the new study reported online in BMJ.com is the first to quantify the risks. BMJ.com is the website of BMJ, formerly the British Medical Journal.

The good news from the study is that the new family of drugs called thiazolidinediones is not associated with an increased risk and that one of them, pioglitazone, actually reduces risk by as much as 39% compared with metformin.

Type 2 diabetes has reached epidemic status, with more than 180 million victims worldwide and nearly 24 million in the United States. It is most common among the elderly and is associated with obesity, but the growing incidence of obesity in youth is causing the disease to appear in an ever-younger population. Diabetes by itself doubles the risk of heart disease, which complicates the task of identifying increased risks from drugs. U.S. guidelines call for using metformin as first-line therapy for type 2 diabetes, and the new results support that recommendation.

The sulfonyureas, which include Glucotrol, Diabeta, Glipizide, Gliclazide, glyburide, Amaryl, chlorpropamide, tolbutamide and tolazamide, have been marketed in the United States since 1955 and are taken once or twice daily before meals. They stimulate the release of insulin by the pancreas and may help sensitize cells to the action of the hormone.

Dr. Paul Elliott, an epidemiologist at Imperial College London, and his colleagues studied health records of 91,521 diabetic men and women (with an average age of 65) in the U.K. General Practice Database between 1990 and 2005. Among that group, in an average follow-up period of seven years, there were 3,588 myocardial infarctions (heart attacks), 6,900 cases of congestive heart failure and 18,548 deaths.

Compared with metformin, the team observed a 24% to 61% excess risk for deaths from all causes among users of first- and second-generation sulfonylureas and an 18% to 30% excess risk of congestive heart failure for users of the second-generation drugs. The thiazolidinediones rosiglitazone (Avandia) and pioglitazone (Actos) were not associated with an increased risk of heart attacks. Actos was associated with a 31% to 39% decrease in risk of all-cause mortality compared with metformin. Comparing the two thiazolidinediones to each other, the team found that Avandia was linked to a 34% to 41% higher risk of death, but the team concluded the increased risk was not statistically significant when other factors were taken into account.

Experts cautioned, however, that the study suffers from a problem characteristic of all such retrospective studies -- researchers cannot know what diagnosis prompted physicians to describe specific drugs. High-risk patients with high blood levels of creatine, for example, are not likely to be prescribed metformin and would probably receive a sulfonylurea instead. Because the high creatine levels increase the risk of death by themselves, an increased risk might inappropriately be blamed on the drugs.

P.S. Protect your Heart by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Body clock link to heart disease

2009-12-22T08:41:00.000-08:00

Scientists have raised the possibility that cardiovascular disease is linked to disturbances in the body's 24-hour clock.

Working on mice, the Japanese team found a genetic risk factor for a form of high blood pressure is influenced by 24-hour or circadian rhythms.

The study appears online in the journal Nature Medicine.

Malfunctions in the body clock - which influences much of the body's chemistry - have been linked to many diseases.

And lead researcher Professor Hitoshi Okamura said the latest study was in line with data which suggested shift workers, long-distance flight crews and people with sleep disorders have a heightened risk of heart problems.

High blood pressure - known as hypertension - can lead to heart attack, stroke, kidney damage, and many other medical problems.

Many genes have been identified as being essential elements making up the circadian clock.

For example, mice lacking a pair of molecules known as cryptochromes have an abnormal circadian rhythm.

The latest study, by Kyoto University, found these mice were vulnerable to high blood pressure because of abnormally high levels of a hormone called aldosterone that prompts water retention in the kidneys.

Strong correlation

The researchers showed that the circadian clock directly controls a gene that plays a key role in production of the hormone.

The researchers say a similar gene is found in humans.

They stress more work is needed to determine whether a misfiring circadian clock can lead to high blood pressure in humans.

But Professor Okamura said the research raised the prospect of new ways to treat hypertension.

Professor Bryan Williams, an expert in hypertension at the University of Leicester, described the study as "fascinating".

He said: "We know that there is a strong correlation between time of day and cardiovascular events, which often coincide with the early morning surge in blood pressure.

"So this does provide some insights into the mechanism that might underpin blood pressure deregulation in some people."

Professor Williams said some people with high blood pressure were known to have high levels of aldosterone.

But he added: "What we don't know is how common this mutation might be in human hypertension."

Professor Jeremy Pearson, associate medical director at the British Heart Foundation, said: "Hypertension is common, but the genes controlling blood pressure are not well understood.

"Their identification will help design better treatments for high blood pressure."

But he also stressed more research was needed before it became clear whether the study had identified a potential target for new treatments.

P.S. protect your HEART by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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6 Best Habits for a Healthy Heart

2009-12-20T09:47:00.000-08:00

The cardiologist who created the South Beach Diet shares his top advice for living healthy.

I'm 62 and, thankfully, have never been hospitalized, nor can I remember calling in sick. I still work 12-hour days, walk the golf course, hit the heavy bag, and, not too long ago, even played ice hockey. Other than some minor colds, flus, and heartburn, I have been very healthy, and I take no regular medications. How I've managed this isn't a secret. My philosophy is in my books. But for this special issue of Prevention, I want to summarize it for you--what I eat, how I exercise and beat stress, even my own advice that I struggle with. Here's my personal Rx--feel free to make it your own:

Eat three squares and a snack: I start most days with a three-egg omelet (one yolk and whites) and some green tea with a scoop of Benefiber (a natural fiber supplement). For lunch, I usually order baked salmon and grilled veggies from a nearby restaurant. I never eat fast food. And for dinner, my wife, Sari, typically makes fish or chicken with veggies. We eat little starch at home. If I get hungry during the day or when I'm traveling, I'll have a mozzarella stick, fruit, wasabi-coated soy nuts, other nuts, or a high-fiber bar.

Indulge in moderation: I love dark chocolate. I keep a stash in the office and usually eat a piece after lunch. I try to limit myself to that single daily indulgence, although I also have a weakness for rugelach, a rich pastry my wife buys when our boys come home from college. If I'm lucky, they consume most of it before I have the opportunity to yield to temptation.

Exercise early and regularly: On weekdays, I'm up and in my home gym by 6:15 am. Three days a week, I use a machine called the Power Plate, which vibrates as I do various exercises. It helps warm up my old bones, while building balance and core strength. Then I'll do Pilates. This workout normally lasts an hour. The other two weekdays I'll do 20 to 30 minutes of interval training on an elliptical machine. This type of high/ low intensity is great for the heart. On weekends, I golf, play tennis, or occasionally do a boxing workout.

Go easy on the supplements: I believe a good diet will provide most of the essential nutrients I need. So, besides Benefiber, the only supplements I take are fish oil, turmeric, and Cold-Eeze when I travel. The omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil protect the heart, while some doctors I respect believe the curcumin in turmeric helps prevent Alzheimer's disease. Cold-Eeze contains zinc, which may prevent colds or lessen their symptoms.

Prioritize sleep: I get at least 7 hours per night. I also believe in naps. If I have an evening social engagement, I'll nap for 30 minutes before going out.

Cultivate closeness: I've been married for 28 years, and my wife and I have not only a wide circle of friends but also two much-loved sons who come home often. We all try to spend a few weeks vacationing together in the summer. Studies show that a strong social and family network is not only helpful for your general health but also for preventing heart disease.

Good news for your heart
Read Agatston's blog for the latest advice and ask him questions at prevention.com/dragatston.

By Arthur Agatston , Arthur Agatston, MD, is a preventive cardiologist and Prevention's "From the Heart Doc." He is also a member of Prevention's medical advisory board.

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Tall Tales of the Heart

2009-12-18T09:44:00.000-08:00

Every day, patients ask my opinion about various treatments and remedies they've found on the Internet. Just as there are stories about mammoth alligators lurking in Manhattan's sewers, urban legends regarding heart disease and what causes it abound. Here are the verdicts on a few I've heard lately:

You can stop a heart attack by coughing. True.

Coughing alternately increases and decreases chest pressure, which can raise a slow heart rate, boost cardiac output, and sometimes even stop an arrhythmia. It's called "cough CPR." If you have coronary disease and feel palpitations and are lightheaded, take deep breaths and cough repeatedly. This may support your circulation a bit longer until help arrives.

Learn how to lower your heart attack risk from the experiences of other patients.

Roller coasters are dangerous for your heart. True.

That's why there are all those warning signs at Walt Disney World. If you have a heart condition, any thrill ride can trigger a rush of adrenaline that could cause an irregular heartbeat and even a coronary. People with heart disease should stick to It's a Small World.

The higher your cholesterol, the greater your chance of heart disease. Sort of true.

Total cholesterol tells us which populations have higher risks of heart attack. For example, Americans' average cholesterol levels are much higher than those of the Chinese, and we have a much higher rate of heart attack. However, if you look at the population of this country alone, total cholesterol is a very poor predictor of heart disease risk. Studies show that total cholesterol levels among people who've had heart attacks are almost the same as those of people who haven't. You have to look at the types of cholesterol (HDL, LDL) and their size. These are the most helpful measurements.

You're at risk of a heart attack if there's a crease in your earlobe. Perhaps.

This phenomenon is something I look for and have observed in patients. Some studies show that if you have a pronounced crease running diagonally across one or more lobes, your body's level of elastin is low. Elastin is a protein that affects blood vessel function. It's particularly abundant in your largest artery, the aorta.

The balder the man, the greater his heart attack risk. Probably false.

Balding is triggered in a roundabout way by high levels of testosterone. High testosterone levels are good for a man's sex drive and for lean muscles and good bone mass, but low testosterone levels are associated with prediabetes and type 2 diabetes, both risk factors for heart disease. Although some earlier studies have suggested an association between baldness and heart disease, more recent ones refute the notion.

Follow Dr. Agatston's 6 tips for a healthy heart.

You're probably a bit surprised that so many of these supposed urban legends have an element of truth to them. But keep in mind that even though there may be some science there, it's soft science. Cardiologists routinely do so many tests to assess heart disease risk that oddball theories like these, even if partially true, become relatively minor. Now, about those alligators ...

Arthur Agatston, M.D., an associate professor of medicine at the University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, is the author of The South Beach Diet Supercharged: Faster Weight Loss and Better Health for Life. He maintains a cardiology practice and research foundation in Miami Beach, Fla.

Good news for your heart

Read Agatston's blog for the latest advice and ask him questions at prevention.com/dragatston.

6 Ways to Avoid Dying of a Surprise Heart Attack

2009-12-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

The facts are scary: Despite the progress made against heart disease in the past several decades, almost half the people who die suddenly from a heart attack or other cardiac problem have no prior symptoms. Even knowing someone's risk factors for heart disease, it's often tough to pinpoint who will actually go on to get the disease. And once blood flow to the heart muscle is blocked and a heart attack happens, it's not exactly clear why some people experience sudden cardiac arrest, which killed Meet the Press host Tim Russert last week, and others don't.

Those uncertainties, however, don't mean that you are powerless to protect yourself from dying of a heart attack. Here are steps to take to improve your odds:

1. Follow the standard prevention guidelines. The American Heart Association has three basic tips for preventing heart disease, stroke, and heart attack: Don't smoke, be more active, and make good nutritional choices. This is good general health advice, regardless of your heart disease risk.

2. Exercise. Yes, we mentioned it above, but it's worth repeating. "Exercise raises good cholesterol and lowers bad cholesterol," says Rob Michler, director and chairman of heart surgery at the Montefiore-Einstein Heart Center in New York. Worrying that exercise is going to give you a heart attack is not a valid excuse for skipping it; while it's true that exercise raises your odds of a heart attack in the moment, the long-term benefits vastly outstrip this short-term risk. (Still, check with your doctor first if you're obese, have health problems, or haven't exercised in years.)

3. Know your risk. Find out your Framingham risk score, which gives the odds of heart attack or heart disease-related death in the next 10 years. It requires you have certain basic information, like your cholesterol numbers and blood pressure. This score isn't perfect, especially for young people and for women, who can find alternative ways to gauge risk, but it's a good place to start. Talk to your doctor about your risk score, and do something about what is controllable, like your weight or tobacco habits. "Recognize when you have a risk and modify that risk as much as you can," says Steve Owens, a cardiologist at the University of Kansas Hospital in Kansas City, Kan.. If your odds of heart disease are high enough, talk with your doc about the pros and cons of medications like statins or aspirin.

4. Get a family history. "Your genetic profile is the one risk factor we can't modify," says Michler. But if you have a family history of early-onset heart disease, tell your doctor even if you're in perfect health yourself. If your father had a heart attack at 40 (even if he survived it), that's crucial information about your possible genetic risk.

5. Know the symptoms of heart problems. It's not just crushing chest pain. U.S. News wrote recently about how to know if you're having a heart attack and what to do about it and also looked at how women may not be alert to the signs of heart disease.

6. Learn CPR. Clearly, you can't perform it on yourself, but you can help someone around you who is experiencing cardiac arrest. "If people can make it until EMS arrives, then their chances of survival are wonderful," says Judith Hochman, clinical chief of cardiology at New York University, who says she's seen three recent cases of patients saved by CPR. The American Heart Association says it improves survival two to threefold and recently urged laypeople to learn how to do it. And it needn't be complicated: Chest compressions alone can help heart attack victims. Meantime, if you're in a public space like a gym or casino when someone has an attack, look for an automated external defibrillator, Hochman advises.

P.S. boost your heart health by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Erectile Dysfunction Often a Sign of Heart Disease, Diabetes

2009-12-14T09:31:00.000-08:00

Erectile dysfunction, once thought to have primarily psychological causes, is now recognized to often stem from physiological problems such as poor blood flow to the penis. Increasingly, research indicates that ED can be an early warning sign of coronary artery disease, which also results from obstructed blood flow and, if untreated, can lead to heart attacks and stroke. Recent studies—including two published online today—also link sagging erections to diabetes, which has negative effects on cardiovascular health. More than half of American men age 40 to 70 suffer from erectile dysfunction, so that's a lot of men who may be at risk of vascular disease—and may not realize it.

"Symptoms of erectile dysfunction seem to occur three to four years before symptoms of coronary artery disease," says Robert Kloner, a cardiologist at Keck School of Medicine in Los Angeles, Calif. Researchers first started tracking a link between erectile dysfunction and cardiovascular problems in the mid-'90s, and in the last few years they have recognized that erectile dysfunction precedes and is therefore predictive of future cardiovascular problems.

"Patients should not [ignore] the presence of erectile dysfunction. And physicians should always investigate the presence of ED in high-risk patients," notes Carmine Gazzaruso, that study's author and a professor at the University of Pavia in Italy. In 2005, leading physicians published a consensus statement that every man who reports having erectile dysfunction without an obvious cause should be screened for vascular disease.

In diabetics, it turns out, ED may be even more of a red flag than it is in other men. Two new studies published today in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology suggest that men with both diabetes and erectile dysfunction face a greater cardiovascular risk than men with erectile dysfunction alone. "It's a real wake-up call for men with both erectile dysfunction and diabetes," says Allen Seftel, a urologist at Case Western University. In light of the new findings, he says, diabetics who develop ED should be especially prompt about seeking medical attention and getting tested for cardiovascular disease.

One of the studies, led by Gazzaruso, tracked diabetic men with silent (symptomless) coronary artery disease for several years. It found that those who initially had erectile dysfunction were more likely to experience a major cardiac event such as a heart attack than those who didn't. In the ED-affected group, 61.2 percent had a major heart problem during the four-year study. By comparison, 36.4 percent of men who didn't have erectile dysfunction had major heart problems.

The other study, conducted by researchers in Hong Kong, followed 2,306 men with diabetes without cardiovascular problems for an average of four years, finding that men who had erectile dysfunction had about a 60 percent higher risk of developing cardiovascular problems such as heart attack, heart failure, and chest pain. "Even mild symptoms of erectile dysfunction can mean your glucose, blood pressure, and lipid levels are very abnormal," says Peter Tong, a professor at the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the author of the study.

Making some simple changes, experts say, might save a man's life—not just his sex life. Men with erectile dysfunction—especially those who also have diabetes—need to be especially vigilant about finding ways to eat a healthy diet, exercise regularly, and abstain from smoking. A 2004 study found that men who started exercising in midlife had a 70 percent reduced risk of erectile dysfunction relative to men who remained sedentary. In that study, about a third of obese men with erectile dysfunction had regained their sexual function after two years. "Getting off the couch will not only reduce the risk of diabetes and cardiovascular disease, but it can also prevent erectile dysfunction," says Elizabeth Selvin, a Johns Hopkins researcher. Last year, Selvin found men who were physically inactive were much more likely to have ED than men who were active.

The most important thing for men, however, is simply to get to the doctor if they have erectile dysfunction. "A lot of men still don't feel comfortable talking to their doctor about it," says Kloner. Yet avoiding the doctor might mean passing up access to powerful medications that can help counteract flagging erections and clogging arteries. For example, a class of drugs called PDE5 inhibitors—which includes Viagra (which just celebrated its 10th birthday), Levitra, and Cialis—can help men achieve erections by increasing blood flow to the penis, while statins, if used appropriately, can lower LDL cholesterol levels. The Italian study found that the cholesterol-lowering medications could cut the risk of hear problems by a third, and it hinted that PDE5 inhibitors might have a protective effect as well.

P.S. boost your overall health by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Former WWE wrestler Edward 'Umaga' Fatu dies of heart attack

2009-12-13T02:51:00.000-08:00

The wrestling community is reeling today after news that ex-WWE superstar Edward “Umaga” Fatu has died.

Formerly known to World Wrestling Entertainment fans as Umaga, Fatu died Friday after suffering a heart attack, CNN reports. The 36-year-old's wife reportedly found him unconscious with blood coming out of his nose. He was rushed to a hospital in Houston, TX, but was pronounced dead at around 6:00 pm EST.

In 2007, The News reported that Fatu was one of many superstars who bought prescription drugs from an online pharmacy, which violated the WWE "Talent Wellness" program. The wrestler had purchased a growth hormone called somatropin in the months following a WWE rule was instituted stating its fighters could not buy drugs from online sources.

Fatu was the cousin of Dwayne Johnson, aka The Rock, and a member of the Anoa'I wrestling family. He was nicknamed the Samoan Bulldozer for his powerful technique and won the WWE Intercontinental title two times. But despite his stellar performances, Umaga was ultimately fired by the WWE after violating the Wellness Program again by not entering rehab.

On its official website, the WWE expressed "its deepest condolences to Mr. Fatu's family, friends and fans on his tragic passing."

Fatu had just taken part in Hulk Hogan's Hulkmania tour in Australia when he passed away.

P.S. protect your HEART by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Signs of Heart Attack That Many Patients Don't Know

2009-12-12T09:25:00.000-08:00

Nearly half of heart patients don't fully grasp the symptoms of an attack. Make sure you know them.

Monday's news that many people with heart disease may be lacking in their knowledge about the signs of a heart attack led U.S. News to believe the general public might benefit from a refresher, too. In fact, two colleagues recently wrote that both sexes could stand to be a bit more heart aware: Deborah Kotz blogged about how women having heart attacks are often slow to get help, and Adam Voiland noted that a not-so-subtle clue, erectile dysfunction, might be a sign of heart disease or diabetes. Vincent Bufalino, cardiologist and spokesman for the American Heart Association, offers up the must-know information that could save your ticker—and your life—should a heart attack strike.

Signs and symptoms that could indicate a heart attack include:

* Exertion-related discomfort—say, going up the stairs or carrying a heavy box—such as pressure, burning, squeezing, or tightness in the chest

* Radiating pain or pressure into either arm, the neck, or the jaw

* Breathlessness along with profound fatigue or exhaustion. (Women, in particular, tend to experience these more subtle signs.)

If you develop any of these symptoms, it means you should call 9-1-1 right away, says Bufalino. "We don't want people driving in [to the hospital] and having a sudden cardiac event in the car where nothing can be done." That goes for having a worried spouse ferry you to the hospital, too. Significant damage can be avoided the sooner you get medical help.

And don't try to tough it out, either, says Bufalino. "You don't need that elephant standing on your chest to come in." If you're downing antacids because you think you're having heartburn but the burning isn't subsiding, make that call for medical help. It can't hurt to pop an aspirin while you're waiting, he adds. "The paramedics will give you aspirin first thing."

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Stifled Anger at Work Doubles Men's Risk for Heart Attack

2009-12-10T11:20:00.000-08:00

Men who bottle up their anger over unfair treatment at work could be hurting their hearts, a new Swedish study indicates.

Men who consistently failed to express their resentment over conflicts with a fellow worker or supervisor were more than twice as likely to have a heart attack or die of heart disease as those who vented their anger, claims a report in the Nov. 24 online edition of the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health.

In fact, ignoring an ongoing work-related conflict was associated with a tripled risk of heart attack or coronary death, the study of almost 2,800 Swedish working men found.

"It is not good just to walk away after having such a conflict or to swallow one's feelings," said study co-author Constanze Leineweber, a psychologist at Stockholm University's Stress Research Institute.

The study did not specify good ways of coping with work-related stress -- "We just looked at the bad side of coping," Leineweber explained.

The study doesn't advocate being belligerent at work, Leineweber cautioned. "Shouting out, and so on, is not proper coping," she said.

But venting one's anger outside of the workplace didn't seem to take a cardiovascular toll, at least. "Getting into a bad temper at home" was not associated with an increased risk of heart attack or cardiac death, the study authors found.

The findings echo those from a study published last year in the journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine. That study, also from Sweden and involving more than 3,100 men, found that having an overbearing or incompetent boss boosted workers' odds for angina, heart attack and death.

Leineweber stressed that what is true for men might not be true for female workers. While the study included more than 2,000 women, too few of them had heart attacks or died of heart disease to allow conclusions to be drawn.

"Earlier studies have indicated that women use different coping strategies than men," Leinewaber said. "So for women, strategies such as going away and not saying anything might not be good."

Women in general appear to handle stressful situations better than men, noted Dr. Bruce S. Rabin, director of the Healthy Lifestyle Program at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center.

"Social interaction, having people to talk to, is extremely important," Rabin said. "If you keep things to yourself, you have high levels of stress hormones. Women are more comfortable in social interactions than men. They talk more, while men tend to keep within themselves."

A study, conducted by the Swedish researchers in 2005, found that women did not have the same levels of cardiovascular risk factors as men, Rabin noted.

There is no one key to handling on-the-job stress, because the level of stress depends on an individual's environment, at work and in the home, he said.

"Work environment is important," Rabin said. "You need interaction between people so that everybody feels they can express their opinions about their work. You shouldn't come to work with a feeling that no one cares."

"And when you go home, it is very important to share your feelings with whomever you are sharing with," Rabin added. "Also, you should understand that children learn from the behavior of parents. You can have a meaningful effect on the long-term health of children by being good role models. The message is that the environment you culture can affect not only your health but also the health of those who are important to you."

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Ginkgo Won't Prevent Heart Attack, Stroke in Elderly

2009-12-08T09:14:00.000-08:00

Among people aged 75 and older, the herbal supplement Ginkgo biloba does not prevent heart attacks, stroke or death, a new study finds.

There is some evidence that the popular herbal remedy might help prevent the leg-circulation problem known as peripheral artery disease, however.

Ginkgo contains nutrients called flavonoids, which are also found in fruits, vegetables, dark chocolate and red wine, and are believed to offer some protection against cardiovascular events, the researchers say. The supplement, which is popular in the United States and Europe, has been touted to improve memory, and to prevent dementia, heart disease and stroke.

However, "ginkgo had no benefit in preventing heart attack or stroke," said study lead researcher Dr. Lewis H. Kuller, distinguished university professor of public health and professor of epidemiology at the University of Pittsburgh.

"But, surprising to us, was that the results were consistent with the observations in Europe that ginkgo appeared to have some benefit in preventing peripheral vascular disease," he said.

This could be due to flavonoids acting as both antioxidants and also causing blood vessels to expand, Kuller said.

The report was released online Nov. 24 in advance of publication in an upcoming print issue of the journal Circulation. Last year the same University of Pittsburgh team reported that ginkgo biloba had no effect on preventing dementia.

For their latest study, Kuller's group randomly assigned 3,069 patients to 120 milligrams of highly purified ginkgo biloba or placebo, twice a day as part of the Ginkgo Evaluation of Memory Study.

Over the six years of the trial, 385 participants died, 164 had heart attacks, 151 had strokes, 73 had mini-strokes ("transient ischemic attacks") and 207 had chest pain, the researchers found.

There was no significant difference between those taking ginkgo or placebo for any of these outcomes, Kuller said.

However, among the 35 people who were treated for peripheral artery disease, 23 received placebo and 12 were taking ginkgo -- a statistically significance difference, the researchers noted.

About 8 million Americans have peripheral artery disease, which typically affects the arteries in the pelvis and legs. Symptoms include cramping and pain or tiredness in the hip muscles and legs when walking or climbing stairs, although not everyone who has PAD is symptomatic. The pain usually subsides during rest.

"This study demonstrated that there were absolutely no benefits of ginkgo biloba in reducing cardiovascular events such as heart attack or stroke or in reducing death due to cardiovascular disease," said Dr. Gregg A. Fonarow, a professor of cardiovascular medicine at the University of California, Los Angeles.

"Individuals interested in maintaining cardiovascular health should stick to interventions that have been proven to be beneficial, including not smoking, engaging in regular exercise, and maintaining healthy weight, blood pressure and cholesterol levels rather than taking herbal supplements," Fonarow said.

Mark Blumenthal, founder and executive director of the American Botanical Council, an independent non-profit educational organization, pointed to the study's more positive outcome.

"I believe it is important to emphasize that the results of this current exploratory trial do not in any manner reduce or negate the existing positive results of ginkgo biloba as an effective treatment in peripheral artery disease patients, which has been evaluated, confirmed, and approved by government regulatory drug authorities in leading Western European countries like Germany and France," he said.

In addition, Blumenthal said, the trial showed that ginkgo biloba was safe and well-tolerated.

P.S. protect your heart naturally by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Cholesterol Plays Role in Heart Failure Risk

2009-12-06T09:08:00.000-08:00

Abnormal cholesterol levels can significantly increase the risk of heart failure, a new study has found.

U.S. researchers analyzed data on 6,860 participants in the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute's Framingham Heart Study. None of the participants, average age 44, had coronary heart disease at the start of the study. After about 26 years of follow-up, 680 people had developed heart failure.

The incidence of heart failure was:

* 12.8 percent in participants with low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL, or "good") cholesterol. Low HDL is less than 40 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL) in men and less than 50 mg/dL in women.

* 6.1 percent among participants with desirable HDL levels (at least 55 mg/dL in men and 65 mg/dL in women).

* 13.8 percent in participants with high levels (at least 190 mg/dL) of non-HDL cholesterol, which includes triglycerides and low-density lipoprotein (LDL, or "bad") cholesterol.

* 7.9 percent in those with desirable levels (less than 160 mg/dL) of non-HDL cholesterol.

When the researchers factored in age, sex, body mass index, blood pressure, diabetes and smoking, the risk of heart failure was 29 percent higher in participants with high non-HDL cholesterol than in those with lower levels, and 40 percent lower in those with high HDL-cholesterol than in those with lower levels.

Further analysis showed that the risk of heart attack was 13 percent higher in participants with high non-HDL cholesterol and 25 percent lower in those with high HDL cholesterol.

"This study goes a step further in implicating cholesterol levels (both HDL and non-HDL) in heart failure and suggests that cholesterol-altering therapy may have long-term benefits in preventing heart failure above and beyond its effects on preventing [heart attack]," study senior author Dr. Daniel Levy, director of the Framingham Heart Study, said in a news release from the American Heart Association.

P.S. maintain good cholesterol by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Birth Control Pills May Cause a Heart Attack or Stroke

2009-12-04T09:00:00.000-08:00

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella are popular birth control pills that have been linked to alarming side-effects such as heart attacks and strokes. Reportedly, Drospirenone, the key ingredient in Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella is responsible for raising the risk of heart attack and stroke. It is important to note that according to some reports, no other birth control pill contains Drospirenone.

Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella can cause strokes and heart attacks by creating abnormal blood clots. Ordinarily, blood clots serve the important function of stopping bleeding from cuts. Within the body, the blood clotting process repairs damage to the skin, blood vessels and other body tissues. It has been reported however, that the use of Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella can result in unnecessary blood clotting within a blood vessel, vein or artery. If the blood clot causes a blockage near the heart, the clot can prevent blood flow from reaching the heart, resulting in a heart attack. If the blood clot creates a blockage in the brain, the blockage can cause a stroke. It has been suggested that the combination of chemicals and hormones in Yaz, Yasmin and Ocella can increase the risk of blood clots by more than 600%.

A leading personal injury law firm, Weitz & Luxenberg is offering free, online case reviews to those who have suffered side-effects from using Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella. For a free case review, send an e-mail to kumarsingh011@gmail.com. In your e-mail, please state the following:

# Your name
# Your date of birth
# The start date and end date of your use of Yaz, Yasmin or Ocella
# A description of the side-effects that you experienced

About Weitz & Luxenberg lawyers

Weitz & Luxenberg is a leading personal injury law firm. The firm has won more than $1 billion in a wide range of personal injury cases. The cases that the firm handles include defective products such as Yaz birth control pills and asbestos cancer cases such as mesothelioma. Weitz & Luxenberg has successfully represented shipyard workers, boilermakers and others who have been diagnosed with mesothelioma from job-related asbestos exposure.

Weitz & Luxenberg has been recognized as the "Best Lawyers of New York" by New York Magazine.

Remember: The law limits your time to file a lawsuit. Don't lose your rights by waiting too long to explore your legal options.

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Abnormal Cholesterol Raises Heart Failure Risk

2009-12-02T09:55:00.000-08:00

Abnormal levels of cholesterol have long been associated with an increased risk of heart attacks and stroke, and now you can add heart failure to the list. Results of a new study show, among other findings, that the risk of heart failure is 29 percent higher in individuals who have high LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol and triglyceride levels than those who have lower levels.

Heart failure, also known as congestive heart failure, is a condition in which the heart is unable to pump a sufficient amount of blood to meet the body’s needs. An estimated 5.7 million Americans have heart failure and experience its symptoms of fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles and lower legs, heart palpitations, and cognitive difficulties. The most significant risk factor for heart failure is high blood pressure, while others include coronary artery disease (characterized by narrowed arteries), heart attack, diabetes, and irregular heartbeat.

This latest study, which was led by Dr. Daniel Levy of the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, evaluated data from 6,860 individuals who had participated in the Framingham Heart Study and who were free of heart disease when they entered the study. All of the subjects were followed for an average of 26 years.

Dr. Levy and his team found that 680 of the participants had developed heart failure. When the researchers analyzed the data for these patients, they found that 12.8 percent of them had low levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (the “good” cholesterol), and only 6.1 percent had desirable levels (defined as 55 mg/dL or greater in men and 65 mg/dL or greater in women). Levels of LDL cholesterol (“bad” cholesterol) and triglycerides were high in 13.8 percent of the patients and desirable (less than 160 mg/dL) in only 7.9 percent.

After the investigators made adjustments for age, sex, body weight, smoking, blood pressure, diabetes, and other factors, they found that patients who had high levels of LDL had a 29 percent greater risk of experiencing heart failure, while patients who had high levels of HDL had a 40 percent reduced risk of heart failure. When heart attacks were factored in, the scientists found that high cholesterol levels were still associated with a statistically significant risk of heart failure.

The results of this study suggest that improving cholesterol levels through use of cholesterol-lowering drugs (mostly statins), instituting dietary changes, getting regular exercise, stopping smoking, and limiting intake of alcohol can not only help prevent heart attack and stroke but heart failure as well.

P.S. protect your heart naturally by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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One heart attack is enough

2009-11-30T08:47:00.000-08:00

Too many heart attack victims don’t exercise as instructed, stop smoking, or lose weight to prevent a second heart attack. Many patients fail to follow Doctor's orders.

Ask survivors to describe the impact of their heart attacks, and a common theme is that it was a “wake-up call.”

Unfortunately, many people seem to hit the snooze alarm once the danger has passed. Some ignore advice that can protect the heart; others gradually let it fall by the wayside.

In a study of nearly 2,500 heart attack survivors across the country, researchers looked at the so-called discharge instructions given to these men and women when they left the hospital. These instructions should cover everything from who to call in case of an emergency to what long-term steps to take to prevent another heart attack.

One month after their attacks, more than 90 percent of the participants said they were taking all of the medications on the discharge list. In contrast, less than 50 percent were exercising as instructed, had stopped smoking, or were losing weight. Just one-third had enrolled in a cardiac rehabilitation program, one of the best things you can do to prevent a second heart attack.

Does following discharge instructions make a difference? Participants who followed fewer than half of their discharge instructions were 68 percent more likely to have chest pain with activity or stress (angina) a year after their heart attacks than people who followed all or most of the instructions (American Heart Journal, March 2009). Angina is a sign of active coronary artery disease.

Preventing the next one

On a personal level, a heart attack is an all-too-real sign that you aren’t going to live forever. Healthwise, it is an outward sign that you’re living with atherosclerosis. This disease stiffens and narrows arteries throughout the body. In addition to setting off a heart attack, it can cause a stroke, damage the kidneys and lead to problems in the legs.

Stiff, cholesterol-clogged arteries make your heart work harder. So does the scar tissue that forms in the part of the heart damaged by a heart attack. Keeping atherosclerosis at bay and strengthening the heart muscle will help you feel better, ward off a future heart attack or stroke and lessen the chances that the damage will evolve into heart failure.

There’s no magic wand you, or your doctor, can wave to make atherosclerosis go away. But you can stop it from getting worse, and maybe even reverse it, by exercising more, shifting to a healthier diet, losing weight if needed, quitting smoking, reducing stress and taking medications as needed.

Power of prevention

Simple steps started before middle age could demote heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases from the leading cause of death in America to a distant runner- up. Two long-term studies suggest that most cases of high blood pressure and heart failure could be avoided if people made better choices.

In a 14-year study of female nurses, six factors emerged as important ways to keep blood pressure in check: a healthy diet, daily exercise, a healthy body weight, moderate alcohol intake (no more than one drink a day), sparing use of over-the-counter painkillers and taking folic acid every day. The researchers estimated that if all women adopted these six practices, almost 80 percent of cases of high blood pressure would be avoided.

A 22-year study of male physicians found an equally large reduction in heart failure, a common consequence of high blood pressure or heart attack, with maintaining a healthy body weight, not smoking, regular exercise, moderate alcohol intake (one to two drinks a day), having cereal for breakfast and eating plenty of fruits and vegetables.

Getting help

For some people, a heart attack is a true wake-up call. Take Jim Lehrer, the host of PBS’ “NewsHour.” In a cover story in the American Heart Association’s Heart Insight magazine, Lehrer credits his 1983 heart attack with changing the way he lived. He stopped smoking, started exercising and eating better, and he took time to relax.

Many people head the other direction. Let’s face it, a heart attack can be a frightening life changer. It affects your work, your play, your relationships with family and friends. A twinge of chest pain can rev up worries that you’re having another heart attack. And it can be extremely difficult trying to make major changes in diet, exercise, weight, smoking and other choices that are meant to protect you against another heart attack. It’s no wonder that some heart attack survivors slide into the fog of depression.

One reason why cardiac rehabilitation is such a good undertaking is that it helps you cope with all the aspects of life after a heart attack. It offers support, education, encouragement, connections with others who are going through the same thing you are, and help with exercise and diet. Think of it as one-stop shopping for healing the heart.

P.S. protect your heart naturally by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Rates of heart attacks increasing for middle-age women

2009-11-08T00:21:00.000-08:00

Middle-aged men still have higher rates of heart attacks and heart disease than middle-aged women, but those gender differences appear to be narrowing, according to a study published Monday.

The findings follow earlier research, published in a 2007 issue of the journal Neurology, establishing that stroke prevalence among women ages 45 to 54 was double that of men of the same age. Together, the findings suggest "an ominous trend in cardiovascular health among midlife women," said the lead author of both studies, Dr. Amytis Towfighi, an assistant professor of neurology at the University of Southern California.

Women have been thought to be largely protected from heart attacks and stroke prior to menopause due to hormonal influences. But the rising rate of obesity, which is higher in middle-aged women than middle-aged men, could undermine that natural benefit.

"People didn't think that women in that age group were at high risk for heart disease and stroke," she said. "But I suspect that with growing rates of obesity, women aren't as protected as much as they have been in the past."

The new study, published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, examined national survey data from 1988 through 1994 and from 1999 through 2004. More than 4,000 men and women, ages 35 to 54, participated. Researchers looked at heart attack rates as well as scores from a measure used to predict the risk of a having a heart attack in 10 years. This risk-assessment tool includes factors such as age, cholesterol levels, blood pressure and smoking history.

In both time periods, men had more heart attacks than women. But the rates of men improved from 2.5% in the earlier period to 2.2% in the second time frame; women's rates increased from 0.7% to 1%.

Men's cardiovascular risk factors improved or remained stable over the two study periods, whereas the only risk factor that improved in women was high-density lipoprotein levels. This suggests that precursors to heart disease, such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol, are not assessed or treated as aggressively in women, said Towfighi, also chairwoman of the neurology department at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center.

"There have been several studies that have found women have their risk factors checked less frequently than men," she said. "When they are checked, women are less likely to receive medication than men. And when they receive medication, their symptoms are not as controlled as much as men."

However, a second paper published in the same journal reveals that some strides are being made in treating women's cardiovascular health. That study found survival rates following a heart attack improved in both men and women between 1994 and 2006, with the biggest improvements seen in women.

Researchers led by Dr. Viola Vaccarino of Emory School of Medicine, looked at in-hospital death rates following heart attacks in 916,380 patients. Women younger than 55 had a 52.9% reduction in the risk of death over the time period, whereas men of the same age had a 33.3% reduction.

The two studies looked at somewhat different risk factors and different time periods, which could account for the more positive findings of the study on death rates, Towfighi said. "The second study is encouraging. But although mortality is improving in recent years, women are having more heart attacks," she said.

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Smoking blamed for 1 in 5 heart attacks

2009-11-07T00:10:00.000-08:00

OUT of every five cases of a heart attack in Metro Manila, one can be attributed to exposure to secondhand smoke, the Department of Health (DOH) said yesterday, citing the results of a survey conducted by antismoking advocates.

World Lung Foundation (WLF) and the Paris-based International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) calculated that between 10 and 20 percent of heart attacks in Metro Manila could be linked to secondhand smoke depending on the number of hours of exposure per week.

The groups based their findings on a survey conducted by WLF and DOH earlier this year as well as published global medical risk estimates for acute myocardial infarction (heart attack) from exposure to secondhand smoke.

Secondhand smoke, also known as passive smoking, is defined as the smoke from the burning tip of a cigarette and the smoke inhaled by a nonsmoker from a smoker.

According to the WLF, secondhand smoke is more toxic.

Children who are exposed to tobacco smoke are at increased risk for sudden infant death syndrome, acute respiratory infections, ear problems and severe asthma.

Studies also showed that exposure to secondhand smoke for more than 21 hours per week can increase one’s risk of a heart attack by as much as 62 percent.

The WLF-DOH survey showed that 52 percent of people in Metro Manila were exposed to secondhand smoke every day in workplaces, restaurants and other public places.

While most nonsmokers reported that they get upset when they are exposed to secondhand smoke, only eight percent said they asked the smoker to put out their cigarette.

The DOH and its partner agencies—the Bloomberg Philanthropies The Union and WLF—presented the new data yesterday as the department received a grant to press its campaign for the implementation of a smoke-free policy in all public places.

“The new evidence linking secondhand smoke to heart attacks makes it even more clear that tobacco use is harming people who do not smoke,” said Health Undersecretary Alex Padilla in a press conference.

“We also know that we can stop this trend by eliminating exposure among innocent mothers, fathers, children, neighbors and colleagues,” he added.

“Tobacco is taking a devastating toll on the Philippines and people are dying every day, even those who don’t use tobacco. The way to reverse this epidemic is through proven policies such as creating 100 percent smoke-free public places and work places,” said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III.

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Less Tobacco Smoke Means Fewer Heart Attacks

2009-10-31T09:27:00.000-07:00

Tobacco deaths rarely make headlines, but the World Health Organization says tobacco smoke kills one person every six seconds. Studies have shown that tobacco smoke is not just deadly for tobacco users. Those who breathe in smoke from other people's cigarettes also have an increased risk for heart attacks. A new study shows that smoking bans have significant health benefits for everyone.

Virginia is the latest U.S. state to ban smoking in restaurants and bars. As communities across the country ban smoking in public places, fewer people are dying from heart attacks.

A study earlier this year in Pueblo, Colorado by the Centers for Disease Control showed heart attacks dropped by 40 percent after a law was enacted to ban smoking at work or in public spaces. New research now supports this and similar studies.

Dr. Neil Benowitz is one of the researchers on this latest report. "If you expose someone to second hand smoke, within minutes you see blood platelets and blood clotting increasing," he explains. "We see that the function of the blood vessels is impaired."

And that is when heart attacks can occur. Dr. Lynn Goldman is the report's principal author. "We did conclude a cause and effect relationship between heart disease generally and second hand smoke exposure," she says.

"Even a small amount of exposure of second hand smoke can increase blood clotting, can constrict blood vessels and can cause a heart attack," adds Dr. Benowitz.

The researchers examined data from 11 studies in various countries. They found that smoking bans reduced heart attacks by anywhere from six percent to nearly 50 percent.

"One of the things to understand and appreciate about these smoking bans is that they are all slightly different. Some are enforced consistently, others are not enforced consistently," Dr. Goldman explains. "But despite that, they all show a consistent reduction in acute myocardial infractions and heart attacks after the bans."

Critics say the study is skewed because people who already had heart disease were not screened out. But the researchers say that would have been impossible.

"Most people who are diagnosed with heart disease have their diagnosis when they have their first heart attack," Dr. Benowitz says.

The study was released by the Institute of Medicine, an advisory group for the U.S. government.

As for the Pueblo, Colorado study, 400 people suffered heart attacks before the ban went into effect. In the 18 months after the ban, fewer than 240 people had heart attacks.

Neighboring areas without smoking laws had no change in their heart attack rates.

P.S. reduce heart attack chances by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Fish Oil Supplements Don't Help Depressed Heart Patients

2009-10-29T09:10:00.000-07:00

In a surprise and not very welcome finding, researchers report that fish oil supplements do not ease depression in individuals who suffer from both depression and coronary heart disease.

Participants in the study, which is published in the Oct. 21 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association, were also taking the antidepressant sertraline (Zoloft). Some studies have suggested that the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish might enhance the effects of Zoloft.

"Unfortunately, it's not where we wanted to be. We were kind of disappointed, to say the least," said study author Robert M. Carney, a professor of psychiatry at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

The findings leave physicians still facing the problem of how to boost depression recovery rates so as to also lower cardiovascular risk. The question is a pressing one, given that depression can double or even triple the risk of dying in heart patients, Carney said.

"We're not just treating depression, we're treating a risk factor," he said.

Fish oil, or omega-3 fatty acid, supplements have been touted as a potential panacea for a variety of ailments, notably heart disease, but they have been losing their luster as of late.

A study published earlier this year found that patients receiving optimal drug therapy after experiencing a heart attack do not gain any additional benefit from taking supplemental omega-3 fatty acids. There was no difference in rates of heart attack, stroke, sudden cardiac death or death from any cause, regardless of whether they were taking the supplements or not.

That finding contradicted previous studies, which suggested that taking omega-3 fatty acids improved long-term survival.

Studies involving omega-3 fatty acids and depression have shown similarly uneven results.

For this study, 122 patients with major depression and coronary heart disease took 50 milligrams of Zoloft a day, then were randomized to receive either 2 grams a day of omega-3 acid ethyl esters or a corn-oil placebo capsule.

There was no difference in depression scores before and after 10 weeks of treatment, the researchers found.

The study authors noted that tweaking any of the variables in the study -- amount of Zoloft, dose of fish oil, form of fish oil or duration of treatment -- might yield more positive results.

In general, the effects of antidepressants in people with both depression and heart problems are the same as in a normal "healthy" population, Carney said.

"The problem, from our point of view, is that that's just not good enough," he added. "It's definitely better than placebo, better than doing nothing. We're trying to find a treatment or combination of treatments that's going to significantly improve the depression outcome."

Had this study turned out more positively, the next step would have been to see if improvements in depression translate into improvements in heart outcomes.

As it is, scientists are back to the drawing board.

"We're still exploring other possibilities," Carney said.

That includes an increased dose of omega-3, lengthening the study and identifying a subset of patients for whom this protocol might be more effective than antidepressants alone.

But it's not time to stop taking fish oil capsules yet, one expert said.

"The American Heart Association still does have recommendations based on the data we do have," said Dr. John Erwin III, professor of internal medicine at Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, and senior staff cardiologist with Scott & White Hospital in Temple.

"We also use fish oil to reduce triglyceride levels and it's very effective in that use. I wouldn't encourage people who are taking fish oil caplets to stop it now because of this study. It just means we have a little bit more work to do on the depression side of things," he said.

Some of the study authors, including Carney, declared financial ties with different pharmaceutical companies including Pfizer Inc., which makes Zoloft. The study was funded by the U.S. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. GlaxoSmithKline Inc. provided both omega-3 and placebo capsules, while Pfizer supplied the Zoloft.

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Blood Protein May Predict Heart Attack But Not Stroke

2009-10-28T09:22:00.000-07:00

More study needed into how CRP levels influence risk

High blood levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) may increase a person's risk for heart attack and death, but not for stroke, a new study has found.

The study included 2,240 people in New York City who were 40 or older and stroke-free. At the start of the study, the participants' blood was checked for levels of CRP (a marker for inflammation) and their heart attack and stroke risk factors were evaluated by researchers.

During an average follow-up of eight years, there were 198 strokes, 156 heart-related events and 586 deaths. People with CRP levels greater than 3 milligrams per liter of blood were 70 percent more likely to have a heart attack and 55 percent more likely to die than those with CRP levels of 1 milligram per liter or less, the researchers reported in the Oct. 20 print issue of Neurology.

After they took other risk factors into account, the study authors concluded that CRP levels didn't influence stroke risk.

"The role of this protein in predicting risk of stroke has been controversial, although prior studies have found it to be a marker for predicting risk of heart disease," study author Dr. Mitchell Elkind, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York City, said in a news release from the American Academy of Neurology. "However, in our large, multiethnic population, CRP levels did not play a role in predicting stroke, though they may still help determine whether someone is at risk of heart attack or early death."

CRP levels are influenced by factors such as physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption and diabetes.

"It appears that by living a healthy lifestyle, one may be able to lower these protein levels, thus lowering the risk of cardiac events and possibly early death," Elkind said.

"It may be that the failure of CRP to predict stroke in our study, unlike in some other populations, reflects the fact that our population is older and has more of these risk factors. While CRP may be predictive in generally young healthy people, it may be less useful among older, sicker people. More research needs to be done on why the protein wasn't able to predict stroke in the same manner as heart disease," he said.

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Farmers' Pesticides May Not Raise Heart Risks

2009-10-27T11:03:00.000-07:00

Good news for men who farm U.S. fields. Regular exposure to pesticides used commonly on the farm does not appear to increase the risk of heart attack.

As part of the Agricultural Health Study, between 1993 and 1997, researchers asked more than 54,000 male farmers what pesticides they used regularly, how much time they spent using tractors and other farm equipment, and whether they raised poultry or other livestock.

Dr. Jane A. Hoppin, of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, and colleagues surveyed roughly 32,000 of these men 5 years later and discovered 839 non-fatal heart attacks.

They also followed the entire study population for nearly 12 years on average and found that a total of 476 farmers died from heart attack.

In analyses adjusted for factors that might increase heart attack risk, such as older age, smoking and being overweight, the researchers found some suggestion of an increased risk of heart attack with exposure to six specific pesticides, although the link was not statistically significant.

These pesticides were the organochlorines aldrin and DDT, the herbicide 2,4,5-T, the fumigant ethylene dibromide, and the fungicides maneb and ziram.

By contrast, five other pesticides - carbaryl, terbufos, imazethapyr, pendimethalin, and petroleum oil - seemed to be associated with a somewhat reduced risk of death from heart attack.

However, none of the 49 pesticides were statistically associated with heart attack, nor did the investigators note similar risk due to other farm-related "exposures."

In a report in the American Journal of Epidemiology, Hoppin and colleagues point out that farmers commonly have heart attack rates lower than those of the general population.

Hoppin and colleagues say further investigations are needed to confirm their findings and to assess short- and long-term heart-related risks from exposure to pesticides.

P.S. take care of your heart by eating Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Ingredients for the Faint of Heart ( Part 2 )

2009-10-26T08:56:00.000-07:00

Bradley West, Nordic Naturals research advisor said Nordic Natural combines fish oil with red yeast rice in its Omega LDL. “Numerous scientific studies have shown that red yeast rice, a natural red-pigmented yeast grown on rice, helps support healthy cholesterol levels that are already within the normal range,” West said. Red yeast rice is a fermented product of rice on which red yeast (Monascus purpureus) is grown. A Mayo Clinic study found lifestyle changes combined with ingestion of red yeast rice and fish oil reduced LDL in proportions similar to standard therapy with the statin therapy drug Simvastatin.18

A heart-healthy ingredient also grown, but this one from the soil, is hawthorn berries. “Hawthorn has been used for decades as a cardiovascular tonic, as it has been shown to improve the efficiency of the pumping action of the heart by increasing blood flow in the coronary arteries,” said Eileen Sheets, managing director, Bioforce USA. “And, improvement in the heart’s ability to pump blood more effectively has a positive impact on blood pressure.”

Keri Marshall, M.D., medical director at Gaia Herbs, added, “Hawthorn is profoundly important for increasing blood flow and the integrity of the vessels. Hawthorn berries are known to help connective tissue integrity, and blood vessels are all connective tissues, as well as help increase the integrity of blood flow within the body.”

A New York Heart Association study concluded patients who ingested standardized hawthorn berry extract, “may expect an improvement in their heart failure condition under long-term therapy.”19 And, a review of 14 randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled studies suggested hawthorn extract has significant benefits in the treatment for chronic heart failure.20

Folic acid, aka vitamin B9, is becoming more known as an ingredient that reduces the risk of heart disease. In the IFIC survey, 70 percent of responders said they were aware of folic acid’s heart-health abilities, compared to 55 percent in 2007. A recent study showed supplementation of folic acid may improve cardiovascular health and reduce the prevalence of peripheral arterial disease (PAD).21 And in an earlier study, the same group of researchers found 5 mg/d of folic acid over a three-week period reduced pulse pressure compared with a placebo.22

Niacin, also part of the B vitamins, has also been shown to improve heart health via raising HDL cholesterol.23 When used in combination with cholesterol-lowering drugs, it enhanced the cholesterol-managing effect.24 According to Lonza’s Web site, its niacin ingredient lowers LDL cholesterol, elevates high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and reduces the level of triglycerides in the blood.

Sometimes, a lack of an ingredient can pose problems. In a George Washington University study, magnesium deficiency caused inflammatory, oxidative and nitrosative events, which promoted cardiomyopathy, cardiac dysfunction and myocardial intolerance to secondary stresses.24 In addition, the level of magnesium in the body has a direct effect upon the relaxation capability of vascular smooth muscle cells, blood pressure and hypertension.25 However, adding magnesium to the diet can improve blood pressure. A study examined the effect of magnesium, potassium and dietary fiber on incidence of high blood pressure in more than 30,000 men.26 After four years, researchers noted dietary fiber, potassium and magnesium were each significantly associated with lower risk of hypertension.

Some consumers want more than one or two ingredients in their heart-health supplements. Proprietary Nutritionals Inc. offers Sytrinol, with polymethoxylated flavones (PMFs), a group of compounds derived from the peels of citrus fruits including the bioflavonoids tangeretin and nobiletin; and palm tocotrienols, members of the vitamin E family extracted from the fruit of the palm tree.

Vitalah’s Oxylent contains magnesium, selenium, arginine, CoQ10, SOD, catalase , vitamin D and B vitamins; and Get Well Natural’s heart health supplement Cardio Well Classic includes the herbs Morinda citrifolia (noni fruit), prunella, salvia, notoginseng, eucomia and lycium fruit.

to be continued............

P.S. Pamper your heart with Vitamin C and Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Ingredients for the Faint of Heart ( Part 1 )

2009-10-24T00:13:00.000-07:00

With 71 million Americans suffering with one or more types of cardiovascular disease (CVD), according to the American Heart Association (AHA), more shoppers are looking for science-backed natural ingredients.

One supplement that fortunately has a lot of science behind it is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is produced by the body and is necessary for the basic functioning of cells. It has been shown to reduce blood pressure, possibly by decreasing oxidative stress, and insulin response in patients with known hypertension receiving conventional antihypertensive drugs,1 and improve blood pressure in patients with type 2 diabetes.2 In addition to lowering blood pressure, CoQ10 significantly reduced hospitalization for worsening of heart failure in patients with congestive heart failure;3 and in another study, it reduced the incidence of palpitations and arrhythmia.4 CoQ10 taken before heart surgery helped preserve the cardiac muscle.5 In addition, CoQ10 supplementation helps replenish healthy blood levels of CoQ10, which may be depleted by statin drugs, used to lower cholesterol.6

Another heart-healthy ingredient with a lot of science-based evidence is plant sterols. The substantiation during the past 50 years that has shown plant sterols can reduce low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol convinced FDA to authorize a health claim about plant sterols and heart health. In 2000, the agency OK’d the claim, “Foods containing at least 0.65 grams per serving of plant sterol esters, eaten twice a day with meals for a daily total intake of at least 1.3 grams, as part of a diet low in saturated fat and cholesterol, may reduce the risk of heart disease.”

With an estimated 101 million American adults with borderline-high or higher cholesterol levels, according to AHA, and recognition from FDA, plant sterol knowledge is up. Awareness that plant sterols reduce the risk of heart disease increased to 45 percent in 2009, from 30 percent in 2007, according to the International Food Information Council’s (IFIC) Functional Foods/Foods for Health consumer survey, released in August 2009.

Plant sterols, also called phytosterols, are found in all plants, with vegetables, seeds and nuts providing rich sources. They are fat-like plant compounds with chemical structures similar to cholesterol. Plant sterols compete with cholesterol in the body, so when a person digests more plant sterols, he absorbs less cholesterol. Studies have shown orange juice fortified with plant sterols reduce LDL cholesterol,7 they are safe to use over a long period of time,8 supplementation with them lowers LDL cholesterol in people with an increased risk for coronary heart disease,9 and margarine containing plant sterols was shown to be effective in reducing serum cholesterol.10 One study showed the cholesterol-lowering effects of plant sterols may differ according to the type of food matrix.11 Plant sterols in low-fat milk was almost three times more effective than in bread and cereals. And, in addition to their cholesterol-lowering properties, plant sterols possess anti-cancer, anti-atherogenicity and antioxidant activities.12

Erin Silva, MS, RD, technical marketing manager, Vitamer Labs, noted its Cholesterol Complex, which contains Corowise, sold well during the past year. “Plant sterols are becoming more recognized by the consumer since Corowise and other plant sterol ingredients are making their way into functional foods as well as dietary supplements,” she said.

While the IFIC survey showed most Americans know omega-3s benefit the brain, Silva said American consumers could improve their heart health by adding omega-3 essential fatty acids (EFAs) to their diets. “Generally speaking, most people would benefit from taking fish oil given the typical American diet that is low in ‘good’ fats like omega-3s, regardless if they have been diagnosed with heart disease or not,” she said. Indeed, the AHA recommends intakes of a combination eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) ranging from 0.5 to 1.8 g/d (either as fatty fish or supplements) to reduce the risk of heart disease. Studies have shown eating fish two times per week can reduce coronary heart disease,13 and a meta-analysis of 11 trials, published between 1966 and 1999, suggested intake of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids reduced overall mortality, mortality due to myocardial infarction and sudden death in patients with coronary heart disease.14 Fish oil lowered serum triglyceride concentrations by 19 percent in one study from Norway,15 and lowered triglycerides while raising LDL cholesterol in an American study.16

Fish oil isn’t the only way to get EFAs. Core Naturals offers Salba, a seed that comes from a variety of a mint plant called Salvia hispanica L. Brian Keyes, Director of Marketing at Core Naturals, said, “Salba seed oil is the most potent vegetarian source of omega-3 fatty acids. A single tablespoon serving has 8,373 mg of omega-3s, with about 30 percent higher alpha-linolenic acid (ALA) content than flaxseed.” Salba may also offer heart health benefits. Twelve weeks of dietary supplementation with Salba reduced systolic blood pressure, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (associated CVD and other processes involving inflammation) and von Willebrand factor (a blood glycoprotein involved in hemostasis), while maintaining good glycemic and lipid control in people with type 2 diabetes.17 Keyes added Core Naturals has started preliminary research to determine Salba’s effects on cholesterol levels.

Part of Americans’ heart issues may stem from a lack of omega-3s in their diets said Gene Bruno, MS, MHS, consultant to Jarrow Formulas and dean of academics at Huntington College of Health Sciences. “Human beings evolved on a diet with approximately a 1:1 ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 EFAs, whereas in Western diets the ratio is 15:1 to 16.7:1,” he said. “Western diets are deficient in omega-3 fatty acids, and have excessive amounts of omega-6 fatty acids compared with the diet on which human beings evolved and their genetic patterns were established.”

To be Continued...

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U.S. study shows protein may predict heart attack, early death

2009-10-22T00:10:00.000-07:00

People with high levels of a protein called C-reactive protein (CRP), a marker for inflammation in the blood, may be at higher risk for heart attack and death but not stroke, according to a study that will be published Tuesday in Neurology, the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology.

The study involved 2,240 people from the Northern Manhattan Study who were 40 years old or older and stroke-free. Of the group,63 percent were Hispanic, 20 percent non-Hispanic black and 15 percent non-Hispanic white residents.

All participants had their blood tested for CRP levels and were evaluated for stroke and heart attack risk factors. They were followed for an average of eight years. In that time, there were 198 strokes, 156 heart-related events and 586 deaths.

The researchers found that people with CRP levels greater than three milligrams per liter were 70 percent more likely to suffer a heart attack and 55 percent more likely to die early compared to people who had levels of one milligram per liter or less of the protein in their blood. The protein was not associated with an increased risk of stroke once other risk factors were taken into account.

"The role of this protein in predicting risk of stroke has been controversial although prior studies have found it to be a marker for predicting risk of heart disease," said study author Mitchell Elkind, of Columbia University Medical Center in New York and a Fellow with the American Academy of Neurology. "However, in our large, multiethnic population, CRP levels did not play a role in predicting stroke, though they may still help determine whether someone is at risk of heart attack or early death."

CRP protein levels are associated with such medical and lifestyle risk factors as diabetes, smoking, alcohol consumption and physical activity. "It appears that by living a healthy lifestyle, one may be able to lower these protein levels, thus lowering the risk of cardiac events and possibly early death," said Elkind.

P.S. protect your heart by eating Vitamin C & Vitamin D rich foods and fruits.

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Is High Cholesterol Good for Some Heart Patients?

2009-10-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

Here's an apparent paradox: High levels of artery-clogging cholesterol are a risk factor for heart disease. But such high levels have been linked to improved outcomes after a heart attack and other acute heart "events."

Now, new research suggests that this paradoxical finding may simply stem from not taking other factors into account.

People with heart problems and very high cholesterol levels may fare better because they are more likely to be treated with a cholesterol-lowering "statin" drug, researchers report in the journal Clinical Cardiology. Such drugs lower levels of so-called "bad" cholesterol, otherwise known as LDL cholesterol.

Perhaps, more importantly, a diagnosis of very high cholesterol -- what doctors call hypercholesterolemia -- may simply identify patients who have seen their doctors. The thinking is that such patients are more closely watched by their doctors, so they end up doing better than those with low cholesterol who may still be at some risk.

The results are based on a study of 84,429 patients enrolled in a study designed to encourage doctors to use well-established guidelines when treating patients with heart problems caused by reduced blood flow to the heart.

Patients with a history of high cholesterol were 42 percent less likely to die while hospitalized than were those without this history, Dr. Tracy Y. Wang, from Duke Clinical Research Institute, Durham, North Carolina, and colleagues found.

The association remained strong after the researchers accounted for other factors, including use of cholesterol-lowering statin drugs.

In looking at 22,711 patients with no history of high cholesterol, Wang's team identified 12,809 who were diagnosed with high cholesterol during a hospitalization for heart problems.

Although the initial analysis suggested a reduced risk of death with high cholesterol, that reduction disappeared when researchers took other factors into account.

This study, the researchers conclude, confirms the well documented association of high cholesterol with better outcomes among heart patients and further demonstrates that patients with newly diagnosed high cholesterol don't necessarily enjoy this potential protection.

P.S. protect your heart by knowing its Vitamin D benefits.

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Six Foods That Lower Cholesterol

2009-10-07T07:30:00.000-07:00

If you’re one of the estimated 16% of adult Americans with high cholesterol, you should probably avoid foods full of saturated fat such as red meat, butter, and cheese. You should also steer clear of margarine, fried food, and processed products that contain trans fat. But did you know that some foods can lower your cholesterol? And unlike some medications, their only side effect is a satisfied stomach. So If you have a problem with high cholesterol, incorporating these foods into your diet may help.

1 Oranges
Oranges are rich in pectin, the stuff that makes jams and jellies gel. Like other forms of soluble fiber, pectin forms a gooey mass in your gut, trapping cholesterol and ferrying it out of your body before it can clog your arteries and compromise your health. One medium orange provides 2 to 3 grams of soluble fiber, as well as other beneficial nutrients such as vitamin C, folate, and potassium. You have to eat whole oranges to benefit from their fiber, so put your juicer aside.

2 Oats
Oatmeal is a proven winner when it comes to lowering cholesterol. Oat flour offers many of the same benefits. If you can’t find oat flour where you typically shop, you can make your own by pulverizing rolled oats in a food processor. Oat flour can be substituted for up to half the all-purpose flour in most pancake and muffin recipes. I even use it in low-fat oatmeal cookies.

3 Beans and Lentils
Both legumes are sky-high in heart-healthy soluble fiber. They’re also great replacements for animal protein, which is often full of saturated fat. For breakfast, make a burrito with scrambled egg whites, black beans, and salsa. At lunch, a bowl of lentil soup hits the spot. For dinner, skip the potatoes or rice and try seasoned beans.

My favorite bean snack is roasted chickpeas. Drain a 15-ounce can, spread the chickpeas in a single layer on a baking sheet, and mist with nonstick oil spray. Sprinkle with garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and a pinch of salt, and roast for 25 minutes in a 400°F oven.

4 Sardines
Sardines are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can significantly reduce blood levels of artery-clogging triglycerides. I’m convinced that most people who turn up their noses at the mere mention of sardines haven’t actually tried them. If that’s you, consider my uncle’s favorite sandwich: two pieces of chewy whole-grain bread spread with low-fat mayo and topped with a couple of canned sardines, a slice of tomato, and fresh basil leaves. Yum!

5 Pistachio Nuts
These little powerhouses are a great source of phytosterols, natural plant compounds that block absorption of dietary cholesterol. They’re also rich in monounsaturated fat, fiber, and antioxidants–all of which are good for heart health. I prefer eating pistachios in the shell (natural color, no red dyes) because it forces me to go slowly and prevents me from overdoing these healthy but caloric treats.

6 Chocolate
Dark chocolate can confer a number of benefits, including lowered cholesterol and blood pressure and reduced risk of blood clots. Choose brands that contain 70% or more cocoa solids, and avoid those that contain partially hydrogenated oil, palm-kernel oil, and other unhealthy additives.

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Dust Off That Treadmill - Walk For a Healthy Heart

2009-09-26T08:01:00.000-07:00

So We all know walking is really, really a good exercise, right? It's good for our hearts, it's good for our other muscles (of which the heart is the most important one), and it just plain helps with overall fitness.

The problem is, we have lots of excuses when it comes to not taking our walk today. It's raining, it's snowing, whatever. Well, now, you have no more excuses. Why?

Break out that dusty old treadmill that's been sitting in the basement for the last 10 years. You probably have one, and if you don't, you can get one very inexpensively on eBay or even buy one new pretty cheaply, too. Lace up your walking shoes, plant that thing in front of the television or pop on your iPod, and get walking.

Here's the thing. Walking is the ONLY exercise you need to do at least to get started with your fitness program. It's a great way to get started if you're out of shape. As little as 20 minutes a day (10 to get started if you are really out of shape) is enough to burn significant calories, build muscle, and get your heart pumping, all of which you need for good health. And get this. The more you exercise and the more muscle you build, the more calories you burn. That means once you've gotten in some good walking time and have built up some muscle, you burn calories faster even when you're resting.

The benefits of walking on a treadmill

Here's what walking on a treadmill can do for you. It can give you better endurance, it can stave off heart failure (especially if you're at risk), it can improve your circulation, it can strengthen your heart and cardiovascular system overall, and it can lower your blood pressure.

Treadmills work when you're in good shape, too

The treadmill is a great piece of machinery overall, because it works for you whether you have been sedentary for a long time or whether you're in pretty good shape and want to step up your workout one more notch. Once you've gotten better shape, you can ramp things up by jogging instead of walking on your treadmill. Or, you can buy some inexpensive ankle and arm weights and increase resistance that way.

Some of the newer treadmill models have the ability for you to increase the incline (either mechanically or manually) on the treadmill itself so that you're walking uphill instead of on a level surface. This, increases resistance - therefore your workout. However, you shouldn't do any of these more advanced exercises until you know you are in reasonably good shape. If you've been sedentary, again, a good decent walking pace is about 3 miles an hour, and is going to make you break a sweat and give you the 20 minute workout you need. Remember to stay on it for that long without breaking pace.

Of course, a final piece of advice is that you need to check with your doctor before you start any exercise program, especially if you've been sedentary for a long time. That said, though, once you've been cleared, break out that treadmill and start walking. You won't be sorry, and you'll see results in just a couple of weeks.

Don't think that Fitness Treadmills are only about walking. You can get a healthy heart by exercising Treadmill Fitness. This could be the best thing you ever did for your heart!

P.S., supplement your exercise with Vitamin C.

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Walking The Best Exercise

2009-09-22T08:50:00.000-07:00

If a daily fitness walk could be put in a pill, it would be one of the most popular prescriptions in the world. It has so many health benefits. Walking can reduce the risk of many diseases — from heart attack and stroke to hip fracture and glaucoma. These may sound like claims on a bottle of snake oil, but they're backed by major research. Walking requires no prescription, the risk of side effects is very low, and the benefits are numerous:

Managing your weight. Combined with healthy eating, physical activity is key to any plan for long-lasting weight control. Keeping your weight within healthy limits can lower your risks of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, cancer, sleep apnea, and osteoarthritis.

Controlling your blood pressure. Physical activity strengthens the heart so it can pump more blood with less effort and with less pressure on the arteries. Staying fit is just as effective as some medications in keeping down blood pressure levels.

Decreasing your risk of heart attack. Exercise such as brisk walking for three hours a week — or just half an hour a day — is associated with a 30% to 40% lower risk of heart disease in women. (Based on the 20-year Nurses' Health Study of 72,000 female nurses.)

Boosting "good" cholesterol – the level of high-density lipoproteins (HDL). Physical activity helps reduce low-density lipoproteins (LDL or "bad" cholesterol) in the blood, which can cause plaque buildup along the artery walls — a major cause of heart attacks.

Lowering your risk of stroke. Regular, moderate exercise equivalent to brisk walking for an hour a day, five days a week, can cut the risk of stroke in half, according to a Harvard study of more than 11,000 men.

Reducing your risk of breast cancer and type 2 diabetes. The Nurses' Health Study also links regular activity to risk reductions for both these diseases. In another study, people at high risk of diabetes cut their risk in half by combining consistent exercise like walking with lower fat intake and a 5% to 7% weight loss.

Avoiding your need for gallstone surgery. Regular walking or other physical activity lowers the risk of needing gallstone surgery by 20% to 31%, found a Harvard study of more than 60,000 women ages 40 to 65.

Protecting against hip fracture. Consistent activity diminishes the risk of hip fracture, concludes a study of more than 30,000 men and women ages 20 to 93.

The list goes on and on. Many other studies indicate a daily brisk walk also can help:

Prevent depression, colon cancer, constipation, osteoporosis, and impotence
Lengthen lifespan
Lower stress levels
Relieve arthritis and back pain
Strengthen muscles, bones, and joints
Improve sleep
Elevate overall mood and sense of well-being.

Keep it Steady

A steady routine is the most important factor in getting the most out of your exercise program. Walking for at least 30 minutes a day, 5 or more days a week is recommended.

Use these tips to keep you on track:

During your walks, you should be able to maintain a conversation. If you're breathing too lightly, increase your pace. If you can't catch your breath, slow it down.
Walk around the local area after lunch or dedicate 15 minutes to walking up and down stairs. Climbing is an excellent way to strengthen your heart.
At night, trade a half hour of TV for a brisk stroll around the block. Take a friend with you for company or get the whole family involved.

The Best Medicine

Any amount of walking is good, but for the best health results, set a brisk pace and walk for 30 minutes at least 5 times a week. Be sure to check with your doctor on the level of exercise that's best for you.

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AEROBICS - Good For Heart Health

2009-09-21T08:23:00.000-07:00

Regardless of age, weight or athletic ability, aerobic exercise is good for you. If you do love your heart and for the sake of your heart health, You should overcome tardiness to get yourself moving and any type of exercise is better than none, but aerobic fitness has the most benefits. Aerobic activity is an exercise that causes your body to use oxygen in order to burn fat for energy. Typically, this requires activity that is sustained over a period of time and that uses the large muscles of your arms and legs. This type of exercise makes your heart work harder. Over time, it strengthens and conditions your heart.

The benefits of Aerobics

Oxygen can only be supplied to the muscles through the red blood cells. When muscles are being used in exercise, the heart must pump more blood through the body to supply the extra need for oxygen. This, in turn, causes the lungs to be expanded to fill the need of oxygen required by the red blood cells being quickly moved through the body.

Due to the fact that the muscles are requiring more oxygen to create energy, the body naturally increases the amount of oxygen inhaled. The heart rate increases as it pumps the blood through the system faster to supply the necessary oxygen to each muscle. Thus the circulation of the blood is greatly increased.

This increase in circulation has a twofold benefit to the body. First, an abundant supply of oxygen is taken not only to the muscles, but also to every part of the system. And second, the blood is circulated through the eliminating organs at a much greater amount, thus resulting in an increase in the elimination of the body's wastes. Both of these are essential for good health and healing.

What Should I Know About Aerobic Exercise?

In order to maximize your cardiovascular fitness level, experts recommend that your aerobic exercise is strenuous enough to raise your heart rate to a certain level. This level is called your target heart rate. In addition, your aerobic exercise should keep your heart rate elevated for at least 20 minutes.

It may be helpful for you to know about these guidelines. But, you don't have to exercise at this level of intensity to lower your risk for heart and blood vessel disease. Even frequent moderate aerobic activity has been shown to improve health.

A physically fit person has greater ability to tolerate the physical challenges of daily life, whereas an unfit person would terminate activity because of fatigue.

Aerobic activity comes in many forms and you can benefit from the time you spend in doing them. The benefits of aerobic exercise are good for your heart and will help to make you live longer, stay healthier and feel great.

P.S., supplement your exercise with Vitamin C rich foods and fruits.

A Woman’s Heart, Anxiety vs. Heart Attack

2009-09-20T08:56:00.000-07:00

There is no doubt that women today are under more stress than ever. One of the “gifts” left to us by the women’s liberation movement is that we not only get to fry-the-bacon-up-in-a-pan at night, but we are also frequently out there in the workforce bringing-home-the-bacon as well.

Add to that the demands of children, homework, soccer practice, PTA, church and other civic activities, our cup truly RUNS over! Super Girl has nothing on us! It’s no wonder that heart disease is the number one killer of women. Sisters, we have STRESS in our lives!

Just how bad our stress level really is was recently brought home in a very real way to me. One of my best girlfriends just had the “pleasure” of a one-night stay at the local heart “hotel” (hospital). This definitely wasn’t her destination when she left for work that morning. She’s a single-parent of two small preschool children. She’s a widow and has no backup at home. (Are we getting the stress level picture yet?) In addition, she works for a company that’s been laying off workers for months and outsourcing jobs overseas. She’s been working 70-80 hour work weeks for months in an effort to ensure her job stays in the good old USA. (Bingo! Stress level gets a 120%!)

As she recalls it, her chest began pounding and hurting unbearably. She was short of breath and couldn’t breathe - sick to her stomach, sweating, dizzy and lightheaded. The pain radiated down her left arm. She tried to ignore it for a while but as the day progressed, the symptoms only increased in intensity. Finally, she phoned the nurse on call with her insurance company who promptly sent her straight to the hospital for evaluation.

Fortunately, this hospital visit had a happy ending. She was diagnosed with a panic or anxiety attack. Some of the symptoms of a panic attack are similar to those of a heart attack. Panic attack symptoms include: chest pain, sweating, shortness of breath, rapid heartbeat, hyperventilation (very rapid breathing), and dizziness/faintness. In addition, a panic attack may also be accompanied by a sense of fear or impending disaster. Other panic attack symptoms may also include trembling, headache, chills, hot flashes, stomach cramps, or tightness in the throat and trouble swallowing.

Panic attack symptoms generally last about a half an hour. However, there are exceptions and they can last for hours. In addition, there are instances, such as my girlfriend's experienced, where the symptoms can last up to a day.

Symptoms of a heart attack also include chest pain (described as a “fullness or a crushing” type of pain which may radiate to your left arm, back, neck, jaw and shoulders), sweating, shortness of breath, nausea and an “impending sense of doom.” (Sound familiar?) In addition, symptoms in women can be somewhat different than those experienced by men. Women may also experience heartburn, severe/unexplained fatigue, sleep disturbances, dizziness and clammy skin. The Women’s Heart Foundation also reports that approximately 1/3 of all women do not experience any chest pain at all during a heart attack. In addition, 71% of women report that they experienced flu-like in the weeks leading up to the heart attack.

Since some of the symptoms are similar, you may not be able to easily tell whether you are experiencing a panic attack or a heart attack. While a panic attack is not life threatening, a heart attack certainly can be. When in doubt, seek treatment. It is always better to err on the side of safety than to leave a potential heart attack untreated until it’s too late.

Until next time, here’s wishing you a healthy heart.

P.S. take care of your heart. Eat vitamin C rich fruits and foods.

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Predicting A Heart Attack

2009-09-20T08:48:00.000-07:00

In the past, doctors believed that most heart attacks occurred when the arteries become blocked by plaque. However, scientists have learned that a significant number of heart attacks are caused when the cap, or crust on top of the plaque, is weak. This type of plaque is known as vulnerable, or soft, plaque. If the cap ruptures or cracks, the cholesterol, fats and other chemicals inside the plaque deposit are released into the bloodstream. The body senses an “injury” and sends platelets to seal the site. The platelets adhere to the sticky plaque cells, causing clumps of cells and the formation of a clot. That clot can become large enough to block the artery, leading to a heart attack.

The American Heart Association estimates 16.8 million Americans have coronary artery disease. It’s the leading cause of disease-related death in the U.S. This year, 1.25 million men and women in this country will have a heart attack.

Vulnerable plaque often lies hidden on the walls of the artery. Often, the deposits don’t bulge out, so they may not be detected with standard imaging or diagnostic tests. And since they are so small, patients often don’t have any symptoms until the plaque ruptures, causing a sudden, unexpected heart attack.

Vulnerable plaque appears to be associated with inflammation. Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston have been studying the combined use of PET/CT scans to screen patients for these areas of “hot” plaque. Prior to a scan, the patient is given an injection of glucose with a radioactive tracer (called 18F-FDG). The glucose is taken up by active cells (like areas of inflammation), carrying the tracer with it. The CT part of the imaging shows the anatomy of the heart. The PET portion detects the location and concentration of the radioactive tracer. But the scientists found the active heart muscle cells took in so much of the radioactive glucose plaque “hot spots” could not be seen.

To overcome the imaging obstacle, the researchers give patients a high-fat drink three hours before the scan. The radioactive glucose injection is given two hours later (one hour before the scan). Nuclear Medicine Specialist, Gerald Kolodny, M.D., explains the heart muscle takes up the fat for its energy needs rather than the glucose. This enables the inflammatory cells in vulnerable plaque to take up more of the radioactive glucose, creating a better picture of those “hot spots.”

In a study published in the April 2009 issue of The Journal of Nuclear Medicine, the researchers report the technique can effectively detect vulnerable plaque in coronary arteries. Further research needs to be done to confirm the efficacy of the technique and determine who may benefit most from the testing. Kolodny says if 18F-FDG PET/CT proves to correctly identify areas of vulnerable plaque, the technique may be useful for screening high-risk patients and monitoring the effects of therapy.

P.S. reduce your risk of a heart attack by loading yourself with Vitamin C rich fruits.

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Are You Having A HEART ATTACK?

2009-09-17T09:13:00.000-07:00

In the movies, heart attacks are easy to recognize. The victim, sweaty and pale, suddenly clutches his chest and complains of terrible pain just before he drops to the floor. "That’s the typical textbook definition of what it should look like," says noted cardiologist Dr. Benjamin Alimurung, head of the Cardiac Catheterization Unit and medical director of Makati Medical Center. "But if you’re older, female or diabetic, you’re less likely to experience the classic symptoms of a heart attack."

Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in the Philippines. Every year, thousands of people have heart attacks and about a third of these are fatal. Almost half of heart attack deaths occur within one hour after symptoms appear and often before the person even gets to a hospital. Thus, it is very important that you know its symptoms and act quickly when these appear — it may save your life. It is equally important that one realizes that some symptoms are atypical, some you might not even think are related to the heart.

Warning Signs

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart suddenly becomes obstructed, usually by blood clots that form at the site of a damaged artery (see illustration). The heart cells that are deprived of fresh blood and oxygen die over a period of a few hours. A heart attack may develop gradually or begin with only mild chest discomfort that may not seem alarming at first. In some patients, symptoms may come and go.

The typical signs that may indicate a heart attack include chest pain, breathlessness, nausea, and vomiting. One telltale serious sign, Dr. Alimurung warns, is the combination of any heart attack symptom with shortness of breath. "Difficulty of breathing is bad, particularly when breathlessness is not because of normal physical exertion. If one who usually can walk up five flights of stairs without breathlessness can suddenly only climb one or two, that’s a problem."

Missed Signals

Sometimes, symptoms may not fit the typical pattern. The pain may not be in the chest, but rather along the left arm, in the stomach area, or even the jaw. The reason for the unusual pain locations is because the heart lacks the type of sensory nerves found in the fingers and in other pain-sensitive parts of the body. "The heart tries to send pain messages, but it does not have the right nerves to send them correctly so it sends a jumbled message over the wrong cable," Dr. Alimurung explains.

Pain is not the only sign of a heart attack that one easily mistakes. Other symptoms can easily be mistaken for other much more benign problems such as heartburns. Although there may be other explanations for your symptoms, it is best to get to a hospital quickly and let a doctor examine you to make sure you are not having a heart attack.

Women, the elderly, and people with diabetes are most likely to have the kinds of unusual symptoms that are easily missed. Women (and their doctors) sometimes overlook symptoms because they mistakenly assume that heart attacks more commonly afflict men; in fact 64 percent of all women who die suddenly of coronary heart disease have no previously recognized symptoms. Seniors often mistake the signs of a heart attack for symptoms of other diseases or even of the aging process itself, even though they have a higher rate of heart disease than any other age group. Diabetics may have no symptoms at all, even though they’re at higher risk for heart attacks. High blood pressure and high cholesterol, conditions that increase the risk for diabetes and heart disease, are often symptom-free, so many people don’t realize they have these important risk factors.

What To Do

It often is not possible to self-diagnose a heart attack. The old adage is true: It’s better to be safe than sorry. When you develop a heart attack, every minute counts. Emergency department staff will work quickly to determine if a full-blown heart attack is in progress or whether you need hospital confinement for further close observation and additional tests before the diagnosis of a heart attack is confirmed or ruled out.

Once you’ve called for emergency help, it is generally recommended that you immediately chew and swallow an aspirin — unless you’re allergic to this medicine or have a stomach ulcer that bled recently — to help thin your blood. When you arrive at the hospital, you can expect a flurry of activity. It may seem as though your blood pressure levels, heart rate, and temperature are being checked all at once, even as a brief medical history is taken. Blood tests may be done, and you may be hooked up to a heart monitor. An electrocardiogram (ECG) test helps to determine whether a heart attack is occurring. Other accurate indicators of a heart attack are revealed from the initial blood tests. An elevation in certain markers may appear in the blood as a result of damaged heart muscle. However, these blood test markers may not become abnormal until a few hours after a heart attack.

Heart Attack!

If markers indicate you may be having a heart attack and you have access to a medical center, you may be sent immediately to the cardiac catheterization laboratory — commonly called a cath lab. There, a doctor quickly performs coronary catheterization or angiogram. If the angiogram detects a blockage, the same catheter may be used to open the blocked vessel with a tiny balloon (coronary angioplasty) and most often, will place within the artery a tiny expandable steel mesh-like slotted tube device called a stent. The procedure immediately restores blood flow to the heart muscle, effectively limiting or preventing the heart attack. Studies in the Philippines and other countries show that coronary angioplasty can cut a patient’s risk of dying by 40 percent if done promptly and within less than two hours of heart attack onset. Doctors typically call this important critical time frame as the "golden window of opportunity."

If you don’t have ready access to a medical center with a cath lab, the next best therapy is with intravenous (IV) clot-buster medications, called thrombolytics. These dissolve blood clots that form and block the coronary arteries. Thrombolytics are most effective when given during the first two hours after the symptoms appear and usually not later than 12 hours after. If multiple blocked or narrowed coronary arteries are detected, coronary artery bypass surgery may be recommended. The surgery will likely be scheduled several days to weeks after a heart attack. The delay allows your heart to stabilize.

Hospital Time

If you have had a heart attack, you can expect to spend several days in the hospital. During your hospital stay, tests such as chest x-rays and echocardiograms may be done to determine how well your heart is functioning and if you have any evidence of fluid buildup in the lungs that could indicate congestive heart failure due to poor pumping capacity of the heart. Before discharge, a treadmill or other stress tests may be done to determine if more areas of the heart are at risk from blocked vessels and to see how well your heart functions with physical exertion.

Certain well-known drugs have been shown to be of clear benefit to people who have had a heart attack. These include drugs such as aspirin and clopidogrel (Plavix), which are used to help reduce the risk of blood vessel clotting. Statin-type cholesterol-lowering drugs may be used both to rapidly improve cholesterol to target levels and for their ability to stabilize blood vessel walls, which may also help stop future clots from forming. In addition, most people who have had a heart attack will be advised to take angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and beta blocker class drugs. These prescription medications have been shown to improve long-term outcomes for people who have had a heart attack.

Time Is Muscle

If you experience chest pains that persist for 15 minutes or have any other reason to believe you may be having a heart attack, don’t delay. Call for emergency help. Time is critical when a heart attack is under way because the heart muscle is dying. What should you do if you’re not sure? Make the call anyway or rush to the hospital and get emergency help. When it comes to heart attacks, the earlier you are treated, the more heart muscles will be saved, and the faster, better, and more complete your recovery will be.

Save this article and read it again. What you learn now may save your life later!

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"Parachute" May Help Some Heart Patients

2009-09-17T08:37:00.000-07:00

Experimental Device Is Designed to Increase Blood Flow in People with Congestive Heart Failure

(CBS) Congestive heart failure patients may soon be able to "parachute" their way to better lives.

A new device, dubbed "the parachute," is meant to increase blood flow in those patients, and is doing well in clinical trials.

The device, dubbed "the parachute," looks like an upside-down chute. A small incision is made in a leg artery, and it's snaked up to the damaged portion of the pumping chamber of the heart, isolating the inefficient portion of the weakened heart chamber and enabling blood to flow more effectively. Most patients are discharged from the hospital a day after the procedure.

The parachute could be available within three years, if all continues to go well in the clinical trials.

It was developed and is made by CardioKinetix of Menlo Park, Calif.

Myrna Muso, a 69 year-old New Jersey grandmother, suffered a heart attack eight years ago. Since then, she's quit smoking and had a defibrillator-pacemaker inserted, but was still suffering from the effects of congestive heart failure, unable to catch her breath or continue any of her old activities.

As a new grandma, she couldn't enjoy the presence of her energetic grandson, and it would take her four days just to clean her small apartment.

When a friend heard about "the parachute," Muso signed up to be a part of the clinical trial.

She had it implanted in May and says she was "elated" after taking her first few breaths of air after the surgery. She wasn't huffing and puffing as she usually did, and has been able to become more active.

Muso told her story on "The Early Show" Wednesday, in the first of a three-part series on heart health, and her cardiologist, Dr. Robert Kipperman of New Jersey's Morristown Memorial Hospital, described how the parachute works.

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Eat your heart out

2009-09-14T23:36:00.000-07:00

I Love My Heart! I Love my Health! That's what people always say when someone questions them about their health and well being but science says that you have done nothing in your action towards loving your heart if you haven't taken a close look at your diet. If you already have risk factors such as hypertension, cholesterol, smoking, obesity, a sedentary lifestyle and high stress, start on your diet right away! If you have no obvious risk-factors(good for you!), this 5 easy steps will let you have a healthy heart throughout your lifetime.

1. Up your anti-oxidants

• Anti-oxidants such as vitamins C, E, beta carotene and bioflavonoids occur naturally in fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, nuts and seeds. They protect the heart from free radical damage.

• Eat gooseberries or amlas every day. Rich in Vitamin C, they mop up free radicals from the body. Steam your veggies for retaining Vitamin C. • Add a glass of freshly-squeezed citrus fruit juice combined with carrots, 3-4 times a week for Vitamin C and beta carotene.

• Snack on 4 almonds, 2 walnuts and 1-2 Tbsp of sunflower seeds each day to get a Vitamin E boost. Add a teaspoon of wheat germ to your breakfast cereal for more Vitamin E.

2. Feast on good fats

MUFA or monounsaturated fatty acids are good fats. Get them in olive, soya, and mustard oil; nuts (walnuts and pistachios) and seeds (sunflower, flax seeds), olives and dark chocolate. They have been proven to reduce 'bad' LDL cholesterol and increase 'good' HDL cholesterol.Good polyunsaturated fatty acids like Omega 3 and Omega 6 are also heart protective and found in oily fish (sardines, salmon, tuna) and flax seeds. Add them to your diet.

3.Fill up with fibre

Fibre is important for lowering bad cholesterol, a major risk factor in heart diseases. Fruits, vegetables, wholegrains, beans and legumes are good sources of both soluble and insoluble dietary fibre. Oats are great for reducing cholesterol levels, so start your day with a steaming bowl of porridge. Switch to wholewheat bread and pastas and go for brown rice instead of refined.

4.Add more vitamin D
Recent research published in the American Journal of the Medical Sciences (2009), points out the importance of Vitamin D for keeping your heart healthy. According to one article, low Vitamin D levels could increase the risk of high blood pressure, heart failure, and ischemic heart disease. There is still little information on whether taking Vitamin D supplements will reduce these risks. But because you love your heart and to be on the safe side, ensure that you expose your body to 20 minutes of sunlight every day for Vitamin D synthesis.

5.Eat this way

• Loving your heart is not simple so go easy on saturated fats and cut trans fat. Swap red meat with fish such as salmon, sardine, mackerel, sea bass. Pick white meat if you don't like fish.

• Reduce your dairy intake and go for soya instead. ? Add more coloured vegetables to your diet. Go for salads and steamed veggies.? Cut back on your salt intake. Avoid table salt and stay away from packaged foods, pickles and processed foods.

• For snacks, swap chips, cookies and chocolates with fruits, nuts and seeds.

• Swap refined foods with wholegrain foods such as brown rice, brown bread and wholewheat pastas.

• Try grilling, baking, stir-frying and steaming foods, instead of frying them.

• If you drink alcohol, exercise moderation. You can opt for red wine as it is said to contain heart-friendly polyphenols.

• Use a mix of healthy oils-olive oil, canola, rice bran, mustard and soya oil.

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Congestive heart failure's cause varies

2009-09-14T02:23:00.000-07:00

Congestive heart failure refers to a large number of conditions that affect the structure or function of the heart, making it more difficult for the heart to supply sufficient blood flow to meet the body's needs.

Dr. Michael E. Silverman of Cardiovascular Specialists of Central Maryland and chief of medicine at Howard County General Hospital writes about the causes of and treatments for the problem.

•Congestive heart failure occurs when one or more of the heart's chambers loses the ability to maintain proper blood flow. This can happen because the heart can't fill well enough with blood or because the heart can't contract strongly enough to propel the blood with enough force to maintain proper circulation. In some people, both filling and contraction problems can occur.

•Major risk factors for developing congestive heart failure include high blood pressure and coronary artery disease. Certain viral infections and substance abuse are also risk factors. Heart valve problems, sleep apnea, and diabetes can lead to congestive heart failure as well.

•The most common signs and symptoms of heart failure are shortness of breath or trouble breathing; fatigue, tiredness, malaise; and swelling in the ankles, feet, legs, and abdomen.

Breathing problems can manifest in several ways. If you are out of breath just from walking stairs or doing simple activities, you have what doctors call "dyspnea." If you wake up at night and are breathless, you have "paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea." If breathlessness occurs when you're lying flat, you may feel the need to sit up or be propped up with pillows. This inability to breathe easily unless sitting up straight or standing erect is called "orthopnea."

•It should be noted that some heart failure patients have exercise intolerance but little evidence of fluid retention, whereas others complain primarily of swelling and report few symptoms of dyspnea or fatigue. When fluid buildup is present, there also may be weight gain, increased urination, and a cough that worsens at night and/or while lying down.

•An individual with heart failure should first focus on lifestyle changes. Controlling high blood pressure and weight are critical to improving the disease. Your diet should be low in sodium or salt, which not only helps with blood pressure levels but can also help reduce swelling (edema) in your legs, feet, and abdomen. Aerobic exercise (walking, swimming, biking, etc) is very helpful.

Medications are the mainstay of therapy and include diuretics, ACE inhibitors, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs), beta-blockers, vasodilators, aldosterone antagonists, and Digitalis.

Biventricular pacemakers, left ventricular assist devices, and even transplantation are beneficial in a select group of patients with CHF.

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Smoking Ban reduces Heart Attacks

2009-09-14T00:42:00.000-07:00

The ban on smoking in public places has triggered a greater-than-expected fall in the number of heart attacks, it has been reported.

Early results of a study commissioned by the Department of Health revealed heart attack rates dropped by about 10% in England in the year after the ban was introduced in July 2007, The Sunday Times reported.

Separate research found an even sharper decrease - 14% - in Scotland, where the ban was imposed a year earlier. Another study in Wales is expected to reveal similar results.

The research into heart attack rates in England is being led by Anna Gilmore of Bath University.

She said: "There is already overwhelming evidence that reducing people's exposure to cigarette smoke reduces hospital admissions due to heart attacks."

John Britton, director of the UK Centre for Tobacco Control Studies at Nottingham University, said: "We always knew a public smoking ban would bring rapid health benefits, but we have been amazed by just how big and how rapid they are."

Ellen Mason, a senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation, explained why smokers and passive smokers have an increased risk of having a heart attack.

She said: "Exposure to cigarette smoke induces rapid changes in blood chemistry, making it much more prone to clotting. In someone who has narrowed or damaged coronary arteries, smoke exposure can tip the balance and cause a heart attack."

Other western European countries have seen similar falls in heart attack rates after smoking bans. Figures showed France had a 15% drop in emergency admissions for heart attacks after a year, while both Italy and Ireland had an 11% reduction.

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Vitamin D Deficiency Increases the Risk of Heart Disease Among Diabetics

2009-09-12T23:43:00.000-07:00

New research suggests that people with diabetes may face an increased risk of heart disease if they have a deficiency of vitamin D. An article in Science News magazine cites a study at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis indicating that macrophages, the immune cells that normally fight heart disease by absorbing LDL cholesterol, may do their job too well in cases of vitamin D deficiency. Instead of helping to prevent heart disease in these patients, the macrophages may actually contribute to it.

Endocrinologist Carlos Bernal-Mizrachi and his colleagues tested blood samples from 76 obese people, average age 55, who had type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and low vitamin D levels. From these samples, the researchers cultured macrophages and exposed the immune cells to LDL cholesterol (the bad kind). They found that macrophages from type 2 diabetes patients showed a greater tendancy to absorb excessive amounts of LDL when they were cultured without vitamin D than when they were bathed in the vitamin. This transformed the macrophages into cholesterol-filled foam cells, the building blocks of arterial plaque.

Previous research has suggested that vitamin D deficiency may contribute to the risk of heart disease, but this is the first indication of the cellular mechanism that actually causes the increased risk.

Foam cells are part of the debris that collects inside blood vessels, eventually forming a fibrous cap of plaque. When the plaque ruptures and a blood clot forms, a stroke or heart attack can occur.

The study found that non-diabetics showed much less of this effect than diabetic patients did.

Further research by the same group of scientists has shed light on the reason for these results. In diabetic people, vitamin D helps reduce stress to the endoplasmic reticulum, which controls many cell functions. Reducing stress causes the macrophages to absorb less LDL cholesterol. In cases of vitamin D deficiency, this stress reduction does not take place, and the macrophages absorb more LDL cholesterol than they should. The stress also contributes to inflammation, which releases proteins that degrade plaque and lead to cap breakdown.

Though the results are preliminary and more research will be done on this question in the future, it appears that people with diabetes should pay attention to their vitamin D levels.

Writing in the health section of the Today Show website, nutrition and health editor Joy Bauer gives some good, basic information about the vitamin and how to make sure you’re getting enough of it.

There are three ways of getting vitamin D: exposure to sunlight, eating vitamin D-rich foods, and taking supplements.

Regular exposure to sunlight allows your body to make its own vitamin D. All you need is about 15 minutes of direct sun, a few times a week. However, you should use common sense and limit your exposure to prevent sunburn.

In addition to sunlight, you can also get vitamin D from certain foods. These include fish such as mackerel, salmon, and sardines, as well as shrimp. Skim milk and fortified yogurts are good, too, as are fortified cereals. Shiitake mushrooms are also very high in vitamin D.

However, since food sources are limited, it might be a good idea to consider a supplement. If you take one, be sure that it contains at least the Daily Value, which is 400 IU. Women taking extra calcium should get a brand that also includes vitamin D, preferably D3 (cholcaciferol, the most potent form.)

An article at DermNet NZ, a health Web site set up by the New Zealand Dermatological Society, stresses that sunlight is the best way to get vitamin D without risking overdose. Your body will not make more of the vitamin than it needs, so there is a natural safeguard against getting too much of it that way. If you are taking a supplement, it is possible to get an overdose of the vitamin, which can cause nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, constipation, weakness and weight loss. An overdose of vitamin D can also raise your blood calcium level, sometimes causing confusion and heart rhythm abnormalities. It should be stressed that people taking vitamin D supplements should never exceed the recommended dosage.

The information in this article is not intended as a substitute for a doctor’s advice. Always consult your doctor when considering dietary changes, supplements, etc.

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Heart attack symptoms? Don't wait

2009-09-11T07:45:00.000-07:00

If you saw someone experiencing symptoms of a heart attack, what would you do? Most likely, you would call 911. But if you're a woman and thought you were having a heart attack, your response would probably be different.

Women often hesitate or fail to call 911 when they experience heart attack symptoms. Most women feel they are not really having a heart attack, do not want to raise a false alarm or self-diagnose themselves as having heartburn or other minor health issues.

Women might not even realize they are experiencing a heart attack. Some common symptoms for women are unusual fatigue, shortness of breath, weakness or inability to perform daily activities, nausea, sleep disturbances and indigestion. However, some warning signs are ignored as non-cardiac, such as a burning sensation in the back, arms, shoulders or teeth.

Any intense complaint that is above the waist should be taken seriously as a possible heart attack. Many doctors say that a woman's perception of heart disease may be her biggest risk factor of all.

Minutes matter when a heart attack occurs because every second is critical, as blocked coronary arteries prevent blood from reaching oxygen-starved heart muscle. Women should call 911 first and then chew on an aspirin. Aspirin can improve the chance of survival by reducing the size of the clot (if present) in the coronary artery. By calling 911, assessment begins rapidly on the way to the hospital. The EMS crew can alert the hospital's cardiac team of your arrival and can immediately begin treatment to open the blocked artery that is causing the heart attack. It is also important to remember to never drive to the emergency room because you won't get valuable care that you would otherwise receive from the EMS crew, and you put yourself and other drivers at risk of a crash.

Women must remember to never take a wait-and-see approach to a possible heart attack. The longer you wait, the more damage a heart attack can cause. As the adage goes, it's better to be safe than sorry. Always call 911.

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Getting a second chance

2009-09-11T07:32:00.000-07:00

When your young, especially when you're in your 20s, you feel invincible. You feel you can do anything and you expect a lot of things - go to college, get a job, get married, have fun, go to parties, drink beer. You expect you have the world ahead of you, stretched and limitless.

You never expect it could end. You ask yourself, I'm young, energetic and strong. Heart Attack is out of the question. Well, that's the mindset of a young graduate student that is being featured in this blog.

Graduate student Lee Kluck found out that just because you're young, it doesn't mean you're invincible. After having a heart attack at the age of just 28, Kluck had to turn his life around and figure out how to put it back together again.

"It really changes your outlook on things when the surgeon comes up to you and tells you that you've had a heart attack and it should've killed you," said Kluck. "It was a total shock to the system."

It all began on just an average day last spring.

"One day on the way to class my shoulders went slack and I noticed throughout that next week I started having chest pain," he said. "But because it wasn't radiating down the side of my body and I wasn't having cold sweats, I waited about a week before going in to [Student] Health Services. I finally did, though, and they hooked me up to an EKG and consulted a cardiologist. But they told me it wasn't serious and sent me home."

Unfortunately, the pain only got worse.

"Finally on the morning of March 11, I went to the emergency room at Sacred Heart Hospital," he said. "After running tests, they came in and said, as I like to joke, 'Congratulations! You've had a heart attack!'"

After the heart catheterization the next day, a procedure where plastic tubing is inserted into a vein or artery and is advanced to the heart, the doctor said if a blockage was found, then they'd perform a stint, which is a ballooning of the blocked artery, he said.

"Now, I'm awake for the heart catheterization, and they're showing me the different arteries on the screen … and show me that there was a blockage on the backside of my heart, in the left main artery," he said.

After consulting with other doctors, they decided that the only option was open-heart surgery, he said.

"I remember thinking back to the previous Christmas," he said. "I remember telling myself, 'you are 310 lbs. and you are not 22 years old anymore. You need to get in shape, because if you don't you're going to have a heart attack, sooner rather than later.' So I had started walking two miles a day and was trying to curb some of my less savory eating habits."

But the doctor told him that his heart had been working overtime for too long, he said.

"My surgeon and his physician's assistant came in to see me after the procedure, and my surgeon said, 'They tell me you know a little bit about the Navy,'" he said.

Being a Masters student in naval history, Kluck certainly did - devoting his time to studying U.S. Naval Aviation in the Korean War - his way of contributing, he said. So he was, in a way, prepared for his surgeon's direct demeanor.

"My surgeon was a Captain in the Naval Reserve and his physician's assistant is a retired Major in the Airforce and was a combat rescue officer," he said. "And my surgeon says, 'I'm going to give it to you like I give it to those people - blunt, informative, and forward - we need to cut you open. You need between one and three bypasses done."

After getting a few hours to let the information soak in, Kluck decided to go through with the surgery, despite the risks that it could either cause excessive bleeding, stroke, or death, he said. And after six hours on the operating table and a double bypass, Kluck woke up in the Critical Care Unit of Sacred Heart Hospital.

Then began his long recovery, with the knowledge that things would never be the same.

"After spending over three weeks in the hospital, I was finally sent home," he said. "I had to withdraw from school and move back home to heal. I had a diet of basically veggies, brown rice, and white meat and a scar that ran from my neck to the top of my belly. I was in unbelievable pain."

So Kluck began the steps he needed to take to start his new life.

"Before I could get into shape, I had to build up my stamina again," he said. "I started walking on a treadmill and started off being able to only walk for about seven minutes before getting exhausted."

But Kluck sticks to his diet and keeps up the exercise - his life depends on it.

"The surgeon said that in five to 15 years, I'll need to have surgery again," he said. "I'm doing everything I can to push that date out. It's my turn to work hard to keep myself healthy because all of the doctors and nurses worked so hard to help me. If I don't, I'll feel like I've let them down."

And even after this traumatic event, Kluck decided to go right back to school the very next semester.

"A lot of who I am has changed even," he said. "I used to have problems sharing opinions. Now I always share what's on my mind. Because when it comes down to it, nothing's as tough as that moment when they look at you and tell you you've had a heart attack and shouldn't be here."

Continuing work on his thesis in U.S. Naval history, Kluck definitely has been given a second chance.

"It was a traumatic experience, but it was a good thing, too, because now I have a new appreciation for life and made the necessary changes to protect it," he said. "Every day's a great day because I'm here."

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Green vegetables to heart rescue

2009-09-10T08:23:00.000-07:00

LEAFY greens have bounty of benefits. Packed with nutrients and fiber, it is low in calories. BEN UKWUOMA reports that researchers have uncovered a possible reason why green vegetables are good for the heart.

RESEARCHERS have discovered a possible reason why green vegetables such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower are good for the heart. Their work suggests that a chemical found in vegetables can boost natural Defence mechanism to protect arteries from diseases.

The Imperial College London team hopes their work could lead to new dietary treatments to prevent heart problems.

Details that appear in Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology shows that many heart diseases are caused by build up of fatty plaques in the arteries, known as atherosclerosis.

However, arteries do not get clogged up with these plaques in a uniform way. Bends and branches of blood vessels - where blood flow is disrupted and can be sluggish - are much more prone to the build-up.

The latest study has shown that a protein that usually protects against plaque build up, called Nrf2, is inactive in areas of arteries that are prone to diseases.

However, it also found that treatment with a chemical found in green "brassica" vegetables such as broccoli can activate Nrf2 in these disease-prone regions.

Lead researcher, Dr Paul Evans said: "We found that the innermost layer of cells at branches and bends of arteries lack the active form of Nrf2, which may explain why they are prone to inflammation and disease.

"Treatment with the natural compound sulforaphane reduced inflammation at the high-risk areas by 'switching on' Nrf2.

"Sulforaphane is found naturally in broccoli, so our next steps include testing whether simply eating broccoli, or other vegetables in their 'family', has the same protective effect.

"We also need to see if the compound can reduce the progression of disease in affected arteries."

Professor Peter Weissberg, medical director of the British Heart Foundation, which funded the research, said: "These fascinating findings provide a possible mechanism by which eating vegetables protects against heart disease, as well as adding evidence to support the importance of eating 'five-a-day'. The biochemistry revealed in this research could lead to more targeted dietary or medical approaches to prevent or lessen disease that leads to heart attacks and strokes."

Using normal mice, and mice engineered to lack the Nrf2 protein, the research found that in straight sections of arteries Nrf2 was present in the endothelial 'lining' cells.

Through its action on other proteins, it prevented the cells from becoming inflamed, an early stage in the development of atherosclerosis.

In the lining cells of disease-prone sites - such as bended or branched arteries - Nrf2 was attached to a protein that made it inactive. This stifled its protective properties.

But the addition of sulforaphane re-activated Nrf2 in the disease-prone regions of the artery, restoring the cells' ability to protect themselves from becoming inflamed.

The researchers believe that this will enable these artery regions to remain healthy for longer or even reduce the progression of existing disease. Dark green leafy vegetables are warehouses for calories, perhaps the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are rich sources of minerals (including iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium) and vitamins, including vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide a variety of phytonutrients including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damage and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats.

Perhaps the star of these nutrients is Vitamin K. A cup of most cooked greens provides at least nine times the minimum recommended intake of Vitamin K, and even a couple of cups of dark salad greens usually provide the minimum all on their own. Recent research has provided evidence that this vitamin may be even more important than we once thought (the current minimum may not be optimal), and many people do not get enough of it.

Dark green leafy vegetables are calorie for calorie, perhaps the most concentrated source of nutrition of any food. They are a rich source of minerals like iron, calcium, potassium, and magnesium and vitamins, including vitamins K, C, E, and many of the B vitamins. They also provide variety of phytonutrients, including beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, which protect our cells from damaging and our eyes from age-related problems, among many other effects. Dark green leaves even contain small amounts of Omega-3 fats.

Perhaps the star of these nutrients is Vitamin K. A cup of most cooked greens provides at least nine times the minimum recommended intake of Vitamin K, and even a couple of cups of dark salad greens usually provide the minimum all on their own. Recent research has provided evidence that this vitamin may be even more important than we once thought -the current minimum may not be optimal. And many people do not get enough of it.

Dr. Albert Osaretin Egbuhi, an associate professor of Biochemistry, College of Medicine University of Lagos, said: "Greens have very little carbohydrate in them, and the carbohydrate that are there are packed in layers of fiber, which make them very slow to digest. That is why, in general, greens have very little impact on blood glucose."

Broccoli for instance is said to be highly nutritious, containing over 20 vitamins and minerals. A cup is bursting with 2280 IU of vitamin A and 123 mg of vitamin C.

"It is an excellent source of folate and dietary fiber and a good source of potassium, calcium, the B vitamins and other essential nutrients. In addition to its sulforaphane content which aids in increasing the levels of enzymes that block cancer, its indole-3 carbinol content has captured the attention of those looking to prevent hormone-related cancers, including breast and prostate cancer." Egbuhi stated.

Aside from being a very good source of vitamin C, cucumber is also packed with molebdenum, a mineral that reduces the symptoms of allergy and helps prevent anemia by enabling the body to use iron. In addition to its vitamin A, D and E contents, this watermelon relative also contains vitamin K, a nutrient required to make at least three proteins essential for bone formation. A cup of cucumber contains 149 mg of potassium

Essentially, most vegetables are nutrient dense and loaded with good-for-you vitamins and phytonutrients, but green vegetables and leafy greens pack a pile of health benefits into two important factors: flavonoids and folate.

"Flavonoids are anti-oxidant compounds that give some of the colour to foods like dark chocolate, grapes, strawberries, blueberries, and peppers."

Flavonoids, according to experts, also help keep arteries flexible, acting almost like a non-stick coating preventing cholesterol buildup. Two of the richest sources of flavonoids are green beans and broccoli.

Green beans have high concentration of Vitamins A and C, two other potent anti-oxidants which do everything from protecting us against cancer causing free radicals to promoting collagen and elastin production in the skin, to help fight signs of aging.

Broccoli, while high in flavonoids, also contains important phytonutrients that aid in cancer prevention. In some studies it has been shown to reduce the size of cancerous tumors that already exist. In addition, broccoli is high in calcium as well as vitamin C, having nearly twice the amount of vitamin C of that of orange. The significance of that combination is that vitamin C aids in the absorption of calcium.

Folate is a B vitamin that helps cells regenerate, or renew themselves. While it assists in the production of healthy blood cells and the treatment of anemia, it is also a needed component in the making of DNA, the building blocks of cells. By preventing changes to DNA, it also aids in the prevention of many types of cancers.

Clinical studies have also shown that a lack of folate increases the risk for alzheimers, depression, and other forms of mental fatigue. Because of the connection with the production of red blood cells, folate, or the manufactured form, folic acid, has long been recommended to pregnant women as it aids in the development of a healthy nervous system in the fetus. What are our best green food sources of folate? Spinach, kale and asparagus.

Green vegetables also contain many phyto-chemicals and beta-carotene. These nutrients help protect cells from damaging, improve immune functions and help protect our eyes from age-related diseases. Some studies suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin may reduce the risk of certain types of cancers such as breast and lung cancers. They are useful in reducing the risk of cancer and heart disease since they are low in fat, high in dietary fiber, and rich in folic acid, vitamin C, potassium and magnesium as well as containing a host of phytochemicals, such as lutein, beta-cryptoxanthin, zeaxanthin, and beta-carotene.

One study showed that an increment of one daily serving of green leafy vegetables lowered the risk of cardiovascular disease by 11 per cent.

In the Adventist health study, the frequent consumptions of green salads by African-Americans were associated with a substantially lower risk of mortality.

Because of their high magnesium content and low glycemic index, green leafy vegetables are also valuable for persons with type 2 diabetes.

Green vegetables are also major sources of iron and calcium for any diet. Swiss chard and spinach are not considered good sources of calcium, due to their high content of oxalic acid. Green leafy vegetables are rich in beta-carotene, which can also be converted into vitamin A, and also improve immune functions. Millions of children around the world have increased risk of blindness, and other illnesses because of inadequate dietary vitamin A from green leafy vegetables.

Lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoids found in dark-green leafy vegetables, are concentrated in the eye lens and macular region of the retina. They play a protective role in the eye. They protect against both cataract and age-related macular degeneration, the major cause of blindness in the elderly. Some studies suggest that lutein and zeaxanthin may help reduce the risk of certain types of cancers, such as breast and lung cancer, and may contribute to the prevention of heart disease and stroke.

In a Swedish study, it was reported that eating three or more servings a week of green leafy vegetables significantly reduced the risk of stomach cancer, the fourth most frequent cancer in the world. Cabbage, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, and broccoli are rich in indoles and isothiocyanates, which protect us against colon and other cancers.

Broccoli sprouts have been reported to contain 10 or more times as much sulforaphane, a cancer-protective substance than does mature broccoli. A higher consumption of green leafy vegetables has been shown to significantly decrease the risk of breast cancer and skin cancer.

Studies have identified a gene, connexin 43, whose expression is upregulated by chemopreventive carotenoids and which allows direct intercellular gap junctional communication. In many human tumors, gap junctional communication is deficient and its upregulation is associated with decreased proliferation. Hence, the cancer-preventive properties of carotenoids are partly explained by their impact on gene regulation.

Quercetin is a bioflavonoid found in leafy green vegetables. Quercetin has an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity and displays unique anticancer properties. Quercetin is a natural compound that blocks substances involved in allergies and acts as an inhibitor of mast cell secretion, and causes a decrease in the release of interleukin-6.

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Inhaling a Heart Attack: How Air Pollution Can Cause Heart Disease

2009-09-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

University of Michigan tests show short-term exposure to fine particle air pollution
can drive up high blood pressure, raise risk of heart attack.

It's well known that measures such as exercise, a healthy diet and not smoking can
help reduce high blood pressure, but researchers at the University of Michigan Health System
have determined the very air we breathe can be an invisible catalyst to heart disease.

Inhaling air pollution over just two hours caused a significant increase in
diastolic blood pressure, the lower number on blood pressure readings,
according to new U-M research.

The study findings appear in the current issue of Hypertension, a publication
of the American Heart Association.

Nearly one in three Americans suffer from hypertension, a significant health
problem that can lead to heart attack, heart failure, stroke, and other
life-threatening problems.

"Although this increase in diastolic blood pressure may pose little health
risk to healthy people, in people with underlying coronary artery disease this
small increase may actually be able to a trigger heart attack or stroke," says
Robert D. Brook, M.D., lead author and vascular medicine physician at the U-M
Cardiovascular Center.

In the study, researchers hoped to identify which air pollutants are harmful
and how the pollutants work to damage the cardiovascular system.

Eighty-three people in Ann Arbor and Toronto were involved in testing and
breathed air pollution, concentrated by a mobile air quality research
facility, that was similar to what would be found in an urban environment near
a roadway.

"We looked at their blood vessels and then their responses before and after
breathing high levels of air pollution," explains Robert Bard, M.S., overall
research project manager.

Ozone gases, a well-known component of air pollution, were not the biggest
culprit. Rather, small microscopic particles about a 10th of the diameter of a
human hair caused the rise in blood pressure and impaired blood vessel
function, tests showed. The blood pressure increase was rapid and occurred
within two hours, while the impairment in blood vessel function occurred later
but lasted as long as 24 hours.

It's believed these fine particles deposit deep into the lungs and certain
components may gain entrance to the blood stream, or cause an inflammatory
response throughout the body. There is also evidence that functions in the
body's nervous system are also disrupted.

The research is the latest in the relatively new field of Environmental
Cardiology which looks at the association between air pollution and heart
disease. Brook says that at the very least the findings support efforts to
maintain current ambient air quality standards set by the Environmental
Protection Agency.

"It really bolsters and strengthens the importance of maintaining air quality
for human health," says Brook.

There are practical ways to avoid exposure to high levels of air pollution,
such as avoiding unnecessary travel or commutes and not exercising during rush
hour, or near busy roadways, Brook says. In modern society, the burning of
fossil fuels is the primary source for air pollution.

"If air pollution levels are forecasted to be high, those with heart disease,
diabetes or lung disease should avoid unnecessary outdoor activity," he says.

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Rat Poison To Reduce Heart Attack Risk

2009-09-07T09:47:00.000-07:00

As bizarre or as funny as it may sound it is true. The wisdom of the old tells us that every poison can be an antidote and that is so with rat poison as well, with a new study proves that it can significantly reduce stroke risk.

According to a study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, a new drug developed as an alternative to popular drug warfarin, also used as rat poison, has been found to significantly reduce stroke risk.

Though there does exist the practice of giving warfarin to patients at risk of stroke, however, the treatment is considered to be quite dangerous and a regular supervision has to be maintained during the process.

In the new study, the doctors found that the new drug, dabigatran (Pradaxa), was 34 per cent more effective at reducing the heart risk and blood clots in at-risk patients than well-controlled warfarin. It also reduced death rates by 15 per cent.

In the three-year long study, the researchers recruited patients with an average age of 71, all of whom suffered from atrial fibrillation, a heart rhythm disorder that greatly increases the risk of stroke.

" The trial indicates that dabigatran may offer a useful alternative to warfarin for stroke prevention."

The British Heart Foundation said that the results for an alternative to warfarin were promising, but the drug would not be available to patients until next year at the earliest.

"Warfarin is a highly effective treatment when indicated for stroke prevention, but it is underused, often because of safety concerns or the need for regular blood tests to monitor its effects," Times Online quoted Keith Muir, a medical advisor for the Stroke Association, as saying.

The trial indicates that dabigatran may offer a useful alternative to warfarin for stroke prevention in some circumstances. "However, the trial only involved people who could equally well have taken warfarin, and anyone currently taking warfarin should continue it unless advised by their doctor," he added.

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One in four heart attack and stroke patients miss medication

2009-09-07T05:10:00.000-07:00

Almost a quarter of people on medication to prevent strokes and heart attacks are not taking their drugs, research has found.

Women are slightly more likely than men to take their drugs on time, according to a poll of 472 patients, but overall 26% said they either missed doses or did not use their prescribed medication at all.

Anti-clotting drugs were not taken regularly by 29% of patients at a GP practice in the North-east of England, and 23% failed to take statins on time, which reduce cholesterol and lower the risk of heart attacks and strokes.

Research presented at the British Pharmaceutical Conference in Manchester found that older patients and those on large numbers of drugs were more likely to stick to a medication schedule.

Pharmacist Wasim Baqir, from The Village Green Surgery, Sunderland, said: “Simply prescribing a drug is not enough.

“Doctors and other members of the primary care team, such as pharmacists, need to work with patients so they understand the importance of taking their medicines in the right dose, at the right time.”

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What is a Heart Attack?

2009-09-06T02:07:00.000-07:00

A heart attack occurs when the blood supply to part of the heart muscle itself — the myocardium — is severely reduced or stopped. The reduction or stoppage happens when one or more of the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart muscle is blocked. This is usually caused by the buildup of plaque (deposits of fat-like substances), a process called atherosclerosis. The plaque can eventually burst, tear or rupture, creating a "snag" where a blood clot forms and blocks the artery. This leads to a heart attack.

If the blood supply is cut off for more than a few minutes, muscle cells suffer permanent injury and die. This can kill or disable someone, depending on how much heart muscle is damaged.

Sometimes a coronary artery temporarily contracts or goes into spasm. When this happens the artery narrows and blood flow to part of the heart muscle decreases or stops. We're not sure what causes a spasm. A spasm can occur in normal-appearing blood vessels as well as in vessels partly blocked by atherosclerosis. A severe spasm can cause a heart attack.

The medical term for heart attack is myocardial infarction. A heart attack is also sometimes called a coronary thrombosis or coronary occlusion.

It is difficult to estimate exactly how common heart attacks are because as many as 200,000 to 300,000 people in the United States die each year before medical help is sought. It is estimated that approximately 1 million patients visit the hospital each year with a heart attack. About 1 out of every 5 deaths are due to a heart attack.

Risk factors for heart attack and coronary artery disease include:

* Bad genes (hereditary factors)
* Being male
* Diabetes
* Getting older
* High blood pressure
* Smoking
* Too much fat in your diet
* Unhealthy cholesterol levels, especially high LDL ("bad") cholesterol and low HDL ("good") cholesterol

Higher-than-normal levels of homocysteine, C-reactive protein, and fibrinogen may also increase your risk for a heart attack. Homocysteine is an amino acid. C-reactive protein and fibrinogen are linked to inflammation. Fibrinogen is also involved in blood clotting.

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Program for the Reversal of Heart Disease

2009-09-06T00:15:00.000-07:00

If you have vascular disease, and if you want not to have it, there is a plan for you.

1. Get yourself into chelation therapy and stay the course. This is the fastest, most proven method of dealing with this life-threatening condition. The literature proving this is extensive, despite what uninformed doctors may tell you. Then, in consultation with a doctor who practices nutritional medicine, take the following steps: (All the following dosages may be adjusted by your doctor, based on his or her experience and medical opinion.)
2. Vitamin C to bowel tolerance — as much as you can take without diarrhea. For most people this will be in the range of five to ten grams (5,000-10,000 mg.) each day. Spread this amount into two equal doses 12 hours apart. (Vitamin C prevents further cracking of the blood vessel wall — the beginning of the disease.)
3. Co-enzyme Q10 90-180 mg. twice each day (strengthens the heart muscle).
4. L-carnitine 3 grams twice each day (also strengthens the heart muscle).
5. L-lysine 3 grams twice each day (acts to release lipoprotein(a) from plaque formation and prevent further deposition of same).
6. L-proline 3 grams twice each day (acts to release lipoprotein(a) from plaque formation and prevent further deposition of same).
7. Niacin decreases the production of lipoprotein(a) in the liver. Inositol hexaniacinate is a form of niacin which gives less of a problem with flushing and therefore allows for larger therapeutic doses. Begin with 250 mg. at lunch, 500 mg. at dinner and 500 mg. at bedtime the first day; then increase gradually over a few days until you reach four grams per day, or the highest dose under four grams you can tolerate. Be sure to aks your doctor for liver enzyme level tests every two months or less to be sure your liver is able to handle the dose you are taking.
8. Vitamin E (as Unique E) 800-2400 IU per day. (This inhibits the proliferation of smooth muscle cells in the walls of arteries undergoing the atherosclerotic changes.)
9. Stop smoking. (This decreases the free radical load on your body.)
10. Adopt a sensible diet with plenty of veggies and not so much fat. (The metabolism of fat decreases your body vitamin pool dramatically.)
11. Ask your doctor for a comprehensive stool analysis (Great Smokies Lab) to see if you are digesting well all that good food. Your diet does not matter much if it is not getting into your body.
12. Lower stress in your life however you can.
13. Adopt a sensible exercise program in collaboration with your doctor.

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Magnesium good for heart health?

2009-08-30T08:39:00.000-07:00

The daily stress of modern life can take its toll on our health. Magnesium is one of the most important minerals for obtaining deep relaxation and maintaining overall wellness.

While many are familiar with its roles in heart health, bone strength, and a healthy immune system, fewer people are aware of magnesium’s role in muscle relaxation and nervous system balance. During times of stress, magnesium stores in the body can be depleted.

Magnesium is an important element critical to bone development, and the proper development and maintenance of organs, tissues, and blood.

Magnesium sources include spinach, legumes such as beans and peanuts, nuts and seeds, whole grain bread and ‘hard’ tap water. Who really drinks ‘hard’ tap water anymore? Halibut is another excellent source of magnesium. Other foods that contain magnesium, although not in as abundant quantities include: milk, cheese, bananas, and avocadoes.

Here's a healthy snack for you and your children to enjoy. Ants on a Log: This classic camp recipe, is actually amazingly heart healthy. The classic recipe for ants on a log is celery, peanut butter, and raisins. Celery is very high in vitamin K, vitamin C, potassium, folate, and dietary fiber. It is also low in calories, and helps in preventing high blood pressure. It lowers blood pressure because celery is full of pthalides, which are active compounds which can help relax the muscles around the arteries, thus lowering the pressure on the arties. Pthalides also help lower the hormones which cause stress levels to rise. All of that in a piece of celery! Peanut butter is very high in monounsaturated fat, the type of fat that is promoted in heart-healthy eating and is often heard in conjunction with the “Mediterranean Diet.” Peanuts are also high in vitamin E, niacin, and folate. New research has also shown that peanuts may be just as high in antioxidants as some fruits and vegetables. Peanuts are one of the best foods to eat, in moderation, to prevent cardiovascular problems and coronary heart disease. Raisins, the ants on the log, are one of the top sources of the trace mineral, boron. Boron is very important, especially for women, in bone health and prevention of osteoporosis. Who know that such a classic and simple after-school snack had such health benefits not just for the kids, but for the adults as well!

Magnesium sources are essential to helping the body regulate blood sugar, control blood pressure, maintain strong bones and a steady heartbeat. Research indicates that magnesium may also be beneficial in preventing heart disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure.

The best way, if at all possible, to obtain a healthy amount of magnesium is to include natural magnesium sources, such as vegetables, legumes, and whole grains. Introducing foods containing magnesium into the diet of a person, who has already developed a deficiency, may not be sufficient and it may be necessary to add supplements in order to raise magnesium levels to an acceptable point.

A scientific evidence on the importance of Magnesium

Vitamin users have lower heart risk

2009-08-28T07:21:00.000-07:00

Good news for those who take vitamin supplements: people who take a multivitamin and vitamin E nearly every day for 10 years seem to have a slightly lower risk of death from heart disease, study findings hint.

Those who take vitamin E and C supplements may also have a lower risk of death overall in a five-year period, while those who take vitamin C may have a lower risk of death from cancer, note study authors Dr. Gaia Pocobelli, at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle, Washington, and colleagues.

Vitamins E and C are antioxidants that are thought to protect against damage the body's cells, but scientists have "no clear evidence" that their use staves off death.

While the findings of the current study back earlier studies, many of the decreased risks are small, and may have more to do with other healthy behaviours in which people who take vitamins are likely to take part, the authors are quick to add in their report in the American Journal of Epidemiology.

How the study was done

The team surveyed 77 719 men and women in Washington State who were between 50 and 76 years old. Overall 67, 47, and 48% of the study group had ever used multivitamins, vitamin C, and vitamin E supplements, respectively.

Overall, there were 3 577 deaths in the group over five years. Among those who did not use vitamins, there were 350 deaths from heart disease, while there were 519 deaths among those who used vitamins between a few days and seven days per week.

After adjusting for gender and age, lifestyle, diet, and medical conditions, the researchers saw no differences between non-users and those who used multivitamins for zero to two days, three to five days, or six to seven days per week on average over 10 years.

By contrast, they saw slightly decreased risk for death from heart disease among those reporting the most frequent multivitamin use.

What the study revealed

When the researchers looked at vitamin C use, those who took more than 322 milligrams per day had a slightly decreased overall and cancer-related risk of death within five years, compared with non-users. Those with a history of heart disease who took this level of vitamin C had slightly decreased risk for death from heart disease.

Compared with non-users, men and women reporting more than 215 milligrams per day of vitamin E per day - roughly the amount found in a typical supplement -- had slightly decreased total and heart disease-related risk of death. The investigators saw no association between cancer death risk and vitamin E intake.

Even though the study took lifestyle into account, the authors that many of the findings "should be interpreted cautiously because healthy behaviours" - some of which may not have been measured - "tend to be more common in supplement users than in nonusers."

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What Is an ECG?

2009-08-22T11:25:00.000-07:00

You probably overheard the term many times especially when you take a physical health examination. You also heard or seen it in TV shows or in movies. But many people don't know it's literal meaning as well as its functions and importance. For the benefit of all, Here is the acronym of the term and is vital importance to the heart.

What Is an ECG?

An electrocardiogram, also known as an ECG or EKG, records the heart's electrical signals to determine whether the pattern is normal. Learn more about electrical signals in the heart and how ECGs work.

A Healthy Heartbeat

The heart is a beating muscle that pumps oxygen and nutrient rich blood throughout the body. Each beat is stimulated by electrical signals that pass through the heart muscle, or myocardium.

Performing an ECG or EKG

In order to examine the function of the heart, a doctor may perform a test called an electrocardiogram or ECG (also referred to as an EKG). During this test, electrodes are placed on the chest and recordings are then made of the heart's electrical signals. Sometimes the electrodes are also placed on the arms and legs.

The Heart's Electrical Signals

The electrical signals follow a set pathway through the heart beginning at a spot called the SA node, which is located in the top right chamber, or atrium. The signal then branches out through both right and left atria, which contract and push blood into the lower chambers, or ventricles.

The electrical signal also passes into the ventricles via the AV node, and then travels down the tissue that separates these two lower chambers. Finally, the signal travels back up the ventricles, which contract and pump blood to the lungs and body.

If Electrical Signals Are Abnormal

Variations from the normal electrical pattern may indicate damage to the heart due to a heart attack or heart disease.

What Is a Stress Test?

Often a patient will be required to perform a stress test during an ECG. A stress test usually involves walking or running on a treadmill at progressively increasing intensities while recording an ECG. This test allows a doctor to examine the heart's electrical activity during the stress of exercise.

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P.S., to know more Vitamin C benefits to the heart, click here.

How to Prevent Heart Disease

2009-08-22T10:49:00.000-07:00

Wouldn't you love to live for a hundred years? It really isn't hard if you stay heart-healthy. Here are some commonsense tips.

Here's How:

1. You are what you eat! Eat nutritious, healthy food.

2. Choose foods low in saturated fat. Make sure you include servings of fruit, vegetables and whole grains which are rich in starch and fiber, but low in fat.

3. Cutting down on dietary cholesterol consumption can help bring down blood cholesterol. Egg white, and foods from plant sources do not have cholesterol.

4. Read food labels. Look for the amount of saturated fat, total fat, cholesterol and total calories per serving on the nutrition label.

5. Stress can be harmful by raising blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and making your heart beat faster. Relax, smile, don't get angry often.

6. Bring down high blood pressure. You can do this by minimizing risk factors, making lifestyle changes, or by taking medication if necessary.

7. Stop smoking. Stub out that cigarette butt - Now!

8. If you drink, do so in moderation. A limit of two drinks per day is good for your heart.

9. Fight the battle of the bulge! Obesity is bad. Stay slim and lean.

10. If you are overweight, try and lose the excess.

11. Don't try crash diets - instead opt for a slow, steady and sustained program to lose weight.

12. An active lifestyle is healthy. Exercise regularly.

13. Try and incorporate a higher activity level into daily activities like taking a walk, riding a bike to the supermarket, climbing stairs instead of using the elevator and playing sports like badminton and basketball.

Tips:

1. It's never too late to begin. Start right now!
2. Be consistent in your efforts. Exercise daily.
3. A little bit each day adds up to huge benefits.

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P.S., learn the importance of Vitamin C to your heart.

How To Keep Your Heart Healthy

2009-08-05T08:59:00.000-07:00

There's a lot of advice flying around about what makes for a healthy heart. And, while ideas may come and go, the evidence consistently points to 7 important factors that helps to keep the heart healthy. find it difficult? it may sound easy but you got to have discipline to do it. For how long? Just for your entire lifetime.

Read the full story here.

P.S., here's a supplement to protect your healthy heart. Read This!

The Human Heart

2009-08-04T22:53:00.000-07:00

The heart is a muscular organ in all vertebrates responsible for pumping blood through the blood vessels by repeated, rhythmic contractions, or a similar structure in annelids, mollusks, and arthropods. The term cardiac (as in cardiology) means "related to the heart" and comes from the Greek καρδιά, kardia, for "heart."

The heart of a vertebrate is composed of cardiac muscle, an involuntary striated muscle tissue which is found only within this organ. One type of vertebrate w/c is the most superior form is Man or Human.

The human heart provides a continuous blood circulation through the cardiac cycle and is one of the most vital organs in the human body. It is divided into four chambers: the two upper chambers are called the left and right atria and two lower chambers are called the right and left ventricles. Normally the right ventricle pumps the same blood amount into the lungs with each bit that the left ventricle pumps out. Physicians commonly refer to the right atrium and right ventricle together as the right heart and to the left atrium and ventricle as the left heart.

The electric energy that stimulates the heart occurs in the sinoatrial node, which produces a definite potential and then discharges, sending an impulse across the atria. The Purkinje fibers transmit the electric charge to the myocardium while the cells of the atrial walls transmit it from cell to cell, making the atrial syncytium.

The human heart and its disorders (cardiopathies) are studied primarily by cardiology.

Structure

The human heart is equipped with four types of valves, which prevent the blood flowback between strokes: mitral valve, aortic valve, pulmonic valve and tricuspid valve. The mitral and tricuspid valves are classified as the atrioventricular (AV) valves. This is because they are found between the atria and ventricles.

The interventricular septum separates the left atrium and ventricle from the right atrium and ventricle, dividing the heart into two functionally separate and anatomically distinct units.

The average human heart, beating at 72 beats per minute, will beat approximately 2.5 billion times during a lifetime (about 66 years). It weighs on average 250 g to 300 g in females and 300 g to 350 g in males.