September 27th, 2009 is World Heart Day. According to the figures just released by WHO, cardiovascular diseases stands first as the world’s number one killer, accounting for nearly 17.1 million lives last year, a staggering number indeed. But how often do we acknowledge what the human heart does for us? Most of us take its function of working non-stop 24/7 as granted. We do not care at all until disaster strikes in the form of heart disease, raised blood pressure, high cholesterol and more. On this day of such great importance, let us dedicate ourselves to help our hearts function better by looking again at the following: • Is your blood pressure showing unsteady readings lately? Talk to your doctor if you are having heaviness in your chest and unreasonable fits of anger. Your blood pressure will vary according to your age. A healthy heart will show a reading of 120 – 130 and the diastolic pressure will read between 80 – 90. • Eat a low fat diet. Your diet should include plenty of fresh fruits, vegetables and nuts. Wherever possible eat the fruits with the outer skin. Do not fry the fish and chicken; instead, grill or roast them. Use less oil. And have plenty of garlic every day. • When did you last check your weight? Those unusual extra pounds will only increase your cholesterol levels, your blood pressure and increase the risk of coronary heart disease and even strokes. • Quit smoking! If you’ve been postponing the desire to quit cigarettes for years, now is the time to do it. Tobacco will only increase the formation of plaque in the blood vessels, leading to clots that can cause heart attacks. • Are you diabetic? If you are, then you are more prone towards coronary heart disease. Take measures regularly to keep your blood sugar levels safe. • Reduce the drinking of alcohol. Excess can only increase your blood pressure and result in irregular heart beat and a diseased heart muscle. • Does your family have a history of heart disease? How about your parents? It has been seen that diabetes, obesity and other risk factors are generally passed on to the children. • Last, but not the least, exercise regularly. Most people do not realize this, but the human heart is also a muscle just like any other – it must be exercised. Exercise reduces the blood pressure and widens the blood vessels to improve circulation. It also raises good HDL cholesterol. There is not one single medication that can alternate with the advantages of exercise. There is no need to allocate 2 hours every day at the gym. All you need is a moderate activity like walking briskly along the beach or side road every morning for 20 minutes a day. Or you could ride a plain bike. Walk down the stairs instead of using the elevator, park your car at the back of your building and walk the stairs to your flat. Walk to the market to do your groceries. Whatever it is, try to get more steps into your daily routine. They all will add up to give your heart a smiling look. A daily routine of 10,000 steps should do wonders for your heart! Exercising for a healthy heart should be as important as keeping an appointment with your hairdresser or facial at the Taj or Sheraton, or maybe even that game of bridge with your pals at your favourite club. On 26 and 27 September a health awareness program is planned in many main cities of the states in India as part of the World Heart Day celebrations. The activities will be held under the combined supervision of the Cardiological Society of India and the Heart Care Foundation. The programme includes free medical check-ups and seminars addressed by leading doctors from all over the country. You can log on to http://www.world-heart-federation.org/ for more information. Written by Mr. Sunder Venkataram, Thane (Maharashtra) … [Read more...]
Heart diseases in women
Incidence of Heart diseases in women is rising due to changing lifestyle of new age women and stress at both home and office. Smoking is the major preventable risk factor for heart diseases in women. The underlining mechanism is: (narrowing of blood vessels/Atherosclerosis) Decrease (shrinking) in the size of coronary arteries (vessels supplying blood to the heart), thereby free flowing of the blood is affected. There is more amount of fat accumulation inside the walls of the blood vessels. The more decrease in the size of the vessels, the earlier is the heart attack. Causative factors: 1. Age: Women of above 65 years of age are more prone to heart attacks. 2. Smoking: One of the main culprits and the dangerous factor. Nicotine in the tobacco makes the vessels to shrink in the size and decrease in inner capacity volume. 3. Excessive in taking of more fatty food materials like, non vegetarian diet, ghee, Fried foods, readymade junk foods, etc. 4. Diabetes: When it is not under control. 5. Sedentary life: Lack of exercise is more common in the present day modern life. 6. Race and genetic factors. Some of the above factors can be avoided, like Smoking, fatty foods intake, sedentary life, diabetes, etc. Age, genetic race factors are beyond our capacity to control them. Avoid the following risk factors, there by, the individual can be saved from heart attacks: 1. Stop smoking: In the first year itself, the risk is decreased by 50%. After 5 years of stopping of smoking, your health condition is just like the health status of “Non smokers”. 2. Avoid fatty foods: Instead take fresh fruits, vegetables and fish without frying with oil. Take fewer amounts of snacks. 3. Body weight should be under control: The BMI (Body mass index) should be between -18.5 to 24.9. The weight measurement should be 35 inches or less. 4. Avoid anxiety, stress and strain: By keeping them under control, the risk of heart attacks is decreased by 70%. 5. High B.P and Diabetes: Women having them may prone to heart attacks 3-7 times more. So it is well and good to keep them under control by following appropriate food habits, doing regular exercise and taking drugs regularly. The signs and symptoms of heart diseases: 1. Pain or weight in the chest, and it gradually extends to upper limbs, neck, to the facial bones containing the teeth, breathing becomes difficult, tiredness and sleeplessness (especially in women). Tests to be done: (if necessary) Stress test, CT scan, Angiogram, Cardiac MRI, etc. Management of the cases in women: 1. Balloon angioplasty or Stunting2. By- pass grafting. We can prevent more than 50% of heart diseases by changing our lifestyle and through regular screening. … [Read more...]
Amazing facts about your Heart
Heart is an amazing and most hard working organ in your body which continues to pump out blood as long as you live. Heart, as a symbol of love gets an eternal place in our life. Livescience.com listed 10 amazing facts about your heart. Know about your heart: Courtesy: Livescience. 1. Bigger heart is not a symbol for your emotional quotient. But it is a sign of underlying heart disease. 2. Bad news will disrupt your heart and lead to heart diseases due to release of stress hormones. 3. Heart is really an amazing organ. Heart beats for 1,oo,ooo times to pump 2,000 gallons of oxygen-rich blood many times through about 60,000 miles of branching blood vessels in our body per day. 4. Contrary to popular perception, heart diseases are occurring at almost similar rates in both men and women. 5. Like exercise, regular sex (3 times a week) reduces risk of death from coronary heart disease due to burning of calories. 6. Either red or white, wine has similar effect on heart. 7. Laughing will help your heart by increasing blood flow due to relaxation of blood vessels. 8. Scientists are developing stem cell therapies to cure physically damaged hearts. 9. Horse has similar heart as humans. Scientists are conducting experiments on horse hearts to understand human hearts. 10. Heart is the universal symbol of love. According to Greeks, it is a symbol of spirit. According to Chinese, heart is a symbol of happiness. Click here to know more about the 10 amazing facts. … [Read more...]
Problems in low cholesterol persons
Media is concentrating on diseases associated with high cholesterol while overlooking diseases associated with low cholesterol.But, low cholesterol is also causing some diseases mainly psychiatric.We all know that low cholesterol diet is good for heart patients and prevents heart attacks.But other problems arise at the same time. Abnormally low levels of cholesterol may indicate: Hyperthyroidism, or an overactive thyroid gland liver diseaseMalabsorption Inadequate absorption of nutrients from the intestines Malnutrition The CNN web site has an article on low cholesterol that reports that people with cholesterol below 180 had twice the risk of hemorrhagic stroke over people with cholesterol levels at 230. High cholesterol probably accounts for 10 percent to 15 percent of ischemic strokes. Low cholesterol is the cause of perhaps 7 percent of hemorrhagic strokes. Saturated fats play a positive role in the human body. They provide a good source of stored energy, they cushion the organs against shock, and they insulate vital tissues against the cold.There are problems associated with saturated fat in the diet, but they are related more to excessive consumption and to the lack of regulating EFAs (essential fatty acids). Source: http://www.cnn.com/HEALTH/9902/06/strokes/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/352216.stm Doctors usually prescribe Interleukin-12 to patients suffering from cancer and heart ailments.Due to this, level of melatonin hormone decreases in the blood. Due to this low level, patient develops depression and suicidal tendency. … [Read more...]
Heart attack and Monday
Heart Attack and Monday relation: Those who are doing jobs are prone to get heart attacks more on Monday, compare to other days in a week. 33% more chances of getting on Monday than on normal working days. Saturday morning ranks the second. As per article published in British medical journal, there is 20% increase in heart attack cases on Monday. Early morning is the most common period during which people suffer heart attack. As per another research, Blood pressure increases on Monday. So, Monday morning is the most dangerous period for heart patients. Causes of Heart attack on Monday morning: - Usually the employees spent joyfully weekends and are more relaxed. - When they start to go to job on Monday, there is more stress physically and mentally. - Another cause is change in hormone levels. - Less heart attack cases are reported in employees who are enjoying their work life. It is better to prepare mentally for tomarrow's (Monday) work life. … [Read more...]
Heart disease and Personality
Heart Attack and personalities: Personality of a person shows direct relationship with occurance of heart disease. Type A Personality or High risk group: Ambitious personalities. They always want to challenge or contest with others even if there is no necessity. They interfere while others talking. They show more anger. - Type A personalities are of - chronic incessant struggle to achieve more with in a short period of time - personalities. - They are more prone to heart diseases. Type B personalities: Appears always happy and are in relaxed mood. They will not run for success. They allow it to come in usual manner. - Heart diseases are very rare in this group. Blood Pressure and Diet: Blood pressure can be controlled with diet restriction. - Salt restriction (Sodium restriction). - Reduction of saturated fat. - Adequate dietary calcium intake. - Supplementary Potassium intake. Some Stats: Normal Heart beats 1, 03,680 times per every 24 hours. ECG is invented by William Iyen Dhoven. … [Read more...]
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