Archive for the Category Prevention

 
 

Music – Soothing the Soul (and the Heart Too)

soothingmusicThe benefits of music has long been accepted to be soothing to the soul and mind and with some of the latest research, a more solid proof of this link has been established by researches from the Cochrane Systematic Review. The study shows that people who are suffering from heart disease are indeed getting soothed, decreasing blood pressure and anxiety in heart patients. This adds credence to the wise adage that music soothes the soul that is now known as more than an old wives tale. From stress reduction to the soothing physiological effects, all are now being used as a viable approach to augment heart disease treatment.
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Depression – More a Threat than other Factors

depressionResearchers and heart surgeons have been discovering new details about the workings of heart disease and the factors that leads to it. Surprising results are showing that stress may be more dangerous that environmental or genetic traits that have long been blamed for the many incidents of the progression and even contraction of the disease. This serves to strengthen the link between the mental and physical health, that is now being seen to have more profound effects on each other. Such as in the previous post of music having more than just a mental effect on the body but a soothing effect that alleviates some of disease’s symptoms as well.
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Heart disease prevention: 5 strategies keep your heart healthy

You can prevent heart disease by following a heart-healthy lifestyle. Here are five strategies to help you protect your heart.

Heart disease may be the leading cause of death for both men and women, but that doesn’t mean you have to accept it as your fate. Although you lack the power to change some risk factors — such as family history, age and race — there are some key heart disease prevention steps you can take.

Take steps to avoid heart disease — don’t smoke, get regular exercise and eat healthy foods. Avoid heart problems in the future by adopting a healthy lifestyle today. Here are five heart disease prevention tips to get you started.


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Regular Medical Check-up

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“Prevention is better than cure” is an old saying that is very true. This applies to the idea of having a regular medical check-ups even if you are feeling healthy.
Routine medical appointments with your doctor is important. Different examinations can help in the detection of medical problems even before they start, thus preventing them. There are also instances when the existence of a problem or disease is ascertained on its early stages. Early detection means there are greater chances of treating or curing the patient.
Some of the screenings or tests are testicular and prostate exams (for men), pap smear, mammography, and bone mass density test (for women), blood and urine tests, blood pressure reading, chest x-ray, and cholesterol level test.
Remember to have yourself a regular check-up. It is one of the best ways to keep a healthy, long life.

On Pregnancy

8.jpgDuring pregnancy, the mother’s good health affects the infant’s overall well-being. It can influence such things as premature delivery and the size of the baby. But birth defects of the heart may occur despite good health and a normal pregnancy. Mothers often may feel guilty that they caused the child’s defect. Usually this isn’t the case. However, maternal illnesses such as diabetes have been linked to a slightly increased incidence of birth defects, including heart defects. Defects such as coarctation of the aorta or aortic valve stenosis have the greatest risk of occurring in the child. Each time another close family member is also affected, the risk increases even more.

Foods That Can Save Your Heart — Part II

9.jpgLOWFAT OR NONFAT YOGURT: In studies, people who ate enough of these two minerals and kept their sodium intake low experienced drops in both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. The reduction is larger in people with hypertension, but yogurt also lowers blood pressure a little in people with normal levels.

GARLIC: This tasty bulb has a mild cholesterol-lowering effect and also keeps LDL from building up in the arteries and contributing to plaque. You need to consume several cloves a day to get the protective benefits. To fit it into your meals, use garlic as often as you can in cooking.

EXTRA-VIRGIN OLIVE OIL: Olive oil is rich in monounsaturated fats, which can lower LDL when they replace saturated fat in your diet. Try replacing saturated fat–rich foods with olive oil, as well as with avocado, nuts, and other sources of monos. Extra-virgin olive oil has an advantage over other types: It packs extra polyphenols, compounds that keep LDL cholesterol from sticking to artery walls.  

Foods That Can Save Your Heart — Part I

10.jpgSWISS CHARD: A potassium powerhouse, this vegetable supplies nearly 1,000 milligrams (mg) of the mineral per cup, cooked. Studies show you need about 4,000 mg of potassium (found in fruits, vegetables, legumes, and yogurt) a day to keep blood pressure low.

 FRESH HERBS: They’re a healthy substitute for salt, which has almost 2,400 mg of sodium per teaspoon—more than what you should get in an entire day if you want to control your blood pressure. Instead, try sprinkling dishes you’d usually salt with chopped fresh herbs, which are typically more flavorful than dried ones. Chives and rosemary complement potatoes, parsley perks up eggs, sage goes well with poultry, and thyme can add zip to air-popped popcorn. As an added bonus, herbs are rich in antioxidants that protect your cells against the kind of damage that can lead to heart disease.

Blood Pressure

11.jpgBlood pressure is the force in the arteries when the heart beats (systolic pressure) and when the heart is at rest (diastolic pressure). It’s measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). High blood pressure (or

hypertension) is defined in an adult as a blood pressure greater than or equal to 140 mm Hg systolic pressure or greater than or equal to 90 mm Hg diastolic pressure. This is why knowing your blood pressure numbers is important, even when you’re feeling fine. If your blood pressure is normal, you can work with your health care team to keep it that way. If your blood pressure is too high, you need treatment to prevent damage to your body’s organs.

The Heart and Global Warming

Doctors have warned that gloal warming might now only force glaciers to melt and polar bears to go southward, but would also have an impact on the heart of many people in affected areas. Doctors warned that the warmer weather that is expected from the climate change could have an impact and produce more heart problems.

Doctors say that if the temperature is a few degrees warmer in the next 50 years, definitely, there would be more cardiovascular diseases. Some experts say that this matter be taken seriously, and should be given more attention. It is a well known fact that people have more heart problems when it is hot.