Archive forHigh Cholesterol

7 Ways to Lower Cholesterol Naturally

Cholesterol is a soft, waxy fatty substance found in the bloodstream and the cells of the body. It is produced in the liver for normal body functions like formation of cell membranes, production of hormones, vitamin D and bile acid. Cholesterol is also present in the food we eat. Animal products like meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products usually contains high cholesterol levels compared to fish while on the other hand, plant products like fruits, vegetables, grains, nuts, seeds and the like contains no cholesterol at all.

Although cholesterol is needed by our bodies to function properly, high levels of cholesterol in the blood, a condition called hypercholesterolemia is a key risk factor for developing coronary heart diseases like atherosclerosis and heart attack.

In the last few years, cholesterol has got some real bad press and publicity, but what we should know is that “CHOLESTEROL IS NOT BAD ALL BY ITSELF”. Cholesterol can be further subdivided into two types - the HDL (high density lipoproteins) and LDL (low density lipoproteins) cholesterol. HDLs are also known as the “good cholesterol” while LDL is dubbed as the “bad cholesterol”. That being said, cholesterol only takes on a bad name when you consume foods that are high in bad cholesterols or the LDLs.

If your LDL level rises out of control, that’s when plaque or fatty deposits starts to accumulate on the artery walls - leading to more pressing health problems like coronary artery diseases. You shouldn’t get rid of cholesterol in your body totally, just aim to maintain a good balance. Here are 7 natural ways to help you achieve your goal:

  1. Consume more fiber. Eating a lot of soluble fibers like those found in barley, wheat and oats greatly helps in lowering cholesterol levels in the body.
  2. Spice up your food. Studies shows that spices like chilies and hot peppers which contains capsaicin and garlic have beneficial effect in lowering cholesterol levels in the body. Half raw onion per day also increases HDL by 30% and including raw garlic in your diet decreases LDL levels.
  3. Achieve/Maintain an ideal weight. If you are obese or overweight, you definitely have high level of cholesterol compared to others. You should lose weight and consume less high-glycemic foods such as refined grains. These foods raise the insulin level in the blood which then fuels and fires up our body’s cholesterol making machines.
  4. Get moving. Regular exercises are proven to be the most effective way to lower LDLs and boost up HDLs in the body.
  5. Stop smoking. If you are a smoker, you should consider stopping now! Smoking for a fact worsens high cholesterol levels in the body.
  6. Drink red wine or orange juice everyday. It is believed that drinking orange juice increases HDL level by approximately 21% due to presence of flavonoids. On the other hand, red wine is rich in antioxidants which can reduce damage due to oxidation.
  7. Consider herbal/natural/nutritional supplements. Herbal and natural supplements like guggulipid, fish oil supplement, policosanol, red yeast rice, psyllium, grapefruit pectin, flax seed and garlic are clinically proven to lower LDL cholesterol levels.

About the Author

Suzi Parsell writes about natural health remedies. If you have high cholesterol levels, you run the risk of having heart problems. Profibe is a water-soluble fiber supplement derived from grapefruit rinds, and is proven to reduce cholesterol levels. For more information visit ProfibeInsider.com.

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The Healthy Holiday Comfort Food - Dark Chocolate

During the ever-mounting holiday festivities, mall shopping, office parties, family gatherings, neighborhood driveway fire pit gatherings; they all include that holiday food. Solution: During the ever-mounting holiday festivities take a healthy dark chocolate dessert or just carry some with you so you can still be eating with the rest of partygoers.My favorite healthy chocolate snack dessert is: put halves of pecans on a cookie sheet, spread with waxed paper, in a single layer; melt a bar of at least 70% dark chocolate in a double boiler, then drizzle the melted chocolate over the pecans. Depending on how many pecans you are using is how much chocolate you melt. Then I put the cookie sheet in the refrigerator for a little while to set the chocolate. They are a chocolate nut delight.

Did you know that eating 30 calories per day of dark chocolate may lower high blood pressure, it is a good idea to keep it limited to small portions as it is candy and it could blow your diet, just a little goes a long way.

Another thing to know is that the health benefits do not include milk chocolate or white chocolate, and you also need to watch the sugar content. Health food stores have bars with 75% (or greater) chocolate with only 5 grams of sugar and also are organic, so keep them in supply so when you are invited to a potluck and/or party, grab your chocolate bar and know you will be staying healthy and still get your chocolate fix.

Dark Chocolate increases dopamine release and provides flavonoids, which help keep arteries young. Chocolate also is a potent antioxidant, which gobbles up free radicals. But don’t wash it down with milk as the two don’t mix to keep the healthy benefits of the chocolate.

Thought for the Day: “Time and health are two precious assets that we don’t recognize and appreciate until they have been depleted.” -Denis Waitley-

About the Author

My mission is to teach and encourage individuals how to find and maintain their balance in mind, body, spirit connection, which brings peace, joy and prosperity into their lives. They learn how to experience the joy of balanced living. I accomplish this thru my Wellness Coach Program which i offer to individuals and corporations. Darlene Siddons Spirited Boutique

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Cholesterol: An Overview

An introductory approach to cholesterol associated diseases & their testing:

Cholesterol is one of the lipids used extensively by our body for diverse array of functions. Cholesterol, along with some other lipids, forms important cellular structural components, makes steroidal hormones, & produces energy when decomposed. Cholesterol, at some levels, is produced by the body (without ever letting you know!) while it also finds its way in your body when you feast on that yummy creamy cake!

Cholesterol is broadly categorized, on the basis of its density, into following classes: * High Density Lipoproteins * Low Density Lipoproteins * Intermediate Density Lipoproteins * Very Low Density Lipoproteins * Chylomicrons

The levels of these cholesterol types reflect the state of health of your body. The blood cholesterol levels define degree and asperity of a cascade of diseases, like:

* Atherosclerosis & atherosclerosis associated cardiovascular disorders: Atherosclerosis is a stage of arteriosclerosis involving fatty deposits inside the arterial walls. This deposition of fatty acids is a long term process which, in due course of time, leads to narrowing of arteries and to be hardened. It results in the diminution of arterial elasticity leading to reduction in the blood volume passed through them thus, leafing out various symptoms associated with cardiovascular diseases.

* Vascular dementia & Alzheimer’s disease: Vascular dementia (or mental deterioration, in layman terms!) is caused when blood vessels deprive the brain of oxygen, as a result of which brain cells die. Some studies report high cholesterol levels to increase the risk of cognitive impairment.

A famous neurological disorder, Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive form of pre-senile dementia that results in impaired memory which is followed by impaired thought and speech and finally complete helplessness. It has been reported that much of the damage of Alzheimer’s is due to the deposition of a sticky protein, called beta-amyloid in the vital areas of the brain and unfortunately, higher levels of cholesterol are believed to accelerate the formation of beta-amyloid plaques!

* Miscellaneous effects like peripheral vascular disease (numbness in limbs due to high cholesterol levels in blood vessels, blocking the flow of blood), cancer (due to suppression of a tumor suppression gene by TGF) & pregnancy colligated complications (due to dramatic rise in cholesterol count during pregnancy) have been reported quite frequently.

All these monstrous diseases certainly require us to stay informed about our cholesterol levels & overall lipid profiles. Usually, cardiovascular disease risk index (blood HDL & LDL ratio) is obtained by monitoring pulse rates, blood pressure, ECG, checking kidney functions, listening to heart beats and large arteries. However, a general quick idea of cholesterol levels can be obtained by various easy-to-use handy equipments available in the market which can used individually to test cholesterol levels without any laboratory expertise.

These testing machines are able to measure Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, triglycerides & total cholesterol with a reasonable accuracy.

The ideal cholesterol level in the blood is less than 5mmol/l. While the cholesterol levels between 6.5 to 7.8mmol/l are termed as moderate, anything above 7.8mmol/l is termed as Very High Cholesterol & surely you wouldn’t want your meter read anywhere near to it! So, stay informed and eat healthy!

About the Author

This Article is written by Tarun Gupta, the author of TestCountry Health Information Resources, a longer version of this article is located at Cholesterol: An Overview, and resources from other home health and wellness testing sources are used such as TestCountry Cholesterol Tests.

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Human Growth Hormone FAQs

What is HGH?

HGH stands for Human Growth Hormone. Human Growth Hormone is the naturally occurring substance from the human pituitary gland that plays a key role in young, active function of body, brain and sex organs.

Levels of Human Growth Hormone decrease as we age. By middle age and beyond, HGH levels have plummeted to a tiny fraction of their youthful levels — and science shows that there is a direct correlation between lost HGH and the typical signs of aging, such as weight gain, loss of interest in sex, sagging skin and muscles, wrinkled skin that lacks good tone and texture, flagging memory.

HGH supplementation has been shown to:

  • Decrease fat, while increasing lean muscle
  • Improve the look and feel of your skin
  • Increase bone density, and even reverse osteoporosis
  • Power up the brain, and maintain memory even during aging
  • Boost the sex drive
  • Tone and improve overall physical and mental well being
  • Contribute to better sleep
  • Improve mood, and banish depression and fatigue

How do I know HGH releaser products are safe?

Choose carefully to get the highest quality products from the options in this genuinely beneficial category. Go with a product from a company that has a good reputation, such as GenF20 HGH — this one attests to its safety and reliability. There are neither side effects nor known drug interactions with GenF20 HGH. This product is manufactured in GMP certified laboratories, that is, pharmaceutical quality labs of the highest standards. These are the kinds of safety checks to look for. Ask your doctor if you have specific concerns.

Some claims I’ve seen say you must have HGH by injection for it to work. If that’s true, how can tablets be effective?

Originally, HGH products were only available in very expensive injections of HGH derived from donors’ pituitary glands post mortem. The HGH molecule, it was discovered, could not absorb into the bloodstream by other methods because it is too large to pass through the walls of the digestive system. However, new techniques have created the tablet supplement that uses a formula to trigger and stimulate the pituitary gland to produce and secrete more HGH itself. The HGH goes into your body just as nature intended, in other words, through the glandular system — just as it did when you were in your 20s!

What side effects are there?

There are no known side effects with HGH releasers. Many studies have been conducted in all age groups, and no ill effects whatsoever have been reported. Just make sure the product you purchase is produced in a GMP certified laboratory.

How long can I take HGH?

Initially, it’s recommended that you take the product for about 6 months to bring your body’s HGH production levels up. At this time, you may wish to take a “pause” of up to 1 year, while you continue to enjoy the benefits of increased HGH. Your body’s new HGH production levels won’t drop dramatically during this time. Then you can repeat the process to enhance HGH production in the long term. If you are having trouble finding a product that outlines these specifications, we recommend GenF20 as a product you can’t go wrong with.

How quickly do HGH releasers work? How fast will I look and feel better?

You should plan to stay on the HGH supplement for at least 3 months when you begin your program. Results vary depending on your existing level of HGH when you begin, so for instance, people who have very low levels of HGH have more immediate results. Most people, regardless of current HGH level, report feeling better, sleeping better and having more energy right away, with improvement in appearance and muscle tone and other benefits generally becoming more pronounced over the first couple months.

Is HGH just for older adults?

Because the lowest levels of HGH are found in older populations, they’ll experience results most quickly. However, because HGH effects so many systems and organs, it has benefits for adults of any age.

I heard HGH was a very expensive treatment to obtain. Why are HGH tablets so affordable?

Advances in the engineering of amino acids that comprise this product mean the costs are only a small fraction of what HGH injections would cost. Originally, HGH injections could run as much as $15,000! Now you can obtain quality HGH supplementation affordably thanks to new scientific breakthroughs in understanding HGH and manufacturing effective releasers of HGH. We recommend GenF20 HGH as the best value around.

Is it possible to take too much of this product?

As with all supplements or drugs, you should stay within the guidelines established for you by the research community and pharmaceutical manufacturer. Follow the instructions as they appear on the label or product insert, as increasing the dosage usually results in product wastage.

How can I obtain these products and maintain my privacy?

Ordering online is a great way to discreetly get the product you want. Read the site carefully to find out how the manufacturer ships; if they don’t already ship in plain packaging that doesn’t reveal the contents, you may be able to request the service.

How about a guarantee?

You should insist on a guarantee, and make sure to read the fine print. Although all reputable companies offer them, not all companies that have them are reputable… Take extra time to read how the guarantee works, some products require a one year supply to be eligible for a refund, so shop carefully! If you have trouble finding a product you trust on your own, we recommend GenF20, as it features a straight forward guarantee that you can have confidence in.

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Top 7 Tips To Prevent Heart Attack

Heart attack. The words alone can send a chill down even the strongest man’s spine, and with good reason. Heart disease is one of the leading causes of death for Americans. Men have a greater risk of heart attack at a younger age than women. But the risk increases for women as they near menopause and, eventually, surpasses that of men. If the nicest thing we can say about someone is that he has a good heart, the most important thing we can say is that he has a healthy heart. You probably can decrease your risk of heart attack by changing your lifestyle in the following areas:

1. Keep tabs on your cholesterol levels

To control your cholesterol, avoid saturated fat, eat fewer calories, and try to eat foods rich in fiber, such as vegetables and fruits. If your cholesterol is very high, drugs to lower it may be an option for you.

2. Ask your doctor about aspirin

Daily intake of aspirin may reduce your risk of heart attack by thinning your blood and preventing clots from forming. However, you should talk with your doctor before doing so because aspirin is not safe for everyone.

3. Drink moderately

Studies show that one drink a day (12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor) may have a protective effect on your heart. However, the effects are more beneficial if you are middle-aged or older and have suffered a heart attack or stroke or already have cardiovascular disease.

4. Exercise

Regular exercise is good for you because it helps reduce stress, cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and excess weight, and it can make your heart stronger, leading to a lower pulse rate. But overdoing exercise isn’t a good thing, especially weight-lifting exercises that can trigger heart attacks. Talk with your doctor before beginning an exercise program.

5. Relax

Because stress is such a factor in heart disease, eliminating or decreasing it can do wonders for your cardiovascular health.

6. Control your blood pressure

Your heart has to work harder to push blood through your body when your blood pressure is high. This causes your heart to enlarge and can speed up atherosclerosis. Fortunately, by reducing your diastolic blood pressure by only 2mm Hg (millimeters per mercury), you can decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease and stroke. The average healthy blood pressure is 120/80 mm Hg.

7. Stop smoking

Smoking is harmful to your cardiovascular health. Smoking also clogs your arteries and in the process, raises the blood pressure in those clogged arteries. This condition helps to double the heart attack risk for smokers compared with non-smokers. Therefore, as soon as you stop, your body immediately starts to bounce back and improve your cardiovascular health.

About the Author

Raymond Lee is one of the foremost experts in the health and fitness industry and is the Founder of Bodyfixes Group specializing in body health, muscle development and dieting. He is currently the author of the latest edition of “Neck Exercises and Workouts.” Visit http://www.bodyfixes.com for more information.

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The Dangers and Causes of High Cholesterol

As most of us know, cholesterol is the fatty, wax-like substance present in our cells and blood steam. Cholesterol has an important part to play in our body. This is because it produces cell membranes and contributes to a number of hormones as well. However, cholesterol can be dangerous to us if it is present in large amounts in our body.

The Two Types of Cholesterol

There are two types of cholesterol, one is the good cholesterol known as HDL, or high density cholesterol, and the other is the bad cholesterol known as LDL, or low density cholesterol. The good cholesterol, HDL, should be at a level of 40mg/dL or more and the bad cholesterol should be less than 200mg/dL.

The bad cholesterol is the cholesterol responsible for causing clogged arteries and can provoke a heart attack or stroke.

What Causes High Cholesterol In Your Body?

High cholesterol level in your body is primarily due to the food products you consume which contain trans fat, saturated fats and cholesterol. This is the major cause of raising cholesterol levels in the blood stream. However, there is more than one cause of high cholesterol. Besides the foods you consume, excess weight, genes, gender and age all can cause high cholesterol levels.

Obesity is one of the major causes of high cholesterol as it occurs when the body mass is mostly made up of fat. Fat in turn, contains cholesterol. That is why it is important to keep an ideal weight at all times.

Family’s health history transmitted through the genes is also a cause of high cholesterol levels. So, if anyone in your family has suffered from high cholesterol, you may have a tendency to suffer from it too. High cholesterol caused by heredity can be controlled with medication under a doctor’s supervision.

Men are found to be more prone to high levels of cholesterol in their teens while women become more prone to high cholesterol after menopause. Both men and women can control their cholesterol levels and maintain a normal level of cholesterol with proper health care and diet and with the right medication.

How To Prevent High Cholesterol

As most of the causes of high cholesterol are our own negligence in our diet and physical activities, we could easily manage our cholesterol level by modifying our diet and daily activities. We should pay more attention to the food we consume everyday and the amount of exercise we do everyday. This will help prevent and improve the levels of bad cholesterol in our body and maintain it at the right level.

Another factor in high cholesterol levels is triglycerides, which is a form of fat. It comes from food and is also made in your body. People with high triglycerides will often have a high total cholesterol level too.

The Importance of Understanding Your Cholesterol Level

It is extremely important to know your cholesterol levels. This is because having untreated high cholesterol can make you very prone to heart attacks and strokes. Although obesity is one of the most obvious causes of high cholesterol, just because you have an ideal weight does not mean that you have the right cholesterol level.

Basically your level of cholesterol can be categorized in one of three categories of cholesterol levels, which are: desirable, borderline risk, or high risk. You are considered as being in the desirable category if your total cholesterol is less than 200mg/dL, and the risk of getting a heart attack is relatively low, unless you have other risk factors for the condition.

If your cholesterol is between 200 and 239mg/dL, you are considered in the borderline risk category. About a third of all people are in this category. If you are in the borderline category, you should check your cholesterol level at least once a year, especially if your HDL is less than 40mg/dL and/or you don’t have other risk factors for heart disease.

Lastly, if your cholesterol level is at 240mg/dL or more, you are in the high risk category. This means your risk of heart attack and stroke is very high. You will also have twice the risk of other coronary problems. If you are in this category, you must be more careful and start taking steps to improve your condition.

The most important thing to remember is that lower LDL cholesterol means lower total cholesterol. Take all of the possible measures to keep your LDL cholesterol as low as possible. If you still are not able to lower your cholesterol, you can ask your doctor to prescribe medications to assist you in this process.

Cindy Heller is a professional writer. Visit Cholesterol Lowering Food to learn the difference between high cholesterol food and other good cholesterol food.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Cindy_Heller
 

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Age Gracefully and Beautifully

Aging is a natural process that everyone is subjected to. As a matter of fact, the aging process started kicking in the moment we were born. However, its unsightly effects are only felt when we start hitting middle age. Despite this, knowing what triggers the unwanted effects of aging and being aware of the right products can actually help you easily slow down or give the illusion that you have halted the aging process before its effects actually get on your nerves.

Many people are getting more and more afraid of facing the signs of aging. There is definitely no one in the world who would love seeing visible lines on their face or damaged skin complexions. Unfortunately, age sneaks up like a thief in the night. You might not like it nor appear to be combating it lightly but inevitably, you grow a year older after every three hundred sixty-five days.

As years add up to your age, they come with changes that take the youth in you. The function of the cells and organisms in your body shift, creating visible changes that sometimes come rapidly. The aging process may be different with each individual because there are many factors that contribute to it, but the bottom line is, everyone will surely get to it at one point of their lives or another.

Some of the bodily changes that you will experience include a significant difference in your weight and height. Weight increase is one of the major concerns that aging people wish to find a solution to. Reduced physical activity due to the weakness of the bones and muscles will definitely take its toll on your weight. Your height, on the other hand, naturally decreases as you get older. This is a result of a handful of factors like changes in posture and in the growth process of your spinal bones. Aside from these, your skin is also a fool proof sign that you are getting older. It becomes rough, loose, and dry. Women get more concerned about the skin changes than men because they tend to experience them faster. With the many hormonal changes women go through starting at the onset of puberty, pregnancy and menopause included, their skin rapidly becomes more vulnerable to age.

Your mental abilities may also become limiting as you grow older. Learning would be a lot more of hard work than, say, when you were on your twenties. Memory loss is also one of the more popular effects of aging. Older people are oftentimes forgetful because their brain process information slower than usual. Your mental fitness would also contribute to the many emotional combats that you will face. Anxiety and depression is very common among the older population because of the physical and mental limitations that they come across with.

Sexual performance is also greatly affected by aging. You may either lose the appetite or the ability to do it altogether.

Maintaining a constant supply of the magical Human Growth Hormones (HGH) is equivalent to enjoying a youthful life forever. HGH production peaks in adolescence and slowly decreases after you reach your twenties. The decrease is more significant as you grow older, which explains the overall difference that you experience if you are beyond your fifties. Low levels of HGH in your body system is the main reason behind the visibility of the signs of aging.

Among the many things that can be benefited from good HGH levels are healthy skin, a more functional immune system, decreased body fat, increased muscle mass, increased bone density, low cholesterol, and high energy levels among others. The older population may submit themselves to an HGH Replacement Therapy to continuously enjoy the limitless possibilities of being young and healthy.

There are of course, things that you can do to enjoy the youthfulness of being young without having to go through pricey medications and therapies.

One is to maintain a healthy lifestyle, meaning, continuously participating in physical activities. Regular exercise is a good solution that will slow the aging process down without having to shell out bucks. A good exercise program that you follow regularly is the best answer to combat weight gain, muscle loss, bone density decline, or even any form of heart and cholesterol-related diseases for that matter.

Eating healthy is another trigger that could make you look and feel young longer. The right choices of foods and taking in the right amounts of them would create a great impact on your body’s vitality. Do away with less fat, less salt, less sugar, and more greens, so your body could enjoy the most benefits from eating rather than suffering from the ugly consequences of not eating right.

Avoiding harmful vices like smoking and alcohol drinking can do loads to you more than you can imagine. Smoking is detrimental to the whole body. It triggers premature death but will not let you go looking young as well. The major components of cigarettes have harmful effects that are especially reflected on your complexion. Dry and rough skin can be caused by the poor circulation and low oxygen levels in your blood, which are generated through puffing airs of smokes. Alcohol, on the other hand, depletes your body of the vitamins and minerals it needed to be functional. It also causes dehydration. Keeping a stress-free and happy life most of the time would surely make you feel better about a lot of things and in the process, would make you age gracefully. Stress affects your body and your well-being greatly so make sure that you manage all the aspects of your life well including your career and your personal and social relationships with people.

Admittedly, the fast-paced era held back people to keep a healthy, balanced, and stress-free life only realizing later on that they should have done so. But by that time, you may well be reaching old age and would find it difficult to repair the damages that your old habits created. The good news is, there is a tried and tested way to counteract the symptoms of aging in a no sweat fashion. GenF20 would supply your body’s needed HGH to maintain its youthful glow. It tackles all the ugly nightmares that most people worry about getting older. Amid all its benefits, the GenF20 is also safe, so you will not have to worry about side effects.

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Cholesterol Information: High Cholesterol, Lowering Cholesterol

“Cardiovascular diseases kill some 950,000 Americans every year, but as many as two-thirds of these deaths are preventable. Over the past 50 years, research into the causes of ischemic heart disease (which causes over half the deaths from cardiovascular disease) has shown that many people’s risk of a heart attack can be reduced by making lifestyle changes and taking medication. In addition, treating high blood pressure reduces the risk of stroke and congestive heart failure.” 1

Heart disease is America’s number 1 killer.

Do you know what your risk profile is?

There are numerous risk factors we should all be aware of:

* family history

* high blood pressure

* high blood cholesterol level

* cigarette smoking

* diabetes mellitus

* sedentary lifestyle

* obesity

* advancing age

* stressful lifestyle

* depression

Family History

You obviously can not exchange the parents you inherited for maybe a set without a history of heart disease, however, you can change many things within your control. Heart disease is largely preventable.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure increases the hearts workload, weakening it over time. It also increases the risk of stroke, heart attack, kidney failure and congestive heart failure. Aim for a blood pressure of under 140 systolic (top) and 90 diastolic (bottom), with 120/80 being optimal. Have your blood pressure checked at least every two years, you can easily have it checked at most any pharmacy.

High cholesterol and high triglycerides

Having total cholesterol over 200 indicates a higher susceptibility to heart disease. The target should be to have an LDL (”bad” cholesterol) lower than 130, HDL (”good” cholesterol) over 45, and triglycerides at 150 or even lower. Triglycerides are emerging as a significant risk factor.

Do You Smoke?

One word: STOP!

Cigarette smoking is the most important preventable cause of premature death in the country. If you smoke your risk of developing heart disease increases dramatically.

Diabetes

Diabetes is a serious risk factor. Regardless of age, diabetics have a much higher risk of heart disease than non-diabetics. If you have diabetes, work at maintaining a healthy weight, keep physically active, minimize dietary fat and calories, and consult your doctor.

Do you lead a sedentary lifestyle?

Inadequate physical activity does not provide for adequate blood fl ow through your arteries which can lead to blockages. These blockages can lead to some form of coronary event. The heart is a muscle and muscles need to work to stay strong. If you want to maintain a strong and healthy heart you need to exercise regularly.

Get some physical activity. Put down the remote and the potato chips and go for a walk. This is a great stress reliever and it will burn off those calories from dinner. Do not snack while you are walking.

Obesity and overweight

The incidence of obesity is in a crisis mode. Being more than 30 percent over your ideal body weight makes you more likely to develop heart disease, even with no other risk factors. New guidelines recommend your waist circumference should be less than 35 inches.

Carrying around excess weight puts an extra burden on your heart and can take years off your life. An improper diet and inadequate exercise often lead to coronary artery disease. Fatty foods can increase cholesterol levels. Carbohydrates convert to triglycerides which when elevated to unsafe levels can indicate type II diabetes and heart disease.

Do you lead a stressful life?

Stress can lead to many physical ailments including heart disease and stroke. Stress puts an unhealthy heavy burden on your heart.

Stress can be deadly so try to minimize it in your daily life. Detach from the outcome of events you are worried about and don’t force things to occurr the way you expect. Let it go and watch with amazement how what you want does happen without your interference.

Try meditation or just quieting your mind for a few minutes to relax tension and stress levels.

Give problems the “10 year test” Will this problem really matter 10 years from now? If the answer is no, it is not worth worrying about today either. Exercise strengthens your heart so it is more capable of handling stress. Aerobic activities like bicycling, playing tennis, running, swimming, and walking are excellent ways to strengthen your heart muscle.

Why exercise is so important?

Regular physical activity and maintaining the proper weight are essential to reducing your risk of heart disease and improving quality of life. It is not news that exercise improves your heart health. Consistent exercise may in fact lower cholesterol and triglyceride levels, raise HDL (good) cholesterol, and lower blood pressure.

The aging process can be slowed from physical activity and exercise. The capacity of muscles and other tissues to utilize oxygen decreases naturally with age. Exercise and other physical activity can reduce the rate of this decrease. The calorie burn rate at rest also decreases as you age. Regular exercise can offset this by helping your body burn more calories. Calories continue to burn even hours after exercise. Bones and muscles work better when they’re used than when they are not.

Natural Supplements can be very beneficial as a preventive measure against heart disease

Omega 3 fish oils are a healthy way of helping prevent heart disease

“Evidence shows that even after age 50 and even if heart disease has already developed, healthy lifestyle changes - stopping smoking, eating a healthy diet, exercising sensibly, and lowering cholesterol and blood pressure levels with medication - may improve the odds for a longer, more active life.”
About the Author
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