Heart Disease The #1 Killer in The World

Heart Disease in Women: Women and Heart Disease

The risk of heart disease in women increases with age. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in women over 40 years old, especially after menopause. Menopause is a normal stage in a woman’s life; it comprises any of the changes a woman experiences either before or after she stops menstruating. As menopause nears, the ovaries gradually produce less estrogen (a female hormone), causing changes in the menstrual cycle and other physical changes. Every year, more than 500,000 U.S. women die of heart disease. This translates to approximately one death every minute.

Heart disease in women is preventable as per the latest guidelines from the American Heart Association. Reason to understand the cause of heart disease in women could not be stressed enough. Heart disease kills 1 in 3 American women, but it doesn’t have to be that way. 60% of U.S. women now know that heart disease is their No. 1 health threat.

Prevention is better than cure. Heart disease in women is preventable with a disease prevention strategy. The knowledge of heart disease occurs to a person when it is too late.

Here are some guide lines for a simple prevention plan for heart disease in women:

Women aged 20 and older should see a doctor to find out their heart disease risk.

Chnaces are that one in 10 women will learn that there is no real risk of heart disease. These women should continue their heart-healthy lifestyles.

Women who are at risk of heart disease, should think of preventing heart disease and stroke. These women must stop smoking, adopt a heart-healthy diet, get at least 30 minutes a day of exercise, and watch their weight. And under a medical supervision, some of these women may need blood pressure medications, cholesterol-lowering therapy, or regular aspirin.

Women who already have some existing condition making it more likely to suffer from heart disease or stroke, should additionaly to taking the measures advised above, go after some aggressive medical treatments or rehab.

Depression is very common in women with heart disease. All women with heart disease should be evaluated for depression.

Women should exercise a minimum of 30 minutes a day, and for those women who want to lose weight, 60 to 90 minutes of daily exercise is recommended.

The risk of heart disease in women is increased by activities such as, diabetes and obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol level and inactivity.

Heart disease in women though is on the increase, can be altered through some variations in life style. Clinical experience suggest the following general guidelines for preventing heart disease:

- Maintain blood pressure of less than 140/90 mmHg (120/80 is optimal)

- Maintain blood glucose of 80-120 mg/dL (less than 100 is optimal)

- Maintain total cholesterol of less than 200 mg/dL (and not less than 160) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein) of less than 130 mg/dL (less than 100 is optimal)

- Exercise regularly (30-60 minutes of aerobic exercise three to five times weekly is optimal).

However, there are certain factors that cannot be influenced to prevent heart disease in women. Factors such as age, family history and menopause cannot be controlled or prevented.

But there are other factors that could be influenced, through exercising the right option. This could prevent death from heart disease in women. As indicated earlier, introducing some changes to our life style, and carrying a positive out look towards the meaning and purpose of life, women can fight this terrible disease and live more healthier and meaningful lives. Meditation, yoga, prayers and religous activities can have huge impacts on our life and provide the necessary inner strength to cope with the pain and pressure of heart disease.

Diabetes and high cholesterol, homocysteine, and blood pressure can be improved through diet, exercise, medication, and supplements. High C-reactive protein (CRP), an inflammatory biomarker, may help to identify those who would benefit from anti-inflammatory intervention. Diet, lifestyle changes, positive adaptation to stress, and supplements can assist in weight loss and help decrease stress. Quitting smoking will also reduce risk of heart disease in women. The scientific data strongly suggest that modification of these multiple risk factors can help to lessen heart disease risk and thus total mortality in women.



By: SURESH U VATAKETHIL

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There are many different forms of heart disease that can afflict us. Some of these include coronary artery disease, heart failure, congestive heart failure, congenital heart disease, etc. Some of these diseases are genetically based and some evolve through lifestyle choices.

Obviously, when a patient hears that he or she has heart problem the news is very traumatic. However, depending upon the form of the disease and whether or not it is genetically or lifestyle created, there may be steps that can be taken in reversing heart disease conditions.

It is also important to note that some medical conditions may have caused the heart to incur permanent damage. A case in point is coronary heart disease which may have precipitated a heart attack. If the heart was deprived of blood flow for any length of time there may have been permanent damage done to that portion of the heart. This type of heart disease cannot be reversed.

However, there are some reversing heart disease methods that can be attained through medicine and some reversal may occur through lifestyle changes. Some of these lifestyle changes include diet, exercise, lowering blood pressure and managing stress.

Diet

A significant contributor to the buildup of plaque and fats in the arterial system is through a diet that is constantly high in fat and cholesterol. Therefore, a significant method of reversing heart disease is to adhere to a diet that is low in fat and cholesterol.

This reversal in your dietary bad habits will help to reduce cholesterol and fat buildup within the arteries and aid in reversing the ailment. In consultation with your physician, appropriate menus can be obtained and followed.

Exercise

Sometimes, another factor that contributes to the disease of the heart is the lack of exercise. Again, in consultation with your doctor, a recommended exercise program can be followed that will help to simulate the cardiovascular system.

An added benefit of regular exercise is the reduction levels of cholesterol and the maintaining of the patients weight. Both of these factors are critical in reversing the condition.

Blood Pressure

Blood pressure is another major contributor to heart disease. Through exercise, managing your weight, controlling stress and through prescribed medications hypertension can be controlled. By controlling your blood pressure, less stress is placed upon the heart and other organs of the body.

Stress

Stress is a common experience that is shared by most modern day individuals. Giving in to stress takes a tremendous toll upon the human body. Stress can cause an increase in blood pressure which in turn causes the heart to work harder than it should.

Therefore, the question is not so much on how to avoid stress, but how to handle stress. Relieving stress can be an important strategy in reversing heart disease. Ways to a deal with stress or decrease stress in our lives can be accomplished through an exercise program, the use of meditation, the practicing of yoga or other meditative exercises or procedures. The continual practice of some or all of these methods can help keep stress in its proper perspective.



By: Eddie Lamb

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Ischemic heart disease occurs when there is a partial blockage of blood flow to the heart. When the heart does not get enough blood it has to work harder and it becomes starved for oxygen. If the blood flow is completely blocked then a myocardial infarction (heart attack) occurs.

As we age we naturally have plaques build up in our arteries. This is called arteriosclerosis which is a hardening of the arteries. This can lead to blood clots that can cause a heart attack or stroke.  Hardening of the arteries and blockage of major arteries is one of the leading causes of death by disease in the United States. In fact heart disease itself kills more people every year then the next 6 diseases combined.

The degree to which ischemic heart disease affects each individual depends on a variety of factors including age, genetics, diet and exercise habits, and smoking. For many people who are at high risk it is important to make certain lifestyle changes that will reduce this risk.

Since medical science and doctors know the causes of ischemic heart disease they also know the steps to take to prevent or reverse its effects. And the steps one can take to avoid its effects are actually quite simple. Eat a healthy diet and avoid foods high in saturated fat, get more regular exercise to strengthen the cardiovascular system, drink alcohol in moderation, and stop smoking. By making these types of simple lifestyle changes you can avoid and prevent the onset of this disease.

Saturated fats are one of the leading causes of plaque build up in the arteries. By avoiding fatty foods that contain these types of fats you can significantly reduce your risk of heart disease. In fact if you eat more fish that are high in omega 3 fatty acids you can significantly reduce the build up of plaques. Omega 3 help build up the good cholesterol call HDL which helps remove the bad cholesterol (LDL).

Exercise will significantly reduce the risk of ischemic heart disease by helping the body effectively remove excess body fat and reduce the risk posed by obesity. Any form of exercise, whether its daily walks, working around the yard, or a full on exercise program will work wonders when it comes to preventing this condition.

Just a few changes can make all the difference in the world when it comes to fighting and preventing ischemic heart disease.



By: Andrew Bicknell

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Today there are more and more individuals being diagnosed with heart disease. Have you ever wondered what causes the heart disease? It is an inner instinct of human that they want to know what is causing the poor health condition of their own or their loved ones. Do you have the same problems? Do you want to change it? If you have the same questions read on to find much more.

Some of the symptoms of heart disease are high blood pressure and stroke. Many deaths are caused by heart disease in the US. Heart diseases are caused by number of reasons, some of which are mentioned below.

1. No exercising or poor exercising habits. One should keep in mind that like all other muscles the heart muscles also require exercise to maintain healthy and proper functioning.

2. A leading cause of heart disease both in men and women is smoking.

The above mentioned four points are the basic contributors of the heart disease. Fortunately these are only the lifestyle habits that can be easily changed. Still if somebody chooses not to change his lifestyle then these unhealthy habits cause the hardening of arteries, a condition termed atherosclerosis.

If the arteries are hardened it puts a restriction on the free flow of blood to different tissues and organs of the body. This restricted flow of blood cause heart diseases, as it deprives the organs of the body of important nutrients and oxygen which is required for proper functioning.

This should be kept in mind that hardening of arteries is not the only cause of heart disease. Sometimes it is also caused because of some genetic or heredity diseases like congenital heart defects, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy or heart infections.



By: Chad Fisher

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According to the American Heart Association (americanheart.org), over 70 million Americans currently have some type of heart disease. (Note: This does not include the tens of millions of people who are in the process of developing heart disease). The cost of treating heart disease (also know as cardiovascular disease, or CVD), in both direct and indirect costs is estimated to be over $400 billion annually.

Individuals need to take more individual responsibility to prevent Cardiovascular disease in the first place both for themselves and for their loved ones. Heart disease results in tragically reduced quality of life for those affected, for family and caregivers as well as adding enormously to the high cost of health care in this country. Individuals can help prevent heart disease most importantly through healthy eating, better lifestyle habits including regular moderate exercise, the proper use of nutritional supplements, regular medical check ups and working with their doctor.

Since the heart is a muscle, it can become weakened for many reasons including:

1. lack of regular exercise, often resulting in being overweight which causes the heart to work harder and more inefficiently

2. being subject to the abuse of too much stress, being

overworked or over-exercised, overweight, too little sleep

3. abused from the use of drugs, alcohol, smoking, too much caffeine

4. not receiving enough oxygen due to poor circulation or poor lung health

5. too much systemic (bodily) infection or inflammation often caused by viruses, infections, high fat and high sugar diets, high homocysteine and high C-reactive protein levels

6. a poor diet and not receiving enough broad spectrum nutrients from a healthy diet and proper nutritional supplementation, (not getting or taking enough Omega 3’s (Fish Oil), Vitamin D, a high quality daily multi-vitamin, Co-enzyme Q10, potassium, calcium and especially magnesium

7. from improperly prescribed medication(s) or reactions to medications and their often harmful side effects.

Drug Health Warning: Current research shows that a harmful side effect of taking statin drugs to lower cholesterol is that most statin drugs lower the body’s and the heart’s natural production and use of Co-enzyme Q10 (CoQ10). CoQ10 is one the heart’s required primary nutrients, shown to be critical in helping the mitochondria of the heart provide enough energy so the heart beats properly. However, by the time a person is 70 years old, their body may be producing 70% less CoQ10. Most ‘knowledgeable’ nutritionally inclined doctors will recommend that any patient taking a statin drug, as a minimum, take at least 50 to 100 mg of CoQ10 daily. CoQ10 is better taken in the newer, up to 8 times more highly absorbable Ubiquinol CoQ10 form (as opposed to the older less absorbable CoQ10 ubiquinone form). CoQ10 supplementation may also be highly beneficial for anyone over 40 who desires a longer cardiovascular healthy life.

Remember, ask your doctor if there are alternative methods to avoid having to take statin drugs in the first place, which may carry other long term negative side effects. Alternatives to statin drugs usually include adopting a better diet and lifestyle, weight loss, better stress-relieving techniques, nutritional supplements and of course, regular moderate exercise. Additional circulatory beneficial nutrients and supplements include: Omega 3’s, Vitamin D, CoQ10, L-carnitine, magnesium, nattokinase, ribose and natural based K2 (menaquinone: MK-7). MK-7 is the highly absorbable form of Vitamin K2, that helps keep excess calcium from circulating in the blood stream which may cause plaque build up in the blood vessels, restricts blood flow and causes heart valve restrictive calcium build up. MK-7 also helps keep more calcium to be retained in bones. Many of these above circulatory nutrients are now also being recommended by many more enlightened alternative and preventive health inclined physicians.

I particularly like the well balanced and comprehensive blood vessel support nutrients in the products: Circulatory Support and CoQ10 Supreme (in Ubiquinol form) found at http://www.doctorgreens.comHere’s to your better Cardiovascular Health by becoming more proactive and practicing better heart disease prevention through diet, lifestyle, nutrition, regular Dr. check ups and regular exercise habits.

Hal



By: Hal Decker

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Misconceptions about cardiovascular diseases — heart attacks, stroke and high blood pressure — have existed for many years and have in effect become myths. Most of them stem from factual observations during the early phase of the current global epidemic and have become deeply rooted in the minds of policymakers, health professionals and the public alike. Since these misconceptions adversely influence the allocation of resources and undermine actions to prevent and control cardiovascular diseases, they need to be firmly squashed.

Myth 1: Heart disease is a problem of developed countries

Every year, cardiovascular diseases cause around 15 million deaths in the world (30% of all deaths), and of these about two-thirds occur in developing countries. So the absolute number of deaths from these causes is twice as high in developing countries as in the industrialized world. Over twice as many deaths from stroke occur in developing countries as in industrialized countries; and the numbers of deaths due to heart attacks are equal in poor and rich countries. It is estimated that in China and India combined, which account for half the population of the developing world, between five and six million deaths are caused each year by cardiovascular diseases.

Myth 2: Heart disease is a problem of the rich

All societies include “early adopters” and “late adopters” of lifestyle changes. Early in the heart disease epidemic, affluent people in developing countries had the means and the opportunity to adopt new lifestyles, involving behaviour such as choosing foods rich in fat and calories, buying cars and using tobacco. Since these goods have become affordable for mass consumption “unhealthy” behaviour of this kind has become common across all social classes. Today, affluent people, especially the urban rich, have better access to health information concerning risk factors in the media and they also possess the means to modify their behaviour in favour of a healthier lifestyle (healthy diets, leisure-time physical activity, abstinence from tobacco). They constitute the “early adopters”, while the urban poor and rural communities — with limited access to information and little time or money for “healthy foods” and “fitness clubs” — lag behind. As a result, risky behaviour develops, and risk factors increase.

Recent studies from Latin America and South-East Asia, where coronary heart disease is particularly common, indicate that many coronary risk factors are more prevalent among those with lower socioeconomic standing and that the poor are, indeed, at higher risk of heart attacks.

In industrialized countries too, where the epidemic began among the urban rich, though some decades earlier than in the developing world, cardiovascular diseases are now more common in the relatively poor. When the worldwide heart disease epidemic fully develops, the poorest countries and the poorest people within society will be the worst affected.

Myth 3: Heart disease is mostly a man’s disease

While coronary heart disease is, in general, less common in pre-menopausal women than in men, in many parts of the world it is the most common cause of death in women, even those aged under 65. Heart disease, as well as its risk factors, varies to a surprising degree between populations. For example, women aged 35-64 years in Glasgow, Scotland, and in Belfast, Northern Ireland, have higher heart attack rates than men in some parts of southern Europe, according to a recent WHO study on trends in cardiovascular diseases (the WHO MONICA Project).

Hypertension and stroke are also major problems that affect women. Given the longer life expectancy of women, they contribute increasingly to cardiovascular deaths and disability after the sixth decade. The result is that, over their entire lifespan, women and men are equally affected by heart attacks and stroke — a fact that has long been neglected by doctors and health professionals, and by women themselves. Furthermore, pregnancy-associated hypertension is an important health problem in the developing world, where it is the major cause of premature birth and perinatal death, and is also responsible for up to one-third of all maternal deaths.

Myth 4: Heart disease is a problem of old age

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (coronary heart disease and stroke) and hypertension increase with age. But research in industrialized countries shows that about one-third of heart attacks and one-quarter of strokes occur in people below the age of 65. Many of the deaths due to cardiovascular diseases also occur early, one-quarter of them below the age of 70. In the developing world, the situation is even more marked: up to half of all deaths attributable to heart diseases occur in persons younger than 70; and a great number of working-age adults suffer from these diseases. This has an enormous impact on the economic situation of individuals and families as well as on society as a whole, and hampers efforts to alleviate poverty.

Myth 5: Heart disease is not susceptible to community action

The predominant factors contributing to the risk of cardiovascular diseases appear to be acquired, and to be lifestyle-related rather than genetic. Risk factors can be modified within a “healthy environment” that supports appropriate lifestyle practices, and most cardiovascular diseases are preventable. The prevention of heart diseases in individuals calls for the active promotion of health in populations.

Programmes that combine community mobilization with governmental regulation through taxation, legislation and pricing policies have proved to be effective in controlling tobacco and encouraging healthier diets in numerous industrialized countries. From these experiences, it is clear that community, national and even global action are key elements in combating the advancing epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in the developing world. Community mobilization can best be attained through educating the public, patients, professionals and policymakers, based on the advice of health professionals.

Myth 6: Heart disease is no longer a public health issue

There is a widespread mistaken belief that the total burden of cardiovascular diseases is diminishing. Despite declining mortality, heart disease remains the dominant public health problem in industrialized countries. Eastern European countries are at present experiencing the highest mortality rates due to cardiovascular diseases. A major cause for concern is the projected rise of these diseases in developing countries in the next century. It is predicted that by 2020 the number of deaths due to heart attacks and stroke in the developing world will have doubled as compared with 1990.

The reasons for this anticipated acceleration of the epidemic are increasing life expectancy related to a decline in infant mortality, unhealthy lifestyle changes related to industrialization and urbanization, and longer periods of exposure to the risk factors of heart disease because of improved socioeconomic conditions.

The public health consequences of an uncontrolled epidemic of cardiovascular diseases in the developing world would be disastrous. Not only would millions of productive years of life be lost, but the high costs of technology-intensive management of these diseases would impose a heavy financial burden on affected individuals, their families and society as a whole. The global epidemic needs a global response now, in the form of an international effort to create awareness and stimulate action in all countries and all sectors of society.



By: B. Smith

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Many of the risk factors for heart disease are related to lifestyle and environmental factors and are typically labeled uncontrollable (non-modifiable) or controllable (modifiable). These can be conditions, personal traits and lifestyles that contribute to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), which causes coronary artery disease.

The seriousness of this disease can be seen in the fact that over 40% of all people in the United States who suffer a heart attack will die from its affects.

Heart disease, which is a term that includes several more specific heart conditions, is the leading cause of death in the United States and is a major cause of disability. The major forms of this most deadly of diseases include acute rheumatic fever, chronic rheumatic heart disease, hypertensive heart disease, coronary heart disease, pulmonary heart disease, congestive heart failure and any other heart condition or disease.

It is, in simplistic terms, the inability of the heart to pump or receive adequate amounts of blood due to atherosclerosis or damage to the heart caused by infection or congenital defects. In fact heart disease and stroke both have the same risk factors and causes.

An estimated 25% of all Americans have one or more risk factors for heart disease, increasing their risk for heart attack.  Most risk factors are related to lifestyle while other risk factors that cannot be changed include age, gender, and genetics.

Health behaviors associated with a high risk of heart disease include being physically inactive, eating a diet high in salt and saturated fat, and smoking tobacco.  While you can’t control your age, gender, race, or family history, you can decrease your chances of developing heart disease by focusing on the lifestyle changes you can make to improve your overall health.

Leading a healthy lifestyle and following medical advice to reduce or remove risk factors is the best way to reduce the risk of developing heart disease.  Although heart disease takes on different specific forms, there are a common core of risk factors that influence whether someone will ultimately be at risk for heart disease or not.

There are many factors that can increase your risk of getting heart disease.  Some of these factors are out of your control but most of them can be avoided by choosing to live a healthy lifestyle. Excess body fat is one of the greatest risk factors for heart disease.  Cholesterol levels are determined by a combination of age, gender, heredity, and dietary choices, and of these four factors, changing your diet to a healthier one is something you can do something about.  High blood pressure combined with other risk factors such as being physically inactive, eating a diet high in salt and saturated fat, and smoking tobacco greatly increases your chances of getting heart disease as well.  In some cases other factors such as stress and drinking too much alcohol have been linked to cardiovascular disease.

Fortunately, many risk factors for heart disease are caused in part by unhealthy lifestyle habits, which can be altered so as to reduce one’s chances of developing heart disease.



By: Andrew Bicknell

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It all started innocently enough. I went to my primary care physician complaining of dizziness and a pain in my back. A quick ECG or electrocardiogram revealed a very fine and operational heart muscle. Still, being at an age where heart disease is considered a possibility and having several increased risk factors, my doctor decided that a trip to see the cardiologist was in order.

After all I thought, how could there be a problem with my heart? I just carried several 50 pound boxes down three flights of stairs only a couple of weeks ago. Still, I thought it better to at least get a baseline so we could measure any change as I got older. And the fact that the dizziness didn’t go away was still troubling.

The next test was a treadmill or stress test. Because of the dizziness and nausea however, the heart diagnostic group decided that a chemical stress test was in order. They inserted an IV and took pictures of my heart muscle before being stressed. The idea is that they could then place my heart under some strain and see the reaction. Kind of like a before and after type set of pictures. I could give you the medical names of the test and drugs but I’m not a doctor and prefer to offer the description from the patient point of view. So after the initial set of pictures, the technicians inserted chemicals into my body through the IV to chemically “stress” my heart while carefully monitoring my status. A short wait and yet another set of pictures.

In about a week, they called with the results. Instead of saying it straight however, I was told only that the tests results showed there may be a problem and to schedule an appointment with the cardiologist immediately. Now I don’t like the sound of immediately so it must have been critical or more important that just seeing “something.”

After talking with the doctor, it was decided that another battery of non invasive tests were in order. This time, it was a modified like CT scan. They were looking for verification of calcium deposits in my arteries.

This test agreed with the stress test results and showed calcification of the arteries, or arteriosclerosis. From all the tests, it appeared as if I had some problem developing but how serious was still an issue. There was however a blood test for calcium that indicated a level higher than 90% of the people my age. That did it! The doctor now wanted and almost demanded to go see what was going on.

An angiogram was in my immediate future. An angiogram typically is an outpatient procedure where the cardiologist opens an artery in your leg and works a camera into the heart muscle arteries. It sounds a lot worse than it is but the benefit is that you know exactly what the status of your heart and arteries are at that point in time.

End of Part 1



By: Abigail Franks

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As you can see, heart disease comes in a variety of life-threatening forms. All heart diseases are referred to as cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). CVDs include high blood pressure, coronary heart disease, congestive heart failure, stroke, rheumatic heart disease, artery diseases, pulmonary heart disease, and congenital cardiovascular defects.

Coronary heart disease, also referred to as coronary artery disease (CAD), is the most common form and represents 54 percent of all cardiovascular diseases. Coronary artery disease includes angina pectoris, which is chest pain from narrowing of blood vessels, and myocardial infarction (MI), also known as a heart attack, from the complete block­age of blood supply to the heart.

It is possible for a person to have more than one type of cardiovascular disease at the same time. For example, a person may have both coronary artery disease and high blood pressure. Coronary artery disease is responsible for more than half of all cardiac events in men and women under age seventy-five. According to the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Framingham Heart Study, the lifetime risk of developing CAD after age forty is 49 percent for men and 32 percent for women.

Scientists now know that atherosclerosis can start in childhood. Researchers have found the beginning of fatty streaks in the arteries of children as young as three years old. The average American has significant buildup in his or her arterial walls by middle age. In women, possibly because of the protective effects of estrogen, the thicker buildups do not begin to show up until after menopause.

Even without the impact of a stroke or heart attack, atherosclerosis advances the aging process. Healthy circulation in the body is the source of nutrition and life for the cells. As this circulation is slowly cut off, it impairs the functioning of your cells. Atherosclerosis does not need to be inevitable. With knowledge of the mechanisms that contribute to this disease, you can take steps to reduce your risks and to prolong your youthful vitality and energy.

Atherosclerosis and Coronary Artery Disease

The principle cause of coronary artery disease is atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis comes from the root words “atheroma” and “sclerosis,” which means “to harden.” Atherosclerosis is a process that leads to a group of diseases characterized by the thickening of artery walls. The thickening results from a buildup of plaque on the arterial walls. Plaque is made up of various types of debris that collect on areas of inflammation on blood vessel walls, causing more and more narrowing of the passage through which blood can flow.

Plaque is formed in a variety of shapes and sizes. Small plaques accumulate throughout the arteries in the entire body and can be difficult to detect. Doctors can more easily discover the large, hardened plaques in the coronary arteries. These typically cause the chest pains associated with angina.

Small plaque buildups, however, are just as concerning as thick, hard plaques. Researchers now have determined that these smaller plaques are less solid on the outside and, consequently, less stable. These small, unstable plaques are much more likely to rupture and release the cholesterol mass into the bloodstream. This concentrated cholesterol contributes to formation of blood clots. If a small plaque buildup in the coronary arteries ruptures and forms a blood clot, it can trigger a heart attack.

As an initial assessment of your likelihood of having CAD, ask yourself the following questions:

Have you ever had a heart attack?

Have you had recurring chest pain that has been diagnosed as angina?

Have you had heart surgery such as a bypass operation or angioplasty procedure?

Have you ever had an angiogram that showed a blockage in your coronary arteries?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, you probably have CAD. Be sure to discuss strategies to manage your cholesterol levels with your health-care provider.



By: Alien

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High sugar intake leads to dysfunctions everywhere especially the Heart!

The real problem in America is not chronic low blood sugar but the opposite, chronic high blood sugar. This constant elevation of glucose streaming through our system has major toxic implications, just ask any diabetic. Blindness, peripheral neurological dysfunctions and ulcerations are all causes of chronic high blood glucose. These are usually problems diabetics worry about on a constant basis. So, what about the non-diabetic that is constantly eating refined sugars that keep insulin and glucose working overtime?

It has been stated that high intakes of refined sugar is directly linked to coronary artery dysfunctions (heart disease). It has been shown that cultures that consume low levels of sugar and high levels of fats and cholesterol actually have lower levels of coronary artery dysfunctions but once refined sugar becomes a staple of these cultures daily diet coronary artery dysfunction becomes prevalent and cholesterol is made out to be the bad guy. Over indulging in sugars will lead an increase production of cholesterol by the liver. Sugar will also use or destroy the main constituent of arteries, which as stated before leads to cracking and filling by the increased production of cholesterol.

When was the last time you ever heard that sugar intake is the main reason for arterial dysfunction? In fact even in the 21st century we are still being bombarded with the incomplete facts. On a daily basis we are being told that hamburgers, steaks and eggs are the cause of coronary artery dysfunction and that drugs that block the production of cholesterol is the answer. Yet in 1977, nearly 30 years ago, Dr. George V Mann of Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, published an article stating the opposite. In the New England Journal of Medicine Mann is quoted as writing:

“Foundations, scientists, and the media, both lay and scientific, have promoted low fat, low cholesterol, polyunsaturated diets, and yet the epidemic continues unabated, cholesteremia in the population is unchanged, and clinicians are unconvinced of efficacy…And yet the oil and spread industry advertise its products with claims and promises that make these foods seem like drugs. The vibrant certainty of scientist claiming to be authorities on these matters is disturbing.”

This should be of great concern for every reader. Research professionals have touted this information for three decades! The number one killer of Americans is coronary artery dysfunction (heart disease) and our children are becoming obese at an alarming rate. Both of these are linked to over consumption of refined sugars and are both preventable. Our culture is choosing this unhealthy state of living. In the chapter, Putting it all together, I give examples of foods to eat. All you have to do is make the choice.



By: Dr. Brandon DiNovi

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