Heart Disease
Prevent and treat heart disease with natural therapies
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What is heart disease?
Heart disease refers to the problems associated with the heart, coronery arteries and blood vessels
Heart disease can be of several types:
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) - The heart receives its own supply of blood from a network of arteries, called the coronary arteries.
Coronary artery disease develops when plaque builds up in the coronary arteries, they get narrowed and blood cannot easily flow through them. Coronary artery disease is also known as ischaemic heart disease and is the leading cause of death in the US. When the heart does
not receive an adequate supply of oxgen-rich blood, it can lead to angina which manifests as chest pain or pain in the shoulders, arms and back. It can also cause discomfort similar to an upset stomach.
Getting angina implies the risk of getting a heart attack. When an artery is completely blocked by plaque and the heart cannot get adequate blood for more than 20 minutes, a heart attack results.
Heart failure - When the heart muscles get weak and are unable to pump enough blood, heart failure occurs. As a result of heart failure, other organs in the body are unable to get an adequate blood supply.
Heart arrythmias - When heart beats become irregular it is known as heart arrythmias. While an occasional racing of the heart is normal, if you have heart flutters as well as dizziness or shortness of breath, you should get emergency medical attention.
Rheumatic Heart Disease - This is a condition in which rheumatic fever causes permanent damage to heart valves. The damaged heart valve either does not completely close or completely open.
What are the symptoms of heart disease?
The symptoms of heart disease can come and go and symptoms can develop slowly over time. It is therefore important to
recognize some symptoms of heart disease
- Sudden discomfort or pain in the center of the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back. The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain.
- Pain in the neck, jaws, shoulder, arms or back
- Pain that may feel like burning, squeezing, heaviness, tightness or pressure
- Discomfort that feels like a stomach upset
- Difficulty breathing
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Dizziness and light headedness
IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING THE WARNING SIGNALS OF A HEART ATTACK YOU SHOULD
IMMEDIATELY:
- Call 911 or your local emergency number for help, or have someone call for
you (It's a good idea to keep a list of emergency numbers near the phone at
all times).
- Stop all activity and sit or lie down, in whatever position is most
comfortable.
- If you take nitroglycerin, take your normal dosage.
- If you are experiencing chest pain, chew and swallow one (1) adult 325 mg
ASA tablet (e.g., Aspirin®) or two (2) 80 mg tablets. Do not use
pain medicines like acetaminophen (e.g. Tylenolâ )
or ibuprofen (e.g. Advil®).
- Rest comfortably and wait for emergency medical services (EMS) (e.g.,
ambulance) to arrive.
If you are with someone who is experiencing the warning signals of a heart
attack:
- Help the person with all the activities listed above.
- Expect denial. You must take charge and call 911 or your local emergency
number.
- If the person becomes unresponsive (no normal breathing, coughing, or
movement), start CPR.
In the event of cardiopulmonary arrest (no normal breathing, coughing or
movement), call 911 or your local emergency number, attach an Automatic External
Defibrillator (AED) or begin cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) immediately and
continue until emergency help has arrived.
- Check the scene for safety.
- Determine unresponsiveness (no normal breathing, coughing or movement).
- Call 911 or your local emergency number.
- Get the AED or ask someone to get an AED if there is one close by, and
attach it to the person immediately.
Early intervention in the case of a cardiac emergency can mean the difference
between life and death. The flow of oxygen to the brain can be sustained and the
amount of permanent damage can be reduced. A survival rate as high as 90% has
been reported when defibrillation is achieved within the first minute of
collapse. Every minute that passes reduces the chances of survival by 7- 10%.
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Natural Herbs for preventing and reducing heart diseaes
Abana
Contains 40+ herbs and minerals and is a cardio-protective
Arjuna
Well known ayurvedic herb for heart health
Guggul
Best herb for lowering cholesterol
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What are the causes of heart disease?
It is an interesting fact that heart disease is not known among mammals and is most predominant in western countries.
It is therefore often been said that heart disease are due to our modern lifestyle.
Some of the causes of heart disease are:
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High cholesterol
Smoking
Diabetes
Stress
Age
Gender - Men are more likely to get heart disease than women
Heredity - Genetic factors play a role in increasing the risk of the disease
Obesity - Since overweight people tend to have high cholesterol and blood pressure levels, they are more likely to suffer from heart disease.
Lack of exercise plays an important part in contributing to heart disease.
Lack of vitamin C and antioxidants have also been shown to cause heart disease
Some cholesterol medications tend to weaken the heart muscles
Excessive exposure to free radicals originating from toxic chemicals such as pesticides, chlorinated water and air pollutants is a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease
High levels of the amino acid, homocysteine, in the blood increases the risk of cardiovascular disease very significantly.
It has also been shown that mercury is a potent initiator of heart disease and risk increases with the number of amalgam tooth fillings
How can heart disease be prevented, stopped or reversed?
A heart healthy diet is the best way to prevent and reverse heart disease. Less than 10% of the daily energy intake should be in the form of saturated fat and the daily cholesterol intake should not exceed 300 mg. However the fat content of the average American diet is 40-50% of calories consumed and is mostly saturated fats
It is important to cut down on meat products and switch to a largely vegetable based diet. A study in Germany showed that the death rate among male vegetarians due to cardiovascular disease was only 39% of that of the general population while the death rate of female vegetarians was only 46%.
Herbal remedies - Arjuna herb is considered very heart healthy owing to its content of COQ10. Arjuna has been known to reduce and even reverse arterial plaque build-up, and strengthens heart muscles while improves blood flow.
Abana - a herbal formulation of over 40 herbs and minerals is also recommended as a daily heart tonic to prevent and treat heart disease.
Reduce cholesterol by changing your diet and with herbs like Guggul that lower LDL cholesterol levels while increasing HDL levels and also have no side effects like some prescription drugs
Reduce blood pressure and hypertension - Hypertension can be reduced by reducing salt intake, reducing weight, and lifestyle changes. Arjuna herb helps to reduce and control hypertension. More on natural ways to reduce hypertension
Start an exercise regimen such as yoga. It has been shown that brisk walking at the rate of 3mph for at least 3 hours a week significantly reduces the risk of heart disease for women
Give up smoking - Smoking causes arteries to narrow and damages them, obstructing blood flow
Smokers who quit lower their risk of stroke by 27% two years after stopping. Their risk reaches the level of non-smokers after about four years
Reduce stress and anxiety : Take up stress reducing activities such as yoga and fun hobbies. Natural herbs such as Ashwagandha help in reducing stress, inflammation and high blood pressure.
Related Articles:
Arjuna Heart Benefits
Guggul Benefits
High blood pressure (hypertension)
High cholesterol
Diabetes
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Other Heart Healthy Products
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Guggul
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Lowers Cholesterol, Improves HDL-LDL ratio, Burns Fat,
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Abana
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Cardio-protective, prevents heart disease
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Arjuna
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Cardio-protective, Reduces High Blood Pressure, Improves Circulation
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