Be Heart Healthy : 4 Ways to Prevent Heart Disease

      It is January. Many people  make New Year Resolutions to become better. Therefore, it is important to consider health and even heart health as one of them. So, we wanted to give you 4 ways to reduce heart disease to start your New Year in the healthiest of ways.

1. FOLLOW A HEART HEALTHY DIET
Following a few simple rules as laid out in our Healthy Heart Diet section can significantly decrease your chances of developing heart disease. A brief summary follows:

A. Limit intake of trans fats and hydrogenated oils found in margarine, fast food, fried food, etc.

B. Limit refined sugar intake from cakes, cookies, candy, etc.

C. Use extra virgin olive oil and garlic in cooking - they can lower cholesterol

D. Add Omega 3 Fatty Acids to your diet - the best source is Fish Oil

For more information on a Heart Healthy Diet, click here.

2. EXERCISE REGULARLY
Developing a steady exercise program as described in our Exercise for Healthy Heart section can also lower your risk of heart disease. A few quick tips:

A. Try to exercise 3-4 times per week, for at least a half hour at a time.

B. Keep your routine going, and start off slow.

C. Always stretch before and after training.

D. Keep yourself hydrated and rest between sets.

For more information on Exercising for Heart Health, click here.

3. LEAD A HEALTHY LIFESTYLE
In addition to following a healthy diet and exercise regimen, you should also try to do the following:

A. Stop smoking and avoid second hand smoke - both are major causes of heart disease.

B. Limit your intake of alcohol - excessive alcohol can deplete your body's supply of vitamins and other nutrients.

C. Try to reduce stress and anxiety - they can lead to high blood pressure and other health conditions.

D. Keep your weight within recommended limits - obesity is a leading cause of heart disease.

4. KEEP TABS ON THE (4) BLOOD INDICATORS OF DEVELOPING HEART DISEASE
Make sure you get tested for increased cholesterol, triglycerides(fat), homocysteine and C Reactive Protein levels, and follow the protocols if any one of these indicators is elevated:

A. If your cholesterol is high, you can lower cholesterol naturally with policosanol, guggulipid and other herbal extracts as well as Fish Oil. Remember, only 20% of your cholesterol comes from what you eat, the other 80% is manufactured by your liver. Read more about lowering cholesterol here.

B. If your triglyceride (fat) levels are too high, lower your carbohydrate and sugar intake. Also, fish oil, Vitamin C, guggulipid and green tea are safe natural ways to lower triglyceride levels. Read more about lowering triglycerides here.

C. If your homocysteine levels are high, you can easily normalize the situation by including B Vitamins in your diet, particularly Folic Acid, Vitamin B6 and Vitamin B12. Read more about lowering homocysteine here.

D. If your C Reactive Protein levels are high, this indicates inflammation in the blood. Fish oil, ginger and MSM will help decrease inflammation naturally. Read more about lowering C Reactive Protein here.

Please use this as a guide to Prevent Heart Disease. Also, you should utilize the links available in each list. A thank you goes out to a healthy-heart-guide.com for their useful information.If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback, you can reach us by email.

Thank you for visiting !

Joseph A. Jones & The WellLife Team

The Differences Between A Heart Attack And Stroke

           We have all heard the words of heart attack and stroke. Allot of people do not realize that they are different heart conditions that get treated differently. What exactly is a difference between a heart attack and stroke?

           A heart attack occurs when blood supply is cut off to a portion of the heart muscles. This may happen due to a clot in one of the arteries that supply the heart with blood. When  blood flow to the heart is obstructed the symptoms of the heart attack are felt by the patient. These may include chest pain, breathlessness etc.

          Most heart attacks are not the sort you will find in movies. Most start off with a mild pain and tightness in the chest. In fact, the symptoms may be so negligible that a person might be tempted to ignore them altogether. If you feel a discomfort in the middle of the chest, breathlessness or a feeling of being squeezed, get a doctor immediately. While it is possible that your symptoms may not be those of a heart attack, you do not want to lose time in case they are.
             

          You should also be careful if you feel dizzy, experience discomfort around your jaws, arms or shoulders. Other symptoms of a heart attack may include breaking out in a cold sweat, lightheadedness or nausea. 

            A stroke is a similar thing that happens to a brain. When the supply of blood to the brain stops because of a clot in one of the arteries, it is called a stroke. Unlike a heart attack, in a stroke there is usually no pain. The typical symptoms include a loss in feelings and difficulties in movement. The important thing to understand is that a heart attack takes place in the heart, while a stroke takes place in the brain. A person shows different symptoms for the conditions.

If a patient displays any of the following symptoms, he may be having a stroke:

• A sudden weakness or numbness in the face arms or legs, particularly those concentrated on a specific side of the body. 
• Sudden confusion or a difficulty to understand or speak. 
• A sudden inability to see in one or both eyes 
• A sudden trouble in doing any one of these- walking, maintaining balance or coordinating movements 
• A sudden and severe headache without a known reason. 

        In both these cases it is very important for you to get medical attention as fast as possible. How fast you get aid will determine the extent of the damage and your chances of recovery.

       We would like to thank differencebeween.net for that insightful article.If you would like to contact us with any questions or feedback, you can reach us by email.



Thank you for visiting !
Joseph A. Jones & The WellLife Team