Conditions And Diseases | Healthy Heart Net

Keep The Ticker Ticking

December 23, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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While all the muscles in the body work together to keep us moving and shaking, one of the most important muscles is the heart. The heart works hard to keep the body fueled, and we need to take care of it. Exercise is wonderful. A good brisk walk not only clears the mind, it makes us feel good. At the same time, we are exercising that very important muscle in the middle of the chest, the heart. Keeping stress down is important to a healthy heart, and hence, a healthier life. An extremely important part of heart health is obviously, the diet.

Eating the right foods, in the right combination, at the right time of day, is a huge step towards a healthy heart, and a healthier you. The truth is that healthier choices can please the palate as well as the heart. While a breakfast of bacon and eggs is fine sometimes, substituting that breakfast meal with some whole grain cereal and fresh fruit will make your heart very happy, and you will be healthier. Substitute a healthy breakfast more often during the week, say four to six times a week, and your heart is a happy little muscle.

Keep yourself active. One does not have to run the Boston Marathon on a monthly basis to keep the heart healthy. A nice brisk walk a couple of times a week makes a huge difference. Not only will you be exercising your heart, you will be exercising your body, which will also reap the benefits. Tighter muscles work better, make us less tired, and we will be less likely to sit on the couch and grab a bag of chips.

Our hearts will hopefully keep us living for a very long time. If we take good care of it, the chances are that the heart will take care of us well into our golden years.

Filed Under: Heart Care, Heart Surgeons, Surgery Tagged With: Blood pressure, Boston Marathon, Cardiovascular Disorders, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Heart Disease, Muscle, Physical exercise

Do What You Are Told

December 21, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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Heart conditions and heart surgeries are serious business. When chest pain hits, you never know what is causing it. It can be as simple as a bad case of indigestion, or as serious as one or more blocked heart valves. When the heart valves are blocked, the heart cannot do its job. There are as many reasons for heart disease as there are people who have heart disease. Finding out you have a heart condition is only the first step. The next step is yours.

We all know that eating right, exercising, staying away from cigarettes, drugs and alcohol are all ways to stay heart healthy. Everyone has a vice. When your heart is at stake, there are seriously important decisions to be made. Once the doctors determine what the problem is, they will take steps to fix said problem. This may include just diet and exercise. It may be that you need medication. Or in more serious cases, surgery might be the answer. Whatever the treatment for your problem, your doctor will tell you to take better care of yourself. Start eating right, exercise regularly, and absolutely stay away from cigarettes, alcohol or illicit drugs.

When it comes to your health and your heart, do what you are told. Make the decision to have a healthier life. Put down the cigarettes, cut out the happy hours, take a walk, eat an apple instead of a doughnut. These can be very difficult steps for some people. People who have smoked for many years find it near impossible to quit. Many people who have heart issues still continue to smoke. Those who have issues with alcohol find it just as difficult to put the bottle down.

Stop and think. What is important to you? Can those cigarettes or that drink possibly be more important than what you have left to live for? Take a good look at your family, the answer is right there.

Filed Under: Heart Care, Heart Surgeons, Surgery Tagged With: Cardiac surgery, Cardiovascular Disorders, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Heart Disease, Heart valve, Physical exercise, Surgery

An Apple or Five a Day

December 17, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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The old proverb that, “An apple a day keeps the doctor away” is more than just a whimsical saying. Eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables a day has proven to keep us healthier. A 19 year study in adults ages 25 to 74 found that those who ate three or more servings of fruit a day cut their risk of dying by 27%, as opposed to those who only consumed one serving of fruit per day.

It is actually probably more likely that eating five servings of fruits and vegetables per day reduces the risk factors for cardiac disease rather than actually fighting the disease. Cardiac risk factors include things like being overweight, high cholesterol, and too much fat in the diet. We have no control over some of the factors for heart disease, but by substituting some of the fattier foods with a piece of fruit or a serving of vegetables, you are working towards a healthier lifestyle. You will be more likely to lose weight, the fruit will replace the fat in your diet and in turn, your cholesterol will come down.

Of course, if you are feeling healthier, the chances are that you will want to keep that feeling and work on more healthy aspects of your life. With a little weight off and the fats in your diet not weighing you down, you may just find yourself outside more often, taking in the fresh air, going for a walk. All of these suggestions will start you on a path to a healthier heart. Nobody wants to be faced with the decision to be on a lifetime of heart medication, or to have heart surgery. It is never too late to start getting healthy, and it is so easy to get started. If you eat one apple today, maybe you will eat another tomorrow and you know what they say about an apple a day.

Filed Under: Heart Care, Heart Surgeons, Surgery Tagged With: Apple, Cholesterol, Conditions and Diseases, Fruit, Health, Heart Disease, Hypercholesterolemia, Risk factor

Walk Yourself Healthy

December 9, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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You have been diagnosed with heart disease. The cardiology professionals have told you what you need to do. If you have had surgery, you need to let your body heal. If you are taking medicine, you should be taking it properly, as directed. After the major event and the healing has occurred, you now are more aware than ever that you have to take better care of yourself. There are the obvious things, no smoking, keep drinking to a minimum, get your weight under control. You know that these things need to be done. In taking care of your heart remember one thing, the heart is a muscle.

If your leg muscles were sore, you would rest them and then you would exercise them, so that the next time you overdid it a little, there would be no pain. You can exercise your heart in really much the same way. Walking is one of the best ways to exercise your heart. Nobody loves exercise, well maybe Richard Simmons loves exercise. Most of us do it because there is a goal. A goal of a healthy heart should be more than enough motivation to want to exercise more.

It is said that a home walking program can be as beneficial as hospital directed cardiac rehabilitation. Have a check-up to make sure walking for exercise is safe. Start out slow, pick up the pace as you go along and slow it down at the end. Use a pedometer and try adding 2,000 steps to your daily walk, gradually increasing as you go. Walk with friends, walk on your lunch break, or put on your trusty MP3 player and walk to your favorite tunes. Doing this just 30 minutes a day five times a week will be of great benefit to your heart. You will feel so much better, it might even make you want to make other changes to better your health.

Filed Under: Heart Care, Heart Surgeons, Surgery Tagged With: Blood pressure, Cardiovascular Disorders, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Heart, Heart Disease, Physical exercise, Richard Simmons

The Doctor Is In

December 5, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Getting heart healthy is a lifestyle change. If you have been diagnosed with heart disease or have had heart surgery, you know the importance of making your heart healthy and keeping it that way. If you are lucky enough to get that second chance, the warning that maybe you need to take better care of your heart, then it is time to step up to the challenge. Hopefully you will make the necessary lifestyle changes. Though challenging, it is worth it, to live a longer, healthier life. It might be an easy change to start eating healthier. While we like the greasy, fast food world, it is not horrible to start eating more vegetables and drinking more water. Fruits and vegetables can be delicious, and you will start to feel better almost immediately by replacing high sugar drinks with water. Quitting smoking or excessive alcohol drinking will be more difficult, but hopefully, with the new motivation of a healthy heart and living longer you will get there.

While these are all very important factors to getting your heart healthy and keeping it that way, one of the most important things you can do is to keep up with your doctor’s appointments. Your doctor will know of any new trends in the treatment of your heart disease, and will need to keep a close eye on you to regulate your medications. The only way for you to keep getting your medications as they need to be taken, is to follow up with your doctor. Staying on track is actually easier when you are following closely with your doctor. He or she will be able to track your progress, let you know what you are doing right, as well as what you need to do better, and will be able to give you the encouragement you need to keep working at it. Your lifelong health is worth it.

Filed Under: Heart Care, Heart Surgeons, Surgery Tagged With: Cardiac surgery, Cardiovascular Disorders, Conditions and Diseases, Disease, Health, Heart Disease, Physician, Smoking cessation

And The Beat Goes On

December 3, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Statistics show that a beating heart is evident in a fetus 22 to 23 days after conception. The baby will not be born for another seven or eight months, and yet the heart is already doing its job. From the time our heart begins beating until the time it stops, it has one of the most important jobs in our body. The heart pumps the blood to all the other organs, the heart regulates the flow so that our body has exactly what it needs all of the time. At the very least, we need to be taking good care of that all important organ.

Most people do not give heart health a second thought, until they need to. We should be taking care of our hearts so that we never need to see a heart specialist. Unfortunately once heart damage is done, most of the time it cannot be reversed. It can be treated and dealt with, but not reversed. Take charge of your heart health before anything happens to make you.

We all know that we should not be abusing our bodies. Maybe it is time to stop talking about it and start doing it. Stop smoking, it is terribly harmful to most of our body, but especially to the heart. Smoking blocks arteries, the all important pathways for transporting the blood to our heart so that it can do its work. To block the pathway is to cause heart disease. Try to take off the extra weight. Carrying around extra weight puts a strain on the heart, making its job more difficult, thereby slowing us down and beginning the process of heart disease. Do not take any illicit drugs. Obviously putting something into your body that does not belong there can cause a myriad of problems.

Take care of your heart, so that the beat can go on, and on, and on.

Filed Under: Heart Care, Heart Surgeons, Surgery Tagged With: Blood pressure, Cardiovascular Disorders, Conditions and Diseases, Electrocardiography, Health, Heart, Heart Disease, Smoking cessation

The Right Professional

December 2, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

Your heart disease may be diagnosed by your family doctor. Once the diagnosis is made, he or she will send you to a cardiology specialist. The cardiology specialist will further stratify your symptoms, perform further testing and narrow down your diagnosis. At that point you may need to see another type of heart specialist. Where 30 years ago the family doctor treated everything from the common cold to cancer, we are now in an age where physicians are further schooled to specialize in different areas of expertise. Can a general cardiologist treat your serious heart disease? Yes. Would you not rather see a physician who went to further schooling and has done more research in your particular type of heart disease?

You may have heart disease that involves your lungs as well. There is a specialist for that. A general cardiologist, while knowledgeable in “matters of the heart” may not be as knowledgeable in lung disease, but there is a specialist who is. You may have other problems going on simultaneously with your heart disease. You can see several different specialists and that may be the best way to go. However, there may be a physician who specializes in more than one aspect of heart disease, and may be just the right physician for your needs.

Being in charge of your care at all times will make your treatment work for you. Asking the right questions will give you the answers your need. Following the instructions of your physicians will make you healthier. It can even keep you from progression of the disease, or stop something fatal from happening. These decisions are too important to leave to chance. Research your type of heart disease, ask your physicians and find the right professional for your needs. If you trust your physician, you will feel more confident about your treatment and you will be more likely to follow his expert advice.

Filed Under: Heart Care, Heart Surgeons, Surgery Tagged With: Cardiology, Conditions and Diseases, Disease, Family medicine, Health, Heart, Heart Disease, Physician

Get Heart Healthy

November 14, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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There’s a lot of talk nowadays about healthy hearts. We live in a day and age where technology is increasing and we know more and more about our health. It’s time to take advantage of all of this technology and information at our fingertips and get heart healthy. Here are some tips for keeping your heart going strong for years to come.

1. Get a checkup. Before you can start any real healthy living routine, you need a check up from your doctor. Make sure your heart is strong enough to exercise and live a healthy life. Once you get the sign-off from the doctor, you’re good to go.

2. Take any medications. It’s true, many of us have to take medications daily. Some of these medications actually help our hearts. If you are on any kind of heart medication, don’t skip it. You could even look into getting a prescription discount card to help pay for your medicine.

3. Start exercising. If you’re just beginning, start slow. Take the stairs, park farther away, or go for a walk around the neighborhood. If you’re a seasoned exerciser, kick up your routine a bit. Run an extra mile, add on some weights, or try yoga. The important thing is to move and keep moving.

4. Eat healthy. You are what you eat, right? For a healthy heart, cut back on red meat, eat lots of leafy greens, don’t forget some fruits, and enjoy lean meats. The less fat you take into your body, the less that will reside around your heart.

You’ve only got one heart so make sure you take care of it. The heart is our most vital organ. It keeps our bodies and our minds moving. Follow these few simple tips here to start getting in heart-healthy shape.

Filed Under: Cancer, Exercise Tagged With: American Heart Association, Cardiovascular Disorders, Conditions and Diseases, Health, Heart Disease, Pharmaceutical drug, Physical exercise, Prevention

Does Your Height Affect Your Risk of Heart Disease?

November 10, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

People who are shorter in stature may be at an increased risk for heart disease than their taller counterparts. This is according to a study conducted by a research at the University of Tempere in Finland.

Tulla Paajanen says that the study shows that the shorter a person is the higher his or her risk is of developing heart disease. These short people may also have a high risk of heat attacks and death. She says the risks are about 1.5 times higher.

The study of this link between height and heart disease has been studied for approximately 60 years, with the first study being published in 1951.

Because of this Paajanen researched past medical literature and used those she found most sound scientifically. There were 52 studies, covering more than three million subjects, that she used.

Because tall and short are relative, Paajanen used the following definitions:
–Short men were less than 5 foot 4 inches
–Short women were those less than 5 feet
–Tall men were more than 5 fee 9 inches tall; and women were 5 feet 5 inches and above.

Again, the likelihood of a shorter person to develop heart disease is about 1.5 times higher. According to the study, shorter males had a 37 percent higher risk of dying of any cause; women had a 55 percent higher risk. Both men and women of short stature had a risk of 52 percent higher than other of experiencing a heart attack.

The exact reasons for why shorter people have higher risks are still unknown, but Paajanen postulates that that shorter people have more narrow arteries. She says that other studies, which used angiographic measurements shows there is a correlation between body weight and height so she thinks her idea, may be sound.

Filed Under: Heart Care Tagged With: Conditions and Diseases, Finland, Health, Heart Disease

Who Needs a Cardiovascular Surgeon?

October 24, 2010 by admin Leave a Comment

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Cardiovascular surgeons perform operations on the heart and blood vessels. The need for cardiovascular surgery can arise out of a congenital condition, or coronary disease that occurs later in a patient’s life. Lifestyle factors can play a part in the onset of heart disease, with those who are obese, are smokers, diabetic or have high levels of cholesterol being most at risk from developing heart disease.

All heart professionals espouse the very real benefits of preventative measures when it comes to heart health. Maintaining a healthy, balanced lifestyle with a diet rich with fresh fruit and vegetables and a balance of the four food groups together with regular exercise and not smoking gives the human heart the greatest chance of a long and healthy life. Even little exercise such as golfing is a way to prolong your life. Golf is an exciting escapade for family fun or just a couple. Florida vacation home rentals are the best way to enjoy over 1,000 golf courses in Florida.

Of course, not all heart patients go under the knife because they have made lived out ill advised lifestyle choices. Patients born with a hole in their heart or some other defect will require the expertise of a cardiovascular surgeon to improve the quality of their life by reducing pain or curing the condition they are suffering with.

What operations does a heart professional carry out?
The range of heart surgeries is vast, and each one is a complex and intricate process that requires the immense skill and knowledge of only the most highly trained medical professionals. Whether it’s inserting a pacemaker, carrying out heart bypass surgery or a heart transplant for the most extreme cases, heart surgery is never a small undertaking. However, advances in technology have reduced the severity of some procedures.

Some operations that were open heart surgeries (where the chest is opened to allow the surgeon to gain access to the heart) are now carried out through just a few small incisions. A coronary bypass procedure is one example where a less invasive method can be used. The troubled artery is accessed through a small incision which is far better for the patient as it speeds up recovery time when compared with the more invasive alternative.

Filed Under: Heart Care, Heart Surgeons Tagged With: Cardiac surgery, Cardiovascular Disorders, Circulatory system, Conditions and Diseases, Coronary artery bypass surgery, Health, Heart Disease, Surgery