Preventative Measures for Heart Disease

The chances of developing a life-threatening heart disease largely depend on heredity and stress. Although we may not like to think about it and want to remain positive, it’s important to be realistic about keeping healthy. We can also take preventative measures as a means of ensuring a longer lifespan when it comes to protecting the most important organ and muscle of the body.

For one thing, keep your annual physical appointment with your doctor. He or she can screen the blood and urine for early signs of health problems like high blood pressure and high cholesterol. The doctor can also check your entire body’s health with a routine blood screening. If other organs are showing signs of distress, it may compromise the heart’s activity.

Going to the dentist can reveal the inner-most nature of your overall health. Plaque that looms in your arteries usually doesn’t begin in the bloodstream. In reality, plaque surrounds the crevices of your teeth and gums. So if you don’t floss, consider doing that as soon as possible. Your entire mouth and your heart will thank you in the long run.

Many people may think that large clumps of plaque in the circulatory system are a problem but actually, the arteries can stretch to accommodate cholesterol deposits. Smaller clumps can get trapped more easily and are more likely to cause a heart attack.

Don’t be a stranger to checking your mail for free health screenings or find out how to get one. Many people are chosen at random to take advantage of events for health professionals to check for aortic aneurysms and risk of heart attacks by looking at the plaque build-up in the ultrasound. Many of us receive little advance warning of cardiovascular difficulty. If you can do something early as a preventative measure for heart disease, please consider having a cat scan or ultrasound done.

Dietary Risk Factors for a Heart Attack

Even those who eat incredibly well might have risk factors that can cause a heart attack. How much we eat regardless of what it is can impact our weight and heart health. Eating is a pleasurable activity but it doesn’t mean we should eat to oblivion (even fruit). For example, bananas are an excellent source of potassium, but they also contain a lot of sugar as they ripen. In addition, they contain anywhere from 70 to 130 calories each. A simple rule to keep in mind is whatever you consume, be prepared to burn off with a fair amount of movement.

What we drink can also impact our ticker’s function. Consider this before you visit your local coffee shop for a latte. One or two cups of coffee without any milk, sugar or cream isn’t so bad (4 ounces). Caffeine itself isn’t a problem in moderation but it can harden the blood vessels and over time increase blood pressure.

Soda has approximately 22 grams of sugar per each six-ounce can or bottle. The huge cups found at the convenience stores are about one liter or more. If the small can or bottle contains double the amount of our daily allowable sugar intake, you can only imagine what those super-size drinks contain. Sugar is known to be deadly in excess by many of our medical professionals. The food pyramid shows us how little should be consumed and it’s considered a treat. Think about these risk factors more.

Genetics can play a role in determining your risk for difficulties with cardiovascular health. Even those of us who appear to be thin can have high cholesterol. If one or both of our parents and some of our ancestors on either side of the family tree have had a heart attack, chances are we can suffer the same fate. During your next annual checkup consider providing your general practitioner or cardiologist with any family history or pertinent health information.

An Apple or Five a Day

Fruits and vegetables from a farmers market. c...
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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.