Category Archives: Heart Diseases

Heart Disease remedies

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Black strap Molasses has long been revered for it’s ability to strengthen heart muscles. It has a considerable amount of chromium which is good for reversing heart disease, and for a high blood pressure remedy as well.The major causes of heart failure, according to cardiologist, are coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, and valvular heart disease. There are many other various risk factors- smoking, high serum cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, family history of heart disease, low HDl cholesterol, and inactivity.

The tendency of the heart to adjust to changes in the mode of living of its owner, known as compensation, is one of the vital factors, which prolong life in spite of maladies to which this king of organs is susceptible. This adjustment sometimes enables a person to go through life without suspecting the disease, which invade the heart. The answer is the same as it is for everything in life, YOU. Use your God given intelligence to find out and incorporate as many naturally healthful heart solutions as you can possibly stomach, into your life. You already have a good idea of what you need to focus on and the first place I would recommend, is on the readout that comes with the medication your taking.

The danger of poisoning with lily of the valley does not exist as its glycosides have a unique chemical structure that ensures they are easily excreted and do not build up in the body – but there is still the possibility of some toxicity. Diet does matter but it doesn’t have to be all fish and salads. The Mediterranean diet is one of the best and while it includes fish you can enjoy low-fat recipes with chicken, veal, and even red meat.

Although the herb is considered safe and may be useful in the handling of heart failure, angina, and cardiac arrhythmias, these are serious, potentially life-threatening circumstances require professional medical care. Olive oil also boosts heart health by keeping a lid on cholesterol levels. It lowers total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, and triglyceride levels.

Overall, no herbs or supplements have clearly been shown to be better than prescription meds in preventing heart attacks. And the best prevention is from diet and exercise, which is twice as good as any herb or supplement, or prescription drug for that matter. If you are suffering from rhythmic disturbance heart disease, you are recommended to consume fish oils. In this type of cardiovascular condition, you may experience an array of things, such as palpitation, flutter, and fibrillation.

Nattokinase is an enzyme found in a cheese like food, natto, made from fermented soybeans. There are strong claims made for its properties. Apparently it quickly lowers blood pressure, controls cholesterol levels, and prevents and even breaks up blood clots. The heart is a four chambered, hollow muscle and double acting pump that is located in the chest between the lungs. Heart diseases caused by high blood pressure contributes to hardening of the arteries. Complementary and alternative medicine includes a variety of medical systems. Eastern cultures have used traditional Chinese medicine, Ayurveda, and acupuncture for centuries.

Obesity and Heart Disease

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We only have to look at a Titian painting to recognize that at one point in the history of Western culture, fat was considered beautiful. Before the 20th Century, corpulence was touted as a sign of wealth and luxury, largely because most people were barely surviving on a meager existence.

Ironically, now in our era of affluence and plenty, we have to contend with the health and economic problems of obesity. We have a population in North America that is more than 55% overweight. More than 20% of those overweight are considered obese, a situation which proves to be an economic burden on our Health Care system because of the coronary risk factors associated with obesity. In 2004, total national health expenditure in the USA was $1.9 Trillion or $6,280 per person.

Why is obesity a risk factor for heart disease?

Among obese individuals, triglyceride levels are unusually high, while HDL levels tend to be low; both of these situations are risk factors for heart disease .A recent study involving tissues collected from autopsies of 3000 men (15-34 years old) who had died of external causes (not heart related) identified an association between obesity and coronary atherosclerosis.

Abdominal fat which characterizes obese individuals is also an area of concern. A study of 1300 Finnish men (42-60 years old) suggests that abdominal fat is an independent and major risk factor for coronary events. Several reasons have been suggested for this: a) stomach fat is continually released into the bloodstream in the form of artery-clogging fatty acids; b) abdominal fat also releases compounds that facilitate risk factors such as atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome and inflammation; c) abdominal fat initiates biochemical events that lead to insulin resistance, a precursor of Type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

Obesity is often a precursor to metabolic syndrome, a dangerous health situation that is manifested through a cluster of symptomsexcess body fat, insulin resistance, low HDL cholesterol, high triglyceride levels and high blood pressureall risk factors for coronary events. People with metabolic syndrome release immune system messengers called cytokines into their bloodstream. Cytokines lead to a communication breakdown between body cells and insulin which leads to excessive insulin production by the pancreas, creating a situation that is a literal time bomb for heart disease . In addition, this excessive insulin production can raise fibrinogen concentrations in the bloodstream, thus allowing blood to clot more easily, a situation that is a direct risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

Because of their size, obese individuals are more often than not sedentary in lifestyle. Inactivity in and of itself is also a coronary risk factor. Data from more than 88,000 women in the Nurses Health Study shows that a lean sedentary woman had 1.48 greater risks for coronary heart disease than a slightly heavier but physically active woman.

Lower Your Risk For Breast Cancer & Heart Disease

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Ipriflavone Supplements

Ipriflavone, a synthetic isoflavone, has shown some promise in its ability to conserve bone in postmenopausal women. Ipriflavone has also been shown to have a protective effect on bone density in pre-menopausal women taking gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), a treatment for endometriosis that triggers bone loss.

However, a definitive three-year study of more than 400 postmenopausal women concluded that ipriflavone did not prevent bone loss. Additionally, the compound was linked to lymphocytopenia (a reduction in lymphocytes) in a significant number of study participants. Lymphocytes are a type of white blood cell that helps the body fight infection.

Risks and Benefits Are Unclear

Some studies suggest that, unlike estrogen, phytoestrogens do not appear to target breast or uterine tissue. This suggests that they may act more like SERMS (selective estrogen receptor modulators such as raloxifene and tamoxifen) than actual estrogens. However, in other studies high isoflavone levels have been linked to an increased risk of breast cancer.

Clearly, additional research is needed to further evaluate the effects of phytoestrogens before judgments regarding their safety and usefulness can be made.

Key Points

Based on information available at this time, it is reasonable to make the following conclusions concerning phytoestrogens and bone health in postmenopausal women:

– Moderate amounts of foods containing phytoestrogens can be safely included in the diet but do not expect it to help build bone. Keep to the basic rule – eat the least processed forms.

– Due to a lack of evidence and concerns about safety, supplementation with synthetic isoflavones (ipriflavone) is in question.

– Postmenopausal women are encouraged to view evidence concerning phytoestrogens and bone health as conflicting and incomplete. For women who are estrogen dominant increasing their phytoestrogen intake may not improve their bone position.

Viagra Impacts Mens Lives Sexually As Well As Psychologically

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Explain different Benefits of Viagra over other medicines

The erectile dysfunction drug market is unequally divided between Cialis, Viagra and Levitra. However, this does not help us analyze as to which medication is better than the other two; either work wise or safety wise. It has been found that men who took oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors had improved erectile function as compared to men who did not take any of the three medications.

While erectile dysfunction is primarily a physical problem, if left untreated it can quickly germinate into a psychological problem. Therefore it can be safely said that Viagra, as well as other ED drugs treat erectile dysfunction in addition to erectile dysfunction related depression. Erectile dysfunction could be a result of medical problems like heart disease, diabetes and alcoholism among others, as well as social or psychological problems like an inferiority complex.

In the same vein, trials comparing the three erectile function medications sildenafil (Viagra), Vardenafil (Levitra), and tadalafil (Cialis) were inconclusive as to which medication worked best for erectile dysfunction. However, when we go a step ahead and compare all the three drugs for added medical cures for various other diseases, Viagra wins hands down.

Viagra is still the most sought after drug for erectile dysfunction. Viagra has a proven safety track record of over a decade now. Since, men taking Viagra for years now have not had any health complaints because of Viagra use, Viagra has become their drug of choice. Associated with ED for over a decade now, Viagra is used by millions of men worldwide to enjoy their sexual life to the fullest.

Apart from ED, men with congestive heart failure (CHF), pulmonary hypertension, mountain sickness and Reynauds phenomenon can also safely use sildenafil (Viagra) to improve their sexual functioning. In fact, Viagra has inspired many patients to take their heart failure drugs regularly; this motivation comes from the fact that Viagra causes no harmful effects and also improves exercise performance. Associated with improved function of the heart and blood vessels, Viagra lends confidence to ED patients.

In addition, it has been witnessed that people who are treated with sildenafil citrate (Viagra) had significantly lower blood pressure and heart rate as well as significant improvement in oxygen consumption and carbon dioxide production. Moreover, people notice an increase in their total exercise time as a result of Viagra usage. In fact Viagra study reveals that its benefits far outweigh its detrimental side effects when used as treatment for ED.

Viagra, it is believed may have the potential for treating several other conditions, according to a recent report. Viagra (sildenafil) has been on the market for a decade now and is therefore the most studied. Although, it is yet not clear whether other ED pills offer similar benefits, but Viagra, at least, is proven to be useful for other medical conditions as of now, which include:

Pulmonary hypertension: This is an uncommon but serious disorder in which there is consistent high pressure in the blood vessels that go to the lungs. Viagra is now marketed by the name of Revatio for this disorder.

Mountain sickness: Viagra is now known to reduce pulmonary artery pressure in people at high altitudes. This helps improve ones ability to exercise in low oxygen conditions.

Raynauds phenomenon: When an individual is exposed to the cold, it triggers spasms in the small arteries that supply blood to the extremities. As a result the fingers and the toes become pale, cold and painful. Viagra helps relieve these symptoms.

Heart disease: Studies conducted on patients with congestive heart failure and diastolic dysfunction with Viagra has revealed that Viagra might help these patients combat these ailments effectively.

Fertility: A major study of Viagra with regard to fertility showed that it could dramatically increase the chances of pregnancy in certain women. Viagra does this by aiding blood flow to the uterus. Viagra helps dilate blood vessels and seems to promote growth of the lining of the uterus without side-effects.

Diabetes: Researchers have revealed that Viagra may benefit people with gastroparesis or delayed stomach emptying. This ailment impedes digestion and causes dehydration as well as loss of appetite, a problem that is commonly found in about 75% of the diabetics. Viagra might just help maintain insulin and blood sugar levels, something that is essential for all diabetics.

Female sexual function: In women who have undergone hysterectomy or those who have reached menopause could possibly find relief in Viagra. In both cases women experience a loss of female hormone production, which leads to sexual problems like loss of sensation and lubrication. Viagra simply increases the effects of nitric oxide, which in turn, enhances blood flow to the genital area.

Strokes: Iceland-based researchers have excluded the gene that plays a role in the growth of blood vessels; this gene is responsible for an increase in the risk of a stroke. Viagra has the potential to block this gene.

Neo-natal care: It has been recently revealed that Viagra can be used to open up arteries in premature babies with heart and lung problems. Viagra is thought to have worked by increasing the blood flow through the pulmonary artery from the heart to the lungs.

Plants: Viagra even helps drooping plants.

Recent research has given a fresh insight into the healing capabilities of Viagra as a multi-treatment pill. Now available to a wide range of people, Viagra might just prove to be beneficial for many other health conditions, keeping its popularity on a rise.

How To Cure Fear Of Intimacy After A Heart Attack

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A recently released study indicates that individuals who have sex regularly before a heart attack are hesitant to resume intimacy so after recovering – especially if they don’t have a conversation about it with their physicians.

In a survey of heart attack patients, only about 50 percent of men and 33 percent of women said their heart specialist discussed when it would be safe to resume sex before they were discharged from the hospital. The study also revealed that only about 2 out of every 5 men and 20 percent of women reported any discussion about the issue with a doctor in the year after their event .

The study also showed that the frequency of sexual activity declined for both genders in the year after a heart attack.

After making adjustments for multiple variables, researchers found that men were 30% more likely and women were about 40% more likely to report a reduction in sexual activity when their cardiologists failed to discuss sex with them after their heart attack.

One of the lead researchers, Stacy Tessler Lindau, MD, said “We found that one important difference between people who did and did not resume sexual activity after a heart attack was whether their doctor discussed the issue with them at the time of hospital discharge.”

Most people can safely resume normal sexual activity within a few weeks of having an uncomplicated heart attack, as long as they feel up to it and are able to engage in other moderate activities.

But many patients are worried that attempting sex will trigger another heart attack and even when the patient isn’t concerned, their partners sometimes are.

The actual risk, however, is actually very low, according to Murray A. Mittleman, MD, of Harvard Medical School. But Dr. Mittleman also warns that “Exercise is very important following a heart attack for all sorts of reasons, and this is one more. Exercise virtually eliminates the risk of having a heart attack associated with sexual activity.”

A Conversation With Your Doctor Is Important

The latest study included almost 1200 men and close to 600 women who were surveyed one month and then one year after having a heart attack. The average age of the men was 59 and the average age of the women was 61.

Patients hospitalized for a heart attack who had a conversation with their doctors about sex were more likely to resume having sex again during the following 12 months.

Lindau says doctors are reluctant to talk about sex with patients who have heart health issues, especially if those patients are older. They sometimes assume, often incorrectly, that there is no need to talk about it.

Patients also tend to be anxious about loss of libido or sexual satisfaction caused by depression or heart medicine are typical concerns among heart disease patients.