B-Vitamins Help Promote Healthy Arteries and Heart

A 2002 study reported, funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation reported that a six-month regiment of taking folic acid, vitamin b12, and vitamin b6 can be instrumental in the prevention of recurring blocked arteries in coronary angioplasty patients.

The findings, which were published in the Journal of the American Medical Association are an extension of a clinical trial that examined the effects of combining vitamins on the treatment of heart disease. The treatment apparently works by reducing levels of homocysteine, and amino acid which has long been associated with heart attacks.

The original study involved 205 patients who were given either a vitamin combination of vitamin b6, vitamin b12, and folic acid or a placebo for six months. Over that time period, the patients who took the combination of vitamins showed a 48% reduction in the development of restenosis, or re-narrowing of the vessel, compared with patients who received the placebo.

The new study added 348 new patients, and extended the follow-up observation period from six months to one year. The head researcher, Dr. Guido Schnyder, says that this time extension is important, since six months to one year is the time frame in which restenosis typically recurs. Out of all the patients monitored, the need for additional bypass operations was reduced by 38% over the entire year. This shows that the vitamin actually prevents the development of restenosis, rather than just preventing it.

Dr. Robert Bonow, the chief of cardiology at Chicago's Northwestern Memorial Hospital, and president of the American Heart Association said that the results of the study are very encouraging, offering more evidence that B vitamins are very important in maintaining healthy blood vessels.

Heart Disease and Homocysteine

Are you aware that one of the most important indicators of heart disease is homocysteine? -1

A naturally occurring amino acid in your body, homocysteine can cause inflammation and damage to your blood vessels when levels become elevated because of a functional deficiency of B vitamins and Folic Acid. -2

Every week we read or hear about heart disease being one of the biggest health concerns facing America today. Most people have experienced this problem because they know a friend or family member with one of these health problems.

In many cases, they may be facing one of these conditions themselves.

Would it be fair to say you really want to take control of and improve your health?

All it takes is a special blood test (just like a test for cholesterol levels), to measure the level of homocysteine in your blood. It is NOT a routine test so do yourself a favor and ask your Doctor for the test.

Also this test may not be covered by your insurance however, because it is so important to your health - get it anyway.

So what is the normal range for homo- cysteine levels? Your level should be under 8, below 7 is even better for your health.

How you can naturally and easily keep your homocysteine levels in the normal range? One can accomplish this with a few supplements and better eating habits for life.

And guess what? You are going to feel better and gain more energy in the process!

The first thing you may want to consider is taking a pharmaceutical grade natural multi-vitamin which contains B vitamins (B2,B6 and B12) and Folic acid 2-3 times a day. Why should I take a vitamin 2-3 times a day you ask? Because the body can only absorb so much nutrition at any one time.

Most quality vitamins will only contain about as much of a certain vitamin and mineral which can be absorbed by your body at one time.

Because the body needs nutrition throughout the day, this is one of the best ways to feed your body what it needs.

Coenzyme Q10 or CoQ10. Research has shown and proven this to be effective in fighting heart disease: -3

Slows the effects of LDL cholesterol to fight heart disease.

Inhibits formation of free radicals

Replaces natural CoQ10 levels depleted by statin drugs and poor diet.

Next, here are some great natural food sources to keep your homocysteine levels in the normal range.

Vegetable proteins do not raise levels like some meat proteins can so eat plenty of leafy dark green vegetables.

Legumes (beans) of all kinds which are a great source of protein.

Eggs are a great source of protein (the only protein with all 20 amino acids in the correct ratios for your body) and also a great source of Folic Acid, which helps to control your level of homocysteine.

Great sources of Soy like tofu, soy beverages, soy nuts.

Nuts - in particular - Brazil, walnuts, almonds, pecans and hazelnuts. As well as seeds like sunflower seeds and flaxseed, which is also high in Folic Acid.

High quality grass fed organic beef, wild game, wild Alaskan salmon and sardines.

Poor quality sources of meat protein can actually raise your level of homocysteine.

So as you have learned, you can naturally and easily help your body avoid one of the factors which leads to heart disease with these proven, simple and low cost methods.

And guess what? Just imagine how you are going to feel better and gain more energy in the process in a short period of time!

CRP And Your Heart

Monitoring your CRP level is vitally important because it is one of the best indicators of heart disease. C-Reactive Protein has proven to be one of the best indicators of looming Heart disease.

Find out why high cholesterol alone is NOT responsible for heart disease. And you will find out how to keep your CRP Level in the normal range.

Because your body produces C-Reactive Protein as part of your bodys defense like when you are injured, it signals your immune system for help. Your immune system sends out white blood cells and inflammatory molecules (including C-Reactive Protein) to the injured area.

This defensive system causes inflammation which is damaging to blood vessels and leads to heart disease. Because this is an continuous process, not like an ankle injury which heals and then inflammation goes away.

Elevated C-Reactive Protein levels are an early indication of inflammation in the body. When there is inflammation in the body, there is usually a problem. Realize this is why C-Reactive Protein is a great indicator.

Naturally you can easily understand that C-Reactive Protein is a better indicator of heart disease than cholesterol. A huge study on CRP backs this up.

The New England Journal of Medicine published A report where nearly 28,000 people participated in a study of CRP. Researchers in the study used LDL cholesterol and CRP to predict heart attacks and stroke.

What the researchers found was that CRP was a better predictor of cardiac events than LDL cholesterol -1

So what can you do to keep your C-Reactive Protein level low? In a word, exercise. Activity is the best way to keep CRP levels low. Just taking a walk is a good way to get your activity level up.

There are also important nutrients to help limit the damage from the inflammation.

Here are several nutrients you have heard of:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• And Folic Acid protects the blood vessels.

Two others you may not have heard as much about:

• Taurine - is an amino acid-like compound and a component of bile acids, which are used to help absorb fats and fat- soluble vitamins. It is found in meat and fish.
• L-arginine - A naturally occurring amino acid found in food proteins that the body uses to make Nitric Oxide.

You can easily get plenty of these nutrients through food and supplements combined.

Talk to your doctor about a simple test for CRP levels, it is like a blood test. It is best to keep your levels under 5 mg per liter, preferably 3 mg per liter.

Heart Attack Symptoms, Causes and Treatment: Small Lifestyle Changes Can Help Prevent Heart Attack!

Ask a few well informed people over the age of fifty: What are they afraid of the most? Four out of five would answer: Sudden death due to heart attack. Heart attack is becoming a common cause of death after the age of fifty. Heart attach is preventable to a large extent and we know how to prevent it. We also know that by these measures people have already brought down death and ill-effects caused by it.

Heart receives blood for its own nourishment from coronary arteries, the two blood vessels that are the first to come off the aorta and lie embedded in the heart muscle itself.

The important factors that accelerate coronary artery narrowing are:

1. Excess of fats and cholesterol in the blood: Fats are made up of different fatty acids and glycerol. Cholesterol is a type of fat. Surplus of fats are stored as such in different parts of the body. A high level of cholesterol in the blood, particularly if it is held in combination in the form of LDL globules, leads to irs deposition in the walls of the blood vessels. Coronary artery disease, blood cholesterol level, and the amount of fat taken in the diet usually go hand in hand.
2. High Blood Pressure (Hypertension): Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the arteries through which it flows. With high blood pressure, blood vessels do not relax to receive the blood from heart. Hence, the heart has to work harder against this resistance. This strains the heart, so that it ultimately fails to perform its function of pumping the blood to all parts of the body.
3. Over-Weight: A person starts gaining weight after the age of 25, unless he does something about the food he eats. The reason is that, beginning at this age, the body starts to need less food because the metabolism is slowing down. Obesity is a disorder closely associated with other potent risk factors, i.e. hyperlipidaemia, hyperglycemia and hypertension.
4. Diabetes Mellitus: Diabetes may be defined as high level of glucose in the blood, so that some of it overflows into the urine. Usually it is due to deficiency of insulin. Diabetes causes a lot of complications, an important one being the narrowing of the blood vessels called atherosclerosis. Coronary artery disease is common in diabetics. Also, heart attacks in diabetics occur at a younger age than they do in non-diabetics.
5. Smoking: It has been suggested that Nicotine repeatedly over-stimulates the heart. The carbon monoxide absorbed into the blood takes the place of oxygen and hampers nourishment of the heart muscle and other tissues. The smoke damages the lining of the coronary arteries, allowing artery clogging cholesterol to build up and narrow the passage ways.

Narrowing of the coronary arteries is caused by a process called atherosclerosis. In this, the inner lining of the medium-sized and large arteries raises, yellow or has pearly whites streaks or plaques.

The bitter truth is, Heart attacks do not respect time, place or circumstances. These can happen to anyone anytime. So get moving and work for it.

Heart Attack Warning Signs

(NC)-Heart disease is a leading cause of death for Canadian men and women.1 Chest pain (a classic symptom of angina or heart attack) occurs when not enough blood is reaching the heart muscles due to the narrowing of the heart's coronary arteries or complete blockage of these arteries. Learn the signs of a heart attack and the steps to take if you or a loved one experience these signs:

• Uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or pain in the centre of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back
• Pain that spreads to the shoulders, neck or arms
• Chest discomfort with lightheadness, fainting, sweating, nausea or shortness of breath
• Atypical chest pain, stomach or abdominal pain; nausea or dizziness
• Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
• Unexplained anxiety, weakness or fatigue

Not all of these signs occur in every attack. Sometimes they go away and return. If any occur, get help fast.

If you or someone else is having heart attack warning signs, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately.

Speak to your doctor to determine your level of risk and to discuss what measures you can take to reduce the risk of heart attack.

Lowering Your Risk Of Heart Disease

(NC)-If you have been deemed at risk by your doctor, there are steps you can take to help control risk factors.

According to Statistics Canada, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death of Canadians, accounting for over 26% of all deaths.1 Despite this, there are a variety of ways Canadians can lower their risk of heart disease and ultimately heart attacks:

Diet and Nutrition

• Get your blood cholesterol level checked by your doctor
• Lower LDL (low density lipoproteins) levels by following a low-saturated fat and low cholesterol diet

Exercise *

• Become physically active for a minimum of 30 minutes at least three times per week
• Physical exercise may lower your risk for heart disease or stroke

Lifestyle Modifications 

• Limit alcohol consumption for overall lifestyle benefits
• Stop cigarette smoking, or at a minimum cut back gradually

Preventative therapies

• Consult your doctor for regular check-ups and for a prevention plan, especially if you have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, have had a heart attack or stroke, are overweight, smoke or have an inactive lifestyle.

Abnormal Beating of the Heart: Cardiac Arrhythmias

Heart has a rhythmic capability to beat and pump blood to our body and remarkably, does so without fail, throughout our life. The rhythm has been destined to beat in certain prefixed numerical limits and with certain regularity. Arrhythmias are disorders characterized by abnormal beating of the heart. Arrhythmias can occur in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence. At the same time they may co-exist with diseased heart and may be life-threatening or Abnormal Beating of the Heart: Cardiac Arrhythmias

Heart has a rhythmic capability to beat and pump blood to our body and remarkably, does so without fail, throughout our life. The rhythm has been destined to beat in certain prefixed numerical limits and with certain regularity. Arrhythmias are disorders characterized by abnormal beating of the heart. Arrhythmias can occur in a healthy heart and be of minimal consequence. At the same time they may co-exist with diseased heart and may be life-threatening or may cause, stroke, heart failure or sudden death.

An arrhythmia occurs when the normal electrical cycle of the heart is disturbed. Normally, tiny currents activate the upper part of the heart, just before the bottom part of the heart, which are the muscular chambers that pump blood around the body. Fast arrhythmias are referred to as tachyarrhythmias. When the heart goes too slowly due to a failure of electrical activation, it is referred to as a brady arrhythmia. Most arrhythmias arising from the top of the heart are troublesome but not life-threatening. Many arrhythmias arising from the lower of the heart, are life-threatening.

Causes of Cardiac Arrhythmias

Some cardiac arrhythmias result from congenital heart defects that run in families. Others arise from a variety of diseases that develop in individuals over a period of years. Others still result from sudden events such as heart attack. They may also be the result of excessive alcohol, smoking or certain drugs. Rarely despite extensive investigations no cause is found of their occurrence. Cardiac arrhythmias may be symptomatic or may cause a variety of warning symptoms such as palpitations or rapid thumping in the chest, feeling tired or light-headed, getting unconscious, having shortness of breath or chest pain.

Types of Arrhythmias

Following are the different types of cardiac arrhythmias:

1. Atrial fibrillation: The heart beats too fast and irregularly. This type of arrhythmia requires treatment and can increase risk of stroke.
2. Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia: The heart has episodes when it beats fast, but regularly. This type of arrhythmia may be unpleasant but is usually not dangerous.
3. Ectopic beats: The heart has an extra beat. Treatment usually is not needed unless you have several extra beats in row and/or other problems with your heart - such as heart disease or congenital heart failure.
4. Ventricular tachycardia: The heart beats too fast and may not pump enough blood. These types of arrhythmias are very dangerous and need immediate treatment.

The Remedy

Treatment depends on the type of cardiac arrhythmia you have. Some mild arrhythmias require no treatment. Other arrhythmias can be treated with medicines. In more serious cases, other treatments are available:

1. Drugs.
2. A pacemaker: An electronic device placed under the skin on the chest. It helps the heart maintain a regular beat, especially when the heart beats too slowly.
3. Implantable cardiac defibrillation: Can be used to stop an abnormal rhythm and restore a normal one.
4. Surgery: Can correct certain types of arrhythmias. For example, arrhythmias caused by coronary artery disease may be controlled by bypass surgery. When an cardiac arrhythmia is causes by a certain area of the heart, sometimes that part of the heart can be destroyed or removed. may cause, stroke, heart failure or sudden death.

An arrhythmia occurs when the normal electrical cycle of the heart is disturbed. Normally, tiny currents activate the upper part of the heart, just before the bottom part of the heart, which are the muscular chambers that pump blood around the body. Fast arrhythmias are referred to as tachyarrhythmias. When the heart goes too slowly due to a failure of electrical activation, it is referred to as a brady arrhythmia. Most arrhythmias arising from the top of the heart are troublesome but not life-threatening. Many arrhythmias arising from the lower of the heart, are life-threatening.

Causes of Cardiac Arrhythmias
Some cardiac arrhythmias result from congenital heart defects that run in families. Others arise from a variety of diseases that develop in individuals over a period of years. Others still result from sudden events such as heart attack. They may also be the result of excessive alcohol, smoking or certain drugs. Rarely despite extensive investigations no cause is found of their occurrence. Cardiac arrhythmias may be symptomatic or may cause a variety of warning symptoms such as palpitations or rapid thumping in the chest, feeling tired or light-headed, getting unconscious, having shortness of breath or chest pain.

Types of Arrhythmias
Following are the different types of cardiac arrhythmias:

1. Atrial fibrillation: The heart beats too fast and irregularly. This type of arrhythmia requires treatment and can increase risk of stroke.
2. Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia: The heart has episodes when it beats fast, but regularly. This type of arrhythmia may be unpleasant but is usually not dangerous.
3. Ectopic beats: The heart has an extra beat. Treatment usually is not needed unless you have several extra beats in row and/or other problems with your heart - such as heart disease or congenital heart failure.
4. Ventricular tachycardia: The heart beats too fast and may not pump enough blood. These types of arrhythmias are very dangerous and need immediate treatment.

The Remedy
Treatment depends on the type of cardiac arrhythmia you have. Some mild arrhythmias require no treatment. Other arrhythmias can be treated with medicines. In more serious cases, other treatments are available:

1. Drugs.
2. A pacemaker: An electronic device placed under the skin on the chest. It helps the heart maintain a regular beat, especially when the heart beats too slowly.
3. Implantable cardiac defibrillation: Can be used to stop an abnormal rhythm and restore a normal one.
4. Surgery: Can correct certain types of arrhythmias. For example, arrhythmias caused by coronary artery disease may be controlled by bypass surgery. When an cardiac arrhythmia is causes by a certain area of the heart, sometimes that part of the heart can be destroyed or removed.

Prevent Heart Disease

You should always keep in mind that whatever actions you do today can either help to prevent, delay or minimize the effect of heart disease or worsen it. The key is to control risk factors. Granted that you cannot control every risk factor for heart disease such as family history but you can definitely do something about your behavior. Age and gender also influence your risk of heart disease.

Major Risk Factors of Heart Disease

Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is a type of a lipid, a soft, fatlike substance that serves as a source of fuel. Excessive cholesterol can cause buildup of atherosclerotic plaque. Accumulation of plaque in arteries can block blood flow and lead to a heart attack. LDL cholesterol, the so-called "bad" cholesterol, is transported to sites throughout the body, where it's used to repair cell membranes or to make hormones. LDL cholesterol can accumulate in the walls of your arteries. HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol, transports cholesterol to the liver, where it's altered and removed from the body.

Blood Pressure

Normal blood pressure level is defined as less than 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for systolic blood pressure and less than 85 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure, the more likely it is to take a toll on the heart and on the brain. Blood pressure should be checked whether or not your levels are high. For normal, check once every two years. For high-normal, check once a year. If extremely high, you should get immediate care. Then get multiple measurements to know if a high level is sustained over time.

Diabetes

Another risk factor for heart disease is diabetes, a chronic disease of insulin deficiency or resistance. Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, is associated with obesity and may be prevented by maintaining ideal body weight through exercise and balanced nutrition.

Tips For Controlling Risk of Heart Disease

Stop Smoking

The effect of smoking on your lungs can cause almost every other medical condition.

Get Active

Routine physical activity is highly recommended and helpful in controlling obesity. Try to perform 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Fast walking is one of the best way to prevent heart disease. If you can lose even a small amount of weight, five pounds for example, it may have a positive effect on lipid levels and blood pressure preventing heart disease.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

Limit daily alcohol intake to three ounces or fewer to prevent heart disease. People who drink large amounts of alcohol (six to eight ounces a day) tend to have higher blood pressure.

Watch What You Eat

Eat five helpings of fruits and vegetables daily to prevent heart disease.

Maintain adequate dietary potassium, calcium and magnesium intake.

Reduce saturated fats and cholesterol to stay away from heart disease.

Diagnosing a Heart Attack

The first step in diagnosing a heart attack is to be mindful that a heart attack is occurring. In cases wherein an individual feels severe chest pain there should already be a suspicion that a heart attack is occurring. However, a problem arises whenever the symptoms of a heart attack leave out chest pain because a heart attack may not be suspected and therefore the some of the appropriate tests may not be performed.

In addition, there is a gadget that is used to record the electrical activity of the heart. This gadget is called the electrocardiogram which aside from recording abnormal electrical activity of the heart also identifies the areas of the heart muscle that are lacking in oxygen as well as determine areas of the heart muscle that have died. Moreover, for patients experiencing typical symptoms of heart attack, the electrocardiogram is an effective way of securing a diagnosis of the heart attack thus giving way for the immediate treatment of the heart attack. However, there are some cases wherein diagnosis for a heart attack may become less secure, and example of which are patients experiencing symptoms that are rather vague or atypical that are the results of pre-existing electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities resulting from previous heart attacks or some abnormalities in the electrical patterns that makes the interpretation of the ECG difficult to diagnose. In such case, diagnosis can be made only hours later through the detection of elevated cardiac enzymes in the blood.

Another way of determining heart attack is by means of blood tests since cardiac enzymes are proteins that are released into the blood by dying heart muscles. These cardiac enzymes are usually elevated in the blood several hours after the start of a heart attack. Moreover, series of blood tests for the enzymes especially when performed during a 24 hour period are very useful not only in aiding the diagnosis of heart attack but also helps in determining the changes in the levels of the enzyme in the blood over time and then correlates with the amount of heart muscle that has died.

Still nothing can compare to a prompt medical attention in diagnosing and treating a heart attack. The quick evaluation allows for the early treatment of potential heart attack symptoms like abnormal rhythms such as ventricular fibrillation. Aside from that, early evaluation of heart attack symptoms also results in early reperfusion which is a procedure to unclog the blocked coronary arteries. Moreover, the faster the blood flow is reestablished the more heart muscle that is saved.

Treating Heart Attack

There are various ways of treating heart attack however, the primary goal of these treatments is to quickly open the blocked artery and then restore the blood flow in the heart muscle in a process called reperfusion. And then, once the artery is open the damage in the heart muscle ceases and with it ceases the pain that an individual feels. Aside from that, early reperfusion helps in minimizing the extent of heart muscle damage by preserving the pumping function of the heart. Maximum benefit may be derived from reperfusion if it can be applied within the first 4 to 6 hours of the heart attack. Moreover, delay in administering reperfusion may result to a severe damage to the heart muscle as well as a reduction in the ability of the heart to pump blood all throughout the body. Not only that, patients who have been found out to have hearts that are unable to pump sufficient blood tend to develop heart failure, a decreased in the ability to exercise and often times experience abnormal heart rhythms. The amount of remaining healthy heart muscle after a heart attack becomes a vital factor in determining the future quality of life as well as the longevity of an individual.

There are many ways of treating a heart attack and these are as follows: anti-platelet medications, anti-coagulant medications, coronary angiography, clot-dissolving medications, supplemental oxygen, medications to decrease the need for oxygen as well as the medications to prevent abnormal heart rhythms. The anti-platelet agents are medications that are administered to prevent blood clots from forming in the arteries of the heart by inhibiting the aggregation of platelets. However, the formation of blood clots in areas wherein there is laceration or injury is favorable since it will prevent excessive blood loss. There are three types of anti-platelet agents and these are the aspirin, thienopyridines and the glycoprotein llb/lla inhibitors.

The aspirin is the one that inhibits the activity of the enzyme cyclo-oxygenase inside platelets. Moreover, aspirin was found out to improve the survival among patients with heart attack. And aside from that, aspirin is also easy to use, and since it is low dosage it is safe to used for anti-platelet action. Aspirin are also fast acting and relief can be obtained within 30 minutes and it is also affordable. On the other hand, the thienopyridines such as ticlopidine and the clopidogrel inhibit the ADP receptor on the surface of the platelets. This action of the thienopyridines of inhibiting the ADP receptors on the platelets prevents the platelets from aggregating and causing blood clots to form. The third anti-platelet agent is the glycoprotein llb/lla inhibitors which are considered to be the most potent anti-platelet agent, approximately nine times more potent than aspirin and three times more potent that the thienopyridines. Moreover, it is also the most expensive anti-platelet agent.

Cranberries Can Reduce Your Risk Of Cancer And Heart Disease

When is the last time you ate cranberries? Was it with a turkey dinner? With all the research pointing to the amazing health benefits of this simple berry, shouldn't cranberries be more than a once a year side dish?

How Cranberries Are Proving Their Strength:

The Cranberry Institute provides the results of studies and research that highlight the fantastic health benefits of the humble cranberry.

Cranberries have been used for thousands of years by Native Americans as a source of food and to extend the shelf life of dried meats. Colonial sailors also made use of the natural preservatives in cranberries (from benzoic acid) which allowed them to last through long sea voyages, and the high Vitamin C content which prevented scurvy.

Perhaps they were on to something since new research suggests that cranberries may prevent the adhesion of the e.coli bacteria - a common cause of food poisoning from contaminated meat - to the urinary tract. This 'anti-adhesion' effect may also help in preventing bacteria from causing stomach ulcers and gum disease.

Vitamin C is also a known powerful antioxidant and is being widely accepted as a means of combating the effects of free radicals in the body which can cause cancer, heart disease and other health problems. Antioxidants from cranberries are being researched for prevention of kidney stones and lowering cholesterol.

While many fruits contain antioxidants, according to research cranberries have more antioxidants than 19 commonly eaten fruits. With this news it makes sense to include cranberries into a balanced diet throughout the year.

How Can You Include Cranberries Into Your Diet?

Fresh, frozen or dried, cranberries can be eaten anytime of the year.

Adding dried cranberries to baking (such as scones, breads and cookies) is an easy way to enjoy their tart sweetness. Adding frozen cranberries to smoothies or soups can lend a mild tang to your creations. Fresh cranberries make excellent garnishes and dressings.

The easiest way to add cranberries to your diet is to drink cranberry juice. While sweetened juices have less antioxidants than unsweetened, the benefits of adding cranberry to your diet are still there. If you add unsweetened juice to sparkling water you can enjoy a refreshing spritzer.

While studies are still being conducted on the health benefits of cranberries there is no doubt that increasing the intake of fruits and vegetables in your diet will lead to a healthier body. Choosing to use a variety of berries, citrus and other fruits will ensure you are giving your body everything it needs for optimum health.

Streamlining the Preoperative Process for the Open Heart Surgery Patient

Open heart surgery is considered to be a major event for patients, their families, and hospitals. Delays in surgery cause emotional distress for the patient and their family and are costly to the hospital. For these reasons, it is beneficial for all organizations providing open heart surgery services to review their processes that prepare the patient for open heart surgery. Investing the time to detail the patient flow processes involved in the preoperative preparation will assist in eliminating process gaps and identify opportunities to improve organizational communication, patient care and satisfaction. This can be accomplished by instituting a task force/ committee to assist in this area.

It is advisable to include departments involved with patient entry points into the open heart process. These departments are usually the inpatient medical cardiac units, registration area, cardiovascular surgeon office, and cardiac cath lab. Development of standardized preoperative open heart surgery orders help to create common practice routines that can reduce errors, improve the staff education, and reduce organizational costs by eliminating unnecessary tests and improving staff efficiencies. These benefits outweigh the challenge of standardizing preoperative physician orders. The orders set should be approved by the appropriate organizational committees, explained to the staff, and then distributive to appropriate departments for implementation. Included in these order sets should be preoperative lab tests, patient testing (CXR, EKG), medications, consults including anesthesia, and surgical prep. Input from the medical staff is essential to this process. The administrative leader should be well versed on latest clinical techniques and cardiovascular research ensuring best practices are addressed and not overlooked.

Some of the most common causes of delays are from inaccurate completion of blood bank procedures, long turnaround times for patient reports, a lack of the chest film or lateral view, scheduling delays for patient testing, and lost pieces of the patients medical record. Addressing these topics during patient flow planning is essential in expediting the presurgery process. Once process gaps are identified it is important to develop a workable solution and education plan. Ongoing continuous quality management can evaluate the effectiveness of the changes and identify any additional needed areas of improvement.

The outpatient preadmission process should be flow charted to facilitate a smooth patient transition through the appointment schedule. This is the patients introduction to your heart program and efforts should be directed at providing the patient with a good first impression. The following issues should be addresses in the planning sessions for the preadmission appointment:

• What time of day is best to schedule preadmission appointments
• Where should the patient report
• Who will educate the patient on post operative care, incentive spirometer, skin prep, family waiting, and discharge needs
• Who will be involved in the preadmission process

Due to the need for a number of tests and significant clinical education it is recommended to schedule the preadmission appointment prior to the day of surgery. This provides the time to review the test results and provide comprehensive education for the patient. The preadmission process can be accommodated in a same day surgical appointment but more opportunities are present for process delays. Frequently included with the diagnostic testing are a listing of consults for anesthesia and other services, an insurance assessment, and completion of history and physical by a physician assistant /certified nurse practitioner if this has not been provided by physician office.

A standardized patient education session is a major component to patient surgical preparation. One of the first steps should be to determine who will be involved in the education process. Cardiac care coordinator, clinical nurse specialist, or cardiovascular unit staff nurses are good choices to provide the postoperative education. When multiple patient care providers are providing patient education it is recommended to script the education ensuring all topics are consistently presented. Many hospital heart programs are now offering preoperative cardiovascular patient education online through their website. This is another educational opportunity that compliments the individualized approach. The patient education session should be brief as to not frighten the patient, but should review the major care components such as monitoring, invasive lines, tubes, and alarms. Most patients are interested in knowing when the lines and tubes are inserted and how long they remain. Ambulation protocol should be explained so they can anticipate getting out of bed shortly after they awake from surgery.

Skin prep and other medications such as Bactroban (if they are a part of the night before prep) should be provided with written instructions and explanation for use. The educational session is also a good time to review specific discharge issues like the expected length of stay and need for someone to stay with them the first few days following discharge. A tour of the post op recovery unit allows the patient and their family to visualize the high level of care that will be provided. The committee should plan for how the sequence of appointments will flow to reduce wait times for the patients and all disciplines involved. This attention given to improving the preadmission process can increase the level of confidence the patient and family has in your program. It starts their surgical experience off on a favorable note.

For all open heart surgery patients test results should be reviewed with abnormal results provided to the surgeon as quickly as possible. If the patient is a diabetic, the anesthesiologist usually prefers to be informed of the morning blood sugar. Latest research correlates blood sugar levels with wound healing therefore; strict regulation of blood sugar levels is now common practice and can be a key to improved patient outcomes. Any preoperative indication of infection warrants physician notification such as an elevated temperature and abnormal blood or bacteria counts in the urinalysis. Carotid studies should be anticipated for patients that presents with clinical symptoms or at a specific age (commonly >65). Open heart surgery will be delayed if the patient has a significant carotid stenosis. This condition will likely require treatment before open heart surgery can be preformed. Chest x-ray report along with the films for posterior anterior and lateral views is another frequent source of open heart surgery delay. The films are needed and reviewed in the surgical suite helping the physician determine the depth of the incision. A lateral view is essential for all redo open heart surgery patients since adhesions may be present. The chest views enables the surgeon to determine the heart size, pulmonary vascular and possibility of calcification of the aorta.
 

A comprehensive preadmission process for open heart surgery patients sets the stage for preventing post operative complications and improving patient outcomes. Due to the complexity of open heart surgery and the expensive to perform it is prudent for the organization to ensure that the candidates are adequately assessed, well educated and prepared both clinically and psychologically for the event. These efforts help to achieve program goals and outcomes. Good patient outcomes are vital to open heart programs since they are monitored by most insurance providers, federal agencies, and available to consumers. Poor patient outcomes place the whole open heart surgery program in jeopardy. An efficient preadmission process can reduce costly delays and improve patient and family satisfaction. For these reasons it is of value to the organization to invest the time to guarantee the preadmission processes are smooth and efficient.

Tips to Prevent Heart Disease and Lead a Healthy Life

One of the greatest ailments that endanger your healthy life is undoubtedly the heart disease. As per statistics provided by the American Heart Association, 62 million Americans suffer from some form of cardio-vascular diseases like heart attack, high blood pressure and congestive heart failure. Close to, a million such cases per year turn fatal. Heart disease is the number one killer in the U.S. and about 1/3 of the deaths from heart disease could be prevented by a way of a better dietary habit.

Without analyzing the cause, you cannot prevent the effect. One of the prime catalysts of heart disease is the free radicals. Contrary to the belief, margarine, which you may think is preventing heart disease (thanks to widespread advertisements), is much more harmful than butter. The process of margarine preparation involves heating oils to very high temperatures. Such a high temperature transforms the oils into free radicals.

One of the best foods you can have is the egg.

The egg yolk contains about 250 mg of cysteine, a variety of amino acid. This cysteine is instrumental in the elimination of free radicals.

Another common cause of heart diseases is cholesterol.

However, the interesting fact is that bulk of the cholesterol is synthesized within the body itself and not taken as part of the diet. Cholesterol is a soft buttery substance. It joins hands with calcium and cause hardening of the arteries that results in heart disease.

We consciously avoid some fat-rich food, like butter in order to avoid heart disease. However, this notion is grossly incorrect. The real culprit for poor heart health is sugar rich processed food. For instance, let us observe the dietary habits of the Eskimos. They consume large quantities of blubber - a highly fat-rich food. Yet, the instance of heart disease in them is minimal, unless fizzy drinks and French fries influence their food habits.

Excess weight begets heart disease.

Therefore, you need to check your diet. However, you should remember that being overweight is the problem, not eating fats. Some essential fats like Omega 3 fish oil has healing power.

Surprisingly 150 years ago, heart diseases were almost unheard of. Some vested interests have made heart disease proliferate. The people, who manufacture drugs for heart disease, stand to gain enormously when a detected patient has to consume drugs for the rest of his/her life. What is worse, your doctor is also befooled by the drug manufacturers in the name of educating them.

Prescribing drugs is rooted to faulty medical education of the doctors. It is a pity that less than 2% time of a Harvard Medical school student is spent in learning preventive medicine and a minor slice is devoted to nutrition.

One of the well-known surgeries in this heart disease field is the bypass surgery. Contrary to what you know, bypass surgeries fail to lengthen your life span than those who go without it. Unfortunately, 2% to 4% of the cases of bypass surgery turn fatal on the operation table itself.

Respectable medical journals have started stating the truth - bypass surgery does not result in increase of life expectancy. Bypass surgeries do not attack the cause of the problem, merely attempting to repair damage. It leaves chances for falling pray to heart disease again. Only about 2 inches of the blood vessels are repaired without addressing the problem of hardening of the arteries.

Much to your horror, another bigger fraud exists than the bypass surgery. It is the heart drugs. Cholesterol drugs reduce the cholesterol to some extent, but it never prolongs your life. The most important adage in this context is prevention is better than cure. In order to prevent heart disease, be vigilant on your diet. Avoid fizzy drinks and calorie-rich fried food (but that doesnt mean fat).

Consumption of cholesterol drugs in order to prevent heart disease has ugly side effects. Instead of prolonging life, these drugs aid in shortening your life span. A study in Finland on heart disease shows that the probability of people suffering a heart attack is 46% higher for those who are regular consumers of cholesterol drugs.

The mantra is to go for a heart-friendly diet, prevent being obese and exercise regularly. Lend your heart a helping hand in combating heart disease.

Depression After Heart Attack

There are several factors can lead to depression after heart attack. The stress of being in the hospital, the fear of another heart attack, time away from work can all contribute to feeling depressed, helpless, down and despondent.

Do many people suffer depression after heart attack?

Not surprisingly, the answer to this question is yes. Recent studies show that as many as 65% of people who have a heart attack report feeling depressed, down and despondent. A general state of despair. Moreover, women, people who have been depressed before, and people who feel alone and without social or emotional support are at a higher risk for feeling depressed after a heart attack. Two new Canadian studies have shown that More than twice as many women than men tend to fall into chronic depression after suffering a heart attack and are more likely to lead lives of poorer quality following their treatments.

Being depressed can also make it harder for you to recover. However, depression can be treated.

Being told by doctors that you should take up exercise, adopt a new diet, stop smoking, etc. etc. etc. can certainly make you feel helpless, in fact, you will probably have good days and bad days following your release from hospital. However, most people start to feel better as time passes. People that are quickly able to get back to their usual routines normally notice a drop in anxiety faster than those that dont.

So what exactly is depression?

Depression, be it after a heart attack or not, is a medical illness, like diabetes or high blood pressure and not just somebody going crazy. This is important both for the sufferer and family members to understand. The symptoms of depression may include some or all of the following:

• Feeling sad or crying often
• Losing interest in daily activities that used to be fun
• Changes in appetite and weight
• Sleeping too much or having trouble sleeping
• Feeling agitated, cranky or sluggish
• Loss of energy
• Feeling very guilty or worthless
• Problems concentrating or making decisions
• Thoughts of death or suicide

Can heart disease trigger depression or depression trigger heart disease?

Either of the above may be true, one thing seems clear. The two are often found hand in hand, therefore controlling one may help control the other.

According to The American Academy of Family Physicians research has shown that people who are depressed and have pre-existing cardiovascular disease have a 3.5 times greater risk of dying of a heart attack than patients with heart disease who are not depressed. In a recent study, depression was shown to be associated with an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease in men and women. Depression was shown to increase mortality related to coronary heart disease in men but had no effect on mortality in women.

How can the risk of relapse be avoided?
The risk of relapses, be it of heart disease or depression, can be greatly reduced by living a healthy lifestyle, and your doctor will instruct you on this. However, some important lifestyle modifications are avoiding alcohol, illegal drugs, smoking, start a regular exercise program, eating a balanced diet, manage stress, join a club, meet new people or take courses in things that interest you, get enough rest and sleep.

Heart Attack Symptom, Causes and Treatment: Prevent Heart Attack with Right Diet!

Heart Attack Symptom, Causes and Treatment: Prevent Heart Attack with Right Diet!

A patient who has suffered a heart attack usually has severe chest pain which needs to be relieved. Also, he may be having other symptoms like shock, pulmonary oedema, heart failure or irregularities in the beat of the heat. All this needs immediate attention. Besides that, it is necessary to overcome shock and cardiac failure, if present, and any other complication that may arise.

Suggested Menu for a Heart Attack Patient!

Breakfast:

• Orange Juice
• Skimmed milk and cornflakes
• Skimmed milk-8oz
• Toast, unbuttered- 2 slice
• Tea or Coffee with skimmed milk
  

Lunch:

• Chapatti or boiled rice- 2 chapattis or 4oz rice
• Boiled vegetable or boiled beans or lentil- 4oz
• Skimmed milk curd
• Cheese prepared from skimmed milk
• Fresh fruit

Dinner: 

• Tomato juice
• Green Salad
• Boiled or roasted chicken, or lean meat
• Vegetable or green peas, boiled with slight addition of ground nut oil
• Mashed Potatoes made with ground-nut oil
• Pudding made with skimmed milk.

Heart attacks can be prevented by preventing the development of atherosclerosis in the coronary arteries. Besides other factors, the occurrence of atherosclerosis depends on the level of cholesterol in the blood. The level of cholesterol depends upon the intake of cholesterol and fats in the diet.

Diet Control

Diet Control is therefore of prime importance. Of the dietary fats, the unsaturated ones, not only do not increase the level of cholesterol, but also lessen it. Skimmed milk is best as it has lesser content of milk. Butter-milk which is made of curd is very god for the coronaries. Vegetables oils such as ground-nut oil, mustard, sesame, sunflower oil, contain a lot of unsaturated fat, and are good for coronaries.

Blood Pressure, which is when higher than normal, causes excessive stretching of the blood vessel wall and hastens its wear and tear. It accelerates the process of atherosclerosis. It is advisable to use less salt in the diet in order to lower the blood pressure and not depend upon drugs to do this job for you. Foods particularly high in salt are: pickles, canned soups and vegetables, sausages, hot dogs, ham, bacon, salted nuts, popcorn, potato chips etc.

Tip: Take the help of different spices to remove the bland taste in unsalted diet.

Heart Friendly Foods

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Heart disease results when plaque builds up inside the arterial walls, which causes a partial or complete obstruction of blood flow. This reduces flow of blood to heart and may result in angina. Angina is a sensation of discomfort, pain, burning or pressure, generally felt in the chest area.

Angina may be the first indication of heart disease. But many people with heart disease often get no warning signals, until they suffer a full heart attack. Chest pain should not been ignored, even when it is not permanent.

During a heart attack, the supply of oxygen to heart is cut off, resulting in tissue death for a part of
the heart muscle.

There are certain foods that lower cholesterol and thus the risk of heart disease. The following heart friendly foods are important for the health of your heart.

1. Apples: Drinking 12 ounces of apple juice or eating two whole apples a day is beneficial. Research has shown that phytochemicals in apples could help cut the risk of death from heart disease or stroke in half.
2. Onions: Eating half a raw onion a day raises HDL (good) cholesterol by an average of 25 percent in most people.
3. Legumes/Beans: One serving of dried beans/legumes a day can reduce cholesterol by up to 10%. The fiber and other compounds present in legumes and beans can lower cholesterol, blood clotting and improve blood-vessel function. These are also a great source of folate, which keeps homocysteine levels (an indicator of heart trouble), in check.
4. Oats: Eating about one-cup of cooked oatmeal a day significantly decreases blood cholesterol levels. Oats contain beta-glucans, a soluble fibe that is responsible for cholesterol reduction.
5. Walnuts: Eating walnuts can reduce your total cholesterol level by 12% and LDL cholesterol level by 16%. Walnuts contain a type of fat called linolenic acid, which lowers cholesterol and prevents blood clots.
6. Olive Oil, Canola Oil: Of all cooking oils, olive oil contains the largest proportion (77%) of monounsaturated fat and has powerful antioxidants, which lowers LDL cholesterol without affecting HDL levels.

Thinking Outside The Box Concerning Congestive Heart Failure

Think outside the box! These words show up in commercials, boardrooms, operating rooms and casual conversations. They have become the calling card of the young creative hotshot trying to secure an impressive position in a choice company. They mark the inventive thinker and condemn the one doing everything in the same old fashion. For the most part we live in a world where new is better and change in and of itself is considered a good thing.

But there are some boxes in which our thinking seems to be locked. I have in mind one particular box which conforms us to the idea that health is a matter of fixing problems after they present themselves. There is no doubt that medical science has advanced at a remarkable rate. We are daily finding cures for diseases that have plagued us for all history. But medical science is not the savior of careless living. It is time to think outside the box of waiting until there is an evident problem before we do anything about it. Or perhaps it is more accurate to say that we should return to the box that says, An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

One case in point, among many others, is demonstrated by the rise in heart disease in developed and developing countries. In particular to this article is the increase in incidence of congestive heart failure. Congestive heart failure is not so much a disease as it is the end result of heart degradation. Sometimes the cause is not known. But most often it is caused by one or more long-term ailments that stress the heart to the point that it simply can not function properly.

Here is an example. Perhaps a patient has lived with elevated blood pressure for many years. Long-term hypertension is one of the leading causes of CHF. The patient might make some efforts to reduce his blood pressure but is not overly concerned about it. After all, we live in a high speed world. Hypertension is common among the hard working. It becomes an acceptable part of every day living in the modern world.

But high blood pressure is one common condition that works for years to wear on the cardiovascular system resulting in a number of serious ailments, not the least of which is congestive heart failure. The fact that something does not kill us in a week does not logically imply that it will not kill us. Hypertension causes the heart to work harder ultimately weakening it over time. The weakening of the heart coupled with a vascular system not conducive to efficiently transporting blood due to hypertension and atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries) can only lead to trouble. The heart gets to the point that it simply can not keep up with the work load. The patient then turns to medical science for a cure; or perhaps a miracle. Twenty years of neglect, and even abuse, is expected to fade away with the swallowing of a few pills.

The blood pressure example is just that, an example. Atherosclerosis is another. Atherosclerosis comes from the Greek words athero (meaning gruel or paste) and sclerosis (meaning hardness). The combination of the two meanings provides a rather gruesome picture of a hard paste (plaque) being deposited in our blood vessels. Not a pretty sight from any angle. When plaque buildup sufficiently restricts blood flow to the major organs serious repercussions can occur not the least of which is heart attach, stroke or long-term congestive heart failure.

It is believed by many scientists that atherosclerosis begins when damage occurs to the innermost layer of the artery. Such damage can be caused by high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides, high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes and obesity. It stands to reason, then, that controlling these conditions can go a long way toward reducing the effects of atherosclerosis and, by logical inference, congestive heart failure.

There are many more possible examples that could be given. The above represent only a couple common possibilities. But notice even in these two examples the amount of overlap. High blood pressure affects atherosclerosis buildup. Smoking has an effect on both conditions. It is the same with other conditions as well. The same, then, is also true with treatments. Taking steps to control one area of heart health usually provides beneficial results in other areas. And these benefits in return aid in prevention and treatment of CHF.

So what magical steps can we take to reduce the likelihood of developing CHF? No magic. In a sense what we need to do is to stop thinking inside the box of waiting until there is a health problem before we do anything about it. But in so doing, we need to return to an even older box; the box of prevention.

Health is, in a large part, a matter of lifestyle. Why is heart disease, and particularly congestive heart failure, on the rise in developing countries? One word: Lifestyle. While medical science is working to reduce the impact of heart disease we are working to increase its impact.

The first major factor to concern us is the lack of exercise. Most of us have jobs that exercise our brains but not our bodies. This is especially the case for those of us who are in the busy time of our lives while building careers and raising children. It is difficult to add an exercise regimen on top of all the other responsibilities that scream for our time. However, being physically fit influences much more than the strength of our muscles. The whole body requires conditioning to function properly and heart health is no exception.

Diet is perhaps the main culprit in the rise of heart disease. Face it, with all the advertisements on the radio and television promoting low fat diets and healthy eating we still dont listen. We are in a hurry so we eat what is convenient and tasty. High cholesterol, high fat diets simply do not promote heart health. They promote hypertension and atherosclerosis, both major factors in the development of CHF. Not only do we take in way too much of the bad stuff we dont get nearly enough of the good stuff. Most of the vegetables in the average American diet come from French fries. And most of the fruits are found in the form of bottled drinks that boast 10% real fruit juice. If we treated our cars this way they wouldnt last long enough to pay off the loan.

Even for those that make an effort to eat well there is an additional obstacle. Farming techniques often do not produce the nutritious foods that were once available. Hormonally adjusted livestock and chemically fertilized crops are not as healthy as their organically raised counterparts. Even nutritious crops begin losing their nutritious value as soon as they are picked. Fruits and vegetables that are stored and shipped over an extended period of time provide only a fraction of their original benefit.

So what are we to do? In addition to reducing the amount of fat and cholesterol there should be a concerted effort to add ample fruits and vegetables to the diet. Of course the organically grown varieties are superior. But they are not an option for everyone. However, in most places it is possible to buy produce that is locally grown. This usually means that less time passes between harvest and consumption reducing vitamin loss. Growing your own produce is a great alternative if you have enough space.

Fish, especially cold water fish, has long been known to aid in heart health. Cultures which include fish as a significant part of the diet have demonstrably lower incidence of heart disease than cultures that eat little fish. The Omega-3 fatty acids contained in fish oils have been shown in numerous studies to reduce heart disease of many types.

Even in the best diets there are holes. Consider a good dietary supplement regimen. Many studies have verified the usefulness of supplementing for the reduction and prevention of a number of diseases including heart diseases like CHF. The particulars of these studies are beyond the scope of this essay. But one thing should be emphasized. Choose good vitamin supplements. Good supplements are manufactured much the same way as good produce is grown. Chemical equivalents are not really equivalents. The test tube may not know the difference but the body does.

The efforts taken to reduce the likelihood of heart disease are very much worth it. We must get out of the think tank that allows us to neglect heart health while trusting medical science to bail us out when trouble strikes.

Congestive Heart Disease

Known by many as congestive heart failure or CHF, the congestive heart disease is a serious health condition that affects people of every gender and race. It is deemed by many as one of the leading causes of hospitalization in the United States and most of its victims are people above the age of 65. And, unlike the other types of heart disease that are becoming less common, the congestive heart disease is continually growing in a number of rates.

Congestive heart disease occurs when the heart losses its capability to pump blood properly. It is subsequently coupled with the accumulation of fluid in the heart and other organs of the body, particularly the lungs.

There are two main processes in the heart that contribute to the development of congestive heart disease. In one hand, the disease may appear as a result of an improper contraction of the heart, also known as pump failure. On the other hand, the congestive heart disease may be due to the heart not relaxing completely. There are also some instances that the heart failure may be caused by a combination of both cases. Well, in either case, congestive heart disease is a condition that is potentially life-threatening. Several reports have in fact noted that people who are affected by it may die sooner and more often because of the condition.

The congestive heart disease often appears with a number of varying signs and symptoms. This is also true among the other types of heart disease. Typically, in severe cases, swelling of the feet and legs, also known as edema, may appear. This symptom is coupled with difficulty in breathing or shortness of breath (dyspnea), weakness and fatigue. In most advanced cases, the congestive heart disease can be felt with a difficulty breathing while lying on the back, also called orthopnea. It is further interesting to know that in certain periods of your disease, there will be instances that you will feel heart attacks that awaken you from sleep. This of course can be very scary, and this attack is often associated with wheezing, cardiac asthma and coughing.

It is important to note that the symptoms of congestive heart disease are said to occur because of certain causes. Numerous studies have it that the most potential causes of this health problem are hypertension, as well as a history of heart attacks. Both of these conditions are said to be potent for causing congestive heart disease as they alter the proper functioning of the heart, leaving the organ weak and incapable of pumping enough supply of blood to the heart. There are also some studies which noted that the condition can also be due to certain problems in the heart valves, heavy use of alcohol, and irregularities in the heart rhythm.

With the risk factors of congestive heart disease being identified, several treatments now emerge to back up the case. However, since the disease appears with varying symptoms and degrees of severity, it is best to talk to your doctor before opting for one of the available treatments. This is by far the most important move you can ever make.

Coronary Heart Disease

Also known as coronary artery disease, the coronary heart disease (CHD) is one of the most powerful, biggest killers known to man. It kills more than a million of people throughout the world annually, and men and women are both affected by it.

Coronary heart disease is basically the end result of the build up of a fatty substance known as plaque on the inner walls of the arteries. The arteries are narrow-tube like blood vessels that carries blood to your heart. When they are blocked by plaque, the blood and oxygen flow will either be blocked or slowed down. If that happens, the heart muscle is not able to receive the amount of oxygen it needs to work properly, leading to a more serious health problems such as angina and heart attack.

What is Angina and Heart Attack?

Angina is characterized by pain or discomfort on the chest that occurs when the heart does not obtain enough supply of blood. This pain is associated with advanced coronary heart disease, and just like heart attack, a severe form of this disorder can lead to sudden death.

Heart attack, on the other hand, happens when a blood clot forms and develops at the area of plaque, within the coronary artery. This condition will occur especially when the blood clot suddenly cuts off most or all of the blood supply to the heart muscle, causing the cells in the heart muscle to die due to lack of oxygen supply. This is also said to be highly capable of causing permanent damage to the muscles in the heart.

Causes of Coronary Heart Disease

Numerous reports have noted several factors that trigger coronary heart disease to develop. One of the most notable is hereditary. Yes, according to a number of studies, coronary heart disease runs in the family. So if your family has a history of coronary heart disease, then there's a great possibility that you or your children will also be affected by it.

Coronary heart disease may also develop as the person gets older. This is due to the fact that as we get older, plaque builds up in the arteries over the years. Also, coronary heart disease may occur if you are obese or overweight. This is also true if you have diabetes or high blood pressure. And, much to your surprise, coronary heart disease may develop due to an unhealthy lifestyle, like smoking, lack of exercise, and consuming a high fat diet.

How to Prevent CHD?

Coronary heart disease, although a serious health condition, is preventable. There are a lot of options out there that you can choose to prevent it from happening. One of the best ways perhaps is to change you lifestyle into a healthier one. Quit smoking, eat a healthy diet, or do an exercise. Try also to control your blood pressure. And, if you are affected by certain conditions that may result to coronary heart disease, talk to your doctor and ask for help. As simple as that!

Cat Heart Disease

Cat heart disease if diagnosed earlier and treated, the chance of survival if high and may live longer.

Our favorite pets, cats and dogs, also suffer heart disease just like we do. Luckily, they don't develop fatty lesions in the blood vesicles of their heart which means they do not get heart attacks. Like all mammals, like cats and dogs, have a four-chambered heart consisting of a left and right atrium and a left and right ventricle. The left and right atria receive blood from the lungs and body; whereas the left ventricle is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body while the right ventricle pumps the blood to the lungs for oxygen. Valves situated between the atria, ventricles, and the two vessels leading to the heart, prevent the blood from flowing in the right direction.

The common symptoms of dog and cat disease may include weakness, poor appetite, difficulty breathing, coughing, enlarged abdomen, pale bluish gums, rapid or weak heart rate, and heart murmurs. Heart murmurs because of heart disease are different from heart murmurs due to thin blood viscosity or anemia. Some pets with heart disease develop obvious venous pulse and may have an abnormal heart rhythm. As the circulatory system fails, the kidneys and liver flood with blood and work inefficiently. But, cats most commonly develop one of the three different types of heart disease such as dialated cardiomyopathy (DCM), restrictive cardiomyopathy (RCM), and hypertrophy cardiomyopathy (HCM).

Cat heart disease usually involves the entire heart muscle and not just the valves. Sadly, we are usually unaware of cat heart disease until the heart is well on its way to failing. All the forms of cat heart disease have similar signs and can't be used to separate one form of heart disease from another. Normally, the only signs are weight loss and difficulty breathing, and cats with these forms of heart disease will not survive for long.

The most common cause cat heart disease is a deficiency in the amino acid, taurine. Taurine deficiency can cause the muscles of the heart to loose their strength, this is called Dialated Cardiomyopathy. In addition, it can also cause degeneration of the retinas of the eye. Cats with heart disease are weak and lost weight; they have difficulty breathing and may gasp for air. But, one common symptom of cat heart disease is the clots that form within the heart and break loose blocking the flow of blood to the rear legs. If your cat has this condition, you may notice that they seem paralyzed.

RCM is a form similar to HCM and is usually seen in older cats. It reveals itself in gradually poorer health function with reduced ability to pump. RCM leads to an accumulation of blood in the heart and an enlargement of the atrium. So far, the most common type of ca heart disease is the HCM, or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. HCM is a heart disorder in which the left wall of the heart grows and thickens.


A veterinarian can treat your cat for the symptoms and suffering which has been cause by HCH. The vet will treat the actual cat heart disease by giving your cat beta-blockers to slow down the heart beat. Plus, it also gives the blood enough time to fill the heart chamber and increase the pumping action. If your cat is diagnosed earlier and treated, it can survive for a quite long time.