Heart Disease: Prevention Better than a Cure for Heart Disease

The CDC. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention lists the Leading Causes of Death in the United States as:

Number of deaths for leading causes of death

Heart disease: 631,636
Cancer: 559,888
Stroke (cerebrovascular diseases): 137,119
Chronic lower respiratory diseases: 124,583
Accidents (unintentional injuries): 121,599
Diabetes: 72,449
Alzheimer's disease: 72,432
Influenza and Pneumonia: 56,326
Nephritis, nephrotic syndrome, and nephrosis: 45,344
Septicemia: 34,234

Since Heart Disease is number one on the list let's see what we can possibly do to reduce our risks.

Since Heart Disease is number one on the list let's see what we can possibly do to reduce our risks.

The American Heart Association, gives incite on lifestyle improvements, or prevention concerning heart disease.

The data for 2001 was an estimated 516,000 coronary artery bypass procedures were performed on 305,000 patients. They also reported that it would be cost prohibited if all heart attack people were treated surgically. So Prevention is encouraged by behavior change and improved lifestyle.

They also admitted that the causes of heart disease weren't completely known, but some of the risks are:

tobacco smoke
high blood cholesterol
high blood pressure
physical inactivity
obesity and overweight
diabetes mellitus

Slashing the Cost of Heart Disease with Prevention

Today slashing the costs of health care issues such as heart disease has become a very controversial subject. One thing we have learned about is the cost of Health Care (or should I say sick care) is getting totally out of hand. I think the terminology is, it is "Sky-Rocketing."

People and families become bankrupt when huge health care expenses hit them, and so do companies and businesses.

Many companies are going under, yes as I said, and becoming bankrupt. This is because health care is the largest part of their operating expense. That is not the way it should be.

Heart Disease Map by Google Free Images

People that are dealing with heart disease, either personally-or because of those they love don't care about all these finely detailed statistics, they are in pain and just want to know what to do about it.

So, besides the tragedy and pure misery of serious health issues, such the previously mentioned Heart Disease, it is also causing us and our nation a tremendous amount of harm financially. Like it or not, we must also deal with the financial issues.

In this day and time, with this financial environment we are already in, we really can't afford to lose more businesses along with losing our health.

So, what can we realistically do?

One thing we can do is summed up in one word-PREVENTION!

Heart by Google Free Images

Prevention is more cost effective than waiting and allowing ourselves to develop very inadequate immune systems. This scenario then leads to succumbing to serious health issues like cancer, diabetes, heart disease, etc.

Now, don't get me wrong. I am not saying that if you build up your immune system you will never get sick. That's ridiculous. As ineffective as our immune systems have already become that's probably impossible. But, the more we build them up, the better they will be able to do their job of defending us against heart disease and other health issues.

Unhealthy big belly by Google Free Images

So, it is reasonable and even advisable to use preventative means to increase our wellness which will build up our immune systems.

It is much more cost effective to do what you can to prevent serious health problems, than to wait until you are at deaths door and then must spend everything you have and even what you haven't' to try to regain your health.

I received the foregoing in a recent email.

Notice I said it is cost effective. I did not say that it would be free.

There is a cost in time, money and effort. But, just check out the cost of Heart disease management, (or any other health issue management) and see which one you'd rather spend your time, effort and money on.

Additionally, if you decide you'd rather be sick and depend on health care---what will your life look like?

What are you able to do?

Can you play and have quality time with your families?

I recently read in the June 22nd '09' issue of Time that the 'Obama Administration wants hospitals, doctors and patients across the country to make a commitment to prevention. That means ditching bad habits, eating right, exercising and spotting danger signs with early detection.'

Prevention, or building up our immune systems involves' everything. It means our entire lifestyle such as: the air we breathe, the water we drink, the food we eat, getting proper rest and sleep, getting the proper amount of sunshine, effective regular exercise and having solid loving relationships. It involves our entire life.

Dr. Mercola tells us even if we haven't been living a life that is conducive to being disease free, we can turn things around.

He agrees that we need to stop smoking if we do smoke, and don't breathe second hand smoke. He also says that high blood pressure and diabetes can be reversed.

And nutritionists again such as Dr. Mercola tell us that it is not the saturated fat in our diets, but, the excess 'carbohydrates and sugars in our diets that are making people fat and unhealthy'.

My words now:
So, of course, overweight, obesity and blood sugar issues ultimately lead us to 'Heart Disease.'

It is also important to include proper fats and oils as well as plenty of Omega 3's in the diet. We should have a ratio of 1:1 in regard to Omega 3's and Omega 6's, instead of a very unhealthy ratio of 1:40 or more.

Additionally, it has been determined that magnesium is absolutely vital for Heath Health. Make sure that magnesium is in your diet in the proper ration to calcium.

Exercise or activity is also very healthy for the body, and will help alleviate stress.

You could begin by making some baby steps toward getting healthy, and see how you feel. Then you might want to incorporate more lifestyle changes into your life. You may become so charged by your efforts that you will decide to change almost everything. Every effort you make can help you and those you love.

So, yes it will take effort. Only you can decide if that effort is worth it.

Maybe this Prevention thing will finally become the "In" thing to do. But whether it does or it doesn't:

Do it because you and your loved ones are worth the time and the effort.

I read reviews before I buy books.

Notice this one:

By Matthew L. Israel (Canton, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease (Hardcover)
This is an extremely important book. Dr. Esselstyn has conducted the longest-running study, with the most impressive results, of any study in which heart disease has been arrested and reversed. I have read it once and plan to read it a second time. I had known of Dr. Esselstyn's work prior to reading this book, but it is wonderful to have all of his thinking and recommendations available in one easy-to-read book, together with a treasure trove of wonderful recipes supplied by his wife Ann Crile Esselstyn. Dr. Esselstyn points out that everyone over 60 who has been eating the standard American diet has some level of heart disease and it is increasingly found to be starting in children and young adults.

I used to think that there was nothing one could do about the chronic diseases of aging such as heart disease and strokes. It is exciting and heartening to learn that there is something one can do to prevent, arrest and even reverse heart disease. The proof is shown in the stunning photos of actual angiograms before and after Dr. Esslestyn's treatment (you can actually see that the arteries are wider after the treatment!) and more importantly, in the remarkable improvement in his patients that he tells about.

I have decided to follow Dr. Esselstyn's lifestyle guidance and I encourage all of my friends and associates to do the same. I direct a residential special needs school and have changed the menu plans for the 230 students at our school to follow Dr. Esselstyn's guidelines. I plan to send a copy to a cardiologist I know. I wish every physician would read this book. Do yourself a favor and read this book. It could be a life-saver, literally.

Matthew L. Israel,Ph.D.
Executive Director
Judge Rotenberg Center
Canton, MA 02021

Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease-book and review
from Amazon

By A. Taylor (Baltimore, MD)

Dr. Mercola's approach to be in charge of your own health has practically eliminated my trips to the doctor. I honestly can't remember the last time I needed to go in, other than for a regular teeth cleaning. I am also prescription drug free, and intend to stay that way. Dr. Mercola is unmarried, and completely devoted to his research, so he spends basically every living moment devoted to natural health. While it is true that Dr. Mercola recommends certain products from his web store, I have confidence that he has carefully researched them and chosen the best products available. (I mean, he has to support himself somehow, and his books and website are chock full of unique information on so very many topics which obviously takes a lot of time to do). As a busy Mom, I don't have time to do the extensive vetting process I once did when buying nutritional items so I really appreciate being able to get vitamins, etc from a trusted source. So I say, don't throw out the valuable information just cause you feel ..........about the self-product recommendations