6 Tips For Heart Health Wellness

For millions of people around the world, heart disease is a reality for which there is no cure. Did you know that bad health works with a domino effect once started? If you are at any risk for heart disease, there are six things you should do to ensure your heart health does not fall over onto the other dominoes.

1. A diet with high amounts of fats and cholesterol indicates your body will become fat and your heart at risk. Select a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, low fat dairy, whole grains and fish. Garlic can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. Foods high in fiber help your body better remove it from the blood. Good fats- monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids- can assist in lowering blood pressure, reducing blood clotting, lowering cholesterol and develop the robustness of blood vessels.

2. Even if your diet that is not the healthiest, exercise can help you. It reduces stress, strengthens the heart, and conditions the lungs and muscles. Regular cardiovascular exercise will also help lower cholesterol, increase blood flow and keep excess weight away.

3. Herbal remedies such as valerian, hawthorne, and motherwort are active in improving heart functions. Hawthorne helps normalize blood pressure, whilst valerian calms anxiety and lessens blood pressure. The herb motherwort can lower cholesterol levels in the blood.

4. You can reduce heart risk by 50% in the first year alone by quitting the tobacco habit. Smoking raises blood pressure and causes blood clots, two things that seriously add to heart disease risk. Remove the nicotine and tar damage and reduce your heart health risks.

5. Scientists claim one glass of red wine per day is actually of assistance for your heart. However, unwarranted amounts of drinking can tighten the blood vessels, promoting further salt re-absorption, high cholesterol levels and high blood pressure. If you must drink, limit yourself to one drink per day.

6. Stress may elevate blood pressure though constriction of blood vessels, forcing the heart to work more to pump healthful blood right through the body. Try yoga, visualization, biofeedback or more exercise to reduce stress. Decide on whatever solution that works best for your circumstances so you can relax.

Heart Health News
Heart & Health

Besides cholesterol, there are other risk factors that can be a problem for heart health.

Blood Pressure

An above optimal level of blood pressure can not be felt. Many people are not aware that they have blood pressure above the recommended level and live with an increased risk.

Blood Sugar

If the sugar level in the blood is constantly above normal and cannot be absorbed by the body cells, it causes a risk to heart health by narrowing the blood vessels, and it has other harmful effects on the body.

Smoking

The substances in tobacco cause the blood to carry less oxygen and the blood vessels to become narrow. The result is an increase in blood pressure.

Weight and Shape

An increase in body weight usually increases blood cholesterol, blood pressure and generally the risk of negative effects on heart health.

The body shape is also important: an "apple" body shape carries a higher risk than a "pear" body shape. Therefore, measuring the waistline is also an indicator for heart health.

Physical Activity

Besides keeping the body weight in balance, physical activity can also lower blood pressure and increase overall health and wellbeing.

State of mind

Only identified recently as a risk factor, people suffering from depression are twice as likely to have issues with heart health.
If you have any concerns about your cholesterol level or any aspect of your heart health, your health care professional should always be your first point of contact.

Heart Health Care
Heart Health Online

When it comes to taking care of your heart, small changes can have big results.

That's why Leeza Gibbons and two other "Heart Coaches" have joined forces to raise awareness about heart health in a new campaign that asks each person to make an individual promise to live a healthier lifestyle.

As part of the campaign at Promisehealthyheart.com, Gibbons is teaming up with registered nutritionist and dietitian Melissa Ohlson as well as celebrity fitness coach Michael George to give consumers the coaching, tools and inspiration to achieve life-changing goals in two key areas of life: physical fitness and heart-healthy food and nutrition. High cholesterol is a major health concern for millions of Americans. In fact, there are 76 million Americans living with high cholesterol and considered at risk for heart disease.

Experts say that year-round attention needs to be focused on America's No. 1 killer-heart disease.

Consumers can submit their personal heart-health stories on the Web site, where they can find tips, advice and other ways to engage with each of the Heart Coaches. By submitting their stories, each person will automatically be entered for a chance to win personal coaching from the coaches to achieve his or her specific goals.

"Whatever age you are right now is the perfect age to start eating better and exercising for a healthy heart," explains Gibbons. "I got involved as a Promise Heart Coach because I believe the power of life coaching can help motivate people to take better care of their hearts by leading more active, healthier lives. Life can throw a lot at you, and everyone needs a little help and inspiration now and then; one of my favorite quotes is, 'As water is to a flower, so is praise to the heart of another.'"

"As a preventative cardiologist, nutritionist and registered dietitian, I know what a difference improved heart health can make in someone's quality of life," explains Ohlson. "At Promisehealthyheart.com, people can get a customized nutrition plan designed by me to help them keep their Promise for a healthy heart."

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Blood Pressure Medications

There are many causes of heart trouble. Frequently there are wrong eating habits that cause obesity, thereby placing and extra strain on the heart. Too much salt in the diet also causes a strain on the heart by elevating the blood pressure.

Palpitation of the heart is often due to gas and fermentation in the stomach.

Most supposed "heart trouble" is Not due to actual damage to the heart muscle or valves, but rather the heart has been weakened by impure blood caused by wrong diet, lack of exercise, and poor circulation. Thus, the blood that should be circulating near the surface of the body, nourishing the skin, muscle, ect., is diverted to the inside and overburdens the digestive organs and heart.

Some forms of heart trouble may be worsened by tea, coffee, tobacco, and alcohol.

Sometimes heart trouble is caused by eating too much food made of white flour and cane sugar products. When a large amount of food is eaten that has been robbed of its life-giving properties, and since the real health-giving properties that have been refined out of the foods are those properties that strengthen our bodies and heart, the heart grows weaker and weaker.

Most heart trouble can be overcome. Salt in the diet must be severely restricted and a good reducing diet must be followed to get rid of any excess weight.

Herbal Medicine

A number of herbs are a great help in any kind of heart trouble

Tansy:

Good in heart trouble. It will check palpitation of the heart in a very short time.

"Side Effects"

It Strengthens weak veins. It's funny that this herbs was found useful as an insect repellent. Tansy should only be taken in moderate doses ONLY though. Check the usage amount on the product you buy.

Lobelia:

Lobelia is the most powerful relaxant known among herbs. It calms stomachs, nerves, inflammations, and lungs (as in a cough).

Valerian:

Excellent nerve tonic. Very quieting and soothing. Relieves palpitation of the heart

"Side Effects"

Prevents colds and fevers. Prevents gas and stomach problems.