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Is Heart Blockage a Heart Disease?

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Heart Blockage is not a Disease; It Is a Symptom

Heart blockage is not a disease but a symptom of coronary artery disease, the arteries that wrap the heart. It could manifest as a partial heart blockage or a total blockage. A partial heart blockage, known as angina, is the name we give the pain that occurs when the muscle of the heart is temporarily deprived of oxygen due to this type of blockage. Its symtoms are similar to a heart attack but the heart does not suffer the same damage. A total heart blockage can be fatal.

A Heart Blockage Is Caused by Atherosclerosis

Coronary artery disease, particularly atherosclerosis, is almost always the cause of a heart blockage. The pain caused by a heart blockage can be triggered as the heart needs to make a larger effort than usual but the body can not increase the supply of blood the heart is asking for because one of the arteries is damaged. A damaged artery is almost always narrower because of plaque and the blood does not flow through this artery as it does in one that is not damaged.

When the coronary arteries are damaged and can not respond to a need to increase the blood flow, the heart nerves transfer urgent messages of pain to the brain. This pain, which usually does not last more than 5 minutes, can be felt in several areas around the heart.

Pain is usually felt to the left side of the chest, but it can spread to your throat, back, jaw, and arms, particularly your left arm.

At times the person can experience sweating, nausea, dizziness, and difficulty breathing.

What Can Precipitate a Heart Blockage?

A heart blockage can be precipitated by several factors such as:

1. Emotional upset
2. Physical effort
3. Eating too much

How do You Prevent a Heart Blockage?

If you have suffered a partial heart blockage or you are at risk of suffering one, your main goal is to lower the effects of atherosclerosis, the main culprit in a heart blockage. Research has shown that atherosclerosis can be reversed by implementing a healthy lifestyle. By taking some basic steps, you can go a long way in preventing and in many cases, reversing atherosclerosis.

A Guide to Prevent Atherosclerosis

  • Smoking. Smoking promotes atherosclerosis. Smoke from tobacco is more damaging to the heart than to the lungs.
  • Exercise. A lack of moderate exercise is the major cause of angina, atherosclerosis, and a fatal heart blockage. You don't have to go to a gym if you don't want; in fact, walking is the best exercise you can practice and you can do it without the help of a gym. Ask your doctor what is the right level of walking for you if you already have heart problems.
  • Heart healthy diet. The Mediterranean diet has been proved to prevent and reverse heart disease. Get familiar with its guidelines and try to follow them.
  • Fruits and vegetables. Eating fruits and vegetables is the best way to obtain the balance of minerals you need for a strong heart such as sodium, potassium, calcium, and magnesium.
  • Saturated fat. Limit saturated fat intake since it raises LDL cholesterol. Replace saturated fat with olive oil.
  • Trans fats Trans fats not only increase your level of LDL cholesterol but they damage the arteries because of the free radicals they form. Avoid them completely because the only safe amount to ingest is 0.
  • Fish. Fish contributes omega 3 fats, a must fat for the proper working of the heart and that our body can not produce or can not produce in adequate amounts. Eating fish also balances Omega 3 and Omega 6 fatty acids in your body, an equilibrium we need to avoid infalmmation.
  • Stress. Stress control and "spirituality" are important factors in a program to prevent or reverse heart blockage. Taking care of other risk factors for heart disease but being lax about controlling your level of stress makes you vulnerable to heart problems.

Don't Forget that a Heart Blockage is a Symptom

Keep in mind that a heart blockage is not a disease. If you have not had an angina episode yet, take the necessary steps to prevent it. If you already suffer from angina, do not wait longer to change your lifestyle because you can not take this health condition lightly.

Scientific studies have associated the Mediterranean diet with a healthy heart. To learn the ins-and-outs of the Authentic Mediterranean Diet and the Mediterranean Cuisine, check out my book; It would help you apply these Mediterranean principles into your life and those of your loved ones. It would also help you to prevent a heart blockage.

Have a great day while taking care of your heart; after all, it is the one that keeps you going!

Emilia Klapp, BS, RD
www.MediterraneanDietfortheHeart.com

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Live longer by following a healthy Mediterranean lifestyle

Experience has shown that Mediterraneans have kept a healthy heart for centuries and have lived longer lives than people in many other countries. Many scientific studies have also corraborated these findings by studing their lifestyle. Now is within your reach to learn how Mediterraneans do it.

Your Heart Needs the Mediterranean Diet

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About Emilia Klapp
Emilia Klapp has a bachelor in Nutrition Science. She is certified as a Registered Dietitian by the American Dietetic Association and the author of the book Your Heart Needs the Mediterranean Diet.

For more information on an Authentic Mediterranean Diet and to get a FREE list of the Top 10 Mediterranean Curative Foods, click the link above.

Suggested Reading

Your Heart Needs the Mediterranean Diet

Learn How Mediterraneans Have Kept a Healthy Heart for Centuries
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A guide on how the Mediterranean Diet and lifestyle helps you prevent and control chronic disease, including heart disease.
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Please Share Your Comments with Me Here

  • Himika Aug 16, 2011 @ 11:02 pm | delete
    Hi
    I would want to understand how many blockages can one get at a time. I know of someone who suffered from a massive heart attack and I was told that they doc conveyed that he had 50 blockages. Is this humanly possible?Pls let me know.
  • Olivia Whitetaker Apr 5, 2011 @ 2:08 pm | delete
    The blockage or thinning of one's vessels can highly put a person at risk for stroke or heart attack - which ever gets to you first. Though right now, we are researching more about the Darvon Lawsuits. The Darvon drug has been pulled out of the market as scientific evidences have proved that it can cause cardiac arrhythmias even at therapeutic levels.
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  • Dec 5, 2010 @ 7:05 pm | delete
    My grandpa died of heart failure a year ago. He was diabetic and already sick but he was taking that drug Avandia, that I'm pretty sure played a role in his heart's deterioration.

    DON'T TAKE AVANDIA!
  • Dec 5, 2010 @ 7:06 pm | delete
    Recent reports show Avandia use can increase the risk of heart attack by 43%! You should see if you qualify for one of the Avandia lawsuit settlements.
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emilia921

My name is Emilia Klapp. I was born and raised in Spain and I currently share my time between Los Angeles, California and Madrid, Spain, where I am at... more »

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