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How to Prevent Coronary Heart Disease and Heart Attack

Coronary heart disease and heart attack like heart infarction can in great extend be prevented by lifestyle measures.

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THE DIRECT CAUSES OF HEART DISEASE

The direct causes of coronary heart disease and heart attack are factors like these:

- Narrowing of blood vessels in the heart and the rest of the body by arteriosclerosis.
- High blood cholesterol level.
- High blood pressure.
- Over-weight.
- Diabetes.
- High level of the amino acid homocystein in the blood.
- High content of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and low content of high density lipoprotein (HDL) in the blood. Lipoprotein is a combination of protein and fatty substances bound together.
- Inflammation in the circulatory system.
- High age.
- Inherited tendencies for high cholesterol levels and heart disease.
- Men have somewhat greater chance of getting heart disease than women.

These factors are interrelated in complicated ways, and are causing or amplifying each other. For example, arteriosclerosis will cause higher blood pressure, and high blood pressure will cause even more arteriosclerosis. Many of these factors are ultimately caused or aggravated by these lifestyle factors:

-A too high consume of fat, cholesterol and sugar.
-Consuming the wrong fat types.
-Lack of fibre, vitamins, minerals and other diet deficiencies.
-Stress at work and in the daily life.
-Smoking.
-Lack of exercise.

Lifestyle adjustments will therefore be the main methods of preventing heart failure.


GENERAL DIET ADVICES

A diet with the aim of preventing heart disease is generally the same as a diet to prevent cancer and other diseases. Here are the general diet advices

- Avoid or reduce the amount of food that are industrially processed, artificially made or heavily fried.

- Eat fish at least every second day. Also eat seafood and fouls.

- Do not eat very much red meat.

- Eat 5 fruits or vegetables each day. Each piece should be of the size of an apple or carrot. They should be raw or carefully boiled so that the nutrients are not washed out.

- Eat full corn bread, full corn cereals, peas, beans and potatoes.

- Eat just a moderate amount of fat.

- Consume cholesterol rich foods like egg, spawn or liver in just moderate amounts.

- Ideally most fat you eat, should be of the type mono-unsaturated. You also need some poly-unsaturated fat of the types omega-3, and omega 6, but not too much of omega-6. The consumption of saturated fat should be moderate.

- In order to achieve right fat balance, much of the fat supply should come from a blending of sources like olive, olive oil, canola oil, nuts, nut oil, sunflower, sunflower oil, linseed oil (flax oil), fish and fish oil.

- Use only a moderate amount of soy oil and corn oil in the diet. Only using such oil types will give you too much poly-unsaturated fat of the omega-6-type.

- Use just a very moderate amount of fat sources like butter, coconut oil and palm oil. A high consumption of these fat sources gives you too much saturated fat.

- Avoid altogether fat that has been chemically altered, giving so-called trans-fat. This type of fat is often found in margarine, cookies, snacks, fast food and other pre-made food.

- Consume just a very moderate amount of sugar, refined flour or refined cereals.

- Consume just a moderate amount of tranquilizers and stimulants like alcohol and caffeine.

- Use just a moderate amount of salt in the food. However, in warm weather and by hard physical work, you will need more salt.


DIET SUPPLEMENTS THAT HELP PREVENT HEART DISEASE

Evidence suggests that it will be helpful to take some supplements of natural substances to prevent heart disease and help to ameliorate already manifest heart problems. These supplements are:

- Omega-3-fatty acids derived from fish and other marine sources, especially the fatty acids EPA (eicosapentaenoic acid) and DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) and alfa-linolaeic acid. 1 gram a day of each of these substances may be taken as a supplement. Higher amounts should only be taken under medical supervision, since higher amount of these substances may cause bleeding tendencies, and may suppress the immune system.

- Supplement of vitamin C has been thought to help prevent heart disease, but newer findings cast doubt upon this.

- Vitamin B6 (Pyridoxine), folic acid / folate, vitamin b12 and riboflavin seem to prevent the building up of the substance homocystein in the blood and thereby help prevent heart disease, according to results from research projects.


GET RID OF OVER-WEIGHT

The lifestyle measures listed in this article will also help you loose weight. If these measures are not enough, you should consider engaging in a more specific weight reduction program. You should choose a program that has a moderate fat content philosophy. Some weight reduction programs have a higher fat and low carbohydrate consume philosophy, and those are probably not the best ones to reduce the chance of getting heart disease.


EXERCISE

You should do some exercise of at least half an hour at least every second day. Condition training as vigorous walking, jogging, cycling or swimming is best for reducing the heart attack probability. Muscular building exercises are also of value, especially exercises building leg muscles


STOP SMOKING

If you smoke, stopping or reducing this habit radically will decrease the chance of getting heart problems.


CONTROL DIABETES

If you suffer from diabetes type 1, a good control of the disease by insulin medication and by diet adjustments will help to prevent heart disease.

Many people over the age of 50, and an increasing number of young people suffer from diabetes type 2 because of bad lifestyle. This disease does not necessarily give dramatic symptoms, but the disease increases the chance of getting serious heart problems, and many have the disease without knowing it. This disease can be prevented by the same lifestyle measures depicted above. If you already have got the disease, a more rigorous control of carbohydrate intake is necessary. And sometimes also medication must be used. People over the age of 50 and younger people that do not feel well should find out if they suffer from this condition.


TAKING ASPIRIN

Low doses of acetyl salicylic acid or aspirin prevent heart disease by persons bearing a high risk for heart disease. However, this medication increases the risk of bleeding and should not be used without constant medical supervision. For persons with a low risk of heart disease, the dangers of aspirin will be greater than the benefits.



About The Author:
Knut Holt is an internet consultant and marketer focusing on health items.----TO FIND natural help against common diseases, for example: Heart problems, over-weight, acne, hypothyroidism, fatigue, depression, anxiety, hemorrhoids, joint pain, allergies, rheumatism, respiratory diseases, and more PLEASE VISIT:--- http://www.abicana.com/shop2.htm

How To Recognize The Symptoms Of Migraine Headaches

You have started to have severe headaches. These headaches last for a few hours and are recurring a couple of times a month. You suspect that it may be migraine headaches but how do you know for sure? This article will give you the signs and symptoms of a migraine. A word or caution. It is not smart to diagnose yourself. If you are having frequent headaches and aren't sure of the cause, see your doctor right away. He may want to do some tests to rule more serious problems
A migraine is a headache that is so severe it can be disabling and it will sometimes be accompanied by an aura. An aura is a warning sign that a migraine is coming. Auras usually appear anywhere from 15 to 30 minutes before a migraine starts. A migraine can last for two hours or it can last for as long as 72 hours if not treated.

Approximately 11 out of 100 people will get migraines, and women get them more than men. Hormonal changes have been thought to be a huge factor in the development of migraines. Other triggers can be certain foods, environmental changes and stress.

The symptoms of migraine headaches are:

Pain. This can range from moderate to severe. Some people will feel pain on either side of the head, while other people may feel it bilaterally. The pain may be described as throbbing or pulsating.

A true migraine will become worse with physical activity. This is why it interrupts your daily activities. Just walking across the room can cause excruciating pain.

The pain can cause nausea and occasionally vomiting. If the vomiting becomes severe you may need to get your doctor to prescribe an anti-emetic, such as Reglan or Compazine.

Hypersensitivity to sounds or lights is another common symptom of migraines. Most people want to lie down in a dark, quiet room until the pain subsides.

Some people that have migraines will experience auras prior to a headache. These auras may continue for the duration of the migraine. An aura can consist of:

- Bright flashes of light
- Bright zigzagging lines that interrupt your vision field.
- Diffuse blind spots in your field of vision.
- A tingling feeling in a leg or an arm.

Migraines themselves pose no real threat to you. But go to the emergency room immediately if you experience a sudden headache that seems to explode inside your head. If you have a headache with fever, mental confusion or a stiff neck. A headache that continues to get worse after coughing or straining or any other sudden movement. These may all be symptoms of a more serious problem and should not be ignored.

Migraines can be manageable with the right treatment. Talk to your doctor about your best options. There is no reason for you to suffer from the symptoms of a migraine headache.

For more help on the prevention, treatment and remedies for migraines please see the Complete Guide To Migraine Headaches.

This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances.

Vitamin B2 Can Help Ease Migraines

If you suffer from migraines, there is some good news for you. This good news comes in the form of riboflavin, otherwise known as Vitamin B2. Taking regular doses of Vitamin B2 is believed to reduce migraine episodes as well as lessen their occurrence.
Riboflavin

Riboflavin is just one of the eight B complex vitamins that are responsible for breaking down fats and proteins. B complex vitamins also help with the digestive system by providing good muscle tone, and aid in the overall good health of the eyes, skin, hair, liver and nervous system. Vitamin B2 is a water-soluble vitamin and plays a vital role in the conversion of carbohydrates into sugar for the body to burn and produce energy.

Lack of Vitamin B2

If we lack vitamin B2, we may experience headaches, vision problems, photophobia, tiredness, digestion problems and painful cracks in the mouth corners.

Sources of Vitamin B2

Riboflavin is not commonly found in many foods unlike the other seven B vitamins. Many people, especially the elderly, often find themselves having vitamin B2 deficiency because they cannot easily get riboflavin from their diet. Food sources that contain riboflavin include brewer’s yeast, almonds, wild rice, wheat germ, mushrooms, milk, yogurt, eggs, broccoli, brussel sprouts and spinach.

Flour and various breakfast cereals usually contain riboflavin, and while it can generally withstand heat, its soluble properties makes it easily disappear in water when cooking food. Many methods can be done to counteract this during cooking, like making gravy by keeping the water from sprouts.

In addition, vitamin B2 is easily destroyed by exposure to light, so it is best to keep food sources such as milk and vitamin B2 supplements in the dark. This is the reason many milk containers come in cartons.

Vitamin B2 Supplements

If you do not regularly eat a balanced diet, taking vitamin supplements is recommended. The thing to watch out for when buying multivitamins is the essential vitamins and minerals that it contains. Make sure that it has 100-300% of the recommended daily vitamin intake.

It is best to take riboflavin with a meal, as it is more effectively absorbed into your stomach when taken with food. To prevent an imbalance of B vitamins, it is advisable to also take another B vitamin along with B2.

Limitations

Some medications have been known to reduce riboflavin levels in the body, and riboflavin in turn can affect the way some medicines work. Before taking vitamin B2 supplements, it is always a good idea to check with your doctor, especially if you are also taking any of the following:

- Tricyclic antidepressants
- Anti-malaria drugs
- Chlorpromazine or other antipsychotics
- Birth control pills
- Doxorubicin
- Methotrexate
- Phenytoin
- Probenecid
- Selegiline
- ‘Sulfa’ medications
- Thiazide diuretics

Side Effects

While riboflavin does not seem to cause any serious side effects, you may experience itching, numbness, burning or prickling sensations and light sensitivity when you take high doses.

For more help on the prevention, treatment and remedies for migraines please see the Complete Guide To Migraine Headaches.

This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances.

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Magnesium And Headaches

More and more doctors are concluding that an imbalance of important minerals like magnesium and calcium is responsible for a large percentage of migraines. This mineral imbalance is one of the key causes why many medications are not successful in treating all headaches. In fact, around 50% to 60% of migraines are linked to lack of magnesium in the body. While experts have not really agreed that magnesium is the ‘missing link’ in the treatment of migraines, more evidence is turning up for its use in migraine treatment.

How Magnesium Helps

It is important to examine how a migraine is triggered. Stress and chemicals in the blood called serotonin and catecholamines can cause muscle contractions, triggering changes in the blood vessels, which in turn leads to a migraine. While this has been known for some time, the problem lies in stopping these changes.

An excess of serotonin will slow down the blood flow, and having too little of it will make the blood move too quickly. Serotonin also can flow fast if there is not enough magnesium in the body, constricting the blood vessels and releasing pain-producing chemicals.

The release of these pain-producing substances can be halted by normal magnesium levels. The recommended daily dose of magnesium is about 400 mg, and studies have shown that most people hardly get anywhere near that amount. About 30% to 40% of Americans only get less than 75% of the needed magnesium intake daily, which in time leads to a deficiency.

Magnesium Loss and Deficiency

Our bodies can very easily lose its supply of magnesium. If you are taking asthma or cardiovascular medications, drinking at least two cups of coffee and other diuretics every day and you are usually stressed out, you need to know that these things can lower the magnesium level in your body.

Magnesium deficiency is believed to be present in 50% to 60% of people who suffer from migraines. However, a good 85% to 90% of migraine sufferers can often find immediate relief once they start taking supplements.

The recommended doses for magnesium are two 500 mg magnesium gluconate tablets at lunch time, two tablets in the afternoon and two tablets at bedtime.

Important Note

It is imperative that you consult with your doctor first before beginning your magnesium supplementation because the doses involved are rather high and require monitoring by a medical professional. Keep in mind that taking high dosage levels of magnesium has risks. Most importantly, you should not take magnesium supplements if you have a kidney or a heart problem without medical supervision.

Calcium

Calcium will also be necessary if you decide to take magnesium supplements. If you haver magnesium level is normal but your calcium level is low, your migraines will not stop. However, be careful when you are taking calcium supplements. If you take too much calcium, your body will simply get rid of the excess amount. This may sound good, but you should also know that calcium will take magnesium with it. So your calcium level may be normal, but your magnesium level is not. Make sure that you take magnesium and calcium at different times during the day since calcium can prevent the magnesium from being properly absorbed in the body.

For more help on the prevention, treatment and remedies for migraines please see the Complete Guide To Migraine Headaches.

This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances.

Positive Attitudes Add Up For Weight Loss

Once you have made up your mind to lose weight and improve your health the next thing to do is mentally commit to it with a positive attitude. Losing weight can be quite a challenge on some days. For some it can be downright tough. It takes time, practice and support to change lifetime habits.

Think like a winner. Hold a vision of your goal in your mind daily. Emotions are like muscles and the ones you use most grow the strongest. Strong, positive mental images along with a high emotional anticipation of reaching your weight loss goal is very powerful.

Make an effort to keep negative emotions out of your head. It will hold you back from accomplishing the
things you want to do. When a negative thought creeps into your mind, replace it with a positive image. Think about the great things that lie ahead of you.

Losing weight is not just about diets. It's about a new mental image of yourself and the possibility of creating a new life. Investigate the weight loss programs that appeal to you and that you feel will teach you the behavioral skills you need to stick with throughout the weight-loss process. Look for support among family and good, positive friends.

Look for others on a weight loss and fitness program, too. It can be an enormous help to discuss obstacles
and share skills and tactics with others on the same path. Seek guidance from someone you know who has lost weight and kept it off.

If there is no one in person to help you look for success stories on television, in newspapers,
magazines and online. There are inspirational people everywhere who lost untold pounds and kept it off. In all instances they say their mental attitude as well as their outlook on life has totally changed.

There are new foods to explore and a postive attitude here can very a big boost. Trying new low fat or high grain alternatives can be made into an exciting adventure. Additionally, you can look forward to learning new, wiser eating skills. Focus on new-found skills that give you some control over your eating habits, rather than being victim to them.

Keep in mind, too, that a good weight loss program should include some physical exercise. Look at the exercising aspect of your program as fun and recreational. Focus on the fact is that physical fitness is linked inseparable to all personal effectiveness in every field. Adding a fitness program to any weight loss effort will quickly show positive results.

Adding fitness can be as simple as walking 30 minutes a day, five times a week. It helps the total circulation of blood throughout the body, and thus has a direct effect on your overall feeling of health. There are things such as aerobics, jogging, swimming and many other exercises which will
benefit a weight loss program.

The bottom line is stay postive and have fun with any weight loss program you start. Focus on the end result,pat your self on the back often and you'll make the changes you need in no time.

Article Source: http://www.ArticleStreet

Weekend Headaches

Weekend headaches can be a common occurrence, but they can strike when you least expect it. Picture this: you have worked hard all week and you are looking forward to the weekend, maybe planning to go out, meet friends, do some shopping or just relax. And then a headache hits you, effectively ruining all your plans for the weekend.

This horrible headache that seems to only happen during weekends can be caused by a number of reasons, and we'll examine them all.

Caffeine Withdrawal

It is fairly normal to take several cups of coffee during a work day, as it not only gives you a good enough reason to leave your desk and walk around, but also keeps you awake and alert to cope with your workload.

Suppose you usually take three cups of coffee by 11am at work. During a weekend, you might want to sleep longer since you do not have any work to do. But as you continue sleeping, your body is craving its first cup of coffee, and will crave the three cups you usually take if you sleep until 11am. The result? You wake up with a caffeine withdrawal headache.

Identifying If You Have Caffeine Withdrawal

You can try to find out if you have caffeine withdrawal. Set your alarm clock during a weekend and get up at the usual time for work. If you wake up without a headache, you most probably have a caffeine withdrawal problem.

Now test it again... this time go ahead and enjoy a prolonged sleeping period, but as soon as you wake up, have a cup of coffee. If your headache is relieved, or even partially relieved, then the culprit is most certainly caffeine.

Preventing Weekend Headaches

You have two choices if you want to stop the caffeine withdrawal headaches: you cut down on your caffeine intake or you quit drinking coffee altogether. Try drinking decaf. Keep in mind, too, that coffee is not the only source of caffeine; chocolate and soft drinks are also loaded with caffeine.

Other Causes of the Weekend Headache

In as much the same way as a partial withdrawal from caffeine can cause a headache, the same holds true for a partial nicotine withdrawal. Smoking heavily throughout the week then sleeping in on a weekend will cause a headache when you wake up, as your body will be craving its regular nicotine fix. The solution is similar to caffeine withdrawal -- cut down or give up smoking.

Stress Withdrawal

It is a well known fact that stress is one of the most common triggers of migraines. So it seems strange to find out that withdrawing from stress can give you a headache as well. It’s not really exactly understood why the absence of stress can cause a headache.

If you work during the entire week under a certain level of stress and then you try to relax during the weekend, you might get hit with a headache, which is believed to be linked to the relaxation. If this is the case, doing some relaxation exercises when your stress levels are high will help to "even out" the stress. This will result in decreased headaches, since your weekend relaxation won’t contrast too much with your weekdays.

For more help on the prevention, treatment and remedies for migraines please see the Complete Guide To Migraine Headaches.

This free article is provided by the FreeArticles.com Free Articles Directory for educational purposes ONLY! It cannot be reprinted or redistributed under any circumstances

 

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