Heart disease prevention is of prime importance in the United States, since heart disease is our leading cause of death. It is also a major cause of disability, costing many people their jobs and their freedom.

Heart disease prevention becomes especially important as you age. Men who have passed age 45, and women who have passed age 55, are at far greater risk than younger people. If you have a family history of heart disease, your risks increase again. If you are genetically predisposed to build-ups of cholesterol deposits, the risks are even greater.

All of this sounds like a losing battle, but there are things you can do. Heart disease prevention measures can be taken.

Heart Disease Prevention Tips

There are no guarantees when it comes to heart disease, but if you follow the tips below, you will be doing much to reduce your risks of dying from this disease. This information is for educational purposes only, however, and the reader should seek advice from a medical professional.

1. Weight: You have no doubt heard that you should maintain a healthy weight as a matter of heart disease prevention. Excess weight causes the heart to work harder, putting stress on this vital muscle. It is important to learn what a healthy weight is, given your height, age, and gender. Then take steps to reach and maintain that weight. The weight loss business is huge in America, so you will find plenty of help. Ask your doctor for advice before you begin a diet, though.

2. Exercise: The second most common means of heart disease prevention is physical exercise. The heart is a muscle. As such, it can be strengthened through regular exercise. Exercise should be guided by your health care provider, but it should not be avoided unless other medical concerns prevent it. Exercise will send vital, health-giving oxygen to your heart. You should have regular exercise each day, walking or jogging if possible. In addition, train yourself to park farther from the door; take stairs instead of elevators and escalators; get off the bus one or two stops before you must, and walk the last few blocks. Heart disease prevention can often be a matter of changing a few habits.

3. Smoking: If you smoke tobacco, you should stop immediately. This relatively easy form of heart disease prevention can be done readily. Although many people claim addiction requiring medical intervention, studies show that 90% of those who quit smoking do it on their own, without medical help. I have personally seen individuals make a single decision, and never smoke again.

4. Healthy Eating: If you name this form of heart disease prevention a diet, chances are you will rebel inwardly. Nobody likes to diet. You should, however, adopt a healthy way of eating. Load the menu with fresh fruits and vegetables, leaving less room for fatty meats and sweets. Avoid junk foods like potato chips and corn chips. Refuse the candy bars, and have a health bar instead.

5. Blood Pressure: Many people find that they have elevated blood pressure levels as they get older. It is important to find out what your blood pressure is, and take any steps necessary to get it under control and keep it there. High blood pressure creates another unnecessary demand on your heart. Your physician may prescribe medication to lower your blood pressure. In addition, you may want to increase your potassium intake, lose weight, and exercise. Normal blood pressure is important to heart disease prevention.

6. Diabetes: Ask your physician to test you for diabetes. Diabetes also is a risk for heart disease, but it can be controlled. If you have it, follow your doctor’s advice in every way. Diabetes greatly increases your risks of heart disease, stroke, and heart attack.

7. Cholesterol: It is widely accepted in medical circles that high cholesterol levels, especially high LDL cholesterol levels, put you at further risk for heart disease. Cholesterol levels can be reduced. Your physician may prescribe a cholesterol-lowering drug. In addition, you will want to do your part for heart disease prevention. When shopping, choose low fat dairy products and cheese instead of richer options. Trim the fat from meat before you cook it. If it isn’t on your plate, you will not eat it.

These 7 heart disease prevention steps can make a big difference in your life. They may, in fact, extend your life. Discuss them with your doctor, and enlist your family’s support in following them.

©2007, Anna Hart. Anna is married to a man who suffers from heart disease, and brings to her writing years of experience and research. She invites you to read more of her articles about heart disease at http://www.your-heart-disease-blog.com. You won’t want to miss Anna’s insights and perspectives on congenital heart disease. Visit Anna now.

Cardiac defibrillators are small devices implanted into the body used for regulating the heartbeats of those with heart problems. A small computer is used to detect an irregular heartbeat and shock the heart into the proper rhythm. Boston Scientific/Guidant is one of the nation’s largest manufacturers of defibrillators and pacemakers.

Just recently, Boston Scientific/Guidant and the FDA recalled a subset of devices within the CONTAK RENEWAL 3 & 4, VITALITY and VITALITY 2 families. This new recall includes about 73,000 implantable cardiac resynchronization therapy defibrillators and cardiac defibrillators due to faulty capacitors. While this recall is similar to the recall of 2006, this time the failure modes and patient outcomes differ. The capacitors have been causing accelerated battery depletion and reducing the time between the elective replacement indicators and end of life to less than three months.

The original recall from Guidant came in June of 2005 when defibrillators implanted in over 50,000 patients worldwide started malfunctioning. In the US alone, there were 38,000 defibrillators implanted during that time and at least 45 of them had failed, resulting in at least 2 deaths. The defibrillator models recalled in 2005 were

• Prizm 2 DR

• Contak Renewal and Contak Renewal 2

• Ventak Prizm AVT

• Vitality AVT

• Renewal 3 AVT and Renewal 4 AVT ICDs

In addition to the defibrillators, Guidant admitted that up to 18,000 pacemakers had a potential defective moisture seal that lead to dysfunction. These pacemakers were next on the recall list. The pacemaker models include

• Pulsar Max

• Pulsar

• Discovery II

• Discovery

• Meridian

• Virtus Plus II

• Intelis II

• Contak TR

• Pulsar Max II

If you or a loved one has been injured by a defective pacemaker or defibrillator you need to seek legal help immediately. You may be entitled to financial compensation for your suffering.

To learn more about the Guidant recall or how to hire a defibrillator lawyer, please visit our website at http://www.resource4guidantrecall.com This article may be freely reprinted as long as this resource box is included and all links stay intact as hyperlinks.

Blood pressure is the amount of force the blood exerts on your arteries, which occurs with every heart beat. Measuring your blood pressure helps indicate the health of your heart. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg).

High blood pressure readings can eventually lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure or kidney failure without even knowing it. According to the American Heart Association, one third of American Adults have high blood pressure and one third of them don’t realize they have high blood pressure.

While a lower blood pressure is better for the heart. A too low blood pressure can cause lightheadedness, fainting and sometime shock. Your vital organs and body parts will have a lack of oxygen and nutrients and cause permanent damage. Low blood pressure can be caused by standing too fast, and other medical conditions.

The systolic reading occurs when the blood pressure is at its highest. This occurs when the heart beats and forces the blood into the arteries. The diastolic reading occurs when the heart is at rest, which is between the contractions. Your blood pressure reading is usually systolic over diastolic (systolic/diastolic). A reading above 120/80 is considered high blood pressure, above 140/90 is called hypertension, and a reading below 90/60 is considered low blood pressure.

There are different tools a healthcare professional uses to measure your blood pressure.

Many healthcare professionals use a stethoscope and a manual sphygmomanometer to measure your blood pressure. Typically they take the reading above your elbow. The sphygmomanometer has a bladder, cuff, bulb, and a gauge. When the bulb is pumped it inflates the bladder inside the cuff, which is wrapped around your arm. This inflation will stop the blood flow in your arteries. The stethoscope is used to listen for sound of the heartbeat, and no sound indicates that there is no flow. As the pressure is released from the bladder, you will hear the sound of the blood flowing again. That point becomes systolic reading. The diastolic reading is when you hear no sound again, which means that the blood flow is back to normal.

Current technology, now offers portable automatic blood pressure monitors. Some models can be battery operated, take reading from the wrist or arm, and have a memory to keep track of historical readings. Other models can include other vital sign monitoring, such as temperature, heart rate, and oximetry (the amount of oxygen in your blood).

Some manufacturers of blood pressure measuring devices include, WA Baum, Mabis, Omron, American Diagnostic Corporation, and Welch Allyn.

Noah Lam has over 15 years of experience of providing high quality medical supplies and healthcare products from Acute Care Facilities to parents and children. His company, CWI Medical is a leading provider of blood pressure measuring devices to healthcare facilities and for home use. In addition, CWI Medical is an ACHC Accredited organization maintaining standards of excellence in the Healthcare Field. For more information, please visit CWI Medical.

In this article you will discover:

• The facts about olive oil
• Why olive oil is a good cholesterol food?
• How much olive oil to consume to lower cholesterol?

The Facts About Olive Oil

Olive oil is pressed from olives and is high in monounsaturated fatty acids.

The best quality olive oil, extra virgin olive oil, has the greatest antioxidant content.

Apart from lowering cholesterol, olive oil also helps to:

• Protecting against arthritis
• Protecting against cancers such as breast, colon and prostate cancer
• Protecting against diabetes
• Protecting against heart disease

It’s the high content of antioxidant compounds within olive oil, which gives it its amazing beneficial health properties, these compounds are:

• Monounsaturated Fat
• Oleic Acid
• Omega-9 Fatty Acid
• Vitamin E

Why Is Olive Oil A Good Cholesterol Food?

It’s the antioxidants within olive oil, which makes it a good cholesterol food.

One compound in particular which makes olive oil great at reducing cholesterol is
oleic acid.

Clinical trials have shown that oleic acid lowers high cholesterol.

How Much Olive Oil Do You Need To Consume To Lower Cholesterol?

To help lower cholesterol try to use 30-40g of extra virgin olive oil within you’re cooking every day.

If 40g of extra virgin olive oil per day via your diet seems a bit of a challenge, extra virgin olive oil also comes in supplement form which you can get from your local health store.
So, to sum up…

Including extra virgin olive oil within your diet can help to protect you from many health complaints, but is extremely good at protecting your circulation and heart.

Clinical trials have proven that extra virgin olive oil can help to lower cholesterol levels.

If you are suffering from high cholesterol levels, then extra virgin olive oil is a good cholesterol food to include in your diet.

You can also supplement your diet with extra virgin olive oil supplements, which can be purchased from any good local health store.

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Download ‘How To Beat Cholesterol Naturally’ Free E-book

Website: NewBeingNutrition.com

In this article about garlic, the food to eat to lower cholesterol, you will discover:

• The facts about garlic
• Why is garlic the food to eat to lower cholesterol?
• How much garlic to eat to lower cholesterol?

The Facts About Garlic

Garlic is packed with beneficial health properties; it is great at shielding your body against disease.

In fact, it is so good at protecting the body from disease that everybody should include it in their diet.

The beneficial nutrients within garlic are:

• Vitamin C
• Vitamin B6
• Sulphur
• Selenium
• Manganese

Garlic is very good at protecting the heart:

• It reduces the risk of stroke
• It reduces the risk of heart attacks
• It protects against diabetic heart disease
• It protects against gallstones
• It lowers blood pressure
• It lowers cholesterol

Why Is Garlic The Food To Eat To Lower Cholesterol?

Garlic is the food to eat to lower cholesterol, because clinical trials have shown that it can reduce cholesterol levels and triglyceride levels on average by between 11 and 13 per cent.

Further studies showed that garlic powder supplements can help to reduce, and in some cases even reverse, the hardening and furring up of the arteries.

How Much Garlic Do You Need To Eat To Lower Cholesterol?

To help to lower cholesterol, try between 600mg and 900mg of garlic powder supplements per day for up to four months.

Garlic powder supplements tend to be more potent than garlic oil capsules.

So, to sum up…

Trials have proven that garlic is a good food to eat to lower cholesterol.

This is due to its high content of beneficial health properties.

To help lower your cholesterol, take between 600 mg and 900 mg of garlic powder supplements per day.

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Download ‘How To Beat Cholesterol Naturally’ Free E-book

Website: NewBeingNutrition.com

In this article about lowering cholesterol naturally with antioxidants, you will discover:

• The facts about antioxidants
• Why are certain antioxidants good at lowering cholesterol naturally?
• How many antioxidants do you need to take to help in lowering your cholesterol naturally?

The Facts About Antioxidants

Free radicals cause damaging oxidation reactions within your body, antioxidants are substances which can help to guard your body from these damaging oxidation reactions.

The developments of degenerative diseases have been linked to these damaging oxidation reactions.

Antioxidants come in many shapes and forms; there are many foods, vitamins and minerals which act as antioxidants, such as:

• Alpha-Lipoic Acid
• Bilberry
• Cat’s Claw
• Co-enzyme Q10
• Copper
• Ginkgo
• Grapeseed Extracts
• Green Tea
• Lutein
• Lycopene
• Manganese
• Pine Bark Extracts
• Reishi
• Riboflavin
• Selenium
• Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene)
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E
• Zinc

The antioxidants which are particular good at lowering cholesterol naturally are:

• Selenium
• Vitamin A (Beta-Carotene)
• Vitamin C
• Vitamin E

Why Are Certain Antioxidants Good At Lowering Cholesterol Naturally?

Clinical trials have shown that by consuming vitamin C supplements, you can help to lower your cholesterol naturally.

Vitamin C is a powerful antioxidant which acts within your body’s fluids.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant with a powerful protective effect which acts within your body’s fats.

Clinical trials have shown that by consuming vitamin E supplements, you can reduce the hardening and furring up of the arteries.

Studies have shown that vitamin A and beta-carotene help at lowering cholesterol naturally, which reduces the risk of coronary heart disease.

Trials have also shown that the mineral selenium, which is a powerful antioxidant, can help to protect against the hardening and furring up of the arteries too.

How Many Antioxidants Do You Need To Take To Help In Lowering Your Cholesterol Naturally?

To help in lowering your cholesterol naturally, it is best to include fruit and vegetables which are rich in antioxidants within your diet.

If you also want to supplement your diet with antioxidant supplements, you will need to take the following doses:

• 100-200 mcg of selenium per day
• 10,000 IU (3000 mcg) of vitamin A per day
• 100-200 mg of vitamin C per day
• 100-200 IU of vitamin E per day

To cut down the costs, it may be a good idea to take an antioxidant complex supplement instead of separate supplements.

Warning: As with all supplements, please consult your doctor before taking them.

This is especially important if you are pregnant, as doses of in excess of 10,000 IU (3000 mcg) of vitamin A per day, can cause problems to your baby.

So, to sum up…

Studies have shown that by taking the antioxidants supplements and increasing foods which are rich in antioxidants within your diet will help you at lowering cholesterol naturally.

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Download ‘How To Beat Cholesterol Naturally’ Free E-book

Website: NewBeingNutrition.com

High cholesterol diets that stress cutting eggs and butter out of the diet have been found to have a very small impact on the levels of cholesterol. Stopping the eating of margarine is more vital as is curbing the intake of respectful as well as processed food, which is full with hydrogenated fats and oils, as also trans fats. Saturated fats in butter are not half as harmful to you as the above-cited foods, given that they could be handled and, in fact, are called for by the body.

Cooking with fresh garlic is fruitful in the reduction of cholesterol, as too is taking quality natural cholesterol reducing supplements that have authentic Policosanol along with guggulipid, since such substances are proven to successfully lower the levels of LDL and increase the levels of HDL. A beneficial high cholesterol diet may possibly certainly outperform statin remedies and also not have any side effects.

Studies have even revealed that high cholesterol diets that encompass low fat, low cholesterol could be bad for you because they may possibly reduce the ‘beneficial’ cholesterol (HDL) while just minimally impacting on LDL or ‘bad’ cholesterol, and it may perhaps end up making your cholesterol levels worse. For those that are not hither to doing hence, maintaining a natural cholesterol reducing diet to the high cholesterol diet is highly suggested.

A high cholesterol diet that lacks in essential fatty acids could also contribute to heart complications. Supplementing the diet with a tablespoon of natural flax seed oil every day is an awesome agent for Omega 3 essential fatty acids, and it does not manufacture fat but helps lose extra pounds. Cooking with only ‘Extra Virgin Olive Oil’ is also highly accepted as it helps lower the levels of LDL levels, while also raising your HDL levels to a beneficial level.

Remember we only have one heart and we should do everything in our power to keep it strong and healthy. After all you owe it to yourself to stay healthy for as long as possible. It just takes a few small changes and you will notice a positive difference in your cholesterol levels.

R James is an avid health food conniseur he is often found at various health food stores looking for the best foods to lower cholesterol and maintain a healthy lifestyle. Visit Low Cholesterol Diet Info for more

Heart disease…heart attacks…we hear about these tragic events all the time. The news often reports on threats to heart health and the current medical trends being taken. Heart disease is the #1 killer and clogged arteries are part of a progression towards heart disease. How are clogged arteries formed?

Interestingly, the guilty culprit we have heard about in the formation of clogged arteries is only part of the truth. We have heard that high cholesterol causes clogged arteries. Actually, there is a more primal cause.

The first thing that happens is a lack of vitamin C or ascorbate in the body. This is termed sub clinical scurvy. This causes cracks in the arteries to form. The body, in an attempt to heal or patch the cracks, takes cholesterol and uses it as a patch. Over time, this hardens into what is called plaque. Now we are getting to more familiar territory regarding clogged arteries. The buildup of plaque in the arteries narrows the passageway of the arteries and also increases blood pressure. Then, if a small clot breaks away, it can totally clog an artery triggering a heart attack. Normally, the small clot would be harmless, but due to the clogged arteries it can now become deadly.

What helps clean arteries? Ascorbate is one thing. Nattokinase is also useful. Serrapeptase is also good. There are products that have been created to help prevent and reverse clogged arteries. Since Heart Disease is the #1 killer, it behooves us all to find out how to prevent clogged arteries. The research is available. As a person seeks it out, they will find the answer to the cause and reversal of clogged arteries. The only thing left to do is to put the research into action in one’s own life.

Cheryl Jones has been investigating alternative and holistic health solutions for over 30 years and has access to information published generally in advance of mass media publications. Links and resources are available to valuable information and specifically formulated products.
http://shineonhealth.com
http://www.ashnow.com/curecancer

In this food that lowers bad cholesterol article about oats, you will discover:

• What are oats?
• Why are oats an important food that lowers bad cholesterol?
• How much oats do you need to eat to lowers bad cholesterol?

What Are Oats?

Oats are a type of cereal grain which is typically consumed as porridge.

The soluble fibre content of oats makes them a good mild laxative.

Oats have antioxidant properties and help to stimulate the digestion system.

The beneficial nutrients within oats are:

• Calcium
• Folic Acid
• Iron
• Magnesium
• Manganese
• Phosphorus
• Potassium
• Silicon
• Vitamin B5

Why Are Oats An Important Food That Lowers Bad Cholesterol?

Oats are an important food that lowers bad cholesterol, because it contains the soluble fibre - beta-glucan.

Studies have shown that by eating a couple of bowls of porridge per day, you can reduce your total blood cholesterol levels significantly.

The soluble fibre within oats helps to slow down the passage of food through your digestive system.

This makes it easier for your body to manage and absorb cholesterol.

How Much Oats Do You Need To Eat To Lowers Bad Cholesterol?

To help to lower your bad cholesterol levels within your body, you will need to eat about 3g of oats per day.

That’s about a couple of bowls of porridge per day.

Studies have shown that by eating this amount of oats, you can lower your cholesterol levels by up to twenty five per cent.

So, to sum up…

Oats are a good food that lowers bad cholesterol.

Studies have shown that you can lower your bad cholesterol levels significantly by just eating a couple of bowls of porridge per day.

Stewart Hare C.H.Ed Dip NutTh

Download ‘How To Beat Cholesterol Naturally’ Free E-book

Website: NewBeingNutrition.com

If you have high blood pressure, you will have to take action to treat it. If ignored, hypertension can lead to very serious health problems including stroke, heart disease and kidney failure. So what high blood pressure treatments are the most effective? Find out what works best to keep blood pressure under control.

Healthy lifestyle is the best treatment for high blood pressure

No drug can ever help you to win a battle against high blood pressure for good. The best they can do is to give a temporarily relief. However, by changing your lifestyle habits you can keep your blood pressure under control.

There are 3 major aspects of your life that affect blood pressure

- Exercise

- Diet

- Stress management

Making your heart beating slightly faster than normal from time to time is very important. This doesn’t mean you will have to go the gym every day. Many everyday things count as exercise - house chores, gardening, walking your dog or playing active games with your children are good examples. Walking is the best exercise for high blood pressure, even 15 minutes a day will do wonder. Most important you should do some exercise every day.

Another essential thing you will have to evaluate is your diet. Do you like souses, pickles and pre-cooked meals? Than you will have to cut it down, because all of the above are extremely high in sodium and sodium affects blood pressure very badly. Add more veggies and fruits to your diet, remove your salt shaker from the table and you will feel much better as your blood pressure lowers.

Every time you stress out, your blood pressure jumps up. And if stress is a permanent part of your life it can constantly keep your readings high. Don’t ignore stress; there are many effective ways to deal with it. For example, you can enroll in a stress relief class or take a yoga or Tai Chi class. Try to find time to do things that you enjoy.

High blood pressure medication

When it comes to high blood pressure drugs, you should never get one without consulting a doctor. If a particular medicine works well for your friend it doesn’t mean it will suit you. Most high blood pressure drugs are prescription drugs, so the only way to get them is to visit your physician first and ask for prescription.

Medication used to control high blood pressure includes:

- ACE inhibitors

- Calcium channel blockers

- Beta-blockers

- Angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs)

- Alpha-blockers

- Diuretics

In the past a lot of high blood pressure medications were unsafe and had side effects. Luckily they improved in recent years, so modern drugs that help to lower your blood pressure are more effective and safe.

Alternative high blood pressure treatments

If you don’t trust conventional drugs and prefer alternative medicine, there are several treatments that can help to lower blood pressure.

Natural herbs for high blood pressure are very popular. Most effective are Hawthorn and Ginkgo Biloba. Several studies have shown that garlic also helps with hypertension control. Garlic thins the blood (reduces its ability to clot). Garlic supplements work just as well as fresh garlic.

Among the alternative therapies, most common are acupuncture and magnetic high blood pressure therapy.

Acupuncture relaxes your body and releases some of the strain on the heart. There is no hard scientific proof that acupunctures works, but many people who tried it, swear that it helped to decrease their blood pressure.

Treatment with magnets can also help. Copper and iron bracelets reduce the effects of blood pressure, but scientists don’t know how and why. However, this treatment is painless and safe, so it is worth the try.

There are many ways to treat high blood pressure. You should never ignore it, because this condition doesn’t just go away unless you do something to control it.

Tanya Turner is an editor of High Blood Pressure 101 where you can reliable information about effective high blood pressure treatments including herbal and alternative high blood pressure medicine