Health for Body Mind and Soul

Heart disease includes coronary artery disease, myocardial infarction (heart attack), and other irregularities in the rhythm of the heart beat.  Heat disease affects millions of people around the world, limiting quality of life and decreasing life expectancy for many.  While many of the symptoms of heart disease are similar (palpitations, shortness of breath, weakness, nausea, dizziness, chest pain/discomfort, sweating) may be treated, preventing them before they occur is a much better option.

Preventing heart disease involves four main components: proper diet, not smoking, maintaining a healthy body weight, and regular exercise. The American Heart Association recommends specific interventions to prevent heart disease.  These interventions are aimed at maintaining good levels of LDL cholesterol, reducing triglycerides, and avoiding excess salt.  Specifically, they recommend building your diet around natural fruits and vegetables as well as high fiber and lean sources of protein.  The best source of protein is a plant-based one. Added sugars and fats in the diet should be avoided.

Read more here.

Not smoking is another essential piece to maintaining overall heart health.  The American Heart Association recommends abstaining from tobacco products in order to improve heart health. About 20% of all deaths from heart disease in the U.S. are directly related to cigarette smoking.

Read about smoking and heart disease.

Maintaining a healthy body weight is extremely important to a healthy heart.  Carrying excess weight makes the heart work harder, placing extra strain on the heart muscle.

Finally, regular exercise is a key element in the prevention of heart disease.  Cardiovascular exercise provides a variety of benefits to the heart.  These benefits include stronger and more muscular walls of the heart, a greater flow of blood through the heart, better resting heart rate, increased elasticity of the arteries, and decreased levels of cholesterol.  All of these benefits combine to improve overall preventative measures for heart health.

Preventing serious disease is always a better option than treating symptoms after the disease starts.  With attention to diet and exercise, reducing the risk of  heart disease is possible. The same interventions are essential for the prevention, and reversal of some conditions involving the heart, and blood vessels.