Heart disease prevention

The Kettlebells for Heart-athon is only 4 weeks away! Once a week leading up to the event, I will be blogging about heart health. Heart disease, or cardiac disease, refers to a group of conditions affecting the structure and functioning of the heart alone. Cardiovascular disease refers to disorders of the blood vessels and the heart.

One such condition, atherosclerosis, or narrowing of the arteries due to plaque, is the main cause of poor circulation. Many health problems originate from this condition including coronary arterial disease, ischemia (restriction of blood supply to the heart), angina, heart attack, stroke and thrombosis.

Angina pectoris is caused by narrowing of the arteries, which restricts the flow of blood to the heart muscle. The symptoms are chest pain or discomfort sometimes radiating to the arms, the back or the neck.

When the flow of blood to the brain is restricted, a stroke could result. Symptoms are sudden weakness or numbness, tingling in the face, arms and legs, slurred speech, blurred vision, severe headache or loss of consciousness. If the flow of blood to the heart is restricted for a period of time, irreversible damage may be done to the heart muscle leading to a heart attack.

Symptoms may appear as severe pain in the chest lasting two or more minutes spreading to the arms, shoulders and neck, dizziness, nausea (indigestion symptoms), shortness of breath and fainting.

Factors contributing to cardiovascular disease are heredity, age, lifestyle, diet, obesity and diabetes. It was once believed that a build-up of a high level of blood cholesterol and fats on the walls of the arteries led to cardiovascular disease. Today there is strong evidence that consumption of hydrogenated and rancid fats leads to heart disease and even cancer.

Problems relating to circulation and arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) respond well to proper nutrition, and deterioration can be stopped or even reversed in many cases. Deficiencies in choline, a fat splitting enzyme, and chromium should be investigated.

Preventing heart disease through nutritional means is a call for a simplified diet high in fiber and natural, whole foods, and avoiding consumption of chlorinated water, food preservatives, toxic chemicals, caffeine, alcohol, refined and concentrated sugars.

Lifestyle changes are equally important. Exercise, quitting smoking, relaxation, and stress management techniques contribute to a healthy heart. Stress, along with malnutrition, is the major cause of heart disease. It is critical to identify the major cause of stress and to take steps to address the cause. Eliminating stress is unrealistic and even undesirable. But reducing stress and learning to manage stress is possible and necessary for good health.

A holistic approach to cardiovascular health also takes psychological factors into consideration. Heart disease may point to many different psycho-spiritual problems, all connected to joy and love. Since blood is linked to joy, a decrease in circulation of the blood often indicates a lack of joy in relation to love. To support the heart, and return the heart to its natural smooth rhythm, one must be open to love, less critical of oneself and others, and practice forgiveness.

If heart problems are suspected, contact your physician immediately. If you experience any symptoms, have them checked by your physician. And begin to change your lifestyle and eating habits in order to feel better and extend your life and healthspan.