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Article by Indus Health Plus

What’s all the noise about?

The strongest muscle in the human body is only the size of a human fist. Yet the amount of energy produced by that muscle over a lifetime of 80 years is enough to light up 30 lakh wooden matches, or cook 7500 hamburgers, or keep a 60 watt light bulb continuously lit for one-and-a-half years! That is the power of an average human heart. Imagine the possibilities that could be attained by such a powerful organ if trained and nurtured properly. Sadly though, this wonderful gift of nature, that quietly goes about its work, is taken for granted or worse still ignored and abused. The consequences are obvious and apparent. In 2004, ignorance coupled with abuse resulted in 72 lakh deaths worldwide as a result of a dysfunctional heart. Coronary heart disease (CHD), the name by which it is known formally, was the leading cause of death and accounted for 12.2% of the total number of deaths that year. The statistics are no different for India; the same year 14.6 lakh deaths out of a total of 1.3 crore occurred because of coronary heart disease. Presently more than 72 lakh men and women die each year of CHD, the world over. According to estimates and current trends, almost 26 lakh Indians are predicted to die due to coronary heart disease by 2020.How does it kill?

Pipes called arteries make way for the blood to be pumped out of the heart, channeled throughout the body, and brought back. The arteries that lead it (blood) out of the heart to a finer group of pipes called capillaries decrease in size gradually while the ones that bring blood back keep increasing in size. This remarkable system becomes susceptible and vulnerable to assault, finally leading to a breakdown when the walls of the arteries supplying blood to the heart get clogged by waxy and oily substances commonly known as cholesterol and fatty deposits (or plaques). The decreasing levels of blood supply starve the heart of oxygen and vital nutrients required for it to work properly. This can cause chest pain, technically known as angina. However, if the blood supply to a portion of the heart muscle is cut off entirely or if the required energy of the heart becomes much greater than its actual blood supply, the most likely result is an injury to the heart muscle, commonly known as a heart attack. In most cases, the attack is usually not preceded by any visible symptom, thus leading the victim to a sudden death!Who gets killed?

Contrary to popular assumptions that non-communicable diseases (NCD) affect wealthy nations, latest statistics suggest that over 80% deaths caused by cardiovascular diseases (CVD) take place in low and middle-income countries. Also the occurrence is almost equal among men and women. Unless intensive and comprehensive measures in prevention, diagnosis and treatment are adopted, it is expected that 82% of the future increase in Coronary heart disease will occur in developing countries like India.What kills?

“The gods are just and our pleasant vices/ Make instruments to plague us.” William Shakespeare’s wise articulation holds true for our present predicament. Cardiovascular diseases, especially coronary heart disease and stroke may occur due to genetic predisposition or environmental influences. However, the rise of the incidence of CHD in India may be attributed mainly to unhealthy and altered lifestyles than to genetic factors. Our insistent need to mimic foreign cultures and adopt lifestyles inimical to healthy living is duly reflected in the current scenario of physical and mental health in India. Consumption of tobacco, alcohol and fast food, coupled with physical inactivity, obesity and low consumption of vegetables and fruits has led to high blood pressure, high cholesterol and higher levels of stress eventually ending up with cardiovascular diseases. Approximately 75% of cardiovascular diseases can be attributed to high blood pressure, high levels of cholesterol, tobacco use, physical inactivity, obesity and unhealthy diets. If only we could help ourselves from indulging in our vices, so many untimely deaths could have been prevented. When does it kill?

A Chinese proverb says, “Encased in fat in youth, encased in a coffin in middle age.” Popular myths that heart diseases usually affect older people as a result of ageing, is fast losing ground. In reality, the risks for cardiovascular diseases start in youth. It is estimated that around 1.8 crore children around the world under five years of age are overweight. Also, 14% of students aged 13 to 15 years around the world smoke cigarettes. The average age for the onset of such non-communicable diseases has also declined and younger people in the age bracket of 25 -40 are increasingly becoming susceptible to heart-attacks and strokes.Can it be prevented?

Old habits die hard. However, it is preferable that habits die instead of living, breathing human beings! Intensive studies have revealed that while genetic factors play a part, an unhealthy lifestyle affects and influences 80% to 90% people dying of coronary heart disease. Developed countries in the West – where the death rates from coronary heart disease have decreased – implemented policies related to improved prevention, diagnosis and treatment. A significant change in lifestyle, in particular reduced smoking among adults and lower average levels of blood pressure and blood cholesterol improved the mortality rate.

According to a report published by WHO, “of all coronary heart disease patients who die within 28 days of the onset of symptoms, about two-thirds die before reaching hospital. This highlights not only the need for early recognition of the warning signs of a heart attack, but also the need for prevention.” The early warning signs can be detected through regular (at least once-a-year) preventive medical health checkups. If any anomaly is detected, and depending on the stage of the damage done, remedial measures may range from adopting a healthier lifestyle to surgical interventions like angioplasty, coronary artery bypass, heart transplant etc.

About the Author

Indus Health Plus is global leading specialist healthcare providers, Indus has been providing comprehensive and quality health care services at very affordable prices.

Related Heart Disease Articles

Article by Honey B. Wackx

Heart disease in women is something we all should be aware of and not just women. We can spread the knowledge of the seriousness of the disease to those women that are unaware of the problem of heart disease in women. It’s mostly in recent years that there has been more awareness of this problem.

Surveys conducted by the AHA between 1997 and 2003 showed that awareness of heart disease as the leading cause of death in women rose from 30% in 1997 to 46% in 2003. Awareness in white women (55%) was nearly twice as high as among African-American (30%) and Hispanic (27%) women. Data from the Women Veteran Cohort, age 35 and older, showed 42% of women were concerned about heart disease. Only 8% to 20% were aware that coronary artery disease is the major cause of death for women.

To understand the seriousness of heart disease in women, we need to first look at the facts. According to recent studies, it’s found that more than 8 million American women are currently living with some form of heart disease. In fact, heart disease is the leading cause of death of American women. More women die of heart disease than any other illness each year.

Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)According to the most recent study by NHANES in 1999-2004 the prevalence of Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) shows 15.4% of that heart disease in women in the age group 60-79 years of age and 21.6% of CHD heart disease in women over 79 years with it.

Diagnosed heart attacksIn another ARIC: 1987-2000 study it shows Annual number of American women having diagnosed heart attack as follows: Age 29-44, 10,000 Age 45-64, 88,000 Age 65+ 372,000

Heart disease in women can be diagnosed and treated but the key to staying healthy is prevention. Once a woman finds out that she has heart disease, it may already be too late. Chances are that woman has engaged in several risk factors throughout her lifetime that contributed to her contracting the disease.

Some heart disease risk factorscigarette smokinginactivityhigh cholesterolhigh blood pressurediabetesobesity

Such risk factors as these increase the risk of heart disease in women. Most of these mentioned above can be treated without necessarily resorting to medicine. However diabetes does require medical treatment, usually eating the right foods and other restrictions. High cholesterol and high blood pressure may or may not require medical treatment but you should see your doctor for testing and treatment or recommendations.

Women need to understand that these risk factors need to be avoided as much as possible because they are so susceptible to the disease. Heart disease in women doesn’t need to be as much of an epidemic it has become. With just a few lifestyle changes, all women can once more live long and healthy lives without the risk for heart disease.

Of course, there are other risk factors that increase the risk for heart disease in women that can’t be helped. These risk factors include age, heredity, the effects of menopause, etc. By knowing this, women should arm themselves with as much information as they can so that they can know just what they are dealing with.

Estimated lifetime cost of CHDFor women with non-obstructive CHD enrolled in the Women’s Ischemia Syndrome Evaluation (WISE) study of the NHLBI, the average lifetime cost estimate was about 0 000 and ranged from .0 to .1 million for women with 1-vessel to 3-vessel CHD.

Previous symptoms may be absentHeart disease in women doesn’t need to have such a high morality rate. On the basis of data from the FHS of the NHLBI 64% of women who died suddenly of CHD had no previous symptoms of this disease. This makes it important to be concerned about your heart health, since you may or may not know you have a heart disease problem.

Lifestyle changes can helpBy adopting a few lifestyle changes such as getting more exercise, eating right, quitting smoking and reducing stress levels, women can drastically reduce the propensity for heart disease. This is important not only for heart disease but for other diseases as well.

Heart disease in women does claim many lives each and every year but the disease can be manageable and preventable if detected early enough. Women need to study and learn as much as they can. They need to be educated. Not many women know that they have a good probability of getting the disease. By understanding and knowing this, women will have a step up on this horrible disease and, maybe one day, heart disease in women will be a thing of the past.

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Sean Croxton of Underground Wellness gets hits butt kicked by Brett Klika of Fitness Quest 10. No weights? No problem. Add a little flavor to your workout without lifting a single weight! Just add these exercises to your routine. No excuses! You can do these anywhere! For more info on Brett Klika and the FQ10 Training Staff, please visit www.fq10.com Schedule YOUR consultation with Sean by emailing sean@undergroundwellness.com Please visit our websites! http www.undergroundwellness.com http www.blogtalkradio.com.undergroundwellness http www.facebook.com www.facebook.com

www.scoobysworkshop.com Welcome to my new S61XL mass gain program! This series is for the hardcore intermediate or advanced bodybuilders who wants to gain muscle and is willing to work hard to get it. If your gains have stagnated and you are having trouble making progress this series is for you! If you hate coming up with workouts but still want to work out hard, this series is for you! The videos in this series are complete workouts, just press play and follow along. Please do not attempt these S61XL workouts unless you have been weight lifting five days a week for at least a year. Beginners would be much better off with my beginning workout plan. It takes time to build up the tendons and joints to withstand this kind of punishment and you will get injured if you start this program before your body is ready. I’m going to focus on some unusual workouts that even a pro bodybuilder would find challenging. Most bodybuilders make the mistake of not mixing their workouts up enough and get stuck in the three-sets-of-eight rut or the one-rep-max rut. Its best to do these workouts at home but do them at a gym if thats your only option. Home is much better because you can completely eliminate the wasted time running between machines or waiting for equipment. These workouts are designed so that they only require inexpensive used weights, nothing fancy. I guarantee you that if you incorporate these unusual workouts into your training program once a month or so you will see an …

Diabetes has long been known as the silent killer – it has never gained full recognition for what it contributes to the mortality rate in developed countries, and people usually only think of the effect on their diet and lifestyle when diabetes is mentioned as a possibility. However, it has real, measurable and very serious health consequences – and kills thousands of people worldwide every year. This is why diabetes is known as the silent killer.

What is diabetes? It is a condition where the pancreas overproduces insulin in response to ingested glucose – basically, your body is said to be unable to handle glucose. Insulin helps break down glucose to be metabolized into energy, and if it is overproduced, there is a sharp drop in blood sugar levels. These blood sugar changes affect the brain, your cholesterol levels, your blood vessel walls, and your heart and arteries. The symptoms of type 1 diabetes include excessive thirst, excessive urination (as your body’s metabolism of glucose is linked to water use), excessive hunger (which can exacerbate the symptoms and progression if the wrong foods are chosen), tiredness, and weight loss.

In the Western world, diabetes is reaching epidemic proportions – however, the diabetes that is currently dominating our health scene is the preventable, adult-onset type 2 diabetes. This diabetes is developed in response to continued high sugar intake, where the pancreas must produce large amounts of insulin to deal with a high sugar diet, and the body suffers the consequences. The pancreas becomes burnt out, and the ‘inability to handle sugar’, or type 1 diabetes, develops.

The reason that diabetes is known as the silent killer is because blood sugar spikes can be eroding venous and arterial tissue, causing damage to your pancreas, and otherwise harming your body for years before you get any acute symptoms that lead you to the medical profession. By the time you get to a doctor, it can be too late to reverse the damage done – your life span is often shortened irrevocably.

Diabetes is often inherited, or at least there are genes that predispose individuals to diabetes. If you have a family history of diabetes, the best thing to do is to watch your diet – prevention is the best cure. If you are already concerned about the possibility of type 2 or type 1 diabetes, use the home kits that are available to test your sugar counts, and stay in contact with the medical profession. Many hospitals have the services to treat pre-diabetes. If you catch diabetes early enough, the damage is reversible. Don’t take the risk of having to have insulin injections for the rest of your life, and never even being able to look at chocolate again…

Did you know that home diabetes test are available for both types of diabetes? Firms like TestMedica, Home Diagnostics, and FreeStyle make home products that you can use to give you an indication of whether you are disposed to diabetes, and whether you currently have issues with your blood sugar metabolism. If you are suffering some of the diabetes symptoms, you can use a home test kit as a precursor to speaking to your doctor about your risk of type 1 diabetes or type 2 diabetes.

Sean Croxton of Underground Wellnessn joins Brett Klika of Fitness Quest 10 for a killer body weight workout. Schedule YOUR consultation with Sean by emailing sean@undergroundwellness.com Please visit our websites! www.undergroundwellness.tv http www.theuwstore.com http www.twitter.com www.facebook.com www.facebook.com Fitness Quest 10: www.fq10.com

Also called hypertension, high blood pressure is a wide spread health problem. One in five Americans already has it and more than 90% will get it. The fact that at least 90% of us will develop high blood pressure or hypertension suggests that we are genetically programmed to get it, but it is not our fate, it’s something we do to ourselves.

High blood pressure when a person’s usual blood pressure is elevated. The top number, or systolic blood pressure is the highest pressure that occurs each time the heart beats, and the bottom number, or diastolic blood pressure, is the lowest pressure that occurs when the heart relaxes between beats.

If only one of the two numbers is elevated, a person is considered to have high blood pressure and should be treated. A person that is consistently over 140/90 mmHg, he has high blood pressure.

As we age, hypertension is related to the constriction and narrowing of blood vessels diminishing the blood flow and starving the organs of the oxygen they need causing a heart attack or a stroke. Women are more likely than men to suffer strokes, still unknown why.

Main Causes of High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a disease of poor lifestyle choices such as excess of salt and excess weight. Kidney and certain hormonal diseases can also contribute to hypertension but less common. Most of the cases (90% to 95%) are related to genetics, physiology and lifestyle. Other remaining cases result from pregnancy, drugs, tumors or diseases.

It is worth mentioning that most people are unaware they have high blood pressure until their blood pressure is measured. It is then most important that people regularly measure their own blood pressure using approved monitoring devices so that you can see if your blood pressure is within a normal range.

Natural Remedies for High Blood Pressure

If your blood pressure reading is higher than 135 mmHg for the top number or 85 mmHg for the bottom number may mean that you should take action. It would be appropriate to lower your blood pressure with lifestyle changes such as cutting back on salt and alcohol, losing weight and getting more exercise before being obliged to use DRUGS.

A healthy diet and exercise can lessen the need for drugs and reduce both systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Diet should emphasize vegetables and fruits, lean meat, low-fat dairy products, whole grains and salt restriction meaning intake of no more than 1,500 milligrams of sodium a day. Stress is a factor not to be neglected.

Natural Remedies

Natural remedies have been used in traditional medicine for thousands of years to support the solid health of the heart and circulatory system. In more recent times, research has investigated these claims.

There are now a number of published clinical studies demonstrating the ability of a range of herbs to support the cardiovascular system and to maintain blood pressure within the normal range. High-Rite from Native Remedies is what you need. Also, to control your blood sugar, I suggest Advanced Blood Sugar Solution from Health Resources .Take action and be in charge of your health.

I don’t know what I would have done without High-Rite… I only wish that I had known about it sooner because it really works!

For more information, go to My Site.

By Gilles Coulombe

Prostate cancer set to be biggest killer
Prostate cancer will soon become the biggest killer of Australian men, and experts are determined to conquer the fear factor stopping men from getting checked out.

Read more on thewest.com.au

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is often characterized as the silent killer–and for good reason. Although it affects an estimated one in five North Americans, many people don’t experience any symptoms. As a result, less than one-quarter of sufferers actually receive treatment. Left untreated, however, it can severely damage the cardiovascular system, leading to death from stroke, heart attack or kidney failure.

Most high blood pressure patients are candidates for medications, including ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers, calcium channel blockers and diuretics. However, statistics show that of the 20 to 30 million individuals diagnosed with high blood pressure, less than half stay on their medication for more than one year. Moreover, 60 per cent of those who lower their medication do so because of side-effects. Given this information, the use of nutritional and botanical supplements, along with the adoption of a healthier lifestyle, can be of immense benefit in fighting this hidden killer.

Lifestyle and Dietary Approaches

If you wish to either prevent or treat high blood pressure, changing how you eat, sleep, and respond to stress are very important considerations. In the eight-week DASH trial conducted by the Heart, Lung and Blood Institute in 1997, 70 percent of volunteers who eliminated meat and sugar, decreased unhealthy fat intake, and increased fruit and vegetable consumption decreased blood pressure to below 140/90 mm/Hg compared to just 45 percent of those who only ate more fruits and vegetables.

Individuals with high blood pressure should decrease sodium intake to approximately three grams per day and add at least four daily servings of foods rich in potassium (beans, spinach, melon, potatoes, tomatoes, bananas, avocados). Decreasing sodium intake alone has reduced blood pressure by 8.4 mm/Hg systolic and 4.4 mm/Hg diastolic. Moreover, alcohol intake should be reduced to less than two drinks per day. Research has shown that a shift from five to two drinks daily can decrease blood pressure by 8 mm/Hg systolic and 4.4 mm/Hg diastolic.

A structured exercise program is another important factor. In one study, an average weight reduction of 4.5 kg by individuals who were 10 to 65 per cent overweight led to a significant reduction in systolic blood pressure after just six months. In addition, stopping smoking is a must for anyone diagnosed with hypertension.

Stress Management and Sleep

Those with high blood pressure need to employ stress management and relaxation techniques. This concept was investigated by Dr. D. Shapiro and associates from the department of psychiatry and bio behavioural sciences at the University Of California Los Angeles School Of Medicine. Individuals with a mild to moderate increase in blood pressure were given blood pressure-lowering medications and then divided at random into two groups. One group performed simple stress management techniques, while the other did not. Remarkably, 55 percent of those who employed stress-reducing strategies were able to remain medication free, compared to only 30 percent in the control group, as found after a one-year follow-up examination.

A good night’s sleep is also important. Researchers from the University of Pavia in Italy found that high blood pressure patients deprived of sleep had significant increases in blood pressures and heart rates, especially during the evening.

CoQ10, Magnesium and Fish Oil

Several supplements have proven to be of great value in the fight against hypertension. One is coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), or ubiquinone. One study of 18 patients with high blood pressure concluded that 100 milligrams of CoQ10 daily for 10 weeks lowered systolic and diastolic blood pressure by 10.6 and 7.7 mm/Hg respectively.

In addition to CoQ10, 480 mg of magnesium oxide daily for two months decreased blood pressure on average by 2.5 mm/Hg systolic and 1.4 mm/Hg diastolic over 24 hours in individuals with mild to moderate hypertension. (Those employing magnesium therapy are cautioned that this may lead to episodes of diarrhea.)

Fish oils rich in the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA are also helpful adjuncts in the control of blood pressure. Individuals with mild increases in blood pressure were given either two grams of EPA and 1.4 g of DHA from fish oil (approximately 12 1,000-mg capsules of an 18 percent EPA/12 percent DHA mixture) or a placebo every day for four months. After only eight weeks, blood pressure was reduced by 6 mm/Hg systolic and 5 mm/Hg diastolic. Individuals wishing to try this high-dose fish oil approach should also increase vitamin E intake to 800 IU per day.

Garlic and Reishi Mushroom

For those with mild to moderate elevations in blood pressure, garlic and reishi mushroom may be of value. The use of standardized garlic (Allium sativum) supplements at a dose of up to 900 mg per day for 12 to 16 weeks decreases both systolic and diastolic blood pressure in individuals with moderate elevations in blood pressure. In fact, one study concluded that garlic supplements decreased standing diastolic pressure from 101 to 90 mm/Hg and systolic pressure from 171 to 150 mm/Hg after 12 weeks.

Unlike garlic, the use of reishi mushroom (Ganoderma lucidum or Ling zhi in Chinese) in the treatment of hypertension is not well recognized. However, the conclusions of a recent trial suggest that it may be another helpful, natural, blood pressure-lowering agent. Fifty-five individuals on anti-hypertensive medications with moderate increases in blood pressure were given either 55 mg of concentrated reishi mushroom extract or a placebo, three times a day for one month. Unlike the 14 individuals in the placebo group, those taking the concentrated mushroom extract had a significant reduction in blood pressure.

In conclusion, high blood pressure is a serious problem that affects one in four adults. It is important that individuals afflicted with this problem adopt a healthy lifestyle that includes quitting smoking, reducing stress, eating better, losing weight and increasing exercise. These changes, along with the judicious use of supplements and herbal therapies, can help combat this silent killer.

Alistrol Natural Supplement

Alistrol is a patented, proprietary blend of natural ingredients that have been used for centuries to help support healthy blood pressure. Use Alistrol everyday to help maintain healthy circulation and support cardio-vascular health. Time-tested for safety, the herbal extracts in Alistrol have no known side effects.

Studies confirm this unique blend of natural ingredients support healthy heart function. Helps maintain healthy arteries, helps support blood flow and central and peripheral vascular circulation. Furthermore, Alistrol helps maintain blood flow to the heart and supports healthy blood pressure in the pulmonary artery and all arteries in general.

What is Blood Pressure?

Blood pressure is simply the pressure of blood against the walls of the main arteries. Two readings, systolic (when the heart is contracting) and diastolic (when the heart is relaxing), are measured by a device that records pressure changes in millimetres of mercury (mm/Hg). Various factors–age, stress, diet, exercise–will affect the readings. The following chart shows a continuum of blood pressure values including both healthy and unhealthy states.

Blood pressure

Systolic

Diastolic

Ideal

Less than 120 mm/Hg

Less than 80 mm/Hg

Mild hypertension

140 to 159 mm/Hg

90 to 99 mm/Hg

Moderate hypertension

160 to 179 mm/Hg

100 to 109 mm/Hg

Severe hypertension

More than 180 mm/Hg

More than 110 mm/Hg

What you don’t know about your readings can hurt you