Hair Alternative Medicine

The Major Risk Factors of Heart Disease


You should always keep in mind that whatever actions you do today can either help to prevent, delay or minimize the effect of heart disease or worsen it. The key is to control risk factors. Granted that you cannot control every risk factor for heart disease such as family history but you can definitely do something about your behavior. Age and gender also influence your risk of heart disease.

Major Risk Factors of Heart Disease

Cholesterol Levels

Cholesterol is a type of a lipid, a soft, fatlike substance that serves as a source of fuel. Excessive cholesterol can cause buildup of atherosclerotic plaque. Accumulation of plaque in arteries can block blood flow and lead to a heart attack. LDL cholesterol, the so-called "bad" cholesterol, is transported to sites throughout the body, where it's used to repair cell membranes or to make hormones. LDL cholesterol can accumulate in the walls of your arteries. HDL cholesterol, the so-called "good" cholesterol, transports cholesterol to the liver, where it's altered and removed from the body.

Blood Pressure

Normal blood pressure level is defined as less than 130 millimeters of mercury (mm Hg) for systolic blood pressure and less than 85 mm Hg for diastolic blood pressure. The higher the blood pressure, the more likely it is to take a toll on the heart and on the brain. Blood pressure should be checked whether or not your levels are high. For normal, check once every two years. For high-normal, check once a year. If extremely high, you should get immediate care. Then get multiple measurements to know if a high level is sustained over time.

Diabetes

Another risk factor for heart disease is diabetes, a chronic disease of insulin deficiency or resistance. Type 2 diabetes, the most common type, is associated with obesity and may be prevented by maintaining ideal body weight through exercise and balanced nutrition.

Tips For Controlling Risk of Heart Disease

Stop Smoking

The effect of smoking on your lungs can cause almost every other medical condition.

Get Active

Routine physical activity is highly recommended and helpful in controlling obesity. Try to perform 30 minutes of moderate physical activity every day. Fast walking is one of the best way to prevent heart disease. If you can lose even a small amount of weight, five pounds for example, it may have a positive effect on lipid levels and blood pressure preventing heart disease.

Limit Alcohol Consumption

Limit daily alcohol intake to three ounces or fewer to prevent heart disease. People who drink large amounts of alcohol (six to eight ounces a day) tend to have higher blood pressure.

Watch What You Eat

Eat five helpings of fruits and vegetables daily to prevent heart disease.

Maintain adequate dietary potassium, calcium and magnesium intake.

Reduce saturated fats and cholesterol to stay away from heart disease.

------------------------

Mike Spencer has been helping people protect their health for many years. To find out how you can help protect your heart and prevent heart disease visit Mikes site at: http://www.heart-healthy-diet.com


MORE RESOURCES:

Reuters

Coffee party offers a sweeter alternative
Graphic
Nobody thought it could last this long. Following the first round of “tea parties” last tax season, the haphazard, grassroots movement ...
Tea Party, hippies and the curse of Barry?San Diego Daily Transcript (subscription)
Coffee, Anyone?Memphis Flyer
The Tea Party Spells Trouble for RepublicansEinnews Portugal
Clarksville Leaf Chronicle -UConn Daily Campus -Big Journalism (blog)
all 130 news articles »


Washington Post

Nine Major Changes In The Democrats' New Health Reform Bill
Kaiser Health News
MEDICARE DIS-ADVANTAGE: Government payments to Medicare Advantage, the private-health plan alternative to traditional Medicare, would be cut back more ...
If bill fails, Pelosi has strategic alternativeSan Francisco Chronicle
'Deem and Pass' rule would bypass House vote on Senate's healthcare billNews10.net
A First Look At The House Health Care Fix: More Bad NewsHeritage.org (blog)
Washington Post -Atlantic Online (blog) -About - News & Issues (blog)
all 9,465 news articles »


CNN International

HEALTH REFORM: More Reconciliation Details
New America Foundation (blog)
We haven't found any new language about alternative dispute resolution in medical malpractice -- even though President Obama has voiced support. ...
HEALTH CARE: Where are reform alternatives?TheNewsTribune.com
Alternative is unacceptableHeraldNet
Health Care Reform: A Bailout for Insurers and Cuts to MedicareWall Street Pit (blog)
Minneapolis Star Tribune -Washington Times -Hartford Courant
all 467 news articles »


New York Times (blog)

Obama's student loan plan moving forward with health bill
Washington Post
The proposal, in a bill released Thursday afternoon, has been overshadowed by the rancorous health-care debate. But it is moving swiftly now and may benefit ...
Democrats look to combine health care, student loan reformCentral Michigan Life
Lobbyists Are in High Gear as Final Outline of Student-Loan Bill Takes ShapeChronicle of Higher Education (subscription)
Opinion: Two Government Takeovers in OneAOL News
Center For American Progress -Collections & Credit Risk (blog) -Big Government (blog)
all 115 news articles »


India Talkies

Study: Hypnotherapy Could Ease the Pain of IBS
BETTER Health Research
Instead, they may turn to alternative health resources to treat their condition without the chance of developing a harmful side effect. ...
How does comorbidity affect cost of health care in patients with irritable ...7thSpace Interactive (press release)

all 51 news articles »


House Democrats release 'fixes' to $940 billion health care bill
USA Today
The individual penalty would be reduced from $750 to $695, but the alternative penalty on households would increase. The household income assessment would ...

and more »


Health Net of Arizona Named #1 HMO Six Years in a Row
MarketWatch (press release)
... wide spectrum of health care plans and specialty services, including coverage for vision, dental, life insurance, chiropractic and alternative medicine. ...

and more »


The Star-Ledger - NJ.com (blog)

Tort reform debate is missing the point in health care fight
The Star-Ledger - NJ.com (blog)
Their use in reforming the medical malpractice system is also a better alternative to the random payment caps that are in place in several states. ...

and more »


Just Between Us Girls, iVillage Launches Health Site for Women
Wall Street Journal (blog)
... interactive personalized health assessments, a drug lookup, a symptom checker, an alternative treatment finder and fitness and calorie trackers.

and more »


Christian Science Monitor

Democrats Enraged by Pro-Life Threat to ObamaCare
David Horowitz's NewsReal Blog (blog)
... because of his pro-life position because they felt the alternative was worse. But his behavior surrounding the health-care issue has crossed the line [. ...
The abortion debate is just a mix-up?Washington Post (blog)

all 168 news articles »

Google News

home | Iridology | "Mind Machines" | "Alternative Health" site map | Iridology Site Map | "Alternative Botox"
© 2000 - 2010