We all must know by now that heart disease is the number one cause of death for men and women in the United States and the U.K. if not the world over. The risk of suffering from heart disease can be lowered through healthy habits, diet and exercise. Realistically, we can achieve this with proactive changes in our lifestyles.

- High alcohol consumption: When taken in moderation, it has no negative effect but high level of alcohol taken on a regular basis can poison the heart as well as other internal organ as the liver and the brain. Despite the claims by some producers that red wine was particularly good at preventing heart attack; scientific evidence suggests that any form of alcohol has the same effect.

-  Stress:  Simply put, stress is a series of biochemical and physiological reaction in the body due to some external threat or stimuli. We all experience some degree of stress from time to time. And while there is still no direct evidence that stress can cause heart attack, individuals with other risk factors may be at a greater risk from stressful life.

The pressure to take on more than you can manage, to set unrealistic goals, has created the idea of the type A personality. This makes it difficult for relaxation and can double the risk of heart attack especially in individuals with existing heart problems like chest pain. To explain this better, a damaged or diseased heart can be unstable and the adrenaline surge produced by a stressful event could provoke a change in the normal rhythm of the heart. So BEWARE!

-  Homocysteine: This is the amino acid produced in the body during metabolism. It is simply the normal breakdown product of dietary protein. Raised level of homocysteine is associated with arteriosclerosis i.e. an arterial disease, by causing damage to the endothelial (internal tissue) lining of the arteries. It can also promote movement of bad cholesterol (LDL-C) particles into the arterial wall, thereby increasing the risk of plague formation and thrombosis. So know it today that raised level of homocysteine is associated with increased risk of heart disease especially coronary heart disease (CHD). 

Homocysteine level are usually checked by vitamin B6, B12 and folic acid which breaks it down in the body. This means that when you lack these vital vitamins, homocysteine levels rises along with the risk of heart diseases.

-  Raised insulin level:  High insulin level in the body have been found to cause direct damage to the fragile cells in the arterial lining. This makes them more susceptible to plague formation and thrombosis.

-  Cocaine and Amphetamine:  Cocaine can increase blood viscosity i.e. resistance to flow. This therefore promotes blood clot. It can also trigger the rise in blood level of a protein that helps blood to clot by causing platelets to stick together. When platelets stick, they clot the arteries and we all know what that means. So a word is enough for the wise.

Amphetamine stimulates the release of neurotransmitters (a chemical that transmits message between different nerve cells and muscles) such as epinephrine, which increase blood pressure and raise blood sugar levels.

To learn more about contributory risk factors to heart diseases visit http://www.heartcares.blogspot.com

Knowledge is power, so Learn and Live!

Miracle is an expert researcher on health and fitness matters especially heart health, women and men’s health, dieting, environmental health issues, a motivational speaker and a teacher. For more information, visit http://www.heartcares.blogspot.com http://www.dietcares.blogspot.com

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/diseases-and-conditions-articles/contributory-risk-factors-to-heart-diseases-880161.html

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There are many foods that cause heartburn.  If you suffer from this condition, especially on a regular basis, you will need to know which foods will give you this burning feeling in your chest and throat.  Now, you should also realize that not all foods will cause problems for everyone.  Some people may react differently to different foods.  In this article, I will be sharing with you a list of many foods that can cause you acid reflux.

You should be aware of not only what types of foods you eat, but also when and how much of these foods you eat.  The best way for you to track this, is to keep a journal or diary of everything you eat and make notes.  You should also make a record of which kinds of foods caused you to experience burning pain.  Know what your favorite types of foods are and what you enjoy eating the most, and track them to see if these might be the cause of your problem.

Foods that cause heartburn:

1) Chocolate.  Eating chocolate will give you burning pain and discomfort. Chocolate will inhibit the ability of the lower esophageal sphincter to prevent any stomach acid from backing up into your esophagus or throat.

2) Peppermint.  The oil in peppermint could cause or increase burning pain and even digestive upset.  So, only use it with caution.

3) Fried and fatty foods.  Eating these spicy and hot foods can cause pain, because of the acidity levels in them.  So, if you enjoy eating Indian, Mexican and Italian food, you might have to deal with discomfort in your chest and esophagus.

4) Tomato products.  The problem with tomato products is that they are high in acidity content.  These will increase your acid levels inside your body.

5) Eating and drinking foods with caffeine or are highly carbonated can be causes for heartburn.  So, drinks such as coffee, tea, pop and other similar drinks are not really good.  Also, drinking alcohol is equally as bad. You might also want to be careful with drinking drinks made from citrus fruits and other high acidity juices.

6) You also want to guard against foods such as onions, garlic, mustard, vinegar, and a variety of other spices which could be hot and acidity.  Eating such foods could be a cause for esophageal pain.

In this article, I shared with you a list of foods that cause heartburn.  Limiting or controlling your intake of these foods will relieve you of burning pain and discomfort.

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Foods to Avoid to Lower Cholesterol

One past time that people love to do is eating.  This can happen at anytime aside from the three basic meals of the day whenever the person is craving for something.

Whenever the individual buys the snack or meal to suit that craving, little attention is paid on how much cholesterol the food has.   In fact, a lot of those of the dishes made in fast food joint are unhealthy which has prompted McDonald’s to print the calories, cholesterol and other things on each product given to the customer.

The growing number of those who are overweight and obese has caught the attention of doctors since this means there are a lot of people now who are considered to be high risk of suffering from heart disease or stroke in the United States.

Aside from advising people to visit the doctor annually, many are suggesting to make some lifestyle changes before it is too late. This usually means making some changes in the food being eaten since this is the only way to control the amount of cholesterol going in the system.

So what type of foods must be avoided to have lower levels of cholesterol in the body? The first is reducing the quantity of red meat being consumed. A good example is steak, ham and bacon that is high in fat.

Giving it up will be difficult so eating smaller portions should be done especially for those who are moderate or at a high risk of getting a heart disease or a stroke.

Fried food such as hamburgers and fries should also be avoided. The ingredients and oil used in cooking these things are also high in cholesterol that could be dangerous to one’s health. This also includes pre-packaged frozen meals that a lot of people will just throw in the microwave after a long day at the office.

Dairy products such as milk, eggs and chicken should also be reduced. If the person has a hard time giving this up, this can be substituted using non-fat milk or yogurt to provide calcium that the body needs.

It is fairly safe for kids to have junk food, candies and cake.  As the individual gets older, these things have to be avoided. This is because the ingredients used in making these products are high in fat. However, you should try to keep junk food snacks to a minimum for children, since you do not want to get them into bad eating habits.

Also there may be a chance that plaque may start clogging the arteries of children and then continue to add plaque as they get older. Some children as young as 10 have had clogged artieries.

Now that more or less the food the person should avoid has been revealed, it is time to mention those that can be substituted to maintain a good diet.

Ideally, those who want to reduce the cholesterol intake should have a diet that contains  less than 30% of fat.  Those who can eat less will do better in living a healthy life.

The best products in the market to get are beans, fish oil, fruits, garlic, grains, soy, vegetables and whole grain bread. These things have vitamins and minerals as well as omega 3 acids that are known to reduce cholesterol levels in the body.

Different variations can be done daily so the person will not get tired of eating the same thing just to have a healthy diet. If planning this is difficult, a dietitian will gladly help and make changes every week so the cholesterol levels will improve when the patient pays another visit to the clinic.

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Chest pain is the most common heart attack sign but it is important to understand that there are different kinds of chest pain. Many people with coronary artery disease suffer from angina pectoris which is chest pain or discomfort when the heart is not receiving enough blood. It normally occurs when the heart is working harder, such as during exercise or physical activity, but goes away when the activity is stopped.

The chest pain associated with a heart attack can occur at any time, most notably in the morning, and is of long duration and continuous. People with a history of angina may experience more frequent anginal attacks in the weeks or days before they have a heart attack.

The chest pain is often described as severe, as if something was crushing the heart attack victim’s chest; a heavy, squeezing or extreme pressure sensation. Some people have described it as a tightness of the chest or burning sensation. The pain itself usually begins in the center of the chest. Then it can radiate outwards and affect the shoulders, neck, jaw, or arms. These chest pains will last 15 to minutes and are not relieved by resting or taking nitroglycerin.

The signs of a heart attack for women and older adults can be different. Often their symptoms present as atypical chest pains. This means it feels more like indigestion or heartburn and can include nausea and vomiting. Women are more likely than men to have a silent or unrecognized heart attack. For women they will also experience shortness of breath and fatigue and weakness of the shoulders and upper arms.

Older adults will often seek medical attention for a variety of symptoms including difficulty breathing, confusion, fainting, dizziness, abdominal pain or cough. They often think they are having a stroke when in fact they are suffering a heart attack.

Other symptoms that occur during a heart attack are responses to the damage that the heart is undergoing during the attack. Anxiety, tachycardia (rapid heart beat), and vasoconstriction (narrowing of the blood vessels) occur in response to sympathetic nervous system stimulation. This results in cool, clammy, mottled skin. The respiratory center of the brain responds to pain and blood chemistry changes by increasing respiration rate. Death of heart tissue causes inflammation that causes an increase in white blood cells and an elevation in temperature.

Depending of the location and amount of infracted (dead) heart tissue other signs of heart can include high blood pressure, low blood pressure, nausea, vomiting, or bradycardia (slow heart rate). Irritation of the diaphragm can cause the hiccups as well. In extreme cases the first sign of a heart attack is a sudden death. This is particularly likely in the event that a major blood vessel is completely blocked.

It is utmost importance to seek medical attention at the first signs of heart attack. The sooner a heart attack victim receives medical attention the better their chances of survival.

To learn more about the signs and symptoms of heart disease please visit the website Heart Disease by clicking here.

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