Heart disease is the leading killer of women and men in the United States. While many people think of heart disease as synonymous with heart attacks, there are many other heart ailments and conditions which affect the heart.  Heart disease includes coronary artery disease (heart attack), congestive heart disease, heart failure, heart arrhythmias, plus some other less well known conditions.

Really the only person who can help you decrease your risk of coronary disease is yourself. Fortunately today, the medical and research professions have made incredible finding about coronary disease risk factors and how to prevent yourself from getting heart disease. Yes, some heart disease is inherited but even genetics can benefit from good preventive measures.

The earlier you begin preventing heart disease, the better off you’ll be.  Parents can start reducing children’s risk by helping them make good choices, not starting habits that can be harmful later in life, and encouraging a physically active lifestyle. Adults can choose good eating choices, exercise daily and seek medical care and attention.  Heart disease doesn’t have to be either an inevitable part of getting old (as it seems these days) and it is certainly not something you can’t do anything about.

Make good food choices. Get out of bed and move around. Live an enthusiastic life. Be happy! While we’re not able to promise anyone will live to be one hundred, preventative measures and good choices will allow you to live a happy and healthy life!

Some things you should know about heart disease include:

• How Cholesterol Affects Your Heart
• How to Lower Your Risk of High Blood Pressure 
• Women and Heart Disease
• Triglycerides
• Exercise and Your Heart
• Weight and Your Heart
• Food for a Healthy Heart
• Stress and Heart Disease
• Potassium and Your Heart

You can find out these issues and more by visiting our Healthy Heart Series at Modern Health Issues.

One of the most dangerous aspects of high blood pressure, also know as hypertension, is that you may not know that you suffer from it. There are generally no noticeble symptoms of high blood pressure, so you usually will not feel it. In fact, nearly one-third of people who have symptoms of hypertension don’t know it. The only way to find out if you have high blood pressure is to get your blood pressure checkedregularly. This is especiallyespecially extremely important if you have immediate family members who with high blood pressure.

Generally speaking be aware of your overall demeanor. Do you always feel rushed or stressed? Are you overweight and ‘flush’ or perspire considerably. Are you always eating ‘on the go’?  Do you continuously need a ‘coke’ or a coffee? Do you ever take time to just relax and listen to music or ‘daydream? 

Here are some symptoms that may indicate that you have high blood pressure or Hypertension:

• Severe or constant headaches
• Blurriness of Vision
• Fatigue or mental confusion
• Vision problems
• Chest pain
• Trouble breathing or shortness of breath
• Irregular heartbeat
• Blood in the urine
• Pounding in your chest or neck,
• Continual ringing in the ears
• If you have any of these symptoms, see a doctor immediately. If left unchecked,these conditions could lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Untreated hypertension can lead to serious diseases, including stroke, heart disease, kidney failure and eye problems.

Don’t wait till you become a ‘statistic’. You know what I mean; “and he was so young and seemed so healthy”.

Especially if you are over the age of 40, be sure to follow some basic rules of good health.   Make sure that you are getting plenty of exercise and fresh air. You’re eating a balanced diet that includes plenty of fruits, vegetables and fiber ,and drink at least several glasses of water each day. You’re not smoking or over indulging in alcohol. Maintain a healthy weight. You take the time daily to relax, read a good book or listen to favorite music. You LAUGH everyday and interact with people you enjoy.

Changing your lifestyle won’t happen overnight. Protect yourself with supplements or herbal products. A ‘happy heart’ leads to a happy life.

Not long ago, our family doctor discovered that I had extremely high cholesterol levels. Until then, I didn’t realize just how little I knew about the condition, but, when he explained just how dangerous this was, I decided that I had best learn all I could. And that I did, getting my own problem under control in the process. Hopefully, I can now explain to you why getting control of your cholesterol levels is vital. You may also see why getting rid of foods high in cholesterol is so important.

Our bodies require cholesterol for a number of things. You cells use it like mortar to bind them together to make tissue. It also makes digestion possible when your body turns it into bile acid and dumps it into your intestines.

You make most of the cholesterol your body requires in your liver. From there, it is carried by an enzyme called low density lipoproteins, or LDL, to your cells. Cells that have enough cholesterol when the LDL shows up will just say “No, Thanks” and send the enzyme on it’s way.

The problem is, LDL won’t carry left over cholesterol back to your liver. The extra cholesterol is deposited on the inner wall of an artery by the LDL. The blood flow in the artery will eventually be choked off, starving the tissue further down the line. A majority of strokes and heart attacks are the result of blood flow being restricted.

I understand that this article is very basic. I only wish to get you thinking about your own cholesterol levels.

Disclaimer: This information is based upon information readily available in the national press and medical journals on the subject of high cholesterol levels. Nothing herein should be or understood to be any sort of medical advice. For medical advice you should visit with his or her doctor or other medical specialist.

The enormous amount of fad diets has given carbohydrates a bad name. There are carbohydrates that are good for you however. Many people don’t realize this and by eliminating carbs they are missing out on an important part of a healthy diet. Having a carbohydrate guide is a great way to keep track of what carbohydrates are good for you.

A healthy diet depends on a daily intake of carbohydrates. The cells in your body depend on the metabolism of carbohydrates for use as energy. By not having any carbohydrate intake or by having to little of a carbohydrate intake you could be hurting your body. This can affect your glucose levels, body and organ functions as well as your concentration.

Carbohydrates come in two major categories. They are simple and complex. Simple carbohydrates, also known as simple sugars are metabolized by your body at a very fast rate. This can adversely affect your mood and blood sugar and energy levels.

The other category, complex carbohydrates, is also known as starches. These require more time to metabolize. The result is a much more steady consistent flow of energy for your body.

There are two sides to simple sugars. They can be seen as either being good or bad. The bad simple sugars Processed or convenient foods are looked at as the bad type of simple sugars.

Candies, cookies, sweets, soft drinks, jams, boiled sweets etc. are examples of bad simple sugars. These are carbs that need to be avoided. Good simple sugars come in the form of all natural unprocessed fruits. With these you can eat as many as you want.

There is no such thing as a bad complex carbohydrate. They simply don’t exist. Complex carbs metabolize much more slowly than simple sugars giving you a feeling of being full for a longer period of time thus helping you to avoid in between meal snacks and ultimately lose weight.

Whole grains are your best bet for a great source of complex carbs. Included in this group are bran, barley, and cornmeal. Other choices are wholegrain breads, brown rice, potatoes or any other root vegetable, peas and corn.

In order to maintain a well balanced you must include carbohydrates. This is going to be the fuel that your body needs to stay healthy. Making a list of carbs that you like and incorporate them into your diet and your body will thank you.

Check out more of this author’s work regarding things like silver wine goblets and disposable wine glasses.