Exercising to Protect the Heart
For the physically fit, vigorous exercise seems to offer more protection against heart disease than low-intensity exercise. But for people who do not exercise regularly and are out of shape, engaging in moderate exercise also can provide protection, according to the American Heart Association.
Heart Disease and Women
Although many women may see cancer as their most serious health threat, heart disease is the bigger killer. Researchers at New York University School of Medicine reported in 2004 that heart disease is the leading cause of death in U.S. women over age 45. Each year, 500,000 women die of heart disease.
Good Dental Hygiene Important for Heart Health
It's important to brush and floss twice a day. New research indicates that gum disease caused by poor oral hygiene can result in pain and tooth loss, contribute to heart disease and lead to stroke, says the American Academy of Periodontology. People with gum disease can have nearly twice the risk of a fatal heart attack as those with healthy gums.
Fatty Acids and Heart Health
Consuming 1 gram of the fatty acids EPA and DHA every day can keep the heart from lapsing into erratic rhythms, says the American Heart Association. This will make blood clots less likely to form and lower blood levels of triglycerides. You can get the fatty acids from eating plenty of fish or by taking fish oil supplements.
Exercising to Protect the Heart
For the physically fit, vigorous exercise seems to offer more protection against heart disease than low-intensity exercise. But for people who do not exercise regularly and are out of shape, engaging in moderate exercise also can provide protection, according to the American Heart Association (AHA). The more vigorously you think that you exercise, regardless of whether that activity level meets exercise recommendations, the lower your risk for heart disease, an AHA study says. Health experts recommend 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity five to seven days a week. Be sure to check with your doctor before beginning any new exercise program.
Diet and Exercise Help the Heart
A rigorous, short-term diet and exercise program can reduce the risk of heart disease, says the American Heart Association. A study of obese men found those who consumed a diet high in whole grains, vegetables and fruit and who took a daily walk for 45 to 60 minutes lowered their blood pressure.
Beans for Your Heart
One way to cut your risk of heart disease is to change your diet. Eat beans, legumes or peas at least four times a week and you'll be 22 percent less likely to develop heart disease, according to the Archives of Internal Medicine.
Alcohol and Healthy Hearts
Scientists have known that drinking moderate amounts of alcohol can prevent heart attacks, but a recent study of 38,000 men suggests that how often a man imbibes is more important than what or how much he drinks. As little as half an alcoholic drink a day can reduce the risk of heart attacks, whether the beverage is beer, red or white wine or liquor. The study, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, found that men who drank at least three days a week had 33 percent fewer heart attacks than nondrinkers. Those who imbibed only once or twice a week had only a 16 percent lower risk. Researchers speculate that drinking a little bit of alcohol regularly helps keep blood cells from becoming sticky, thus helping prevent heart attacks.
A Woman's Heart Disease Risk
You're at risk for heart disease if your father had a heart attack before age 56 or if your mother had one before age 60. If you are 20 percent or more overweight. If body fat is concentrated around your midsection. If you have a low level of HDL ("good") cholesterol and a high level of LDL ("bad") cholesterol. If you have diabetes.
Heed Heart Attack Warning Signs
Anyone who has chest pain that worsens over a five-minute period should call for emergency medical help, according to new guidelines released by the American Heart Association (AHA). Worsening chest pain, especially if accompanied by shortness of breath, weakness or lightheadedness, can be a sign of a heart attack. The more quickly a person having a heart attack is treated, the more likely the person is to survive without long-term complications, the AHA says. Other symptoms of a heart attack include pain in the arms, back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Smoking and Heart Attacks
Smoking is a major risk factor for heart attacks, even among younger adults. Researchers writing in the journal Tobacco Control in 2004 said smoking boosts the risk for heart attack by about five times in adults younger than age 40. Smoking was a factor in 81 percent of men in that age group who had a heart attack, and in 77 percent of women in that age group, according to the study.
Heart Disease and Women
Although many women may see cancer as their most serious health threat, heart disease is the bigger killer. Researchers at New York University School of Medicine reported in 2004 that heart disease is the leading cause of death in U.S. women over age 45. Each year, 500,000 women die of heart disease. That figure is higher than the deaths for all cancers combined.
Fish Consumption May Lower Heart Rate
Eating fish may lower your heart rate and reduce the risk for sudden death from cardiac arrest, according to a 10-year study of 9,758 men ages 50 to 59. The omega-3 fatty acids found in cold-water fish, such as salmon, tuna and mackerel, may prevent the deaths by regulating heartbeat and preventing the irregular heart rhythms associated with sudden death. The study was published in 2003 in Circulation: Journal of the American Heart Association.
Diet and Exercise Help the Heart
A rigorous, short-term diet and exercise program can reduce the risk of heart disease, says the American Heart Association. A study of obese men found those who consumed a diet high in whole grains, vegetables and fruit and who took a daily walk for 45 to 60 minutes lowered their blood pressure. High blood pressure is a risk factor for congestive heart failure, kidney disease, coronary artery disease and stroke.
Air Pollution Linked to Heart Disease
Breathing polluted air, especially smoky exhaust from factory smokestacks and the tailpipes of diesel-powered vehicles, can contribute to exercise-induced heart disease, says the American Heart Association (AHA). A recent study also found people with heart disease were three times more likely to suffer ischemia or decreased oxygen supply to the heart muscle, after exercising in highly polluted air.