An electrocardiogram (EKG) is a medical test that records the electrical activity of an individual’s heart. The test takes about 10 minutes to complete and is not painful. While the reading is being taken, the patient is asked to lie still to ensure an accurate reading. An EKG is performed by a technologist. These people have undergone specialized training to learn how to administer EKG tests properly. What an EKG Measures The results of the EKG provide doctors with valuable information, including: patient’s heart rate whether there are any irregularities in the heart rhythm size of the heart When an EKG May Be Ordered A doctor may ask that a patient undergo an EKG for a number of reasons. If a patient has or is experiencing chest pain, difficulty breathing or complains of t...

Consuming a high fiber diet is something that everyone can do to help reduce their risk of developing heart disease. Other risk factors, such as family history of heart problems, are out of our control, but we all have a say in what kinds of foods we choose to eat. Adding more fiber to your diet helps to control cholesterol and triglyceride levels within the body. It also helps overall health by giving the immune system a boost. Another important benefit to consuming enough fiber is that these foods help you to feel full longer and may make it easier to avoid snacking on high calorie, high fat foods between meals. If you decide to add more fiber to your diet, do start slowly. Allow yourself a couple of weeks to bring your daily intake of fiber up to the recommended levels of between 21-25 ...

Having a pet has definite advantages when it comes to your health. They provide companionship and give their owners a reason to smile. The unconditional love and acceptance that animals provide is something that can’t be duplicated. The results of a study conducted by the National Institute of Health (NIH) point to pet ownership as being good for the owner’s heart. The Institute looked at 400 people who had experienced a heart attack. The people who owned dogs were less likely to die as a result of the event than those who didn’t own one. A second study looked at whether people who own dogs exercise more than than people who don’t own pets. The results indicated that dog owners got more exercise and were less likely to be obese. The third study that the NIH surveyed...

Carrying extra pounds is one of the risk factors for heart disease. People who are overweight or obese are encouraged by their loved ones and their doctor to get and maintain a healthy weight to improve heart health, but does everyone who is carrying excess pounds need to do so? Not necessarily, according to the results of a study conducted by Dutch researchers. The University Medical Center in Groningen’s Dr. Andre van Beek stated that overweight people who are “metabolically healthy” are not at a higher risk for heart disease. Metabolically Healthy A metabolically healthy obese person is an individual whose medical history doesn’t include any of the following: Diabetes Heart disease High blood pressure High cholesterol or triglycerides Stroke They are in the min...

Men who want to eat a heart healthy diet should focus their attention on the overall patterns of the food choices they make. When it comes to eating well, it’s too easy to get bogged down in the details of meal planning. Foods to Avoid If your goal is to lower your risk of heart disease, you will want to eat the following types of food less often: Processed meat Red meat Refined gains Sweets Foods to Include in Your Diet Instead of eating the foods on the list above, make sure that you are eating these foods instead: Fish Fruits Legumes Low-fat dairy products Olive oil Vegetables Whole grains Since the goal of creating a heart-health diet for men is to consider overall eating patterns, you don’t need to decide that you can’t ever enjoy a thick steak or a hamburger. As...

Do you enjoy eating cold cuts and other types of processed meats? The results of a study conducted by researchers in the United States may make you want to rethink this part of your diet. Eating foods like bacon, sausage and hot dogs regularly can increase your risk of heart disease by 42 percent. The Harvard School of Public Health (HSPH) compiled information taken from 1,600 studies conducted around the world that included approximately 1.2 million people. The results indicated that eating a single hot dog or one or two slices of deli meats daily was enough to make the risk of heart disease jump. The salt and preservatives used in preparing these foods may be the real reason why these foods aren’t the healthiest choices. High levels of sodium have already been linked to heart disea...

If you have been thinking that spending too much time at work could be bad for your heart health, you may be right. The results of a study conducted on British civil servants indicate that working overtime can increase the risk of cardiac issues. The results, which were published in the European Heart Journal, followed 10,000 people, found that the government workers who worked more than three hours longer than the standard seven-hour workday had a 60 percent higher risk of having a non-fatal heart attack or angina, or developing heart disease. The reason working long hours and increased risk of heart disease are related may be due to increased stress involved in spending more time on the job. A person who puts in long hours at work may be a Type A personality. This type of person is alrea...

Lowering salt intake can be good for your heart, but it doesn’t necessarily taste very good. Low or no-sodium foods are becoming a major consumer trend, but if consumers don’t find these food palatable, they aren’t going to continue buying them. Many consumers understand that the amount of salt they are ingesting is related to their heart health. They are familiar with the relationship between a high salt intake and high blood pressure. Most of the salt that North American residents ingest is from processed foods or eating foods purchased from restaurants. Keep in mind that salt can also be present in some beverages, too. Recommended Daily Salt Intake The recommended daily amount of salt intake is 2,300 mg. This is equal to approximately one teaspoon. The average person i...

You can now add sugar to the list of ingredients that are bad for your heart. The results of a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association indicate that people who eat a diet high in sugar and processed foods have lower levels of “good” (HDL) cholesterol and higher levels of triglycerides. The study followed a group of 6,000 people. The volunteers were divided into groups according to the amount of added sugars and sweeteners they ingested on a daily basis. The study didn’t consider natural sweeteners, such as those found in fruits and fruit juices.) Average Level of Sugar Consumption On average, the study participants ate the equivalent of 21 teaspoons of sugar each day. The group with the highest level of sugar consumption averaged 46 teaspoons of...

If you are a lady who likes her carbs, you may want to think about how much white bread, pizza and rice you are eating. Foods with a high sugar content can also increase your risk of heart disease, according to the results of a new study. The good news is that eating pasta doesn’t appear to increase the risk of developing heart disease. The research was published in the Archives of Internal Medicine, and scientists have concluded that eating foods with a high glycemic index, such as white bread, cause a woman’s blood sugar to rise rapidly. The spike in blood sugar levels can damage the heart. Men process carbohydrates in a different way, and don’t have the same health risks when they consume foods with a high glycemic index. What should you be eating for good heart health...