The Holiday Season is a time when there are extra demands on us. We try to cram even more activities into our already-crowded schedules. For many of us, a regular cardio exercise program is one of the things that we think we can let slide. This would be a mistake, since we need to stay active no matter what time of year it is. Exercise helps to reduce stress and releases endorphins, which help us feel good. With a bit of planning, you can make sure that you don’t get off track during this busy time of year. Here are some tips to help you: 1. Make an appointment with yourself to exercise and be sure keep it. Write it on your calendar and treat it like any other. 2. If you decide to shop at a mall, arrive early and walk around the perimeter a few times before you hit the stores. 3. Par...

The Holiday Season is a time for celebrating with friends and family. We extend good wishes to people we know and look forward to a New Year full of promise. Part of the celebration involves eating special foods that we don’t enjoy at other times of the year. With a bit of planning, you can follow a heart healthy diet at holiday gatherings. 1. Eat something before you head out. Make a point of having a snack before you go to a holiday party. If you aren’t famished by the time you arrive, it will be easier to avoid overindulging in high-fat foods. A container of yogurt, some low-fat cheese or some hummus and whole wheat crackers are good choices. 2. Put lean cuts of meat on your plate. Turkey is a good choice, since it is low in fat. To keep the fat content down, stick to white ...

Once a patient has been diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), the doctor will suggest a course of treatment. The actual plan will vary from patient to patient, and depend on how serious the condition is. If the case of heart failure is relatively mild, the doctor may suggest that the patient make some lifestyle changes to deal with the symptoms of this disorder which include: Fatigue Shortness of breath Swelling in the lower extremities Lifestyle changes that can help to reduce the symptoms of CHF include lowering salt intake and increasing physical activity. The doctor may also suggest that the patient abstain from consuming alcohol. Medications for Congestive Heart Failure Along with lifestyle changes, the doctor may prescribe medications to treat CHF. One of the options avail...

Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) is a condition where the heart isn’t pumping strongly enough to keep the body’s cells well supplied with oxygen-rich blood. As a result, the lungs and tissues in the body become congested (they fill up with fluid). People over the age of 40 are at risk for developing CHF. More than five million Americans have this condition and the general population has a 1 in 5 chance of developing it during their lifetime. Approximately 400,000 new cases are diagnosed each year. Risk Factors for Congestive Heart Failure You may be at risk for developing congestive heart failure if any of the following criteria fit your personal situation: Coronary artery diseas Heart valve disease High blood pressure Irregular heartbeat Previous heart attack People with conge...

The results of a new study have revealed that having a high level of Vitamin D in the body lowers the risk of heart disease and stroke. Having a very low level of the Sunshine Vitamin in your system increases your risk of heart failure. The study, conducted by Heart Institute at Intermountain Medical Center in Salt Lake City, followed 27,686 people who were 50 or older with no history of cardiovascular disease. Each person’s Vitamin D levels were tested and they were divided into groups based on whether their Vitamin D levels were normal, low or very low. Participants with very low Vitamin D levels were over 75 percent more likely to die, 78 percent more likely to have a stroke, and 45 percent more likely to develop coronary artery disease than people with a normal level (higher than...

New research released by Donald Lloyd-Jones from Northwestern University offers predictions about the likelihood of a 40-year-old developing certain medical conditions during their lifetime, and the numbers are astonishing. Here’s the rundown: A man has a 1 in 2 chance of developing coronary heart disease. For women, the odds are 1 in 3. The chance of having a stroke are the same for both genders at 1 in 5. One in eight men will have sudden cardiac death, which is defined as death from coronary heart disease within 60 minutes of the onset of symptoms. The most common cause of death is a heart attack, but this category also includes infections, valve disease and irregular heartbeat. Women have a 1 in 24 chance of dying in this manner. The odds of getting lung cancer are 1 in 12 for m...

There are approximately 2,200 heart transplants performed in the United States each year, according to the American Heart Association. In 2008, 57 recipients of new hearts were between the ages of 6-10. The number one reason why a person may need to be placed on the transplant list for a heart is due to an infection. Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle, can lead to serious health consequences if left untreated. If the condition is not addressed in time, it can develop into heart failure. At that point, the patient needs a transplant in order to survive. Being put on the transplant list is no guarantee that a heart of the right size and blood type will become available in time. Whether a match can be found unfortunately comes down to the “luck of the draw.” ...

Mitral Valve Prolapse (MVP) is a heart defect that affects between 2-3 percent of the population. This condition is usually diagnosed in young adults between 20-40 years of age. The Mitral Valve is one of the four located in the heart. As the heart beats, the valves open and close to let blood flow from the atrium down to the ventricle. Each Mitral Valve has two flaps. An MVP can occur when one or both of the flaps is too large or when the chordae tendinea (strings that attach the underside of the flaps to the ventricular wall) are too long. The valve doesn’t close completely when the heart beats. As a result, the valve “prolapses” or bulges backward when the heart is beating. This causes some blood to leak back into the atrium from the ventricle. The heart beats normally...

Losing weight is something that can lower your risk of heart disease. Here are some simple tips to help you get on the right nutritional track: 1. Add more fruits and vegetables to your diet. Fruits and vegetables are tasty and low in calories. They provide much-needed fiber and fill you up so that you are less likely to eat between meals. Start by adding a piece of fruit at breakfast and lunch and a salad at dinner a few times a week. 2. Keep an eye on portion sizes. Restaurant portions tend to be much larger than what the average person needs. Don’t feel obligated to finish everything on your plate when you go out to eat. Take some of your food home to enjoy later on. 3. Resist the temptation to skip meals. Eating regularly keeps your blood sugar stable and helps to prevent overea...

Taking a low dose of Aspirin on a daily basis can help prevent a heart attack in patients who have already had one. If you have not had a heart attack or a stroke, the risks of taking Aspirin may outweigh the benefits. The results of a study published in the Drug and Therapeutics Bulletin found that people who have not had a heart attack who are taking Aspirin daily are at increased risk for intestinal bleeding or hemorrhagic stroke from taking the medication. Aspirin is used to help heart attack survivors because it helps to thin the blood and prevent clots. Since there are always risks associated with taking any type of medication, consult your doctor to see whether taking Aspirin daily is the right choice for you. Your personal physician can help you to determine whether the benefits ou...