Extend Life Through Cardiovascular Health
Date: 5/16/2012
Written By: Health & Wellness Committee
Written By: Health & Wellness Committee
To coincide with the GHWCC’s May event, Wear Your Sneakers To Work Day (May 18th), the Health and Wellness Committee wishes to encourage everyone to make exercise and cardiovascular health a priority in their lives and thereby delay onset of (or avoid altogether) the devastating effects of cardiovascular disease. Heart disease and stroke, a related cardiovascular problem, are among the very top killers of women. Cardiovascular disease statistics are truly frightening. The good news is that an estimated 80% of cardiac events in women could be prevented if women made better choices for their heart health with regard to diet, exercise, and abstinence from smoking.
Spring is a time of many new beginnings, and therefore, it is the perfect time for women to take stock of their own risk factors and begin a new, healthier way of living, as well as spread heart disease awareness among family and associates.
The American Heart Association urges all women to get more in touch with their lifestyle habits and find out what their “numbers” are for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides, and BMI (Body Mass Index).
All women should get at least an annual physical and should see their doctors more often if evidence indicates the need for frequent health check-ups. Women should look at the trends in their health “numbers” over time and adjust their lifestyle habits accordingly.
The top influences on the development of heart disease are nutrition, exercise, presence or absence of smoking, and family history of heart disease. A diet with healthy, reasonable levels of fats and carbs, regular exercise adherence, not smoking, and being aware of genetic risk factors can go a long way toward preventing heart disease.
Another important risk factor in heart disease prevention is maintaining a healthy body-fat percentage. Obesity has been characterized repeatedly as a national epidemic. Concern for the nation’s waistlines extends all the way to the White House. First Lady Michelle Obama has become prominent in the media for her efforts at correcting childhood obesity problems in this country.
Whether child or adult, obesity is a health risk for all and a challenge to treat. The cheapest food is often the worst for people nutritionally. This fact puts all low-income people of any age at greater risk for heart disease.
Besides income “risks” for heart disease, there are racial differences in risk rates. According to American Heart Association information, Hispanic women are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than non-Hispanic white women. Similarly, African-American women are at greater risk for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases than Caucasians. African-American females have higher death rates from heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases than white females. The reasons for these differences are likely complex, involving, potentially, factors such as: lower incomes, poorer diets, less access to health care, or as yet, little understood genetic issues.
Regardless of ethnic background, women’s symptoms of heart problems are often different from men’s, and therefore, previously unrecognized heart problems in women can become dire before a woman goes to the hospital. Morbidity rates are worse for women.
In women, symptoms of heart attack may include one or more of the following: shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, cold sweats, lightheadedness, pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Chest discomfort in the form of pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain is also a warning sign.
Symptoms of stroke include: sudden numbness or weakness in some part of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, loss of vision, dizziness, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, and severe headache with no known cause.
When the knowledge about women’s differing heart attack symptoms came to light, both through sad experience and scientific research, awareness of women’s heart health improved.
Houston’s involvement in the Go Red for Women campaign began about six years ago to improve heart health awareness in this area and to raise funds for much needed medical research.
The American Heart Association was founded in 1924 by six cardiologists, and the organization has been raising funds and awareness for decades to improve heart health. Houston Medical Center facilities receive research funds raised by the Heart Association. When that research unveils new information that needs to be brought to public awareness, the Heart Association is then instrumental in creating that awareness. Medical Center facilities have a very synergistic approach to research, its results, public awareness, and the Heart Association.
All women are urged to take advantage of the Heart Association’s web site, hotline, wellness programs, outreach programs, screenings and even a limited list of doctor referrals for those women who need help taking the first step toward better heart health.
Contact www.americanheart.org or (713) 610-5000 for more information about heart health.
For those persons wishing to give themselves an additional edge against cardiovascular disease through natural therapies and supplements, the following list of suggestions could be of great value:
•Coenzyme Q10 increases oxygenation of the heart and improves overall function.
•Garlic extract lowers homocysteine levels, a heart disease risk factor, and thins the blood slightly.
• Vitamins B12, B6, and folic acid help maintain healthy homocysteine and C-reactive protein levels. Measuring C-reactive protein levels is a way of detecting inflammation in the cardiovascular system, which can lead to heart attacks even when other risk factors are normal.
•Vitamin C and bioflavonoids are very important to regulating blood pressure.
•Calcium and magnesium are extremely important to the proper functioning of the heart muscle. Magnesium is probably the most overlooked key to lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels discussed by the mainstream media. Take calcium and magnesium in divided doses. Use chelate forms of both minerals.
•Lycopene is a carotenoid that lowers LDL “bad” cholesterol.
•Phosphatidyl choline reduces fat and triglyceride levels in the blood.
•Pycnogenol reduces buildup of plaques in the arteries.
•Acupuncture treatments can lower blood pressure and improve circulation.
Although the above list is not exhaustive, it is a good place to start on improved cardiovascular health. Always be aware of your risk factors and take positive action to reduce your chances of cardiovascular disease. Spring into better health!
Spring is a time of many new beginnings, and therefore, it is the perfect time for women to take stock of their own risk factors and begin a new, healthier way of living, as well as spread heart disease awareness among family and associates.
The American Heart Association urges all women to get more in touch with their lifestyle habits and find out what their “numbers” are for blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, triglycerides, and BMI (Body Mass Index).
All women should get at least an annual physical and should see their doctors more often if evidence indicates the need for frequent health check-ups. Women should look at the trends in their health “numbers” over time and adjust their lifestyle habits accordingly.
The top influences on the development of heart disease are nutrition, exercise, presence or absence of smoking, and family history of heart disease. A diet with healthy, reasonable levels of fats and carbs, regular exercise adherence, not smoking, and being aware of genetic risk factors can go a long way toward preventing heart disease.
Another important risk factor in heart disease prevention is maintaining a healthy body-fat percentage. Obesity has been characterized repeatedly as a national epidemic. Concern for the nation’s waistlines extends all the way to the White House. First Lady Michelle Obama has become prominent in the media for her efforts at correcting childhood obesity problems in this country.
Whether child or adult, obesity is a health risk for all and a challenge to treat. The cheapest food is often the worst for people nutritionally. This fact puts all low-income people of any age at greater risk for heart disease.
Besides income “risks” for heart disease, there are racial differences in risk rates. According to American Heart Association information, Hispanic women are likely to develop heart disease 10 years earlier than non-Hispanic white women. Similarly, African-American women are at greater risk for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases than Caucasians. African-American females have higher death rates from heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases than white females. The reasons for these differences are likely complex, involving, potentially, factors such as: lower incomes, poorer diets, less access to health care, or as yet, little understood genetic issues.
Regardless of ethnic background, women’s symptoms of heart problems are often different from men’s, and therefore, previously unrecognized heart problems in women can become dire before a woman goes to the hospital. Morbidity rates are worse for women.
In women, symptoms of heart attack may include one or more of the following: shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting, cold sweats, lightheadedness, pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach. Chest discomfort in the form of pressure, squeezing, fullness, or pain is also a warning sign.
Symptoms of stroke include: sudden numbness or weakness in some part of the body, sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding, loss of vision, dizziness, trouble walking, loss of balance or coordination, and severe headache with no known cause.
When the knowledge about women’s differing heart attack symptoms came to light, both through sad experience and scientific research, awareness of women’s heart health improved.
Houston’s involvement in the Go Red for Women campaign began about six years ago to improve heart health awareness in this area and to raise funds for much needed medical research.
The American Heart Association was founded in 1924 by six cardiologists, and the organization has been raising funds and awareness for decades to improve heart health. Houston Medical Center facilities receive research funds raised by the Heart Association. When that research unveils new information that needs to be brought to public awareness, the Heart Association is then instrumental in creating that awareness. Medical Center facilities have a very synergistic approach to research, its results, public awareness, and the Heart Association.
All women are urged to take advantage of the Heart Association’s web site, hotline, wellness programs, outreach programs, screenings and even a limited list of doctor referrals for those women who need help taking the first step toward better heart health.
Contact www.americanheart.org or (713) 610-5000 for more information about heart health.
For those persons wishing to give themselves an additional edge against cardiovascular disease through natural therapies and supplements, the following list of suggestions could be of great value:
•Coenzyme Q10 increases oxygenation of the heart and improves overall function.
•Garlic extract lowers homocysteine levels, a heart disease risk factor, and thins the blood slightly.
• Vitamins B12, B6, and folic acid help maintain healthy homocysteine and C-reactive protein levels. Measuring C-reactive protein levels is a way of detecting inflammation in the cardiovascular system, which can lead to heart attacks even when other risk factors are normal.
•Vitamin C and bioflavonoids are very important to regulating blood pressure.
•Calcium and magnesium are extremely important to the proper functioning of the heart muscle. Magnesium is probably the most overlooked key to lowering blood pressure and blood sugar levels discussed by the mainstream media. Take calcium and magnesium in divided doses. Use chelate forms of both minerals.
•Lycopene is a carotenoid that lowers LDL “bad” cholesterol.
•Phosphatidyl choline reduces fat and triglyceride levels in the blood.
•Pycnogenol reduces buildup of plaques in the arteries.
•Acupuncture treatments can lower blood pressure and improve circulation.
Although the above list is not exhaustive, it is a good place to start on improved cardiovascular health. Always be aware of your risk factors and take positive action to reduce your chances of cardiovascular disease. Spring into better health!
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