Heart Attack Symptoms You Shouldn't Ignore

Having a heart attack is a life threatening occurrence. Patients often misread or overlook the messages their body is sending them. It's important not to misread your symptoms.

Because heart attack symptoms mimic other illnesses, many victims of this malady overlook the seriousness of their conditions. Some individuals confuse their symptoms with viruses, the flu, jetlag, being tired, exercising too strenuously, not getting enough rest, or being stressed. One of the reasons individuals are so confused about their symptoms is because of the variety of ways this event shows up. The sufferer could be resting, sleeping, working, or simply walking down the street. Victims could be male or female, young or old, or live in any city or nation in the world. By the time many victims get to the hospital, it may be too late. After being examined, it becomes evident that telltale signs have been going on for days or even weeks. It's important to pay attention to your body and to recognize any unusual feelings, sensations, and red flags.

Some common sensations that point to a heart attack include pressure, pain, and shortness of breath. The pressure that occurs may feel like the center of the chest region is being squeezed or may just feel like fullness in the area. Pain can occur in the abdomen, in the chest, shoulder, back, and/or arm. Patients even report a painful feeling in their mouths along the jawbone and into their teeth. Angina is the name of chest pain that occurs repeatedly. Although it's not a full-blown health crisis, it can be a sign that one is imminent. Angina is a result of a loss of blood flowing to this organ. The shortness of breath can sometimes be confused with overexertion because sweating often accompanies it. If a person has been exercising, going up stairs, or carrying something heavy, he or she may think the breathing difficulty and perspiration are a result of the exercise. In women, feeling exhausted or overly fatigued may be an indicator of this serious occurrence.

Some patients report a feeling of impending doom which may be their intuition telling them that something is very wrong. They may become dizzy, lightheaded, and may actually faint. Some individuals not only have stomach pain, but they actually throw up which makes them think they simply have the flu or food poisoning. Their skin may become cool and pale so that they look like they've seen a ghost.

If you or someone you love is having unusual symptoms that may be a heart attack, it's important to pay attention. It's better to go to the doctor or hospital and be declared healthy than not going and be declared dead. This malady is very serious indeed. Patients should have regular examinations and follow healthy lifestyle habits to minimize their risks. Paying attention to the signs and signals of one's body is truly a matter of life or death.

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H Pylori Infections Cause Heart Disease - Part One

H pylori is a tiny bacterium that buries itself into the stomach lining. It is very common, infecting more than 50% of the world's population.

It is best known for causing common digestive symptoms such as gastritis, heartburn, acid reflux, bloating and irritable bowels, though it can lead to more serious problems such as ulcers and even stomach cancer.

It causes symptoms primarily be creating inflammation in the stomach and intestine. It is this inflammation that can spill out into other areas of the body and cause symptoms and even serious disease there.

When inflammation spills out from the gut into the body, the arteries can become damaged, leading to the early stages of heart disease and it's this mechanism we'll explore in this article series to show how a simple stomach infection may lead to a deadly heart attack or stroke in some people.

The medical system and media tend to blame cardiovascular diseases (heart disease and stroke) on so-called "traditional" risk factors, which include:

High cholesterol levels 
High blood pressure 
Family history 
Type II Diabetes 
Tobacco Smoking 
Obesity 
Inadequate exercise

These factors are certainly legitimate, but are the likes of family history and high cholesterol the true underlying factors for this killer disease?

We have to acknowledge that the likes of high cholesterol and high blood pressure are the end results of damaging processes in the body. As such it is vitally important to consider the reasons why blood pressure elevates and why cholesterol levels rise.

Simply taking drugs to suppress cholesterol and decrease blood pressure do absolutely nothing to address the underlying cause(s) of the problems!

It just so happens that H pylori infections appear to increase blood pressure and cause potentially dangerous changes to blood cholesterol levels. These claims are backed up by a lot of scientific evidence, as I'll show you in this series of articles.

Here's something interesting: 50% cardiovascular disease patients have NONE of the traditional risk factors listed above. In other words:

They don't smoke cigarettes 
They have no family history 
They're not obese 
They don't have hypertension 
Their cholesterol levels are normal or even low 
They don't have diabetes 
They exercise 
They are relaxed and not under stress

In these people, we have to look for other possible causes, and that's something we'll do in this article series.

A number of studies are available suggesting a cause and effect relationship between bacteria/viruses and heart disease.

According to Aristo Vojdani, PhD, the relationship between infectious agents and heart disease was reported as long ago as 1911. H. pylori is one of those infectious agents. Dental infections and oral health are also heavily implicated in heart disease.

H. pylori infections are associated not only with heart disease and stroke, but also with many of the risk factors that are used to assess vulnerability to cardiovascular disorders.

I think this article series may shock you a little, but I believe it's time you knew the truth about this leading killer disease and how to minimize your risk of falling foul of it.

As such I'm thoroughly looking forward to summarizing this information for you over the coming days and weeks.

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Why Patients End Up At Heart Clinics

There are lots of reasons why patients end up checked into a heart clinic. They may have experienced some sort of health crisis that involves cardiac arrest, high blood pressure, clogged arteries, pain, or improper function. The cardiovascular system is a complex one that is best checked into by a specialist such as a board certified cardiologist. Tests that may be given to patients to sort out the difficulties and come to a solid diagnosis include cardiac stress tests, blood tests, electrocardiograms, and more. These medical facilities are extremely helpful in helping patients return to normal functioning and getting their bodies back on track to live normal lives. But how did these patients end up there?

Lifestyle Choices

The lifestyle choices that individuals make are often what lead them through the front door of a heart clinic. They may arrive by car or by ambulance but many of their own actions are what precipitated the appointment or hospital stay. One wrong choice that they made was what they ate. Eating heavily processed, fat-filled foods is a great way to pile on the pounds and clog up the arteries, both of which strain the cardiovascular system. Smoking cigarettes is another no-no unless a person wants to end up having a stroke or cardiac arrest. Living a stress filled life without an arsenal of coping tactics is another heart-attack-waiting-to-happen.

Heredity Happens

A person's DNA can also be the reason he or she winds up at the heart clinic. High blood pressure or coronary problems may be inherited from family members who share the same gene pool. Congenital issues occur, as well. Some babies are born with murmurs or heartbeat irregularities that require help from medical doctors such as cardiologists.

Neglectful Living

A person may end up at the heart clinic because he or she neglected some important must-do's. For example, if a person may not have gone to the dentist for regular checkups and cleanings, allowing plaque and decay to become well established. Having dental challenges can lead to coronary problems along with diseased teeth. If an individual doesn't take medicines as instructed by a family doctor or cardiologist, he or she may end up in serious condition at the hospital. Not following a doctor's orders is another act of negligence that can lead to serious consequences including death.

Going to the heart clinic for coronary trouble is a wise move because these medical facilities have the specialists and equipment to cure what ails each patient. Patients need to make wise decisions, too, by making positive lifestyle choices, paying attention to their DNA, and staying no to neglectful living.

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Cardiovascular Disease Prevention With Nutrition and Herbs

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death in this country. It has become an epidemic attributed to our lifestyles and diets. The typical American diet is high in saturated fats and cholesterol which creates inflammation that leads to atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries. Atherosclerosis is the main disease process of cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular disease includes atherosclerosis, hypertension, coronary artery disease, carotid artery disease, peripheral artery disease and heart disease. The major risk factors for cardiovascular disease are: cigarette smoking, high cholesterol values and high blood pressure. Secondary factors include: obesity, being overweight, genetics, stress, sedentary lifestyle, diabetes an alcohol abuse. Many of these factors have become quite prevalent in our society, which is why cardiovascular disease has become the number one cause of death.

A complete medical work-up will help to determine presence or risk of CVD. This should include cholesterol testing, an EKG and thorough medical history. Prevention is the best approach to cardiovascular disease, but it's never too late to reduce risk and improve your health even if you have been diagnosed.

The inflammatory process that leads to atherosclerosis is due to a toxic lifestyle. Acidic body chemistry creates inflammation, so consuming a primarily alkaline diet rich in fresh fruits and vegetables will reduce inflammation dramatically. The number one thing a person can do to decrease risk of CVD is stop smoking cigarettes. Avoiding cigarette smoke and other inhaled chemicals will also decrease inflammation. Developing methods to handle and cope with stress will help with lowering blood pressure. These may include exercise and mediation. High blood pressure or hypertension left untreated, may also contribute to increased risk of stroke.

Secondly, consuming a diet low in saturated and hydrogenated fats, cholesterol, salt and processed, refined sugars and fats will dramatically decrease risk of CVD and improve existing conditions. Other important steps include: consuming high fiber foods (20-30 grams daily), plenty of whole grains, fruits and vegetables, regular exercise or physical activity and maintaing low body fat percentage. Cholesterol should be reduced to less than 300mg per day. Red meats should be very limited and cured meats should avoided completely. Avoid whole milk and dairy products as they contain mostly saturated fats and cholesterol. Flaxseed oil is also a good source of Omega 3 essential fatty acids, which have been linked to heart health. Limit salt and sugar intake.

Regular vigorous exercise strengthens the heart and circulation. Drinking spring water is best due to its beneficial mineral content that can help reduce chemical exposure apsorption. Abstaining from caffeine and alcohol are is wise, caffeine increases heart rate and blood pressure and alcohol is an irritant.

Not smoking, aggressively control of obesity, hypertension and/or diabetes and a strict low-fat diet(20-25% of total calories) are mandatory for CVD prevention.

Herbs like garlic and cayenne help to lower blood pressure and cholesterol and foods like onions and soybeans or tofu may have a benefit cholesterol levels and atherosclerosis. Ginger, hawthorn berry and ginkgo are also beneficial for circulation and as heart tonics.

A daily Vitamin E and selenium supplement will help reduce platelet stickiness protect cells and tissue linings. 800-1000 IU of Vitamin E and 250 to 300 mcg of selenium is recommended. A daily B vitamin complex supplement can help in lipid metabolism, metabolism and reduction of homocysteine levels. Likewise, foods rich in B vitamins should be consumed, spinach and mushrooms are rich sources of most B vitamins. Magnesium is essential in CVD protection and is found in nutrient dense foods like spinach, swiss chard and sprouted navy beans. Magnesium levels should be 400-750 mg daily.

In the event of pharmaceutical use to prevent cardiovascular disease, CoQ10 may be depleted. This essential nutrient should be supplemented, 50-200 mg per day and is beneficial even if you are not taking prescription medicines.

These tips will help reduce your risk of developing cardiovascular disease and also can improve your condition if you have already been diagnosed. Please continue to seek the consult of a medical physician.

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Taking Precautions in Your Outdoor Sports and Activities

Outdoor sports can be exciting and entertaining, coupled with the fact that it is good for your health. But statistics show that more people get injured doing outdoor games and activities than when doing it indoors. It's not very hard to understand why this is so, and there is no sense in saying people should not play outdoor because of the safety risks. But then you should take precautions to protect yourself and eliminate the possible instances of danger.

Generally all outdoor sports can be grouped into three categories with respect to where they take place including water, land and snow. This grouping is necessary because outdoor sports in the same group have similar precautionary measures. Playing in the snow can be very dangerous because your body continues to struggle to keep you warm. This is why you need to make sure that you wear enough thick clothing to prevent you from losing body heat. Before you go out skating make sure your skateboard decks are in good shape and not damaged in any ways. Make sure that you wear strong footwear, helmet and eye goggles when going for skiing, ice fishing, ice sailing and Bobsledding.

Water games in the outdoors are also something you should always try out with the entire family. But before you step outdoors make sure you have a life jacket for yourself and every other member of your family. Use life jackets designed for children on your kids since they provide greater protection than the ones made for adults. The life jacket should always be there whether you're skiing, skating, kayaking, canoeing, jet skiing, rafting or yachting. If the weather is cold then you need to wear thick clothing, but if it's hot you can put on light clothing so you don't feel the heat. Wear simple clothing that can protect you from sunburns if it is sunny. Fishing can also be fun for those who don't want to get wet, but make sure that you have the necessary fishing tackle equipment so you can make a good catch.

Outdoor activities in the land need greater precautions as people are more likely to get serious bruises and injuries on land than in any other places. Drink enough water before you go out cycling or running on a hot day to prevent dehydration. You should also have water bottle filled with water to cool your thirst. Wear proper footwear and protective helmets and clothing to prevent bruises and head injuries in case you fall. Climbing and caving can be very tense. You need to make sure you have all the right equipment and check that they are perfectly okay before you go out. Wear the right shoes for climbing and put on gloves to protect your hands against lacerations.

Use a very good backpack to pack all your equipment so you don't develop back injuries as a result of your physical activities. Wear socks and the proper footwear for the kind of outdoor sports you're doing to protect you against foot blisters and ankle sprain.

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