Discover 4 Secrets for Reducing Your Risk of Heart Problems

Your heart works hard day in and day out to pump blood through your entire body. Every cell in your body needs the oxygen and nutrients carried by your blood in order to live. One way to protect your heart, along with the rest of your body, is to acquire a basic understanding of how your heart works.

More that 40 percent of all human deaths are due to cardiovascular disease caused by high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, obesity, and a sedentary lifestyle. Although some people are born with cardiovascular disease, more often it develops later in life as the result of unhealthy lifestyle habits. Cardiovascular disease often results in disability or even death. 

You can take action to both lessen your risk for heart problems and maintain a healthy heart and body that works at optimal levels. You can start by effectively managing your blood pressure, controlling your stress levels and cholesterol, making healthy lifestyle changes and, if needed, taking natural and effective herbal and homeopathic medications.

How to Minimize Your Risk of Cardiovascular Disease

1. Keep your blood pressure in check
   
   High blood pressure or hypertension can lead to a variety of cardiovascular complications. High blood pressure is a major risk factor for heart attack and stroke. It is important to have your blood pressure checked at least once every two years, even when you do not feel like anything is wrong. Blood pressure is the force of the blood pushing against the walls of the arteries. If blood pressure is too high, it may burst a blood vessel in the brain causing a stroke, or burst a blood vessel leading to the heart, which could result in death. High blood pressure can also damage blood vessel walls and promote the build-up of fatty plaque, a condition known as atherosclerosis. Strokes and heart attacks occur when a piece of this plaque breaks off and a blood clot forms blocking blood flow to the brain or the heart.
   
   The pressure of blood in your blood vessels is not constant - it rises and falls with every beat of your heart. That’s why blood pressure is always given as two numbers. The higher number represents the pressure when your heart beats, pushing blood out. This is called systolic blood pressure. The second, or lower number, represents the lowest pressure, when the heart relaxes between beats and fills with blood. This is diastolic blood pressure. An optimal reading is 120/80 mm Hg or lower.
   
   
   Related Products to Use: High-Rite for Blood Pressure Control and Aqua-Rite for hypertension and associated water retention.
   
   
2. Keep blood vessels open by controlling cholesterol and triglycerides
   
   High blood cholesterol can lead to a build up of plaque in the artery walls and narrow your arteries (atherosclerosis). This can make it harder for blood to flow through your heart and body, putting you at increased risk of circulatory problems, heart disease and stroke. Unhealthy levels of blood fats, cholesterol and triglycerides can also cause cardiovascular disease.  Be aware of elevated triglycerides and a decreased level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol - the "good" cholesterol. The liver makes 80% of cholesterol in your body. The other 20% comes from the foods you eat. Saturated and trans fats found in fatty meat, dairy foods and hydrogenated oils raise levels of “bad” LDL and total cholesterol.  Healthy people with no risk factors for heart disease do not need to have their cholesterol levels checked until they reach the age of 40 (for men) or 50 (for women). Still, you may develop risk factors before you get to the normal testing age. In most cases, high cholesterol does not produce symptoms. The only way to know if you have high cholesterol levels is to have your blood tested.  Your targets: LDL below 100 — perhaps as low as 70 if you have other heart disease risk factors and take cholesterol-lowering medication; HDL above 50 for women and above 40 for men; triglycerides below 150.
   
   Think about having cholesterol testing if you:
   
   
   • are male and over 40 years of age
   • are female and over 50 years of age and/or post-menopausal
   • have heart disease
   • have diabetes
   • have high blood pressure
   • have a waist measurement greater than 102 cm (40 inches) for men or 88 cm (35 inches) for women
   • smoke or have smoked within the last year
   • have a family history of heart disease or stroke
   • have chronic kidney disease or lupus
   • are male and have erectile dysfunction
     
     
   The good news is that lowering your cholesterol can dramatically reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.
   
   
   Related Products to Use: Cholesto-Rite for controlling bad and good cholesterol levels.
   
   
3. Lifestyle changes and medication can help lower your risk factors
   
   Blood sugar, blood pressure and blood fats aren't the only things that can lead to cardiovascular disease. Lifestyle factors can also add to your risk. Choices than can help you lower your heart disease risk include:
   
   
   • Eating healthier
   • Getting and staying active
   • Using alcohol only moderately
   • Stopping the use of tobacco products
   • Reaching or maintaining a healthy weight
     
     
4. Manage your blood sugar
   
   Keeping your blood sugar levels within optimal ranges can prevent or delay blood vessel damage. The best way to assess your blood sugar level over time is the hemoglobin A1C test. It reflects your average blood sugar control over the last three months.
   
   
   Related Products to Use: Insulate Plus for Healthy Blood Sugar Levels and Triple Complex Diabetonic for maintaining healthy blood sugar levels, reducing cravings for sweets and is SAFE during pregnancy and breastfeeding.

You are now equipped with all the information you need to start making smart heart choices! Take control today to lower your risk of heart problems and lead a heart-healthy life the natural way.

Sources:  Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research; Heart and Stroke Foundation