February is Heart Month

Research suggests that women may be more sensitive to certain risk factors for heart disease. In particular, obesity, hypertension (high blood pressure) stress, depression and smoking all appear to have a greater impact on women than men.

So what is heart disease?

Heart disease is a broad term that describes various conditions, from high blood pressure to heart attack and stroke.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common occurrence of heart disease, and is the leading cause of heart attack. CAD occurs when plaque, a fatty substance made from cholesterol, calcium and waste, accumulates in the arteries or blood vessels that lead to the heart, narrowing the artery walls. Obstruction of blood flow through the arteries can cause chest pain (known as angina) and, if left undiagnosed, heart attack.

Stay on top of your heart health.

• Make your heart health a priority. See your doctor regularly and ask him or her about your risk factors. Inform your doctor about any family history of heart disease and have your blood pressure and cholesterol checked as part of your annual checkup. If you are feeling unwell insist on testing—don’t shrug it off.

• Exercise regularly. Physical activity reduces bad cholesterol, aids in losing weight and helps prevent high blood pressure. Aerobic activity makes your heart stronger and more efficient.

• Don’t smoke. Smokers are 2 to 6 times more likely to have a heart attack than women who don’t smoke. Smoking also boosts the chance of stroke.

• Pay close attention to your body. Don’t dismiss symptoms like excessive fatigue and chest, neck or shoulder discomfort. Heart attack and discomfort can be indicated by a variety of symptoms including: chest pain, neck and/or shoulder pain, shortness of breath, nausea and stomach upset, clammy hands and skin, dizziness and fatigue.

• Make better food choices. Eat a low fat, high fibre diet rich in fruits and vegetables. Choose olive oil for cooking, eat fatty fish like salmon and mackerel; eat small amounts of nuts and legumes. These are all heart healthy foods, so make them a part of your diet. Avoid trans fats and saturated fats, white flour, and sugars, found in almost all processed foods.

And when you want to remove the nutritional question mark from your plate, invest in quality nutritional supplements, like the ones I recommend from Body Wise in San Diego, CA.

For the month of Feb, I am offering a free CoQ10 with your purchase.

For more information on these and other heart-healthy supplements, contact me at billiesinclair@mybodywise.org