Heart Disease in Men
Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease, is the leading cause of death in American men, ahead of cancer. According to the American Heart Association, in 2004 there were 871,500 deaths from cardiovascular disease. Death rates for the same year, per 100,000 of population, were 335.7 for white males, and 448.9 for black males. Those death rates were signifcantly higher for men than for women.
The AHA breaks cardiovascular disease down into three types: hypertension (high blood pressure), coronary heart disease and stroke. Coronary heart disease accounted for 15,800,000 out of 79,400,000 Americans suffering from one of those three forms of cardiovascular. Of those, which includes men and women, 7,900,000 suffered an acute heart attack, while 8,900,000 suffered from angina.
Heart disease is very much a product of Western lifestyle, especially lack of physical activity and very poor diet. When Western lifestyles are introduced into other cultures, then heart problems follow soon. The fast food American junk diet does not have sufficient nutrients to promote a healthy heart or cardiovascular system. The sedentary lifestyle does not promote a healthy heart.
For those with any form of cardiovaascular, it is critical to follow professional medical advice. While our doctor may recommend dietary changes and more exercise, doing too much of the wrong exercise too soon may do you more harm than good. However, with your doctor's blessing, do follow the exercise recommendations as well as the dietary. The exercise will make you feel better as well as make you look better and probably prolong your life.
Preventing Heart Disease
If you have no sign of heart disease, but are concerned about maintaining good health and having a long and healthy life, then there are preventative measures you can take which are relatively simple:
1. Distance Yourself From the American Diet
The fast food and processed food industries should be avoided if you want to have a healthy heart. They are at the root of heart disease. Processing food tends to remove most or all natural nutrients. Those nutrients were the very same nutrients that kept hearts healthier in earlier centuries.
2. Eat Plenty of Fresh Fruits and Vegetables
You have probably read this a thousand times this year, but it is so important. Many vital nutrients can be found in fruits such as avocado, strawberries, papaya, blueberries, grapes, pomegranates, and others, and in vegetables such as broccoli, garlic, tomatoes and red beet.
3. Drink Alcohol In Moderation
Most people have now heard that red wine is good for your heart. If you drink it, do so in moderation, otherwise any good will be counteracted. If you do not drink red wine that is fine; you can take a red wine supplement and still get the benefits without the alcohol.
4. Regular Exercise
Daily exercise for just half an hour can make a big difference to your health. Most people do not get that. Walking, cycling and swimming are all excellent forms of exercise for the heart, but be sure to consult your doctor first.
5. Eat Less Red Meat and More Oily Fish
Omega 3 Fatty acids have been shown to assist heart and other health. If you cannot get a reliabel supply of oily fish, toxin free, then fish oil supplements are plentiful. If you combine the fish oil with CoQ10 then you could be doing your heart a big favor.
DHA Fish oil concentrate
From: Goldshield PLC
