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An A-Z Woman's Guide to Vibrant Health
Heart Disease
Heart disease is the number one killer of women of all ages each year. We have finally achieved equality as women now have equal rates of heart disease to men, although more women are dying of heart attacks than men are.
Nearly one out of two women will die of cardiovascular disease. Women are also more likely than men to suffer a stroke after a heart attack. We have been taught that a heart attack is signalled by arm-clutching chest pain, but women can have very different heart attack symptoms to men. Unfortunately, many women are not aware that the risk is so great and do very little to protect themselves from the disease. Cardiovascular disease is a category of about 30 conditions including hardening of the arteries, congestive heart failure, heartbeat rhythm irregularities, heart muscle disease and valve disorders.
Symptoms
Heart disease is a silent killer because often people do not know that they have it. New statistics published by the American Heart Association (AHA) for 2004 show that 50 percent of men and 64 percent of women who died suddenly of heart disease during the course of their study had no
previous symptoms. Be conscious of heart disease symptoms, including shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, chest pain with exercise that subsides when you rest, or bouts of indigestion, a constricting feeling in your throat,
profuse sweating for no apparent reason (not menopause). Seek emergency help for stomach pain, nausea and vomiting, dizziness, irregular pulse, lightheadedness or unusual fatigue, and pain or numbness in the arms, back, neck or chest.
Causes
Although you may be predisposed to heart disease because of family history, this does not mean you must develop it. If you have a family history of coronary heart disease (CHD) you must be vigilant in making lifestyle choices that
can prevent this deadly condition. Heart disease actually begins in the stomach. A poor diet of packaged or processed foods high in trans-fatty acids and devoid of fiber and nutrients (especially B vitamins and folic acid) are the main instigators of heart disease. Couple a poor diet with high stress, dehydration, aging, smoking, extra weight and lack of exercise and sleep and your risk climbs higher. Diabetes, high blood pressure or high levels of harmful LDL cholesterol or high blood homocysteine levels compound the problem. Homocysteine in the blood indicates a breakdown in chemical processes in the body, and is strongly linked to heart disease. The risk of CHD is especially high for women of African-American descent.
PRESCRIPTION FOR HEART HEALTH
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Multivitamins with minerals; (contains no iron)
FemmEssentials or MultiEssentials for women |
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As directed. For complete formula recommendations see Appendix A |
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Ensures adequate intake of basic nutrients. For the prevention of heart disease B vitamins (normalizes homocysteine, reduces stress), folic acid, magnesium, vitamins C and E are essential |
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Alleviates arrythmias, heart palpitations; essential for proper heart muscle function |
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Vitamin B1 for those taking Lasix |
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To prevent B1 in
depletion taking Lasix |
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Vitamin C with bioflavonoids |
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1000 mg twice a day;
with bioflavonoids 100 mg per day
100 mg inositol daily |
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Reduces symptoms and risk of heart disease; anti-oxidant, which raises HDL “good” cholesterol and lowers blood pressure |
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Maintains healthy blood pressure |
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Boosts energy production in the heart muscle; significantly improves heart function in those with congestive heart failure |
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Inositol hexanicotinate Nonflushing niacin |
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500-1000 mg three times per day with meals. If using just niacin, increase dosage slowly over three weeks until using 3000 mg per day to avoid the harmless flushing of the skin |
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Lowers LDL cholesterol and triglycerides while raising HDL cholesterol. Have liver enzymes and cholesterol checked every three months |
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Vitamin E with mixed tocopherols
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| Improves blood flow, reduces fatty plaques, boosts the immune system and acts as an antioxidant. Should not be taken by those on Warfarin |
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Hawthorn extract
(standardized 1.8% vitexin or 10% procyanidin content)
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| | 100-200 mg three times daily |
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| Double-blind studies show improvement in those with congestive heart failure |
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| Relaxes arteries, reduces blood pressure |
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| | 2000-4000 mg of Kyolic garlic |
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| Improves circulation, shown to reduce blood pressure |
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| Pycnogenol or grape seed extract |
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| Reduces platelet aggregation |
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| Gugulipid (standardized extract of mukul myrrh tree)
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| | 500 mg three times daily (standardized for 25 mg guggulsterone) |
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| Increases the liver’s metabolism of LDL cholesterol, lowers LDL cholesterol and triglyceride levels and raises HDL cholesterol levels; also shown to prevent atherosclerosis and reverse pre-existing plaque |
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| | Pharmaceutical grade fish oil, 400 mg EPA and 200 mg DHA daily |
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| Reduces risk of heart disease; lowers triglycerides |
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HEALTH TIPS TO ENHANCE HEALING
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- Studies show that a diet emphasizing fresh fruits and vegetables, whole
grains, legumes, lean meats and fish may lower risk of heart disease. Eating
this way also provides valuable antioxidants, which are useful in combating
chronic inflammation. Eat two eight-inch raw carrots per day, as this has
been shown to reduce cholesterol by 50 points in a matter of weeks. Eat
plenty of fresh pressed garlic to lower blood pressure.
- The AHA recommends two servings of fish per week to prevent heart
disease. Fatty fish contains EPA and DHA, Omega-3 essential fatty acids.
Alternatively, be sure to supplement with essential fatty acids to lower
triglyceride levels and support normal cardiovascular health.
- Make sure that you keep hydrated with adequate amounts of pure, filtered
water to maintain blood flow. Studies show drinking 5 glasses of water per
day cuts your risk of stroke and heart attack in half.
- Reduce consumption of salt, caffeine and alcohol and be sure to get plenty
of exercise followed by sufficient rest.
- Have your thyroid checked. Low levels of thyroid hormone causes heart
palpitations in women and adds to heart stress.
- Quit smoking and avoid second-hand smoke.
- Insist that your doctor measure your homocysteine and C-reactive protein
levels (both indicators of heart disease). Fortunately, high levels can be
quickly addressed by supplementing magnesium, B6, B12, folic acid and
fish oils.
- Studies show that holding on to anger is not only bad for your mood, but
is also linked to increased risk of heart disease.
- A common culprit found in people with high blood pressure is the wrong
ratio of potassium to salt. Reduce sodium intake by avoiding table salt and
processed foods. Increase your intake of potassium-rich foods such as
bananas, apricots, tomatoes, avocados, potatoes, lean chicken meat and
fresh fish.
- Get adequate exercise. Walking 30 minutes three times a week cuts your
risk of heart attack by about 30 percent. The more energetic your exercise,
the greater your benefit: increasing your walking pace to two miles per
hour or faster can reduce your risk up to 63 percent.
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Caution: If you are currently on Coumadin, high cholesterol or high
blood pressure medication, talk to your physician or pharmacist about
drug-nutrient interactions. Be aware that both high blood pressure
and high cholesterol medications cause depletion of coenzyme Q10 so
you must supplement to ensure adequate levels. According to the Drug-
Induced Nutrient Depletion Handbook for Pharmacists, if you are taking
Lasix (flurosemide) you should be aware that Lasix depletes calcium,
magnesium, potassium, vitamins B1, B6 and C and zinc. These nutrients
must be replaced to prevent deficiency. |
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