Coronary artery disease

Coronary Heart Disease
Your heart is designed to last a lifetime, but you have to do your bit to help ensure it stays in good working order.The way you lead your life - what you eat, how you get about, how you spend your leisure time - can help prevent coronary heart disease and premature death.Heart disease is a term that covers a variety of conditions that affect the performance of the heart. The most common problem is ischaemic heart disease also known as coronary heart disease or coronary artery disease.The AHA recommends the following to prevent the development or progression of atherosclerosis:

A variety of fruits and vegetables (5 to 9 servings/day)

A variety of grain products, with an emphasis on whole grains (6 or more servings/day)

At least 2 servings of fish per week

Limit total fat intake to <30% and saturated fat to <10% of energy. Replace dietary saturated fats and trans fatty acids with monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats (including foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids). Food sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fatty fish (such as salmon), flaxseed and flaxseed oil, soybean oil, canola oil, and nuts.

Limit dairy products to low-fat or fat free items (2 to 4 servings/day)

Limit sodium intake to 6 grams per day


Maintain a healthy body weight by matching calorie intake to energy needs; this includes a moderate level of regular physical activity (30 to 60 minutes within target heart range most days per week)

The Mediterranean Style Diet is comprised of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, fish, olive oil, and moderate, daily wine consumption.

Folic Acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin B12, Betaine, Selenium

Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Antioxidants ,Vitamin E, Vitamin C,Vitamin D


Low blood levels of this antioxidant may worsen atherosclerosis. Cigarette smoking and alcohol ingestion are believed to contribute to selenium deficiency. It is not known, however, whether selenium supplementation has any influence on the development or progression of atherosclerosis.

Treatment using Grapes
Fresh fruits in general are beneficial in the treatment of heart disease. They tone up the heart. Grapes are especially effective in heart pain and palpitation of the heart, and the disease can be rapidly controlled if the patient adopts an exclusive diet of grapes for a few days.

Grape juice is particularly valuable when one is actually suffering from a heart attack.

Coronary Heart Disease treatment using Apple

Apples have heart-stimulating properties. Patients suffering from a weak heart will benefit greatly by making liberal use of this fruit and apple jam.

Coronary Heart Disease treatment using Indian Gooseberry
Indian gooseberry is considered an effective home remedy for heart disease. It tones up the functions of all the organs of the body, and builds up health by destroying the heterogeneous elements and renewing lost energy. When the fruit is in season, one medium-sized Indian gooseberry can be taken with a little salt daily; when not in season, dry pieces can be chewed .

Coronary Heart Disease treatment using Onion
Onions have been found valuable in heart disease. They are useful in normalising the percentage of blood cholesterol by oxidising excess cholesterol. One teaspoon of raw onion juice first thing in the morning is beneficial in such cases.

Coronary Heart Disease treatment using Honey
Honey has got marvellous properties to prevent all sorts of heart disease. It tones up the heart and improves the circulation. It is also effective in cardiac pain and palpitation of the heart. One tablespoon daily after food is sufficient to prevent all sorts of heart troubles.

Coronary Heart Disease treatment using Asparagus
Asparagus is an excellent food for strengthening the heart.. A good medicine for a weak or an enlarged heart is prepared by mixing the freshly extracted juice of this vegetable with honey, in the ratio of 2:1. A teaspoon of this medicine should be taken three times daily. Patients with heart disease will also benefit by steam cooking this vegetable.

Coronary Heart Disease treatment using Alfalfa
The herb alfalfa in the form of juice has been found very helpful in most troubles related to the arteries and heart diseases.Only the leaves of the plant are used for this purpose, when they can be obtained fresh. The juice of fresh alfalfa is, however, too strong and potent to be taken by itself. It is best taken with carrot juice in equal quantities of 125ml each, twice daily.In this combination, the individual benefits of each juice are intensified.

Coronary Heart Disease treatment using Safflower
Safflower oil has proved beneficial in lowering blood cholestrol. Hence it can be used liberally with persons suffering from cardiovascular disorders. An emulsion with the trade name Saffloxin-Cipla is used routinely during myocardial infarction, cardiac ischaemia, and hypertension.

Coronary Heart Disease treatment using Vitamin E
Patients with heart disease should increase their intake of foods rich in vitamin E, as this vitamin is said to promote heart function by improving oxygenation of the cells. It also improves the circulation and muscle strength. Many wholemeal products and green vegetables, particularly outer leaves of cabbage, are good sources of vitamin E.

Coronary Heart Disease treatment using Vitamin C
Vitamin C is also essential as it protects against spontaneous breaches in capillary walls which can lead to heart attacks. It also guards against high blood cholesterol. The stress of anger, fear, disappointment., and similar emotions can raise blood fat and cholesterol levels immediately but this reaction to stress can do little harm if the diet is adequate in vitamin C and pantothenic acid. One of the richest sources of vitamin C is citrus fruits.

Coronary Heart Disease diet
Diet should be lacto-vegetarian, low on sodium and calories
The fundamental conditioning factor in all heart diseases is the diet, which should be lacto-vegetarian, and low on sodium and calories. It should consist of high quality, natural organic foods, with emphasis on whole grains, seeds, fresh fruits, and vegetables Avoid food like white flour products, tea, coffee, tobacco, salt and sugar Foods which should be eliminated from the diet include white flour products, sweets, chocolates, canned foods in syrup, soft drinks, squashes, tea, coffee, alcohol, and tobacco, and all solid fats of animal origin such as butter, cream and fatty meats. Salt and sugar should he reduced substantially
 

Magnesium – should be your first choice, as it keeps a normal rhythm of heartbeats, and maintains the heart muscle in good shape.

Vitamin E – an antioxidant that fights oxidizing LDL
Copper – Copper Helps in various ways, starting from lowering cholesterol levels, and lowering blood pressure – both affect Cardiovascular Diseases directly.

Fish Oil – more particularly – the Omega 3 in the Fish Oil is good for your heart

Garlic – Garlic is such a wonderful thing, it helps in so many ways. You don’t even have to worry about the smell anymore, when it comes in capsules….

Vitamin B Complex – among all other health benefits the B complex holds, helping the healthy function of the heart can be found. Vitamin B Complex is one you should try taking regularly, for all the benefits it contains.

Walnuts for healthy heart

According to latest research a handful of walnuts everyday can help in maintaining the elasticity of the arteries and thus reducing the risk of heart attacks and coronary heart disease. Olive oil, traditionally thought to be good for the heart and arteries was found to be less effective than walnuts. The fat molecules in a high fat diet trigger an inflammatory reaction which over a period of time contributes to the hardening of the arteries leading to heart disease and blockages. Walnuts have been found to increase the ability of the body to withstand the effects of these fatty acids and in maintaining the flexibility of the arteries.

Grapefruit
also contains pectin that removes cholesterol off the organism and improves metabolism. It also contains lycopene, the element that wonderfully fights toxins and helps people endure bad environment. The fruit is very popular among those who take much care of the body shape. Remember that a couple of grapefruit segments after meals can burn a half of the calories consumed during the meal. It is because of this peculiarity that dietitians recommend stout people eat more grapefruits. A kilogram of grapefruits contains only 90 calories, so the fruit will not cause damage to the body shape.

Garlic Reduces Plaque Mass in Arteries
This new study provides conclusive evidence that garlic prevents and reduces plaque build up in carotid (heart) arteries and femoral (thigh) arteries.When fatty plaque, like cholesterol, builds up in the arteries, it increases the risk of heart attacks.German researchers studied 280 participants over a 4 year period. Participants were given either 900mg of garlic per day or a placebo. Those who took the garlic had 18% less plaque than those who took a placebo.Men who took the placebo had a 5.5% increase in plaque build up and those who took garlic had only a 1.1% increase.

Preventing Hardening of the Arteries
Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, is the leading cause of death in the United States. About 1 million Americans die from this condition each year—twice as many as from cancer. In atherosclerosis, the walls of certain arteries grow thicker and less flexible. This is caused by cholesterol (and similar substances) attaching to artery walls. As the condition worsens, blood flow is increasingly restricted, depriving the body of the oxygen it needs. Often this condition involves the arteries leading to the heart and head, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Fish Oil Sinks Coronary Event Rates When Added to Statins
Among more than 18,000 patients with hypercholesterolemia and a history of coronary artery disease, the addition to statins of eicosapentaenoic acid, a long-chain-n-3 fatty acid in fish oil, reduced the occurrence of major coronary events by 19% over statins alone, reported Mitsuhiro Yokoyama, M.D., from Kobe University here, and colleagues. Eicosapentaenoic acid, (EPA) was associated with significant reductions in unstable angina and non-fatal coronary events, but there were no differences in either sudden cardiac death or coronary death, the investigators in the Japan EPA Lipid Intervention Study (JELIS).wrote in the March 31 issue of The Lancet.

Angioplasty treatment top, but short-term
Angioplasty remains the top treatment for people who have had a heart attack or been hospitalized with the symptoms of clogged arteries. Most angioplasties are done on a non-emergency basis to relieve chest pain caused by a crimping of the heart's blood supply, according to a study. Surprisingly the treatment does not save lives or prevent heart attacks in non-emergency heart patients, it only temporarily relieves pain. In the study, only one-third of the people treated with drugs ultimately needed angioplasty or a bypass. More people upon feeling chest pain receive an unnecessary course of the treatment, which costs around 40,000 USD. These days with improved technology drugs are more effective than ever before.
Those patients now should try drugs first, experts say. If this does not help, they can consider angioplasty or bypass surgery, which does save lives, prevent heart attacks and give lasting chest pain relief. Medicines such as aspirin, cholesterol-lowering statins, nitrates, ACE inhibitors, beta-blockers and calcium channel blockers improve chest pain and heart and artery health. "An ounce of prevention better than pounds of cure," as a famous proverb goes; so consider living a healthy

Coenzyme Q10 benefits people with heart failure
The popular supplement coenzyme Q10 improves the functional capacity of patients with chronic heart failure, along with strengthening of their heart, a new study shows.Combining exercise training with CoQ10 produced more marked improvements in these and all other parameters.The researchers conclude that oral CoQ10 improves several aspects of heart failure, "without any side effects."

Walnuts for healthy heart
According to latest research a handful of walnuts everyday can help in maintaining the elasticity of the arteries and thus reducing the risk of heart attacks and coronary heart disease. Olive oil, traditionally thought to be good for the heart and arteries was found to be less effective than walnuts. The fat molecules in a high fat diet trigger an inflammatory reaction which over a period of time contributes to the hardening of the arteries leading to heart disease and blockages. Walnuts have been found to increase the ability of the body to withstand the effects of these fatty acids and in maintaining the flexibility of the arteries.

Folic acid seen to reduce stroke risk
Folic acid supplementation is best known as a means of protecting unborn children against birth defects, but research suggests that it could also be beneficial to adults and significantly reduce their risk of suffering a stroke.A meta analysis published this week in The Lancet concludes that people can cut their risk of a stroke by a fifth by increasing their intake of folic acid.Xiaobin Wang from the Children's Memorial Research Center in the US and colleagues analysed data from eight randomised trials looking at the link between intake of folic acid and the risk of suffering a stroke.
 

If you use herbs, do so responsibly. Consult your doctor about your health conditions and use of herbal supplements. Herbs may be harmful if taken for the wrong conditions, used in excessive amounts, combined with prescription drugs or alcohol, or used by persons who don't know what they are doing. Just because an herbal remedy is natural, does not mean it is safe! There are herbs that are poisonous such as Poison Hemlock, Jimson weed, and many more.