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The Truth...Women and Heart Disease
Did you know that heart disease kills nearly 1,400 women every day in the USA?
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According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease claims the lives of 500,000 women each year – that's 65,000 more women than men. It kills more women under 45 than any other single disease. “People need to know that heart disease is still the number one killer of women in the U.S. and every year it kills 10 times the number of women who die from breast cancer," says Fredric Pashkow, MD, Cardiologist and Medical Director of Queens Medical Center Heart Institute in New York.
Risk Factors
Women should be aware of the major risk factors associated with cardiovascular disease:
Smoking...
Smoking is a major risk factor. Studies show that smoking lowers levels of good cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart disease. Cigarette smoking, combined with the use of birth control pills, has also been shown to increase the risk of heart attack or stroke.
High Blood Pressure...
High blood pressure, or hypertension, if left untreated, makes the heart work harder, speeds up hardening of the arteries and increases the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney failure.
Calcification of the Arteries...
Women are being prescribed mega dosages of calcium salt, for example, calcium carbonate, citrate and lactate, by their doctors to help increase their bone density. Unfortunately, because calcium salt is not food, rather limestone, chalk or plaster of Paris, the body does not recognize these foreign objects so they end up in the breasts, kidneys and, unfortunately, the arteries causing build up and calcification.
Calcium is an essential mineral. However, it must be taken in a food form. That's why we strongly recommend that only the FoodMatrix Calcium by Sportron is taken as a nutritional supplement.
Obesity...
Obesity is a strong predicator for heart disease, especially among women. Women who have a lot of fat around the waist are at greater risk than those who have fat around the hips.
Diabetes...
Diabetes is more common in women and poses a greater risk because it cancels the protective effects of estrogen in pre-menopausal women. Studies show women with diabetes have a higher risk of death from cardiovascular disease than men with diabetes.
There are many other risk factors which include:
Physical inactivity
Oral contraceptives
Excessive alcohol
Stress
Warning Signs
Heart Attack
Chest discomfort. Most heart attacks involve discomfort in the center of the chest that lasts more than a few minutes, or that goes away and comes back. It can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain.
Discomfort in other areas of the upper body. Symptoms can include pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
Shortness of breath. This feeling often comes along with chest discomfort. But it can occur before the chest discomfort.
Other signs: These may include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or light-headedness.
Stroke
The American Stroke Association lists these warning signs of stroke:
Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.
Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.
Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.
Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
Sudden, severe headache with no known cause.
Cardiac Arrest
Cardiac arrest strikes immediately and without warning. Here are the signs:
Sudden loss of responsiveness. No response to gentle shaking.
No normal breathing. The victim does not take a normal breath when you check for several seconds.
No signs of circulation. No movement or coughing.
Is There an Answer?
Most heart attacks are completely preventable. You can boost your body's levels of anti-inflammatory compounds and lower your chances of getting heart disease by eating certain foods typically found in a Mediterranean style diet.
Foods to include
Fatty, coldwater fish
Fatty fish, especially salmon, mackerel, herring, sardines, trout, and tuna are good sources of omega-3 fatty acids, which can lower blood cholesterol levels and prevent strokes and blood clots. Omega-3 fatty acids help to dissolve blood clots. People who eat fish tend to have a lower incidence of borderline or high blood pressure.
Greens
Non-starchy green vegetables contain several anti-inflammatory antioxidants to help neutralize inflammation promoting free radicals. Greens are rich in alpha-linolenic acid, the basic building block of omega-3 fatty acids. Greens also contain small amounts of GLA, which can boost the anti-inflammatory effect of omega-3 fatty acids.
Fruits
Fruits are full of antioxidant vitamins and other heart-healthy compounds. For example, the quercetin in apples fights blood clots while the pectin lowers blood cholesterol levels. Avocados are high in fiber and contain more potassium than bananas. Strawberries can be rich sources of phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids, which have potent antioxidant activity.
Peas, beans, legumes and nuts
Black, pinto, garbanzo and kidney beans are good sources of folate. The Harvard Nurses' Health Study also found that those women who consumed the most folate were 69 percent less at risk for heart disease than those who ate the least.
Garlic
Garlic acts as an anti-coagulant in the blood, which reduces the risk of strokes, and is an excellent source of antioxidants. Garlic may help prevent and even reverse the enlargement of plaques in the walls of your arteries.
Wine
Wine, especially red wine, contains heart healthy antioxidants, catechins and a polyphenol called resveratrol. Recent studies have shown that resveratrol can lower cholesterol.
Can Supplementation Help?
Good nutrition is important and FoodMatrix™ nutritional supplements can provide major benefits.
Sportron's Cardio Pack has been designed to provide maximum support to the circulatory system. The products contain the vital ingredients such as FoodMatrix™ Vitamin C and Vitamin E. They also deliver the most powerful and comprehensive antioxidants, along with cruciferous fruits and vegetables, carotenoids and FoodMatrix™ minerals.
For more information, on Sportron's Cardio Pack, http://www.sportron.com/cardiopack.html
To order http://www.sportronusa.com/about/Store/gprodcategory.asp
Dr. Alan Tomlinson
B.A., N.D., D.O., D.Hom.
Dr. Tomlinson has provided technical expertise in all areas of product formulation and development for the past 30 years. He is considered an expert in the field of micro nutrient supplementation. He is a sought after speaker and has lectured to audiences around the world on the subject of health and lifestyle management.
The Tomlinson Health Report © 2004
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