Cardiovascular Disease is the number one killer in Australia, accounting for 41 percent of all deaths in 1997. It is often termed the silent killer, because it does not show any symptoms until it has reached a harmfully advanced stage. For many heart attack victims, the first outward sign of heart trouble is sudden death. Heart disease can affect anyone, regardless of age, sex or profession.
ENEMIES OF THE HEART
The heart is the most precious part of the cardiovascular system. Its rhythmic beating ensures an adequate supply of nutrients and oxygen are pumped throughout the body, via the complex arterial network we know as the bloodstream. To maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, blood must be kept flowing to and from the heart at a constant pace that will equal its pumping capacity of approximately 72 beats per minute. The enemies of the heart are those that seriously slow down or cut off the heart's blood supply; atherosclerosis, hypertension and blood clots.
ATHEROSCLEROSIS
Mention heart disease and many people automatically think 'cholesterol'. But cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease, only one of the final links in a chain of events that create the build up of fatty deposits known as arterial plaque. If left unchecked, this plaque will build up to dangerous levels that can narrow the arteries and block the heart's blood supply. Plaque will usually begin to collect in areas of an arterial wall which have become weakened through injury or damage from free radicals. This weakening is probably the real beginning of heart disease and can occur at any time, commonly beginning in early childhood.
HYPERTENSION
Hypertension, or high blood pressure, weakens the blood vessel walls over time, as the higher than normal force of blood flow exerts more pressure. People with high blood pressure have also been found to have constricted blood vessels which may put undue exertion on the heart itself as it strains to push blood through the narrowed passages.
BLOOD CLOTS
Our blood clotting ability is very important during times of injury when we rely on clotting to stop us from bleeding to death. However it can also be dangerous to our health. If blood clots block an artery entirely, the oxygen and nutrient supply is cut off from the heart tissue and heart attack or stroke can be the deadly result.
AVOIDING THE RISK FACTORS
Much can be done to prevent heart disease. Learn to relax, exercise more and choose a sensible diet, and you will be well on your way to maintaining a healthy heart. Be aware of the risk factors and avoid them wherever possible. They include smoking, fast foods, stress, high salt and cholesterol diets, and not enough exercise. Exercise is a protective action against heart disease as it has been shown to tone muscles, lower cholesterol, improve circulation, ease stress and deter depression. Nutritional supplements have also found an important place in maintaining the health and strength of the heart and arteries.
NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT FOR YOUR HEART
Antioxidants
An increasing amount of scientific evidence is pointing to the benefits of the antioxidant Vitamins E and C, and Betacarotene in reducing the risk of heart disease. By controlling free radical damage to the walls of the arteries, the antioxidants help to keep them strong and flexible. They are also thought to block the formation of oxidised LDL cholesterol (the 'bad' cholesterol), thereby preventing plaque build up.
Vitamin C
As well as its value as an antioxidant, Vitamin C is important for the maintenance of blood vessel walls. Many of those at risk of having a lowered blood level of this vitamin, including smokers, women on the contraceptive pill, diabetics and the elderly, may have more chance of developing heart problems like high blood pressure and cholesterol build up.
Bioflavonoids
These nutrients aid the proper utilisation of Vitamin C. They are beneficial to capillary health and may help to prevent blood clots and stroke. They also assist the treatment of coronary thrombosis.
Vitamin E
Possibly the most important vitamin for promoting normal blood circulation, healthy arteries and heart. It improves blood flow and prevents blood clots. One recent study involving over 100,000 nurses and health professionals showed a reduction in the risk of heart disease by a staggering 37-41 percent for those supplementing their diet with Vitamin E.
Betacarotene
A natural source of Vitamin A, Betacarotene has shown benefits in helping to maintain the health of the tissues and cells of the heart. It may also increase the levels of HDL (the 'good' cholesterol), that helps to reduce the risk of heart disease.
EPA Marine Lipids
Scientists have always been interested in the low incidence of heart disease amongst Eskimos and the Japanese, whose diets are rich in deep sea fish. It is now known that these types of marine life contain substances called Omega 3 fatty acids
(EPA & DHA), that are essential to good health and can increase HDL cholesterol levels, regulate blood clotting, and retard platelet aggregation and spasms of the arterial wall.
Calcium & Magnesium
These two important minerals work in harmony to regulate muscle contraction in the vascular system, and as such may help to control blood pressure. For maximum benefits Calcium and Magnesium intake should ideally be in a 2:1 ratio.
Hawthorn
This herb is traditionally used as a heart tonic. It promotes healthy arteries and improves blood supply to the heart. In some cases, when taken long term, it may effectively dilate blood vessels, lower blood pressure and reduce the incidence of angina.
Ginkgo Biloba
Ginkgo Biloba is a herb that has shown great benefit in increasing blood flow to the peripheral areas of the body. These include the hands, feet and also the brain. It is also a valuable antioxidant in the blood and may protect against stroke.
Garlic
A number of studies have shown how this popular Herb lowers cholesterol levels. It is also thought to reduce blood viscosity, clean the arteries of accumulated fats, normalise blood pressure and reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.
Co-Enzyme Q10
More of this important enzyme is found in the heart tissue than in any other organ of the entire body. Its main action involves energy production in the cells. This makes it particularly important to heart function as this organ is constantly using energy to maintain its heartbeat. Co Enzyme Q10 has shown value in strengthening heart muscle and in the treatment of high blood pressure, angina pectoris and other heart disorders.
Lecithin
Lecithin helps to break down cholesterol in the bloodstream, by breaking it into small particles for absorption by the tissues. Research indicates it may be useful in the treatment of high cholesterol, diseases of the circulatory system and blood clotting disorders.
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