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This table arrangement of fruit and vegetables acts as a wonderful reminder to keep an asortment of these nutritional foods on hand. Balancing grains along with proteins and carbs will keep you energized and healthy. Eat a colorful selection to insure that you get a varied assortment of vitamins and minerals.  |
| The
heart is obviously the most important organ in your body. It
works 24
hours a day, non-stop, sending oxygen and nutrients to every cell
in
your body.
When plaque or fatty substances build up inside the
walls
of your
arteries, the flow of blood is disrupted and creates a condition called
atherosclerosis. This takes years to develop, often
starting
in
childhood or as a young adult, and can be caused by life-style
choices, or
just heredity. As this plaque or fatty buildup increases,
part of
it can
break away, creating clots to seal the break, thus
narrowing the
arteries and reducing the flow of blood. If not
treated, it
may cause a heart attack (Myocardial infarction.)
This damages the heart muscle due to lack of oxygen,
and
some cells of
the heart muscle may die, compromising the heart's ability to function
at optimum precision. For women having a heart attack, many times the symptoms are not as apparent as they are for a man. Check the sidebar for some of the warning signs, but please be aware that your symptoms may be very different. Whereas a man will often have pains in his chest, left arm and/or jaw area, woman often do not experience the same type of pain. (And sometimes do not experience pain at all.) It is why it is so important to pay attention to your own body. Time is the essential component where heart disease is concerned. Heart damage is permanent. The sooner you get medical treatment, the better your chances for survival and/or minimal heart damage. So what are the heart attack symptoms for women? I can only give you a general list. The important thing to know is that if you feel something is wrong, LISTEN TO YOUR BODY! You know yourself better than anyone else does. With any of these symptoms, or other symptoms that are unusual to you, GET HELP. Call 911 and state that you think you might be having a heart attack. Making that call could save your life, and it could save your heart from more severe damage, that could directly affect your life. One in two women will end up dying of heart disease or stroke. Don't add to this statistic. Many doctors are not aware of these symptoms, and may dismiss or not recognize a woman's symptoms. Insist that you be tested for a heart attack. General Guidelines... 1. Quit Smoking. If you
don't smoke - Bravo for you. If you do smoke, quit
as quickly
as you can. There are numerous support
groups, plus new
medications that can help you quit.
I've been there, and I know it's not easy, but it's the best
gift you can give yourself. 3. Monitor your diet. With Type 2 Diabetes on the rise, try to keep your weight in check. By making gradual changes, adding more fresh fruit and vegetables to your diet, and skipping some of the cookies and cakes, you'll begin to see some changes to your health. 4. Cut back (or eliminate) the extra salt. Many canned items have a lot of salt for preservation. Unfortunately, salt can raise your blood pressure, which increases your risk of heart disease. Try experimenting with Sea Salt or Kosher Salt. Both contain less sodium than regular table salt. You can also drain the liquids and rinse canned items such as beans to get rid of extra sodium. That one step can reduce the amount of salt by about 40%. Also, buy low salt/sodium items when they're available. I make chili with salt-free black beans, and the chili comes out great. (Also, check with your doctor before using salt substitutes. They can interfere with some heart medications.) 5. Exercise. If you're not very active, start slow. But start! You can begin by just walking, which many doctors feel is best, and gradually work up to 30 minutes a day, 3-5 days a week. Your entire body will thank you. 6. Know your family
history. Heart disease can definitely be passed down from
generation to generation. (High blood pressure, high
cholesterol,
may be part of your family trait.) |
Reserve
your FREE eBook name and e-mail address to download now! Some Symptoms of Heart Attacks You May (or May Not)Experience: (Please remember that symptoms can be very different for different people. Listed below are just a few of the more common ones.) Vomiting or Nausea. This is Often Followed by Headaches and Flu-like Symptoms. Cold Chills or Cold Sweat Fatigue and Body Aches Any Unusual Upper Body Pain (More Often Apparent in Men) Difficulty Breathing or Catching Your Breath |