The agony of finding out that you may be suffering from some form of heart disease is usually traumatic. Your doctor has just received the laboratory test results for the battery of tests that you have completed during your recent checkup. From what the results indicate, if you do not stop eating all those fatty foods that you love so much, you are going to require bypass surgery very soon. Do not worry that your quality of life will get worse since there are modern treatment plans that get you on to the road of recovery as long as certain lifestyle changes are made.
Living With Heart Disease
The first consideration is the type of heart disease you are suffering from. Is your doctor tracking your cholesterol levels? Or, is it something a lot more serious? The severity of your heart condition will shed a great deal of light on the kind of lifestyle you can have and how it actually affects you.
If the type of heart disease is currently a very mild form, you should be able to keep a lid on it with medication. But for many people in a state of denial, they will refuse to or do not like taking their medication since they would be admitting to the fact that they are handling with their heart problems well.
So if you have heart medication to take for your condition and you are too stubborn to take it, understand the consequences of this action. Is it better to take a couple of pills on a daily basis or would you prefer to have to go to the extent of requiring heart surgery? Surely no one wants to undergo heart surgery. So think carefully before rejecting medication. It is a lot easier to deal with than other more complicated treatment methods.
Getting adequate amount of exercise on a regular basis is another facet of living with heart disease. If the heart disease in your case is of the more serious kind, you may not want to overtax yourself. If you sit still all day long you have a higher risk of getting blood clots. So get off your butt and get some exercise. Start with brisk walking over short distances and gradually build up.
There are some more difficult aspects to having heart problems. One of them is giving up delicious fatty food and desserts. But then again it all boils down to whether or not you would like to prolong your life. There are trade offs in all situations. Nowadays there are so many more options though. Just a few years ago we could not obtain half the low fat option foods that are available today. Not only are they delicious, they are also healthier options.
Your doctor will be able to provide you with information about heart diseases and the Internet has many reputable websites. Some of the heart health websites host forums where you can communicate with other people suffering from heart diseases.
Living with heart disease is really just about taking your prescribed medication, ensuring that you eat in a healthy manner and remaining active. With research you will find all the information you ever need to know to manage your condition better.
The Progress Of Heart Research
Due to the debilitating effects of various forms of heart diseases, medical technologists around the world are working towards developing more effective treatment methods through heart research.The search for knowledge about what heart problem really is and the pursuit of solutions to use to prevent and treat the disease is extremely vital. There are many companies and organizations that either conduct a research, or support the cause for heart research.
Heart Disease Research Organizations
The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease is a non-profit organization established to raise awareness of and find solutions for prevention of stroke and heart diseases. Its reach is worldwide and it concerns itself with all types of heart disease and stroke. The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease designs, implements and evaluates projects that educate people with regards to the risk factors for these illnesses and motivates them to practice good habits in the quest for reducing them.
The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease operates from Buffalo General Hospital. There are several full-time and part-time staff members and they make use of contractors who have a background in communications, health care management and computer programming for heart research. During the past ten years of their existence the Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease has built a very good reputation.
Another heart research organization is the British Heart Foundation. This organization is considered to be the British nation's heart charity. The British Heart Foundation focuses in particular on three very important issues. They invest in pioneering heart disease research, support and care for heart patients and they provide essential information to assist people to reduce their risk of premature death from heart or circulatory related disease.
Take it from those who have it. But there are steps that can help you deal with the difficulties of potentially debilitating cardiovascular problems.
Living with heart disease is one of the most difficult things one has to go through. The problem is that although you may have family and friends who help you, this condition is something that you and you alone, have to physically suffer and go through. However, being diagnosed with a heart disease doesn't have to mean that your life is over. Here are some tips to help you deal with heart disease better and still have a good life:
1. Knowledge is power
A heart disease patient must always be informed. Try to know as much as you can about your heart condition. This will not only prepare you for future possibilities, but it will also help you make the right choices in terms of treatments.
Ask your doctor everything you need to know about your medical condition, and stay in touch should there be anything you would want to talk about. Although there is nothing you can do to instantly cure the disease, you can at least maintain a doctor recommended healthy diet and exercise plan if you are armed with the information you need.
2. Follow the prescribed treatment plan
After your diagnosis, your medical practitioner or cardiologist will most likely recommend a treatment plan for you that may include medications, a prescribed diet and exercises.
Make sure to follow the treatment plan as closely as possible. Some people would have to exert more effort such as in giving up certain addictions such as cigarettes and alcohol. For some, avoidance of foods like processed meats or fatty foods will be required. While these treatment plans are oftentimes difficult, remember that it will do you a lot of good.
3. Get as much support you need from family and friends
Heart disease is best dealt with if you have the support of friends and family. You don't only need them emotionally, but you need their support in helping you follow your treatment plan.
4. Take it one day at a time.
Don't try to over-think things. Don't allow yourself to become incessantly worried about what will happen to you in the future. Remember that life, whether sick or not, is uncertain. Enjoy every day as you go. Keep a spiral notebook and note what you eat each day and what exercise you did, how you feel, etc. Take life one day at a time.
5. Stay away from stress
Stress is a no-no for anyone dealing with heart disease. If you have a stressful job or if you are going through stressful situations (apart from the heart disease), find ways to reduce the pressure. Indulge yourself in recreational activities, watch a feel good movie, enjoy a massage, walk a dog, take a nap, listen to relaxing music, etc.
Living with heart disease is indeed very difficult. Most patients find themselves in a situation where they feel like they are "walking time bombs" which can blow any minute. However, there are ways and means of dealing with cardiovascular health. Make sure to follow your doctor's advice, and to not let your heart disease get in the way of living a full, beautiful life everyday.
Also consider one simple lifestyle change that many doctors and health conscious people are talking about now. And that is simply taking a daily dose of pure, natural fish oil in the form of an easy-to-swallow capsule. Talk to your medical practitioner and also do some research about why this simple supplement is so popular with people who want to enjoy a heart-healthy diet and lifestyle. You might be pleasantly amazed at the good news you'll find.
The agony of finding out that you may be suffering from some form of heart disease is usually traumatic. Your doctor has just received the laboratory test results for the battery of tests that you have completed during your recent checkup. From what the results indicate, if you do not stop eating all those fatty foods that you love so much, you are going to require bypass surgery very soon. Do not worry that your quality of life will get worse since there are modern treatment plans that get you on to the road of recovery as long as certain lifestyle changes are made.
Living With Heart Disease
The first consideration is the type of heart disease you are suffering from. Is your doctor tracking your cholesterol levels? Or, is it something a lot more serious? The severity of your heart condition will shed a great deal of light on the kind of lifestyle you can have and how it actually affects you.
If the type of heart disease is currently a very mild form, you should be able to keep a lid on it with medication. But for many people in a state of denial, they will refuse to or do not like taking their medication since they would be admitting to the fact that they are handling with their heart problems well.
So if you have heart medication to take for your condition and you are too stubborn to take it, understand the consequences of this action. Is it better to take a couple of pills on a daily basis or would you prefer to have to go to the extent of requiring heart surgery? Surely no one wants to undergo heart surgery. So think carefully before rejecting medication. It is a lot easier to deal with than other more complicated treatment methods.
Getting adequate amount of exercise on a regular basis is another facet of living with heart disease. If the heart disease in your case is of the more serious kind, you may not want to overtax yourself. If you sit still all day long you have a higher risk of getting blood clots. So get off your butt and get some exercise. Start with brisk walking over short distances and gradually build up.
There are some more difficult aspects to having heart problems. One of them is giving up delicious fatty food and desserts. But then again it all boils down to whether or not you would like to prolong your life. There are trade offs in all situations. Nowadays there are so many more options though. Just a few years ago we could not obtain half the low fat option foods that are available today. Not only are they delicious, they are also healthier options.
Your doctor will be able to provide you with information about heart diseases and the Internet has many reputable websites. Some of the heart health websites host forums where you can communicate with other people suffering from heart diseases.
Living with heart disease is really just about taking your prescribed medication, ensuring that you eat in a healthy manner and remaining active. With research you will find all the information you ever need to know to manage your condition better.
The Progress Of Heart Research
Due to the debilitating effects of various forms of heart diseases, medical technologists around the world are working towards developing more effective treatment methods through heart research.The search for knowledge about what heart problem really is and the pursuit of solutions to use to prevent and treat the disease is extremely vital. There are many companies and organizations that either conduct a research, or support the cause for heart research.
Heart Disease Research Organizations
The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease is a non-profit organization established to raise awareness of and find solutions for prevention of stroke and heart diseases. Its reach is worldwide and it concerns itself with all types of heart disease and stroke. The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease designs, implements and evaluates projects that educate people with regards to the risk factors for these illnesses and motivates them to practice good habits in the quest for reducing them.
The Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease operates from Buffalo General Hospital. There are several full-time and part-time staff members and they make use of contractors who have a background in communications, health care management and computer programming for heart research. During the past ten years of their existence the Research Center for Stroke and Heart Disease has built a very good reputation.
Another heart research organization is the British Heart Foundation. This organization is considered to be the British nation's heart charity. The British Heart Foundation focuses in particular on three very important issues. They invest in pioneering heart disease research, support and care for heart patients and they provide essential information to assist people to reduce their risk of premature death from heart or circulatory related disease.
Heart disease is not a just single condition or disorder. It has many forms and conditions. Hence, the term 'heart disease' refers to any disorder pertaining to the heart and the supporting blood circulatory system.
The Causes of Heart Disease
Some heart diseases are unpreventable. Typical examples are congenital and hereditary heart disease, which are due to defects existing at birth and due to genes respectively. There are other heart diseases, which are acquired due to lifestyle.
For the acquired types, it is possible to prevent them by living healthily, including doing physical exercise regularly, eating a balanced diet, not smoking and drink excessively.
There is a connection between heart diseases and diabetes. In fact, diabetic are up to 4 times more likely to suffer from a heart attack.
Prevention of Heart Disease
As mentioned, living healthily is the best prevention. Other preventive measures are maintaining a healthy weight, keeping your cholesterol levels within healthy ranges, controlling your blood sugar if you have diabetes, controlling your blood pressure, and make sure that you eat a balance diet that is rich in both fruits and vegetables as well as whole grain and nuts.
By doing these, you will not only be able to prevent heart disease but also prevent many other ailments as well. Staying healthy enable your body to withstand damages caused by disease. Hence, even if stricken by illnesses, you are likely to recover faster.
Testing for Heart Disease
Doctors will check for heart diseases when there are related family history and or high risk factors. The risk factors are hypertension or high blood pressure, breathlessness, heavy smoking or drinking, obesity, high cholesterol level, sedentary lifestyle and diabetes.
Treatment for Heart Disease
On first diagnosis of heart disease, a patient will very likely be advised to adopt a healthier lifestyle. For example, doing frequent exercise, eating a balance diet, quit alcohol and smoking. This is the first step in treatment. The next step will be medications and or surgery. There are many varieties of treatments for different problems of the heart.
If the prescribed medication does not seem to be effective or if the patient's condition deteriorates, the next recourse will be surgery. There are also wide ranges of surgeries that can be performed and many of them are minimally invasive. Hence recovery time is quicker.
About Living with Heart Disease
The first thing to consider when it comes to living with heart disease is the actual condition of the disease. Are you just being cautious because of high risk factors? Or, do you have a serious heart condition? If you have only a mild form of heart disease, you probably have medication to control the problem.
Another aspect of living with heart disease is physical exercises. If your heart disease is serious, you should not exert yourself too much. A good form of exercise would be to take daily walks.
One of the more difficult aspects of living with heart disease is forgoing the fatty and unhealthy food such as fast food. Some discipline is really important here. If you want to prolong your life, it is a fair trade. However, nowadays, healthy foods are just as delicious.
The best approach to heart disease prevention is not a single course of action. In addition to exercise and diet, losing weight, keeping blood sugar level low are also important.
Good heart disease prevention also means having low cholesterol level. This may be achieved by making changes to diet and by taking prescription medications if so recommended by the doctor.
Consuming dietary supplements such as antioxidants, vitamin B and folic acid is helpful to heart disease prevention. Mangosteen is a very good source of all three. It is rich in antioxidants, which help to destroy free radicals. It is rich in vitamin B and folic acid that helps keep homocysteine low, which will otherwise will lead to arteriosclerotic disease.
Thus, with the help of a few changes to diet, lifestyle and also keeping blood pressure, LDL cholesterol low one can get the most out of heart disease prevention measures and ensure a longer life.