The human heart can be compared to a
car engine: both are power supplies that keep bodies moving. The heart
acts as a pump that drives blood to the body's organs, tissues, and
cells. The blood pumped by the heart supplies oxygen and nutrients to each
cell and collects carbon dioxide and waste substances produced by those
cells. But if the blood flow to the heart slows or stops or the rhythm of
the heart beats is life-threatening. As with a car engine, how your heart
is treated will determine how long it will work and in what way.
"Many people take better care of
their cars than their bodies," says Dr. Denton A. Cooley, founder of the
Texas Heart Institute. “They are concerned with changing the oil,
performing regular tuning and using the appropriate gasoline. But when it
comes to your own body, you feed it with foods that contain a lot of fat and
salt, smoke, and don't exercise regularly. Medical advances cannot
eradicate cardiovascular diseases. Good health is highly dependent on
people doing their part. "
Cardiovascular diseases are those
that affect the heart or blood vessels. Although steps have been taken to
inform people of its causes and prevention, they remain the leading cause of
death in the United States for both men and women. Cardiovascular disease
kills one person every 39 seconds in the United States, that is, nearly 2,200
people per day, more than cancer, lower and chronic respiratory disease, and
accidents combined. New studies and treatment methods have reduced the
number of deaths from cardiovascular disease but not the number of people
affected.
Risk factors and lifestyle
Certain factors significantly
influence a person's likelihood of cardiovascular disease. They are the
so-called «risk factors». Some risk factors can be controlled but others
cannot.
"Although it is not possible to
control risk factors such as sex, age and heredity, it is possible to change
risk factors related to lifestyle, in order to prevent or delay the onset of
cardiovascular disease," he says. Dr. Cooley. "Medical studies
show that it is possible to reduce cardiovascular risk if you eat a diet low in
fat, salt and cholesterol, do not consume any type of tobacco, exercise at
least three times a week, maintain a healthy weight and blood pressure is
lowered. "
Exercise
Exercise — or lack of exercise —
plays an important role in our health. Studies show that we should do
aerobic exercise (such as brisk walking, jogging, or cycling) at least three
times a week for 30 minutes to strengthen our hearts. In addition, medical
studies show that short periods of physical exercise that together add up to 30
minutes per day are as beneficial to health as 30 continuous minutes of
exercise.
"One of the best steps we can
take to improve health is to eat low-fat foods and exercise regularly,"
says Dr. Cooley. "Exercise burns calories, reduces appetite, blood
pressure and stress and raises HDL (the" good cholesterol ")
levels. It also improves the figure and makes us feel better. It is
almost too simple.
Diet
It is also possible to reduce
cardiovascular risk simply by implementing a few sensible dietary
changes. Heart-healthy habits include limiting your daily salt intake to
less than 2,300 milligrams of sodium. (People with high blood pressure may
need to further limit their salt intake — about 1,500 milligrams per day.)
The diet should consist mainly of
fruit, vegetables, cereals, lean meats, and fish. It is advisable to
reduce the consumption of fat (especially saturated fat) and cholesterol (fatty
red meats, whole milk, cheeses made with whole milk, eggs, cream-based dishes
and desserts that contain a lot of fat).
"It is possible to lower your
blood cholesterol level by five to ten percent by eating a heart-healthy diet,
that is, consuming more dietary fiber and less fat and cholesterol," says
Dr. Cooley. "When we eat foods rich in fiber, we feel satisfied and
we eat less food high in calories, fat and cholesterol."
Alcohol consumption
Alcohol consumption also affects the
heart. Medical studies show that daily consumption of a moderate amount of
alcohol protects against cardiovascular disease and heart
attacks. According to experts, moderate consumption is an average of one
or two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. A drink is
defined as 1.5 fluid ounces (44 ml) of spirits with an alcoholic strength of 40
° ( 80 proof ) (such as
American or Scottish whiskey, vodka, gin, etc.), 1 fluid ounce (30 ml ) of
spirits with an alcoholic strength of 50 ° ( 100 proof ), 4 fluid ounces (118 ml) of wine, or 12 fluid ounces (355 ml) of
beer. But exceeding moderate alcohol
consumption can lead to heart-related problems such as high blood pressure,
stroke, irregular heartbeat, and cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease) . Also,
a typical drink has between 100 and 200 calories. Calories from alcohol
often increase body fat, which in turn can increase cardiovascular
risk. If you don't drink, don't start. If you consume alcoholic
beverages, do so in moderation.
Stress
Stress is another factor that can
affect the heart. People suffering from cardiovascular disease often
report feeling heart pain during emotional stress situations. You are also
more likely to have a heart attack in times of stress, because the heart speeds
up and blood pressure increases. When this happens, the heart needs more
oxygen. Stress can also damage arteries due to increased hormone production
and increased blood flow during the stress response. As the walls of the
arteries heal, they increase in thickness, thus facilitating the accumulation
of plaque, which narrows the artery. The researchers believe that stress
can worsen heart disease.
Importance of being aware of our health
“Most of us consider ourselves
healthy if we don't feel symptoms of illness. However, sometimes the first
apparent symptom of cardiovascular disease is a heart attack, "says Dr.
Cooley. “When the symptoms begin to appear, the damage has already
occurred. That is why it is important to know what the cardiovascular risk
factors are and to take the necessary measures to reduce that risk. Just
by controlling one or more risk factors, it is possible to add months and
possibly years to our life. "
Dr. Denton A. Cooley founded the
Texas Heart Institute in 1962 to study and treat heart and blood vessel
disease. Over 123,000 open heart procedures and 276,000 diagnostic cardiac
catheterizations have been performed at the Institute, an experience that no
other facility can match. The Institute's physicians are also world
leaders in non-surgical treatment methods. The Texas Heart Institute is
consistently ranked among the best cardiology centers in the United States in
the annual guide to "The Best Hospitals in the United States" from
the US News and World Report
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