Congestive heart failure symptoms, or simply heart failure symptoms, is a condition that occurs when the heart is unable to pump enough blood to meet the normal needs of the body's tissues. It interferes with the kidney's usual function of eliminating excess sodium and other waste from the body. Congestive heart failure can affect either the right side, left side or both sides of the heart. There are many diseases that can impair pumping efficiency and symptoms of congestive heart failure including fatigue, diminished exercise, shortness of breath, and swelling. Today, however, there are many effective measures that can be utilized to improve the symptoms, and the survival, of patients with congestive heart failure.

While all cardiac conditions carry similar symptoms of chest pain and difficulty breathing, congestive heart failure has a very specific set of symptoms and lab results, giving doctors a firm set of clues upon which to base a definite diagnosis.

Dyspnea, or difficulty breathing, coupled with severe edema (when the body retains fluid to the point of holding the imprint of an object that is pressed into the skin for several minutes) are generally the first symptoms pointing to congestive heart failure. It results in the heart not being able to efficiently pump blood throughout the body; as a result, fluid accumulates rather than being removed and causes the body to swell as if it were a water balloon. Non-pitting edema, or fluid retention that does not hold an imprint, is not caused by heart failure and indicates that another diagnosis should be made. The patient may also produce a frothy pink sputum when they cough.

In addition to the symptoms related to the fluid accumulation, general weakness and malaise, particularly during times of physical exertion are frequent symptoms of patients suffering from congestive heart failure, and should not be ignored. This is caused by a lack of nutrients and oxygen from the blood to the body tissues, and can result in permanent damage to the internal organs if they are left without these vital elements for a prolonged period of time. Anuria, or a lack of urination, is also evidential of heart failure as fluid accumulates in the tissues rather than being excreted as normal. Patients may suffer from an altered mental status due to toxins accumulating in the body.

As soon as the physician suspects heart failure based on the physical evidence, blood samples will be sent to the laboratory. BNP, or Beta-natriuretic peptide, is excellent for screening in suspected cases of heart failure. This hormone is produced in greater quantities by the failing heart muscle as fluid levels rise, with a level between one hundred and five hundred pg/mg suggesting congestive heart failure and greater than five hundred being fairly diagnostic; however, an elevated BNP should not be considered to be sufficient evidence upon which to base a decisive diagnosis, as conditions like renal failure, ventricular strain, tumors or hypoxia can also cause BNP levels to rise too. Arterial blood gases may be tested to determine the degree of hypoxemia. A decreased erythrocyte sedimentation rate, proteinuria (protein in the urine), and a mild azotemia (elevated blood urea level) becomes evident in early to moderate disease. An increased serum creatinine, hyperbilirubinemia (increased bilirubin in the blood) and dilutional hyponatremia (decreased serum sodium levels) are also evidence that the patient is suffering from a more advanced case of heart failure.

Radiology can also perform imaging studies to evaluate the condition of the heart. A chest x-ray will usually reveal cardiomegaly (enlargement of the heart) and pleural effusion (fluid around the heart). An echocardiogram is performed to study the internal structures of the heart to evaluate for any structural abnormalities, as in the case of mitral stenosis. This provides confirmation to determine the underlying cause of congestive heart failure, particularly in suspected cases of valvular heart disease.

Physicians are very like detectives, in that once these tests have all been run they will gather these pieces of evidence together to form a fairly accurate picture of the patient's condition, allowing for an accurate diagnosis leading to proper treatment.

Today there are many effective measures that can be used to improve the symptoms, and the survival, of patients with congestive heart failure.

The average American is very passive when it comes to dealing with cardiovascular disease. What most people don't realize is that the absence of symptoms does not equate to the presence of health. During the course of practicing in healthcare for 16 years, I observed thousands of patients, some of which had life-threatening cardiovascular problems.

The patients with mild to advanced cardiovascular disease were often too passive about taking the right steps to prevent and reverse the problem. This attitude came from their perception that no symptoms were present. This can be a deadly mistake. By the time symptoms appear (ie. pain, shortness of breath, etc.), a patient can be teetering on the edge of a potential crisis.

It is imperative for everybody to know the risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Then, take action to avoid them. Some risk factors can be changed, others can't.

Here are the risk factors and 5 critical tips to overcome them:

The risk factors that can't be changed are: increasing age, gender (men have a greater risk of heart attack than women), and heredity (including race).

The risk factors that can be changed are: tobacco smoke (smokers are 2-4 times more likely to develop heart disease than non-smokers), high blood cholesterol, physical inactivity, obesity, Diabetes, response to stress, and excessive alcohol consumption.

1. Be proactive - Whether you have symptoms or not, get a complete physical and have your doctor order a lipid panel on you. This panel will evaluate your triglycerides, lipoprotein levels, and total cholesterol. I've seen many patients who were otherwise healthy in appearance who had dangerously high levels on this panel. Another good test to include with this panel is C-Reactive protein. This test checks for an inflammatory marker in the blood. Being proactive means to take action before symptoms surface. Young men should especially be proactive if they have a family history of cardiovascular disease.

2. Increase physical activity - Regular, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity helps prevent heart and blood vessel disease. The more vigorous the activity, the greater the benefits. A study was done several years ago where three groups of people performed a regimen of exercise over a period of several months. One group did cardiovascular exercise for one hour, three times per week. The second group did resistance exercise for one hour, three times per week. The third group did one half hour of cardiovascular and one half hour of resistance exercise, three times per week.

At the end of the study the third group showed dramatically superior results to the other two groups. They were not only better conditioned, but their body composition showed the most improvement. Moral of the story - do a combination of cardiovascular and resistance exercises.

3. Balance your diet - We have all heard "eat a balanced diet," but don't get a good explanation of what a balanced diet is. The best way to eat a balanced diet is to maintain a 40/40/20 split with protein, carbohydrates, and fats, respectively. If you are eating an 1,800 calorie per day diet, then you would consume 720 calories of proteins, 720 calories of carbohydrates, and 360 calories from fat. Limit or eliminate fried foods. Include fruits and raw vegetables.

If you are really ambitious, you can follow Jack Lalanne's philosophy. He juices fruits and vegetables several times a week. He eats a lot of fish. His philosophy is, "If man makes it, I don't eat it." In other words, no refined foods.

4. Find an outlet to eliminate stress - My outlet has always been working out with weights or cardiovascular exercise, like bike riding. Physiologically, this releases endorphins (the feel good neurotransmitters). Pick an activity that is fun to you, otherwise you may quit. Examples: Walking, jogging, biking, tennis, raquetball, swimming, etc.

5. Eat healthy chocolate - Yes, you heard right. Dark chocolate has a group of compounds called polyphenols, which are loaded with antioxidants. There is scientific evidence that these polyphenols can reverse and prevent cardiovascular disease, and help other inflammatory conditions as well. My family history includes cardiovascular disease. The scientific proof for dark chocolate was so convincing, I immediately added it to my preventive regimen.

Healthy chocolate is not the same chocolate you get in a candy bar, or at the grocery store. That chocolate has been heated, alkalized, combined with sugars, and fats. It's junk food, and its antioxidants have been destroyed in the heating process. True healthy chocolate is taken from raw cacao and is cold pressed to preserve the polyphenols. Some people even lose weight with healthy chocolate because of the appetite suppressing effect.

Follow these five tips and remember the risk factors mentioned above. Change the ones you can, and don't worry about the ones you can't. If you are unrelenting about prevention, the rewards will be self-evident.

Blood pressure can have many different effects on a human body. The common problem is high blood pressure, called hypertension. Another problem is having low blood pressure, called hypotension. Hypotension can be serious and it should be taken care of immediately. Low blood pressure can affect the brain and can be dangerous.

Hypotension is often caused by decreased blood volume that is known as hypovolemia. There are different reasons why this can happen. Usually there is a problem with the nervous system in the brain. Some medicines can also cause hypovolemia as a side effect. Because low blood pressure can cause problems with such an important part of the body as brain, hypotension could be even more serious than high blood pressure problem.

One of the more common forms of low blood pressure related to hypotension is orthostatic hypotension, also known as postural hypotension. It can occur because of a change in the body's position. Sometimes standing up from a sitting or lying position can briefly lower the blood flow in the body. Because of this, someone can become dizzy, and it happens on a regular basis to some people. More serious type of the syndrome can be brought on by the physical and the psychiatric medications.

Orthostatic hypotension can affect the autonomic nervous system, making it even weaker than it already is. It could be also a sign of a failing autonomic nervous system, maybe because of age or something else.

The less common than orthostatic hypotension is postprandial hypotension and it can occur 30-75 minutes after eating. Digestion of food can send a large dose of the blood to the digestive system and then the autonomic nervous system increases the body's heart rate and finds more blood to pump.

Hypotension and hypertension, affect the body very differently, but they are both cause for concern and should be taken care of immediately.

Unclog arteries, how you do it? Does it have to involve a surgery? I think many people prefer to do it naturally. Beside a surgery is very expensive and risky. If you know some natural alternative you can use, then try it. Otherwise, you might want to consider this natural way to unclog arteries for the first attempt.
You may need to know the most common causes of clogged arteries. They are caused by:

* Plaques deposit in our arteries. What cause that? Many professional think that the damage happens in the inner wall of the artery makes our body owns recovery produce a sticky substance in that area, so any cholesterol, fat, calcium, inflammatory cell, waste material, protein, fibrin that flowing in our blood stream will stick and close the damaging area.

Overtime, the plaques get harden and thick cause its inner wall narrow. When they crack, they create the condition that make the blood to clot and can block the circulation. That's when the clogged arteries happen. The tiny pieces of plaque resulted from the crack can also block a smaller vascular.
* Vascular inflammation. When the injury happen in the vascular, the inner wall automatically swells and get thick (known as inflammation, the body's response to an injury) cause the narrowing happen and the plaques to crack that make the clot and the blockage occur.

The facts about the plaque build up:

* The process takes many years and the worse thing it cause no symptoms during the process. They're found in most of the people, especially older people. People look healthy may develop this condition also.
* It usually effects throughout the body, not just only one. It can effect other vital organs such as brain, lungs, and leg.

To unclog arteries, you may need to eliminate the causes like I've just mentioned before. Doing supplementation with systemic enzymes is one way to do it naturally. Systemic enzymes are not a drug. Basically, it supports the enzymes needed by our body in order to function properly, include its own repair mechanism.

Taking particular systemic enzymes specifically for unclog arteries purpose is preferable. According to the manufacturer, this kind of enzyme is able to dissolve the blood clots, excess fibrin, dead tissue, protein, cysts, and eliminates anything that block our arteries. It also has the anti inflammatory effects that help with vascular inflammation issues. Whatever you do, it's better if you consult any of the unclog arteries method you found with a cardiologist.

It is so incredibly difficult to eat healthy sometimes! Foods can be tricky. Even when you go to the supermarket, you have to stay on the lookout. Read the labels because a lot of the foods that you think look healthy are, in all actuality, not that healthy for you! One of the major health related issues with foods in the United States deals with high levels of cholesterol. While there are plenty of high cholesterol foods out there, there are also plenty of low-cholesterol foods as well. For example, if you have a choice between having scrambled eggs and toast in the morning (which is loaded with cholesterol and carbohydrates), why not choose a healthier alternative like cereal or oatmeal and a banana? Oatmeal is notorious for being a low cholesterol food. Similarly, many cereals are low in cholesterol and high in iron and other good vitamins. Bananas are high in potassium, which is also good for you.

If you are like most Americans you are probably concerned with the amount of cholesterol in your diet. And if your doctor has told you that your cholesterol levels are too elevated you are even more aware of the dangers of high cholesterol and how important it is to work to get those levels down.. Here is a list of the best foods that you can add to your diet to help get those numbers down.

Oatmeal (or oat bran) is a great way to help fight high cholesterol. Adding just a cup and half of cooked oatmeal to your diet per day will give you 6 grams of fiber which plays a vital role in the fight against high cholesterol by blocking cholesterol and making it harder for your intestines to absorb.

Research has shown that fish high in omega 3 fatty acids (or fish oil supplements) can help fight high cholesterol and can also lower the blood pressure and help reduce the chance of blood clots. It is recommended that you have baked fish at least twice a week. Fish such as mackerel, lake trout, herring, albacore and salmon all have high levels of omega 3 fatty acids to help keep your heart strong and healthy.

Walnuts are quickly becoming a new power food since, according to new research, they are high in polyunsaturated fatty acids which help to combat high cholesterol. A similar effect has also been found when adding almonds to the diet making these nuts a must have food to add to the list. And since you only need 2 grams a day you can easily have them for a snack or toss them in salad or other dish.

Last on our list is Olive Oil, which is loaded with tons of antioxidants that can lower your bad cholesterol without diminishing the good, is another great choice for the low cholesterol diet. You only need about 2 tablespoons a day. It is great for cooking and gives you yet one more simple way to be healthier.

The word comes from the Greek sphygmós (pulse), plus the scientific term manometer (pressure meter). So the gargantuan name is for a gadget that measures blood pressure. The original manual device was invented by Samuel Siegfried Karl Ritter von Basch, so I suppose with a name that long his device would have a long name as well!! In 1896 along came Scipione Riva-Rocci, an Italian physician, who introduced a version that was easier to use.

Blood pressure is a tricky thing. Although it can be easily read by just about anyone, it is open to the interpretation of the operator. To get a really accurate reading you'd have to be quite invasive. This means a device must be inserted into an artery and the blood pressure constantly read. However, the most common way to measure blood pressure is to use the sphygmomanometer, (it's that word again!). A trained medical practitioner would do this because it isn't anything a layperson can do easily. Apart from that, it's very hard to buy one at the chemist!

The cuff, a sort of inflatable tourniquet, is placed around the upper arm, right or left, at roughly the same vertical height as the heart while the subject is seated with the arm supported. The cuff is inflated with a hand pump until the blood flow is stopped. Listening with a stethoscope to the brachial artery at the elbow, the examiner slowly releases the pressure in the cuff with a release valve. As the pressure in the cuffs falls, a "whooshing" or pounding sound is heard, which means that the blood flow has started again. Using the mercury column pressure-measuring device attached to the cuff, the pressure reading at which the blood flow started again is noted as the 'systolic' blood pressure. The cuff pressure is then further released until the "whooshing" sound can no longer be heard and this is recorded as the 'diastolic' blood pressure.

So, if your diastolic has been measured as 70mmhg and your systolic as 120mmhg or 120 over 70 as it is normally called, then top marks, take a bow, your blood pressure is normal. If it is more than 130 over 85, then time to do something about it. Actually, what is 'normal' will vary with age and all sorts of other factors so these figures are only generalisations.

Now, modern science has finally caught up with Herr Ritter Von Basch's invention and we now have the electronic automatic version. It uses a cuff in the same way but all you have to do to take a reading is push a button. Even I can do that! The device will automatically pump up the cuff to blood flow cut off and then release the pressure and take the readings. On the screen it will tell you your blood pressure and heart rate. You buy one at the chemist but it is probably not as accurate as the manual device, because it actually takes an average pulse reading and derives the diastolic and systolic, but it does enable you to have one in the first aid kit and keep a reasonable eye on your own blood pressure whenever you want. Most modern devices will average the last three results, so whenever you want a more accurate reading, do it three times. Easy!

High blood pressure is known as 'the silent killer' because it has no symptoms. One day, without any warning, it will kill you. That is why it is important for everyone to keep an eye on his or her own blood pressure and the easiest way to do that is to buy your own meter. They are not very expensive and are easy to use.

Did you know that sore gums, which also bleed, could be an indication that you might have a heart attack? Surprised? It is true. Medical information states that bleeding gums, which is caused by an infection of a certain bacteria that thrives in your mouth as a result of poor hygiene, will cause a heart attack. This is stunning news, as people normally tend to ignore gums problems. Your dentist would advise you to increase the number of daily brushings, as well as recommending that you take adequate supplements of vitamins C and D, as well as the coenzyme Q10.

There is more to the bleeding of gums than the scare of loosing teeth, according to some medical reports. It seems that the same bacteria that cause your gums to bleed could be the same that causes heart attacks. Who would have thought that irregularly brushing your teeth or neglecting a gum inflammation could have such serious repercussions? This is reason enough for anyone to sit up and take adequate measures to prevent gum disease before it becomes a serious health problem.

In view of the seriousness of the situation, you need to learn to recognize the symptoms of gum disease, which usually starts with simple signs like sore gums, oral tissue inflammation and bleeding gums, among others. If you already suffer from such problems, then try treating it at home by increasing the frequency of your brushings, as well as flossing. You would also need to take vitamin supplements, plus a special compound known as coenzyme 10. Most likely, these measures will have your gums healthy in no time. However, in case it does not, you need to make a dental appointment and follow whatever treatment the dentist prescribes.

Who would have connected tooth loss with a heart attack? Amazing as it sounds, it looks like this is true. Ever since it was discovered that the bacteria that causes bleeding gums also causes heart attacks, gum disease treatments have become a high priority. However, instead of looking for treatment, it is always better to look for ways to prevent such a disease, which means better oral hygiene, a better diet and adequate intake of vitamin and coenzyme supplements. Often, all it takes to maintain proper oral health is brushing twice daily, followed by careful flossing.

Let's start with the obvious.

DIET

If you start out with a healthy diet, which consists mostly of lean protein sources, vegetables that grow above the ground, and fruit, that will help. In addition to a basically healthy diet, to control cholesterol most experts counsel avoiding eating red meat and animal fat in general. For example, if you eat the breast of birds such as chickens and turkeys instead of the legs and thighs, you will eat less animal fat. You can also avoid animal fat by not eating the skin.

Now, if your cholesterol problems are diet based, eating a healthy diet will probably solve the problem. If not, then you might need to look into some sort of supplement to help you control your cholesterol levels.

I assume if you're reading this article, you've already ruled out statin drugs because they are carcinogenic and often have side effects such as muscle pain and weakness, nausea, insomnia, fatigue, slurred speech, balance problems, memory loss, liver problems, sexual dysfunction, personality changes and irritability.

Fortunately, there are less destructive and expensive alternatives available.

NIACIN

Niacin has been known to lower cholesterol since the 1950s. Of particular interest is a comparative study between Lovastatin (a popular statin drug) and Niacin. 136 patients with high cholesterol were randomly assigned either Lovastatin or Niacin over a 26 week period. Although the Lovastatin initial lowered LDL cholesterol more quickly than the Niacin, by the end of the study, there was not a whole lot of difference, with Lovastatin lowering LDL by 32% and Niacin lowering LDL by 23%.

But where Niacin really shines is in increasing HDL (the good cholesterol) and lowering Lp(a), a lipoprotein which is highly predictive of heart disease. By the end of the study, Niacin had increased HDL by 33% and lowered Lp(a) by 35%, compared to 7% and 0% for Lovastatin, respectively.

However, there are some problems with Niacin. It causes unpleasant flushing and can impair blood sugar control in diabetics. Worse, if using sustained-release Niacin, almost half of users develop liver toxicity, although it should be noted that if using regular Niacin, there is little danger of liver toxicity.

Fortunately, there is a form of niacin called inositol hexaniacinate, which has been used in Europe for many years to control cholesterol levels.

INOSITOL HEXANIACINATE

Inositol hexaniacinate's side effects are minimal and it works even better than regular niacin, according to a study comparing the effect of niacin and inositol hexaniacinate on hyperlipidemic Buscat rabbits (The role of nicotinic acid and inositol hexaniacinate as anticholesterolemic and antilipemic agents. Nutr Reports Int 1983;28:899-911). The inositol hexaniacinate caused a 79.5 % reduction in cholesterol while niacin caused a 74.9% reduction. Better yet, inositol hexaniacinate caused a 63.2% triglyceride reduction, compared to a 30.9% reduction for regular niacin.

This same correlation was found by Welsh and Ede (Inositol hexanicotinate for improved nicotinic acid therapy, Int Record Med 1961;174:9-15).

If you plan to take inositol hexaniacinate to lower your cholesterol, experts recommend that you start out with 500 mg, 3 times a day with meals for 2 weeks. If you tolerate that okay, they suggest upping the dosage to 1000 mg, 3 times a day with meals. Although inositol hexaniacinate appears to have little in the way of side effects, it might still be prudent to have your doctor test your cholesterol levels and liver enzymes with a frequency of every 3 months, at the very least.

Like regular niacin, inositol hexaniacinate is not recommended for use by diabetics, because it can interfere with blood sugar metabolism.

Given inositol hexaniacinate's effectiveness, that's probably a good choice to try first. However, if you cannot tolerate inositol hexaniacinate, there are more options you can try.

PANTETHINE

Pantethine, a stable form of vitamin B5, inhibits the production of cholesterol by the liver. In a one-year clinical trial conducted with 24 patients, pantethine was shown to decrease LDL (the bad cholesterol) by 21% and increase HDL (the good cholesterol) by 23%, with virtually no toxicity (Effectiveness of long-term treatment with pantethine in patients with dyslipidemia, Clin Ther. 1986;8(5):537-45).

The dosage of pantethine usually recommended for cholesterol management by experts is 300 mg, 3 times a day.

VITAMIN C

It has been shown that the higher the level of vitamin C in the blood, the lower the total cholesterol count and the higher the HDL (the good cholesterol) is (High plasma vitamin C associated with high plasma HDL- and HDL2 cholesterol, American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol 60, 100-105).

In particular, for every increase of .5 mg/dl in vitamin C plasma content, there was a corresponding increase in HDL of 2.1 mg/dl in men and 14.9 mg/dl in women.

Many experts recommend taking 2000 mg of vitamin C a day as general nutritional insurance. That should be plenty for cholesterol control purposes as well.

GARLIC

Believe it or not, garlic has a substantial effect on cholesterol levels, but you would need between 1 to 4 cloves of fresh garlic a day to achieve a significant therapeutic result. Fortunately, the compounds in garlic responsible for its therapeutic benefit can be isolated in pill form.

However, in order to be effective, the supplement must supply the equivalent of 4,000 mg of fresh garlic, not aged garlic. Aged garlic has been proven not to be as effective (A double-blind crossover study in moderately hypercholesterolemic men that compared the effect of aged garlic extract and placebo administration on blood lipids, Am J Clin Nutr. 1996 Dec;64(6):866-70).

On the other hand, a study done at the Clinical Research Center in New Orleans, Louisiana showed that treatment with standardized fresh garlic of 900 mg a day resulted in a drop of 11% in LDL (the bad cholesterol) (Can garlic reduce levels of serum lipids? A controlled clinical study, Am J Med. 1993 Jun;94(6):632-5).

So, if you wanted similar results, you could either take 900 mg a day of a standardized fresh garlic supplement or 1 to 4 cloves or fresh garlic a day.

GUGULIPID

Gugulipid is extracted from the mukul myrrh tree, which is native to India. It appears to get it's cholesterol lowering effects from increasing the liver's metabolism of LDL (the bad cholesterol).

In a double blind study of 125 patients comparing the effect of gugulipid with the cholesterol lowering drug clofibrate over a period of 12 weeks, the gugulipid group lowered their LDL (the bad cholesterol) by 11% and the clofibrate group by 10% (Clinical trials with gugulipid. A new hypolipidaemic agent, J Assoc Physicians India. 1989 May;37(5):323-8). While HDL (the good cholesterol) was unchanged in the clofibrate group, the gugulipid group typically increased HDL levels by between 16%-20%.

With purified gugulipid preparations, there are no significant side effects. Experts recommend a standardized extract of gugulipid containing 25 mg of guggulsterone per 500 mg tablet, 3 times a day for elevated cholesterol.

It's unbelievable how little effort doctors put into showing their patients natural ways to lower cholesterol. My doctor gave me a brochure and suggested I change my diet. But no one ever mentioned how easy and straight forward it is to make the changes needed to improve my cholesterol levels.

Most individuals can do this without taking medication at all. Why put synthetic chemicals in your body, when foods and food based supplements can reduce cholesterol without the side effects.

Tip # 1-Lose weight

I know what you are thinking. "That's easier said than done." I agree, but if you follow tips #2 through #5, you will lose weight and it won't be as difficult as you think. Many medical studies have proven that cholesterol levels decrease as weight is lost. Personally, my average cholesterol came down over 20% when I lost 30 pounds.

Most of us need a structured diet plan in order to be successful. I recommend a diet that is rich in omega 3 fatty acids, and includes a large variety of vegetables.

Tip # 2-Increase your fiber intake

You can find dozens of foods and supplements on the internet that are said to reduce cholesterol. They range from red rice yeast to gugullipid to soy. But the most effective natural ways to lower cholesterol are the tried and true. It has long been known that soluble fiber lowers cholesterol. There is no question about it. The American Heart Association recommends adding both soluble and insoluble fiber to your diet. Some of the best sources of soluble fiber are oat and rice bran, fruits, and green vegetables. Nutritional supplements that include flax and psyllium also have a proven positive effect on cholesterol.

Tip #3-Cut back on saturated fats

In western cultures, the major sources of saturated fats are red meat and deep fried foods. For individuals who want to reduce cholesterol, it is recommended to limit red meat consumption to one meal each week and avoid deep fried foods like fried chicken completely.

Snacks such as potato and tortilla chips are also very high in saturated fats, but by substituting baked varieties it is possible to cut back on the saturated fats. Baked tortilla chips and salsa makes a very satisfying snack.

Tip #4-Exercise

Yes, everyone knows they should be getting more exercise, but few follow through with it. If you are serious about using natural ways to reduce cholesterol, this should be part of your plan. I recommend increasing your exercise little by little. Park further away when shopping so you have to walk across the parking lot. Walk up stairs instead of taking the elevator.

Having said this, the truth is that you will need to work up to regular aerobic exercise before it will help reduce cholesterol. Twenty to thirty minutes, 3 or 4 days a week of moderate exercise is what it will take.

Tip #5-Nutritional Supplements

While cholesterol can be lowered with only dietary changes and exercise, you will find that one of the best natural ways to lower cholesterol is with nutritional supplements. In fact, unless you are able to dedicate several hours each week to exercise, you will receive more benefit to reduce cholesterol levels from nutritional supplements than from exercise. Just don't make it a reason not to exercise.

Now it's time to start putting these natural ways to lower cholesterol to work. You will be amazed to see how quickly you reduce cholesterol. At the same time you will begin to feel better and have more energy.

Cholesterol is known as a bad thing that you should avoid, especially if you wan to lose unwanted fat. Unfortunately there are a lot of myths about cholesterol. Let's see why lowering you cholesterol could actually harm your health.

1. Cholesterol you eat has no connection with blood cholesterol. In fact your liver produces three to six times more cholesterol than you can actually eat. It is proven that there is no relationship between the amount of saturated fat that you eat and the level of cholesterol levels.

2. There is no such thing as bad cholesterol. LDL cholesterol carries proteins from you liver to the whole of your body and into your cells. HDL cholesterol goes from these cells and back to your liver, where it is recycled. Recycling isn't bad, it is actually more efficient.

3. Having high cholesterol does not increase the risk of heart disease. Cholesterol is the cause of particles getting built up as plaque, which can block your arteries. However, this is only due to a deficiency in antioxidants.

4. Cholesterol is needed to make new cells. Muscles need cholesterol to help them get repaired and be built up after exercise. Cholesterol is needed form the production of hormones such as testosterone, which is vital for being healthy. Cholesterol helps to repair and build new cells that are damaged due to stress and strains.

5. High cholesterol has many benefits such as it protects you from infections and disease, makes you live longer, and raises your testosterone levels, which will build lean muscles, burn more calories and fat.

Now, don't go and eat all that high fat junk food and hope it will raise your cholesterol levels and provide you with better health. You can only get good quality cholesterol from good fat sources such as olive oil, flax seeds, nuts, and fish oils. Get your omega 3, 6 and 9. This will definitely increase you fat loss. I hope I have proved to you that fat can be good for losing weight and being healthy.

Angina is basically chest pain due to heart not getting enough oxygen. Angina is a squeezing, crushing like pain, or discomfort, in the upper abdomen, back, neck, jaw, or shoulders. Angina is usually triggered by exertion or emotional stress. Pain may be accompanied by sweating, nausea, or gasping for breath. Angina pain lasts about 1 to 15 minutes, and is usually relieved by rest.

The muscles in the heart require blood and oxygen to do its work of pumping blood. To keep the circulatory system running smoothly, heart muscles must be healthy and strong, and arteries clear of plaque. Atherosclerosis (fatty deposits on artery walls) is the main reason for insufficient blood supply. Angina normally occurs when the arteries are wide enough to supply sufficient blood flow during muscular rest, but can't provide enough oxygen when the physical demands of the heart increase.

Some vitamins and herbs are considered helpful in preventing or treating angina. Herbs thought to be beneficial include: hawthorn, angelica, bilberry, berries, cocoa, evening primrose, fish, flax, garlic, ginger, ginkgo, kudzu, lovage, mullein, oats, onion, purslane, sage, and willow. Vitamins, or vitamin rich foods, thought to be useful include: C, E, magnesium, omega-3 fatty acids, potassium, and selenium.

To have a healthy heart, you need a healthy lifestyle. Plenty of water is essential; try to get 8-12 cups daily. Eat lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Your heart can't run on empty, so get a high fiber diet to keep the blood supply running like it should. Also, get moderate exercise and maintain a healthy weight. Avoid the major enemies of your heart: alcohol, unhealthy fats, and tobacco smoke. Also, avoiding stress may result in major improvements for angina sufferers.

Anyone suffering from angina should be under a doctor's care. If you've been diagnosed with angina, keep a lookout for changes in symptoms. Pain which lasts longer than 15 minutes, or that occurs when at rest, may be signs of more serious problems and should be considered a medical emergency.

Disclaimer: This article is for entertainment purposes only, and is not intended for use as diagnosis or treatment of a health problem or as a substitute for consulting a licensed medical professional.

Do you have high cholesterol? Increase your fiber!
Do you have high blood pressure? Increase your fiber!
Are you overweight? Increase your fiber!

What is it with fiber (also known as roughage)? It seems to play a role in just about all our health problems.

Well, as far as blood pressure and cholesterol go, dietary fiber binds to cholesterol in circulation and helps remove it from the body. Research has shown that for every 1-2 grams of daily soluble fiber intake, LDL (bad) cholesterol is lowered 1%.

On the weight control side of things, fiber increases satiety (how full you feel), aiding efforts to lose weight and/or maintain a healthy weight.

4 Things You Need to Know to Make Dietary Fiber Work for you:

1. There are two types of fiber.

Insoluble Fiber

Insoluble fiber remains relatively intact as it passes through the digestive system. The primary function of insoluble fiber is to move waste through the intestines and maintain intestinal acid balance.

Soluble Fiber

Soluble fiber is the type of fiber responsible for lowering total cholesterol and LDL (bad) cholesterol levels.

2. Sources of insoluble fiber

* Fruit skins and root vegetable skins
* Vegetables (green beans, celery, cauliflower, zucchini, beets, turnips, potato skins, and dark green leafy vegetables)
* Wheat and whole-wheat products
* Wheat oat
* Corn bran
* Seeds and nuts

3. Sources of soluble fiber

* Oat and oat bran
* Legumes (dried beans and peas)
* Nuts
* Barley, rye
* Flaxseed
* Fruits (i.e. oranges, apples, prunes, plums, berries)
* Vegetables (i.e. carrots, broccoli, potatoes, sweet potatoes, onions)
* Psyllium husk

4. How much do you need?

Shoot for 25-35 grams of dietary fiber everyday. Of this, soluble fiber should make up 15 grams. The average US dietary fiber intake is 12-18 grams/day. If your current diet is very low in dietary fiber, don't increase to 35 grams overnight. A sudden increase will result in gastrointestinal (stomach) distress and unpleasant side effects (flatulence and diarrhea). You want to increase your fiber intake gradually.

Bottom Line:

Select high fiber foods, especially foods that contain soluble fiber. I once heard a gastroenterologist say he would be out of a job if everyone just ate more beans!