Heart Attack is called a myocardial
infarction in medical terms. Referring to the formation of
infarcts local tissue decay in the myocardium heart muscle.
This occurs when the blood supply to an area of the heart is cut-off,
usually as the result of a blood clot that blocks a narrowed coronary
artery. The damage to the heart may be irreparable. Diet and poor
nutrition is a factor.
When the flow of blood to the human heart is reduced or shut off, the heart is deprived of
required oxygen. If
blood flow is not restored within minutes, parts of the heart
muscle will start to die, causing permanent damage to the heart muscle. This
process is called myocardial infarction, and more commonly
called a heart attack. Because this happens when the coronary arteries
cannot provide the heart with needed oxygen, doctors also call a heart attack
a "coronary." With the beginning of a heart attack, the primary symptom is a consistent deep,
often severe sharp pain in the chest that can spread to the left arm,
jaw, neck, and the region between the shoulder blades. The pain may
last for up to 12 hours.
Many persons who have had heart attacks
describe it as a heavy, substernal pressure that makes it feel as if
the chest is being squeezed. Other symptoms include: breath shortness, sweating, nausea, and vomiting.
Also, a heart attack
can cause abnormal heartbeat rhythms which are known as arrhythmias. Arrhythmias
cause in over 500,000 deaths in the USA every year
and that number is rising, in spite of improved cardiac
resuscitative techniques. There are three basic scenarios that can
produce a heart attack. The first, and the most common, is
partial or complete blockage of one of the arteries that supply the
heart with oxygen, very often by a blood clot. Normally the arteries
have been narrowed by years of coronary artery disease where
plaque, which is composed of cholesterol rich fatty deposits,
proteins, and excess smooth muscle cells, builds upon the
arterial walls. The arterial walls then thicken, slowing and reducing the flow of
blood to the heart muscle. The roughening of arterial walls by
deposits of plaque not only narrows the arteries, but also makes it
much easier for blood clots to form on the inner surfaces.
When a clot
grows, or detaches from its place of origin and travels through the
blood vessels, the clot may block a coronary artery entirely thus
causing a heart attack. In the second heart attack scenario, an
arrhythmia
may set in, so that the heart is no longer pumping enough blood to
ensure a proper supply. In the third, a weak spot in a blood vessel,
called an aneurysm, may break or rupture, causing internal bleeding and
disrupting normal blood flow. Anything that puts extra stress on the
heart and/or blood vessels an emotional crisis, a heavy meal,
over-exertion from exercise or heavy lifting may serve as a trigger for
a heart attack, but such factors are not the underlying cause Persons
considered to be at greater than normal risk of heart attack are those
with a family history of heart disease; those who
smoke
and/or abuse drugs; people with
diabetes,
high
blood pressure, high cholesterol
and/or triglyceride levels; sedentary people "couch potato",
and those who are under stress
and/or who have "type A" personalities
Over 30% of all
heart attacks occur without any warning at all. The remainder are preceded by
months or even years of symptoms, most commonly angina pectoris chest
pain that is typically aggravated by stress or physical exertion and
relieved by rest Like a heart attack,
angina is caused by a lack of
oxygen in the heart muscle, but the amount of oxygen deprivation is
not enough to actually damage the heart tissue Many people complain of
intermittent angina, shortness of breath, and/or unusual fatigue in
the days or weeks leading up to a heart attack. A constant sensation
of heartburn that persists for days and
from which antacids provide no relief can be a sign of an impending
heart attack The lifestyle changes listed on this webpage and dietary
supplements can help prevent heart problems and also provide good
health overall.
Nutrient /
Supplement |
Importance
( 1 - 10 ) |
Helpful notes |
l-Carnitine |
10 |
helps in the
transporting of long chain fatty acids which
aides in prevention of heart disease, high blood
pressure, and other cardiovascular disease. Great
when combined with a omega
fatty acid and flax seed. |
Coenzyme Q10 |
10 |
increases oxygenation to the heart and has
been shown to prevent recurrences in people who
have had a heart attack. ( See Cardio-Essentials link below for a complete cardio
supplement) |
vitamin
E |
10 |
powerful antioxidant that aids
with circulation, natural blood thinner, and helps to reduce
chances of clots. |
Selenium |
10 |
low intake of this mineral has been linked to
heart disease, heart attacks, and cardiovascular problems a good
source for selenium is a natural multi-vitamin
with complete mineral
supplementation. |
Garlic |
9 |
garlic has been
shown to help lower high blood pressure and other cardiovascular
disease problems. |
Magnesium |
8 |
low intake of magnesium has been linked to
high blood pressure and a good source of
magnesium is a quality
multi-vitamin & mineral supplement
especially one with calcium, zinc, and garlic. |
Calcium |
7 |
important for proper functioning of the
cardiac (heart) muscle which can be damaged in
heart attack and is a companion to magnesium ( see it above) |
Omega
fatty acids |
9 |
important for
reducing blood pressure and also increasing blood
circulation as well as preventative aid on
general heart health. Fatty acids are found in
omega fatty acids from fish and flax and borage seed oils from
plants. |
Arginine |
8 |
important amino acid for
cardiovascular health |
Hawthorn |
9 |
herb that helps heart and
general
cardiovascular system |
Ginger |
8 |
herb helps to
strengthen the heart and may also help with chest pain |
Guggul |
8 |
herb from India that lowers cholesterol levels and
protects against the development of hardening of the arteries. |
vitamin C |
8 |
vitamin C helps high blood pressure,
hypertension, heart, and cardio-vascular problems
by improving adrenal function. Can be taken in a
good multi-vitamin and mineral supplement. |
Multi-vitamin
& Mineral supplement |
8 |
vitamin B complex,
inositol, zinc, vitamin A, vitamin E which all serve to
help lower blood pressure and reduce its effects on the body. A
daily supplement provides nutrients required for good general
health and well being. |
Potassium |
7 |
needed for electrolyte balance especially if
you take blood pressure medication. |
Other Changes To Make
-
drink 6-8 glasses of steam distilled or
filtered water a day
-
eat 50% raw fruits and vegetables (organic is best)
-
nuts, seeds, and whole grains are good
-
juice is good (make your
own with a juice machine)
-
do not worry as much about calories as eating the right foods
-
carrot and celery sticks are good to use as a snack
-
a colon cleansing can be very helpful - (do several times each year)
-
do not drink coffee, alcohol, soda pop, other junk food drinks
-
do not eat processed foods white sugar, white flour, etc...
-
use stress relief like going for walks in the park
(or the 10/90 rule - see
Stress)
-
brown rice is good to eat
-
avoid red meat and animal fats
-
reduce dairy products cheese, milk, and others
-
fast a few days a month
-
get at least 8 hours of sleep
-
exercise light to moderate amounts
-
avoid artificial sweeteners like Aspartame and NutraSweet
-
do not smoke and avoid second hand smoke
-
do not skip meals - just eat better and not as much at each meal
-
do not chew gum - it can cause you to feel hungry
-
do not watch too much TV try reading a book or something else
|