Description

The following article was written by Klaus Ferlow, herbalist, innovator, lecturer, researcher, writer, president, founder and co-owner of Ferlow Botanicals (Vancouver), a 100% Canadian owned/operated family business manufacturing/distributing toxin free medicinal herbal and personal care products since 1993.

His educational articles have been published in dozens of Health Magazines and Newsletters from Coast to Coast and numerous websites all around the world.

How To Avoid Heart Problems

Heart disease can be prevented even if there is a strong tendency for heart problems in the family.

Let's examine what are the symptoms of heart disease? Cardiovascular disease is the leading health problem in the Western world. It is the number one cause of death in the United States (Canada is following suit), claiming more than over 1 million lives annually. An estimated 50 million Americans are afflicted with heart and blood vessel disease, although many do not know it because they have no symptoms. Statistically 70-80% of all women experiencing heart attacks did not have any symptoms. Narrow heart blood vessels are unable to provide the oxygen the heart needs and this creates in males mainly angina pectoris which is characterized by heavy, tight chest pain, also pain on the left arm. More warnings are excessive tiredness, breathlessness from climbing stairs edema. Pain is often extended to the shoulder, neck, jaw, and other signs are sweating, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, fainting, feeling anxiety. Difficulty swallowing, ringing in the ears and loss of speech.

The main cause of most heart problems is improper, poor diet, particularly eating too much red meat and saturated fat, salt and sugar, alcohol and smoking. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is often the precursor to heart problems and it is caused by decrease in the elasticity or a reduction in the interior diameter of the arteries (or both), which may be caused by arteriosclerosis, defects in sodium metabolism, stress, nutritional deficiencies, and enzyme imbalances. The amount and type of chest pain vary from one person to another. Some people have intensive pain, while others feel only mild discomfort. Heart attack occurs when a part of heart muscle is denied blood and oxygen for a long enough period for cells to die. Hardening of the arteries, build up of plaque inside the arteries and the presence of a thrombus, or blood clot, in a blood vessel are he most common causes of obstruction. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is often a precursor to heart problems and is leading cause of stroke, and also greatly increases the risk of heart attack, heart failure, and kidney failure.

There are a variety of other cardiovascular diseases which include arrhythmias/ palpitation or irregular heartbeat, angina pectoris (pain or heavy pressure in the chest), aneurysm (is a spot in the blood vessel where the wall becomes thin and bulges outward), cardiac arrest (when the heart stops beating), cardiomegaly (enlargement of the heart), cardiomyopathy (group of diseases of the heart muscle), carditis (inflammation of the heart muscle), congestive heart failure (a condition of chronic heart failure), endocarditis (inflammation of the endocardium, the membrane surrounding the heart muscle), ischemic heart disease (is caused by obstruction of the blood flow to the heart), valvular disease (impairs the functioning of one or more of the heart's valves), insufficient supply of antioxidants, high level of fibrinogen, a blood-clotting protein.

Heart Function Self-Test

Your heart is the most important muscle in your body and a simple pulse test can help to determine how well your heart is functioning. The best time to check your pulse is first thing in the morning and if your pulse is under 60, your heart is functioning well. However, if the pulse is above 80, you may need to change your diet and lifestyle. If your pulse remains rapid, consult immediately your health care provider or go to the emergency room of the nearest hospital and/or call 911 for the ambulance.

Diet and Lifestyle

This is the answer for preventing heart problems and here are some suggestions you should take seriously:

Try To Avoid

Red meat, refined sugar and salt, white flour.

processed, ready-made, packed, deep fried "junk"food with saturated fats (called trans-fats)

soft drinks with artificial sweeteners, aspartame, neotame, splenda, saccharin.

excessive alcohol use, smoking and second hand smoke, coffee, black tea

large meals after 5:00 pm, excess weight

homogenized milk, sources of sodium and food products that have soda, sodium, or the symbol "Na" on the label

MSG (Monosodium glutamate), baking soda, canned vegetables, food with mold inhibitors and preservatives, meat tenderizers

some medicines and dentifrices (tooth care products).

Try To Include

one teaspoon of cayenne in a cup of water at the onset of a heart attack or stroke

take 2 - 15 drops of Hawthorn combo tincture, (heart drops, has 11 herbal extracts), three times daily on empty stomach

alternative 5 - 20 drops Hawthorn tincture, three times daily on empty stomach

Ginkgo Biloba tincture, 25 - 30 drops, three times daily on empty stomach

raw garlic or take three capsules daily

soak 1/2 tsp of Mistletoe in 1 cup of water for twelve hours, strain and drink three cups daily

unrefined, cold pressed nut and seed oils such as hemp, flax, walnut, coconut, pumpkin on salad and dishes that don't require heating

certified organic or organic raw fruit and green and sea vegetables, carrot, beet, celery, asparagus,

avocados, kelp, figs, tofu, kefir, wheat germ, broccoli, cauliflower, alfalfa

supplements: Coenzyme Q10, 50mg three times daily, Magnesium, 600 mg, Vitamin C with bioflavonoid. 1.000mg, Vitamin E with mixed tocopherols, 400 IU daily

outdoor exercise in fresh air through a park or along a beach, breath deeply while you are walking (count to seven while inhaling and again to seven while exhaling)

moderate, regular exercise like brisk walking three times per week for thirty minutes will benefit general health.

My article offers you a "guideline" to prevent heart problems and by no means does it cover the whole spectrum of heart disease in general. More detailed information can be obtained by reading the recommended books in the reference.

I would like to close with these words of wisdom:

"Those who do not find time every day for health,

must one day sacrifice a lot of time for illness."

References

Encyclopaedia of Natural Healing, alive books, ISBN 0-920-470-75-0

Prescription for Nutritional Healing, Third Edition, James F. Balch, M.D., & Phyllis A. Balch, CNC, ISBN 1-58333-077-1

School of Natural Healing, Dr. John R. Christopher, Master Herbalist, ISBN

Left For Dead, Dick Quinn, ISBN 0-9632839-0-1

Healing With Whole Foods, Paul Pitchford, ISBN 1-55643-220-8

This information is offered for its educational value only and should not be used in the diagnose, treatment, or prevention of disease. Any attempt to diagnose and treat illness should come under the direction of your health care practitioner.

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herb, natural medicine, health, balance, herbal care, natural approach, heart disease, heart problem