Description

This article was authored by Klaus Ferlow, HMH (Honorary Master Herbalist), innovator, lecturer, researcher, writer, founder Ferlow Botanical Enterprises Ltd, Vancouver, B.C. manufacturing/distributing organic toxin-free medicinal herbal and personal care products to professional health & wellness practitioners in Canada and parts of USA since 1993.

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 American 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. 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 read meat and saturated fat, salt and sugar, alcohol and smoking. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is often the precursor of heart problems and it is caused by decrease in the elasticity or a reducation 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 the heart muscle is denied blood and oxygen for a long enough period for cells to die. Hardening of the arteries, built up of plaque inside the arteries and the presence of a thrombus, or blood clot, in a blood vessel are the most common causes of obstruction. Hypertension is often the precursor to heart problems and is the 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), ischemic heart disease (is caused by obstruction of the blood flow to the heart), endocarditis (inflammation of the endocardium, the membrane surrounding the heart muscle), 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 salt and sugar, white flour. Processed, ready-made, packed, deep fried "junk" food with saturated fats, called trans-fats, soft drinks with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame, neotame, splenda, saccharin. Excessive alcohol use, smoking and second hand smoke, coffee, black tea, large meals after 5:00 pm, excessive weight, homogenized milk, sources of sodium and food products that have soda, or the symbol "Na" on the label. MSG (Monosodium glutamate), baking soda, canned vegetables, food with mould 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 (could save your life!)

Take 2 - 15 drops Hawthorn combo tincture (the heart drops have 11 herbal extracts as ingredients), three times daily on empty stomach

Alternative: 5 - 20 drops of Hawthorn single tinctures, three times daily on empty stomach

Take 25 - 30 drops of Ginkgo Biloba tincture, three times daily on empty stomach (you should alternate between the Hawthorn combo or Hawthorn tincture and the Ginkgo Biloba tincture and not take them the same day since these are high potency Physician grade tinctures.

Three raw garlic in capsules or garlic in salads daily

Soak ½ tsp Mistletoe in 1 cup of water for twelve hours, strain and drink three cups daily

Unrefined nut and seed oils such as hemp, flax, walnut, coconut, pumpkin on salads and dishes that don't require heating

Certified, organic or organic raw fruit and green and sea vegetables, carrots, beets, celery, asparagus, avocados, kelp, figs, tofu, kefir, wheat germ, broccoli, cauliflower, alfalfa

Supplements

Coenzyme Q10, 50mg three times daily, Magnesium 600mg, Vitamin C with bioflavonoid 1000mg, Vitamin E with mixed tocopherols, 400 IU daily

Exercise outdoors in fresh air through a park, forest, 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" for preventing heart problems and by no means does it cover the whole spectrum of heart disease. 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 times for illness." And HEALTH IS WEALTH!

References

Heart Disease, Dr. Kurt W. Donsbach,

Heart-Healing Miracles, Julian Whitaker, M.D.

Help Your Heart, Dr. Ernst D. Kuehl

Guide to a Healthier Heart and Circulatory Systems, Dr. A. Vogel

Your Heart and Your Health, By the editors of Prevention Magazine

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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