Coronary heart disease (CHD) or Coronary Artery Disease

The Mediterranean Diet with it's emphasis on fish and red wine have been in the news for years, as the best diet for your heart. However, some people do not like fish. Some people are allergic to fish. Therefore, alternatives are important to discern.

The American Heart Association recently conducted a 2 year study on patients who had had an MI (i.e. heart attack). What they discovered was that the American Heart Association Diet is comparable in effectiveness to the Mediterranean Diet.

There are a lot of harmful trans fats within chips and ice cream. The trans fats are what makes you salivate at the thought of eating these favorite foods, and keeps you coming back for more. However, you can eat your way quickly to a heart attack if you are not careful of the amount of trans fats you eat.

Therefore, the American Heart Association has joined hands with industry to formulate plans for decreasing trans fats, while keeping the wonderful, and to some folks euphoric, taste.

Treatment disparities based on age exist.

A recent study indicated that those patients who were very old (i.e. over 90) did not receive the same treatment per heart guidelines when admitted to the emergency room.

The reason? Seems it was based on their age alone. Although, case review has indicated that other than bleeding, the very old did just as well when state of the art practice was provided, as it was for their younger counter parts.

Antioxidants protect the body from damage caused by harmful molecules called oxygen free radicals. Most antioxidants are vitamins (such as beta-carotene and vitamins E and C) that are naturally found in many fruits and vegetables or are available as supplements.

Oxygen free radicals are normal by-products of cell metabolism. However, at high levels they can cause damage to cells. Antioxidants may protect the body from cell damage.

It is estimated that 900 Americans a day have a cardiac arrest (i.e. the heart stops beating). A very dangerous situation! Knowledge of CPR may be able to save a life, if applied correctly.

CPR: Small acronym for Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation. Everyone should be educated in how to apply CPR, as 75% of cardiac arrests occur at home.

A recent study indicated that the mortality rate (death rate) in hospitals for heart attack victims is higher on weekends, and technologies available to save lives, known as percutaneous coronary interventions are not as accessible. The potential for dying seemed to linger long after the patient was discharged from the hospital. It is estimated that several thousand of patients die during the first year after a heart attack, if they were admitted during a weekend.

For anyone concerned about the health of their heart, walking is probably the best exercise. Why?

• It’s inexpensive (only requires a sturdy pair of shoes

• It has no harmful side effects; other exercise could result in injury; but unless you trip over your own feet and fall, minimal harm is associated with walking)

Peripheral Vascular Disease is a disorder which affects 8-12 million Americans. People with PVD have arteries in their extremities that are narrower, harder, and are filled with plaques on the walls of the blood vessel. The plaques are comprised of fats, cholesterol (hard, waxy substance), calcium, and other blood products. This is commonly called atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

A doctor’s personal experience may help all of us. Dr. Gundry had a high level of C-Reactive Protein. This protein is a significant contributor to heart disease, due to it’s inflammatory nature. Dr. Gundry, as perhaps many of us, hated flossing his teeth. So he didn’t (again, perhaps like most of us). His dentist was fortunately able to convince him to at least try. He did (hopefully, this is what most of us would do too). What he found was amazing. His C-Reactive Protein had decreased (and, his gums were in better health too).

Does wine protect your heart? The answer is a emphatic yes, if you believe the results of a recent study.

Men who drank a half a glass of wine per day were almost 50% less likely to die of cardiovascular disease in the next 4-5 years; than those who did not drink. Drinking any alcohol seemed to be healthy, as long as within prescribed limits, but not as much as wine.