Most everyone knows about the importance of cardiovascular activity, but not everyone is getting as much exercise as they should. Cardio in particular is important for improving the health of your heart, helping you burn fat and lose weight if you need to, and giving your body a jump start so it burns more calories throughout the day.

If you don’t exercise because you think you’ll have to join an expensive gym and spend all your free time around hard bodies, think again. You can get a wonderful cardio workout without taking a lot of time out of your busy day, and you don’t even have to leave your house.

Dancing is the ultimate exercise for busy people because it can be done almost anywhere, from your living room to your favorite dance club. Moving to the rhythm of the music doesn’t really feel like exercise, but doing the right moves can work your whole body and give you that feeling of having worked hard even though you were having fun doing it.

Dancing is easy on the body compared to running or other cardiovascular activities you might have tried, and it can strengthen your muscles as well as your bones, which is good insurance against fractures in the future.

Using dance as exercise is great for any group of people. You can dance alone in your living room or work out with your kids or a few friends. You won’t even feel like you’re working out because you’re enjoying the music, but you can burn as many calories as you would running or riding a bike.

So many people shy away from exercise because they think it has to be boring. I’m here to tell you that you can have the time of your life while working out. Moving to the music will get you laughing and smiling as well as sweating and shrinking.

Dance exercise can improve your self image and confidence levels, as well as your balance, coordination and heart health. You don’t need any special equipment or skills to dance—anyone can do it. So put on your dancing shoes for the most fun you’ve ever had while working out.

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According to the Center for Disease Control (the CDC), over 910,000 people die from heart disease every year. This makes heart disease the number one killer in America. While almost one million individuals die of heart disease annually, many more millions are stricken with the disease and some of them unknowingly. As a result, doctors and physicians alike encourage anyone, and especially those at risk, to understand the warning signs of heart disease and take measures to prevent the onslaught of the disease. But, as drugs, manufactured chemicals, and fatty foods inundate the marketplace it becomes increasingly more difficult to find natural preventatives. In recent years, doctors and scientists have come up with natural, effective methods to preventing heart disease.

The most obvious method to preventing heart disease is to have annual and regular check ups. This means that individuals need to seek medical attention prior to any symptoms. Like many diseases, patients can go years without showing signs of heart disease before being diagnosed with the condition. Blood pressure and cholesterol are the most widely known factors attributed to heart conditions but these are only some of the quantitative tests performed on patients. By scheduling regular checkups with doctors, patients can not only have their system’s checked, but also determine the effectiveness of other preventative measures.

Individuals need to take into consideration their overall health and maintain healthy habits while naturally preventing heart disease. This means that not only do they need to focus on healthier eating habits and exercise routines, individuals need to focus on specific foods and activities that regularly promote heart health. For example, maintaining low cholesterol is not, in itself, enough. Individuals need to focus on the different kinds of cholesterols and recognize that low-density lipoproteins (LDL) need to remain low while high density lipoproteins (HDL) can remain higher. Since they both perform different functions, its important to know how to maintain proper levels of both. This can be attained through both diet and exercise programs supported by the individuals doctor.

When considering regular exercise, individuals need to consider routines that involve cardiovascular workouts in addition to strength building. Since the health of the heart is the primary focus of preventing heart disease, individuals need to perform exercise routines that help strengthen the heart muscles and the surrounding tissue. Furthermore, by expanding the exercises to include the lungs, people can increase the oxygen capacity in their blood, helping build and heal cells throughout the body, including the heart.

In addition to regular diet and exercise, many people take supplements to help prevent against diseases. There are hundreds of different natural supplements available for people looking to prevent or treat all kinds of illness and disease, but few specific to heart disease. Although there are many different supplements designed to help with strengthening the heart, individuals may decrease the effectiveness of the supplements by taking them together in the wrong quantities. When combined, some of these natural vitamins can offset each other, resulting in little to no positive effect, and sometimes even negative effects in the patient. Consequently, Dr. Carlon Colker M.D. has produced an all natural supplement that contains a variety of ingredients balanced to enhance the effects each and create an environment in which the heart can flourish.

Doctors, physicians and scientists have developed a myriad of ways to help people treat and prevent heart disease, the leading killer of Americans today. As a result of this need, communities of professionals have come up with natural methods for individuals to prevent the disease by means of diet and exercise. By incorporating healthy eating habits, exercise, and supplements such as Lipistat (Visit: http://www.lipistat.ws ) into their daily routine, individuals now have the power to prevent this deadly disease.

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In the last hundred years, our society has had to endure an ever-increasing plague affecting the lives of millions. Cardiovascular Disease (CVD) in the form of ‘Occlusive Cardiovascular Disease’, which is also known as ‘Atherosclerosis’ or ‘plaquing’ of the arteries is affecting younger and younger people with each passing generation. The disorder leads to the majority of our heart attacks, strokes and the spiraling costs of healthcare. It remains today as the leading cause of death by disease in the developed world.

Medical treatment of choice continues to be cholesterol-lowering drugs (statin drugs). Add to this the prescriptions for chest pains, high blood pressure, blood thinners, calcium beta-blockers, triglyceride etc. and you have a toxic cocktail mix taken by millions of people with only a poor prognosis to show for their efforts.

What can we do?

A world-renowned biochemist Linus Pauling PhD (1901-1994), two-time unshared Nobel Prize Laureate, and recipient of more than 40 honorary degrees is regarded by many of his peers as one of the world’s greatest scientific minds of the 20th century. In his last interview with the British journal of the Institute of Optimum Nutrition he spoke these prophetic words:

“I think I know what the answer is… we can get almost COMPLETE CONTROL of cardiovascular disease, heart attacks and strokes by the proper use of this therapy …even cure it.” — Linus Pauling (1992)

The “therapy” he spoke about was formulated after decades of scientific and clinical research and introduced following issues of his patents (1990 and 1991) for the reversal of ‘Occlusive Cardiovascular Disease’. Add this to his 1989 ‘Unified Theory” of heart disease and we have an effective way of eliminating the majority of suffering caused by this major scourge of our times.

Medicine’s silence is deafening!

Mainstream medicine and big Pharma continue to remain silent as to Pauling’s discovery and one might be inclined to believe that their focus on profits might be the motives for their suppression of his research. Heart disease is big business.

How does Pauling’s formula work? It’s rather quite simple. It starts with the scientific facts that CVD is predominantly a Vitamin C deficiency disease. Also lacking is, a couple of key amino acids L-lysine and L-proline. Add to that a few supportive A, B, & E vitamins, minerals like magnesium and selenium, a little CoQ10 and plenty of Omega 3 oils, and there you have it. A formula which when taken therapeutically, can stop, reverse and help the body heal the majority of CVD cases.

Following up on 1985 Nobel Laureates Brown and Goldstein’s scientific work of the early 1980’s, Pauling re-confirmed that all plaque in the arteries is laid down as temporarily repair material for damaged or injured blood vessels. This sticky cholesterol plaque, which the body uses to seal up the cracks and fissures, is a “special” kind of cholesterol made in our livers and not the cholesterol we ingest from fatty foods. LP(a) cholesterol plaque is manufactured as a necessary emergency ‘secondary response tissue’ to deal with the damaged blood vessels. This happens only when the body is malnourished.

The ‘primary’ healing tissue for blood vessels is “collagen”. Collagen needs high levels of Vitamin C and amino acids such as lysine, proline, to be properly and adequately synthesized. Also, L-lysine and L-proline act as LP(a) binding inhibitors.

So there is hope for the majority of those who suffer with this chronic degenerative disease. The results of using the Pauling protocol are predictable and measurable.

Start by getting a full blood profile for heart risk factors. Once you have your ‘numbers’, start taking a well formulated ‘Pauling formula’ product (Cardioflex Q10) up to three times a day with juice or water. (Water only if you are diabetic) You will start to notice a difference in your wellbeing within only a few days to a few weeks.

Note: Check regularly with your doctor as to the continued need for your prescription drugs. Within 6 to 18 months, the majority of patients should be off most of their heart drugs and will have reduced by up to 80-90% all of their CVD risk factors identified in the blood tests.

Adopting a healthier diet and a regular exercise routine accelerates the process and puts you on a fast tract to a lifetime free of heart disease.

You no longer have to be a casualty of the CVD plague.

Dr. Gerry Bohemier DC

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High Blood pressure is a worldwide epidemic affecting millions of people around the globe. It is estimated that within the next 20 years, there will be over 1.5 billion people affected by high blood pressure.

Two key reasons for the explosion of high blood pressure epidemic are sedentary lifestyle, and a diet rich in high sodium, and processed foods. While diet is a contributing factor for high blood pressure, there are foods that can actually help lower blood pressure, and one of these miraculous food is no other than dark chocolate.

According to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, a group of volunteers were randomly divided into two groups. One group ate about a quarter ounce of dark chocolate daily for five months, while the other group was given white chocolate. The group who ate dark chocolate had lower blood pressure readings than those who ate white chocolate.

What makes dark chocolate such a beneficial food for lowering blood pressure?

Dark chocolate contains flavonoids, a group of chemical compounds found in plants that have antioxidant properties. Flavonoids have been shown to promote several beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system; including, flushing out the accumulation of cholesterol in blood vessels, preventing the clustering of blood platelets which contributes to the risk of blood clots that produce stroke, and heart attack, decreasing the body’s inflammation in the body, and relaxing the blood vessels.

When you’re choosing dark chocolate, look for chocolate that has at least 70 percent pure cocoa content. Very dark chocolate is not as sweet as milk chocolate, and it may be somewhat bitter. You may have to try different ones until you find one that you like. However, dark chocolate is becoming very popular, and nowadays, it’s easy to find a variety of good quality dark chocolate with cocoa content as high as 85%.

Portion control is the key to getting the health benefits of dark chocolate without consuming too many calories because dark chocolate is high in fat and calories. Just remember that all you need is a very little piece of it, about a quarter of an ounce, to enjoy its blood pressure lowering benefit.

If you’re looking for ways to lower your blood pressure naturally, dark chocolate can do the trick. For now, all the studies show that there’s little doubt that dark chocolate consumed in moderation, and in conjunction with a healthy diet, and exercise is one of the ways to lower blood pressure, and improve your overall cardiovascular health.

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Many people that suffer from high blood pressure are not always happy to be prescribed a plethora of different drugs. There are many stories about the sided effects of using these drugs and obviously this worries many. All is not lost though. There are a number of things you can do that will help overcome high blood pressure. That’s not to say we are suggesting you stop taking any prescribed medication. Always consult with your doctor before making any changes.

Lowering Your Intake

Something that can be done relatively easily is to lower your salt intake. Many processed foods contain a lot of salt and you can certainly compound this problem by adding more salt to your meal, either by adding at the preparation or by adding as a condiment. I would suggest trying to buy more fresh food and vegetables. That way you can monitor your intake more effectively. Eating more natural products is an easy way to start reducing that high blood pressure.

Another really simple idea is to cutout refined white sugar. It is widely accepted that eating processed sugar increases the blood pressure so I suggest using a sweetener alternative. Sweeteners have come a long way and nowadays you can get some that even taste good on breakfast cereal. These are a great alternative and your taste buds won’t even know the difference.

Learning to lower blood pressure is fairly straight forward if you follow a well balanced nutritious diet that is full of fibrous foods. You can start by eating more fresh vegetables which contain plenty of antioxidants and have high potassium content. These are two ingredients that are extremely good for your health and will make a big impact in lowering that high blood pressure.

A diet of fresh fruit and vegetables combined with a low salt and sugar intake will really start to make an impact on that blood pressure. So much so that after consulting with your doctor you maybe able to reduce the amount of medication you take.

Lastly there is one big thing you can do to lower high blood pressure, exercise! I am not saying you should start preparing for a marathon but some gentle exercises done on a daily basis will really help to reduce that hypertension. Just try something simple like Tai Chi, or light aerobics. Even a daily jaunt in the fresh air with the dog is better that lazing around on the couch. Just something to raise the heart rate slightly will work wonders.

As we said previously always consult your doctor before embarking on any new diet or considering lowering your medication. Your doctor knows best but I guarantee if he sees a difference in your blood pressure by altering your lifestyle he will almost certainly consider lowering your medication.

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Can Cayenne Pepper actually lower your cholesterol? Yes it can. Cayenne pepper is one of the most powerful herbs in the world yet most just think of it as a condiment. Its uses and tremendous health benefits, however, go far beyond its culinary uses. It is a proven herb that has been used for decades by wise herbalists and home health practitioners.

Cayenne is extremely beneficial for the entire venous structure and for the heart. Its nutrients are what give Cayenne such proficiency. In fact, it’s not only a very nutritional herb but it’s a medicinal herb as well. It is very high in Vitamins A, C, and the B complexes. It also is teeming with assimilable calcium and potassium. Its abundance of potassium is one of the reasons why it is so beneficial for the human heart.

So, why is it so helpful in the lowering of cholesterol? Cayenne is an herb that once digested by the body, helps to clean the bloodstream of unwanted elements. How specifically? Cayenne somehow processes fat without absorbing it and it helps the body excrete the fats through normal bowel movements. Its speed and efficacy in which it works is nothing short of amazing. If taken daily, it will not only strengthen the heart, but will lower cholesterol by scouring the blood. The therapeutic value of cayenne has been repeatedly validated, but don’t take my or various scientific studies’ word for it. Use it for 30 days and you’ll have your own story to tell.

The Cayenne Pepper Detoxification Drink — How to Take It
I’d advise you take it in warm water. The warm water is much faster than tablets, capsules, or cold water as the warm cayenne water opens up the cell structure. It makes the cells expand and utilizes the cayenne that much faster. Famed herbal and homeopathic Dr. John Christopher testified repeatedly in his writing of the virtual instantaneous nature of cayenne upon the heart. If someone were having a heart attack, if they can drink the warm concoction of very warm water and cayenne pepper, it will in about 15 seconds take the person out of the heart attack. While a severe cut or lesion is not related to lowering cholesterol, if one can put some cayenne pepper into it and perhaps drink some, it will stop the bleeding in literally 10 to 15 seconds

You may be surprised to hear about the medicinal efficacy of cayenne pepper but in truth it’s been used as a medicine (as well as an herbal condiment) for literally centuries all around the world. Due to the stranglehold Big Pharma has upon the medical establishment, not to mention the hold modern Western medicine has upon our healthcare, the benefits of cayenne pepper and other herbs remains relatively unknown, and herbalist practitioners are persecuted and prosecuted by the healthcare powers that be.

Money, Money, Money
So why haven’t most heard of cayenne’s amazing therapeutic abilities? Money. The number-one-selling drug in the US is Lipitor — ostensibly sold to reduce cholesterol. In 2005 alone, Lipitor had 12.2 billion in sales. According to CNN, Lipitor totaled 13 billion. Needless to say, Cayenne pepper could eliminate all that. Consider the difference: it costs anywhere from $10 to $20 to buy a pound of cayenne pepper. The average price dosage of Lipitor is $80. When you’re making $13 billion a year in sales on one drug, you don’t want to give that up, nor do you want others to know about something that works better. Now you know in part why herbal medicine is publically mocked by the medical establishment and criminalized by the government. Of course, herbal medicine has been respected for years among true health practitioners and cayenne pepper

The cayenne pepper detoxification drink as I call it takes some getting used to, but its benefits are tremendous. Your cholesterol will lower, your heart will strengthen, and you’ll experience other health benefits as well. Drink the cayenne pepper detoxification drink. It’s inexpensive and while drinking a glass of warm cayenne pepper water seems odd, its health benefits will be noticeable. Don’t rely on doctors to “cure” you of lower cholesterol. Take matters into your own hands; be self-reliant about your health. Doctors can certainly be a great blessing, but by learning of alternative means to help your health, you will benefit greatly.

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When dealing with heart problems there are many things that you can do. You need to manage your stress levels, improve your diet to increase the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables that you eat to about 60-80% and you need to increase the exercise that you have, There are also vitamins and herbs that you can take to cleanse your body of toxins and thus cleanse your arteries and to build and repair your arteries and strengthen the heart itself. In a previous article we looked at the vitamins and minerals that you need and in this article we will explore the herbs that can help to overcome heart disease.

There are two main groupings of herbs for the circulatory system:

• those that have a direct action on the heart, and
• those that affect the peripheral blood vessels (that is, vessels of the limbs).

Herbs for the Heart

• broom - strengthens and normalizes the heart and also rids the body of any build-up of water that is due to insufficient heart strength. Care has to be taken though with this herb as it can increase blood pressure.
• bugleweed - whilst this herb increases the strength of the heart beat it also decreases its rate and is valuable as a relaxant as well.
• figwort - is known for its treatment of skin problems but it also strengthens the heart’s contractions.
• hawthorn berries - are one of the most valuable remedies for the circulatory system. They strengthen the force of the contraction of the heart muscle while also dilating the vessels of the coronary circulation. They can be used in most circulatory problems as they will relax or stimulate the heart according to its need and normalize heart function.
• lily of the valley - can be used where the strength of the heart is insufficient, as in angina, or in the treatment of an aging heart. This is particularly the case when there are fatty deposits in the blood vessels.
• motherwort - is a relaxing herb and for the circulatory system it will strengthen and normalize the heart function.
• night blooming cereus - can be use similarly to lily of the valley and is particularly useful where there is any change in the rhythm of the heart beat.

You will notice that foxglove has been left off the list. It is a plant derived medicine used extensively by orthodox medicine as an effective treatment for the heart. However there are marked dangers with this poisonous plant and therefore it has been left out. This does not mean however that there are no effective herbal remedies for the heart. Lily of the valley is one of these effective herbs. The danger of poisoning with lily of the valley does not exist as its glycosides have a unique chemical structure that ensures they are easily excreted and do not build up in the body - but there is still the possibility of some toxicity. To strengthen the heart the following mixture should be taken over an extended period of time.

• 2 parts hawthorn berries
• 2 parts motherwort
• 1 part lily of the valley

Pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoons full of the herb mix and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times per day. At the same time an adequate intake of potassium has to be ensured. Eat plenty of potassium containing foods, such as grapes, tomatoes and bananas. If there is any water retention 1 part dandelion should be added to the mix above. If tension and anxiety are present use the following:

• 1 part balm
• 1 part lime (linden) blossom

Pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoons full of the dried herbs and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times per day or as often as needed. If this does not prove strong enough, use skullcap and valerian instead. If you suffer from angina the following mixture may be of assistance.

• 3 parts hawthorn berries
• 2 parts motherwort
• 2 parts lime (linden) blossom
• 1 part lily of the valley

Pour a cup of boiling water onto 1-2 teaspoons full of the dried herbs and leave to infuse for 10-15 minutes. This should be drunk three times per day over a long period. It will not immediately relieve the pain of an attack.Herbs for Peripheral Circulation As was the case with the heart herbs, a number of herbs are available to improve the peripheral circulation. The most important herbal agents for the circulation include:

• broom,
• buckwheat,
• cayenne,
• dandelion,
• ginger,
• hawthorn,
• horse chestnut,
• lime (linden) blossom,
• mistletoe and
• yarrow,

Some of these herbs are also heart tonics, while others stimulate the peripheral circulation (cayenne and ginger) and others are diuretics (yarrow). The actual herbs used will depend on the nature of the problems for a particular individual and the range of causes and contributing factors.Additional herbs When problems with the circulatory system develop there is often the need to assist the body in the removal of water. When the heart is weak and fails to circulate effectively and insufficient blood is passed through the kidneys or when the blood vessels (particularly the veins in the legs) are weak, a build up of water in the body can occur. In such conditions herbal diuretics can help. These diuretics include:

• broom,
• dandelion,
• lily of the valley, and
• yarrow.

One of the most important diuretics for the circulatory system is dandelion. When any remedy is used to increase the function of the heart there is always the danger of causing potassium depletion in the body - this would in turn aggravate the heart problem. Therefore whenever a diuretic is prescribed in orthodox medicine (other than the so-called ‘potassium sparing’ varieties) a potassium supplement is almost always added. However, when dandelion is used it already contains a high level of potassium. Indeed there is an overall gain in potassium with dandelion, which makes its value apparent. Anxiety and stress can lead to circulatory system problems and it is sometimes difficult to isolate a particular cause. Whenever there is a cardiovascular problem the use of relaxing herbs needs to be considered as in many cases stress and anxiety are involved. The most useful nervines for cardiovascular system problems are:

• balm,
• hops,
• lime (linden) flowers,
• motherwort,
• pasque flowers,
• skullcap and
• valerian.

There are many things that you can do to improve the health of the heart. It is important to remove accumulated toxins from your body - the accumulation of atheroma on your arteries is an example of toxic build up. You need to start with cleaning you colon and liver and then cleanse your arteries. I recommend you read Safe Colon Cleansing Your Good Health Guide. You need to start by cleansing your major organs of elimination (colon and liver). When they are clean they will function better and assist in the work of cleaning you arteries. If you smoke you also need to quit - smoking is a cause of heart disease. You can also use vitamin and minerals and herbs to help to repair and heal your body. If you are new to herbal remedies be sure to read about how to use them safely and seek the assistance of a herbalist if you have any doubts.

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Sometimes, the danger signal from the heart is more dramatic. Atherosclerosis causes plaques to accumulate in the coronary arteries. These plaques are lumps and bumps within the coronary arteries that can contain cholesterol, white blood cells, and other substances. Sometimes they grow to block the arteries and sometimes they are small and do not effect the blood flow. A cap forms on top of the plaque to keep the contents from seeping into the bloodstream. These plaques can be quiet and not cause a problem. Occasionally, however, the cap on a plaque can rupture exposing its contents to the bloodstream. When this happens, the content of the plaque are mixed with the blood and can cause formation of a blood clot. If the blood clot blocks an important artery supplying blood to the heart, heart muscle can be suddenly deprived of vital oxygen and nutrients. At this point, every minute counts because heart muscle cannot survive long without receiving fresh blood. Within a relatively short period the damage to the
heart can be severe and permanent. This event is what doctors call myocardial infarction. Everyone else calls it a heart attack.

The symptoms of a heart attack are often similar to those of angina, but much worse and more persistant. The classic description of a heart attack is a crushing chest pain that does not go away, even after resting or taking angina medication. Other symptoms, which sometimes can even occur without chest pain, can include sweating, nausea, light headedness, and breathlessness. These symptoms are often confused with those caused by other much less serious conditions.

Here is the important thing to keep in mind: Don’t take chances. If you experience symptoms that may represent a heart attack, you should call an ambulance immediately and be brought to an emergency hospital; your survival may depend on it. It is natural to feel reluctant  to ask for help, and for many people it is embarrassing to call an ambulance. Also, heart attacks often do not start like they do in the movies, with crushing pain that causes you to clutch your chest. Uncertainty is quite common. but you should not wait to see whether your condition gets worse. This is the time to call 911.

As a general rule, doctors recommend that angina like discomfort that occurs without exertion or persists for more than ten minutes should be treated as a sign of a possible heart attack, even if more dramatic symptoms do not develop. The national heart, lung, and blood institute of the national institutes of health recommends that people should not wait more than five minutes before calling 911. Why the rush? Treatment, particularly in the first hour, can make an enormous difference in improving a person’s chance od survival. Unfortunatly, most people experiencing a heart attack wait much longer to seek help. According to experts, most people wait two or more hours before obtaining medical attention.

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When atherosclerosis is advanced, the flow of blood can be reduced enough that when the heart is asked to work harder than usual - for example,  when your exercising or climbing stairs, or simply eating a heavy meal , it can’t get the blood flow that it needs.

Typically, the heart signals that it is struggling by producing a feeling of chest discomfort, a condition that doctors call angina. Angina can take many forms; the sensations can include weakness, heaviness, pressure, tightness, and even pain in the middle of the chest. People with angina may also feel this discomfort at some distance from the heart - in the arms, abdomen, back, neck, and lower jaw. Angina is simply the hearts way of saying there is a mismatch between the oxygen rich blood flow it needs and what is actually arriving for it to use. Usually, if you have this symptom, the discomfort goes away when you stop whatever activity is causing your heart to work harder than usual. You should also know that not everyone has this feeling when there is a problem with blood flow to the heart, but it usually is an important signal when it occurs.

If you experience any symptoms in the list below, you should let your doctor know because they could be an indication of heart disease. These symptoms are not always caused by heart disease; they may be harmless or due to other medical conditions. But if you already have heart disease, these symptoms are enough to indicate a potential heart problem and reason enough for you to check with your doctor, especially if these symptoms are new.

Discomfort in your chest that comes on during physical exertion or emotional stress; it may spread to your arms, neck, lower jaw, face, back, or stomach. If this discomfort is from your heart, it is called “angina”.

Unusual breathlessness when doing light activity or when you are at rest can be a symptom of heart disease. Breathlessness that comes on suddenly may be an important warning sign.

Palpitation is the term used to describe the condition in which you feel your heart beat faster or more forcefully than usual, or an irregular pattern. Palpitations may be a symptom of heart disease, especially if the ylast for a few hours, if they come and go over several days, or if the ycause chest pain, breathlessness, or dizziness.

Fainting can be caused by inadequate oxygen reaching the brain, which may be due to heart disease.

Swelling or fluid retention is fluid buildup in your tissues. This usually happens arount the ankles, legs lungs, and abdomen. Swelling of the legs can be perfectly normal for some people after working many hours on their feet. However, it can also be a sign that the heart is not pumping efficiently.

Fatigue has many causes, but it’s worth seeing the doctor if you feel unusually tired, especially if it is combined with other suspicious symptoms noted above.

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The human heart is an amazing organ. A muscle only about the size of your fist, it sits just to the left of the center of your chest contracting and relaxing to pump blood, roughly 5 liters a minute throughout your body. It is an involuntarty muscle. Unlike the muscle in your arm that you flex voluntarily when you lift something, your heart needs no instruction. It operates independently and continuously, day and night, week in, week out, year after year. When it stops, life stops.

What Is Heart Disease

The heart tough, but it’s not invulnerable and it can be afflicted by a variety of diseases. But what is commonly called heart disease is, interestingly enough, not a disease of the heart at all. At least not directly. It’s a disease of the large arteries outside the heart that supply the smaller vessels that feed the heart muscle with blood rich nutrients and oxygen that the heart needs to keep working. Other vessels carry away the waste products produced by the heart in the course of its work. Coronary arteries, the large arteries carrying blood to the heart muscle, are like the huge pipes that carry water from a reservoir to a big city, to be distributed to streets, individual houses, and then specific faucets before being carried away again through drains. If something happens to those big pipes that blocks the flow of vital water to the city, the city shuts down in no time at all. Your heart needs an open system of pipes to maintain an unabated flow of blood all the time.

When the heart works harder, such as during exertion or stress, it needs even more blood flow. It gets this greater flow because, unlike water pipes, the blood vessels can dilate, or open larger, when the need arises. When something impedes that flow, it causes immediate problems for the heart muscle, which becomes starved of oxygen and nutrients.

With heart disease, the “something” that restricts the flow is an accumulation of fatty deposits including cholesterol that form thick plaques on the interior walls of the coronary arteries, a process that can slow the flow of blood to the heart. This condition called atherosclerosis, occurs gradually and may go unnoticed for years.

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