Top 10 Health Benefits of Walking

Top 10 Health Benefits of Walking

1. It’s great exercise. Walking at a steady pace for 30 to 45 minutes a day has been proven to be an excellent fat burner. Do this six times a week, along with following a healthy diet and you will see a change in your weight. A good speed of walking is 6km/hour. In other words, it should take you 10 minutes to cover a kilometre.

2. It’s good for the heart. Walking is known to reduce blood pressure, improve blood circulation and all round cardiovascular functions

3. It increases stamina. Walking regularly at a good speed also improves muscle strength and endurance.

4. Promotes mental health. Walking is a great stress buster. And if you’re able to walk outdoors, there’s nothing like it. The combination of fresh air and exercise is an excellent mood booster and you’ll definitely find yourself feeling happier as well as healthier. 
Although the high levels of fat in dairy products make those who want to get slim without hitting the gym wary, it turns out that eating cheese, milk and other dairy products actually promotes weight loss. The study was conducted in Australia and the researchers suggest that the protein levels in dairy products may help people feel fuller for longer and therefore make them less likely to snack on calorific foods.

5. It’s good for your bones. Walking is a great way of strengthening your bones. Walking 30 minutes a day actually increases bone density and slows down bone loss in the legs. This low-impact exercise also targets your spine, legs and hips.

6. Prevents type 2 diabetes. Studies show that walking 150 minutes per week can reduce the risk of diabetes, which is why doctors highly recommend it to anyone who has a history of diabetes in their family.

7. Reduces risk of breast and colon cancer. Studies show that regular walking can reduce a person’s chances of getting breast and colon cancer.

8. Safer than running. Many experts believe that walking is actually better than running because it’s easier on your knees and joints. It leads to fewer injuries and if you’re just starting to exercise, it’s a good beginner workout.

9. Anyone can do it. Walking is truly a democratic exercise because anyone at ANY fitness level can do it. If you’re completely out of shape, start by walking 20 minutes a day and then slowly increase the time every week.

10. It’s free! Unlike most other forms of exercise, all walking requires is a pair of good walking shoes. Walk in the park; on the road; up the stairs; on a treadmill; in a long corridor, it really doesn’t matter. You don’t need expensive equipment or a partner to do this. So if you’re in the mood for a good, safe workout, just start walking!

Top 10 tips for better sleep |Health

Top 10 tips for better sleep |Health

If you're having trouble sleeping, change your sleep habits for a better night's rest.

Feeling crabby lately? It could be you aren't getting enough sleep. Work, household responsibilities and child care can make sleep difficult to come by. Factor in other unexpected challenges, such as financial worries, layoffs, relationship issues or an illness, and quality sleep may be even more elusive.

You may not be able to control or eliminate all of the factors that interfere with your sleep, but you can create an environment and adopt habits that encourage a more restful night. Try these suggestions if you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep:

Go to bed and get up at about the same time every day, even on the weekends. Sticking to a schedule helps reinforce your body's sleep-wake cycle and can help you fall asleep more easily at night.

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Don't eat or drink large amounts before bedtime. Eat a light dinner at least two hours before sleeping. If you're prone to heartburn, avoid spicy or fatty foods, which can make your heartburn flare and prevent a restful sleep. Also, limit how much you drink before bed. Too much liquid can cause you to wake up repeatedly during the night for trips to the toilet.

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Avoid nicotine, caffeine and alcohol in the evening. These are stimulants that can keep you awake. Smokers often experience withdrawal symptoms at night, and smoking in bed is dangerous. Avoid caffeine for eight hours before your planned bedtime. Your body doesn't store caffeine, but it takes many hours to eliminate the stimulant and its effects. And although often believed to be a sedative, alcohol actually disrupts sleep.

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Exercise regularly.

Regular physical activity, especially aerobic exercise, can help you fall asleep faster and make your sleep more restful. However, for some people, exercising right before bed may make getting to sleep more difficult.

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Make your bedroom cool, dark, quiet and comfortable. Create a room that's ideal for sleeping. Adjust the lighting, temperature, humidity and noise level to your preferences. Use blackout curtains, eye covers, earplugs, extra blankets, a fan or white-noise generator, a humidifier or other devices to create an environment that suits your needs.

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Sleep primarily at night. Daytime naps may steal hours from nighttime slumber. Limit daytime sleep to about a half-hour and make it during midafternoon. If you work nights, keep your window coverings closed so that sunlight, which adjusts the body's internal clock, doesn't interrupt your sleep. If you have a day job and sleep at night, but still have trouble waking up, leave the window coverings open and let the sunlight help awaken you

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Choose a comfortable mattress and pillow. Features of a good bed are subjective and differ for each person. But make sure you have a bed that's comfortable. If you share your bed, make sure there's enough room for two. Children and pets are often disruptive, so you may need to set limits on how often they sleep in bed with you.

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Start a relaxing bedtime routine. Do the same things each night to tell your body it's time to wind down. This may include taking a warm bath or shower, reading a book, or listening to soothing music. Relaxing activities done with lowered lights can help ease the transition between wakefulness and sleepiness.

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Go to bed when you're tired and turn out the lights. If you don't fall asleep within 15 to 20 minutes, get up and do something else. Go back to bed when you're tired. Don't agonize over falling asleep. The stress will only prevent sleep.

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Use sleeping pills only as a last resort. Check with your doctor before taking any sleep medications. He or she can make sure the pills won't interact with your other medications or with an existing medical condition. Your doctor can also help you determine the best dosage. If you do take a sleep medication, reduce the dosage gradually when you want to quit, and never mix alcohol and sleeping pills. If you feel sleepy or dizzy during the day, talk to your doctor about changing the dosage or discontinuing the pills.

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Nearly everyone has occasional sleepless nights. But if you have trouble sleeping on a regular or frequent basis, see your doctor. You could have a sleep disorder, such as obstructive sleep apnea or restless legs syndrome. Identifying and treating the cause of your sleep disturbance can help get you back on the road to a good night's sleep.

Top 5 Heart Disease Misconceptions|Health

Top 5 Heart Disease Misconceptions|Health

It's easy to get lost in a labyrinth of data about the planet's No. 1 killer. Yes, it’s true. For both males and females, heart disease is the # 1 killer. It kills more people than all forms of tumors combined. It's an equal opportunity destroyer. Anyone, at any place, at any time may be at risk of having a cardiac event.  This risk is even greater if you happen to be black or if you happen to be over the age sixty five. Yet, despite the prevalence of this deadly killer, many myths and misconceptions still exist. Here are the 5 most common myths debunked.

1 Only older adults need to worry about their cardiovascular system.

Factors that may actually lead to a heart attack build-up over years. Being a couch-potato, boredom eating and rarely exercising are all really bad habits that often begin in childhood days. An increasing number of medical experts are witnessing stroke patients in their 20's and 30's rather than the usual patients in their 50's and 60's. Simply being healthy and at the correct bodyweight does not make you immune, however, exercising regularly and maintaining a good body weight does help. You still need to check your high cholesterol and blood pressure level. The right cholesterol (or lipid profile) quantity should be below 200 mg/dL and a good blood pressure is about 120/80.

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2  I'd feel sick if I had high blood pressure or high-cholesterol.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol are termed “silent killers” because they do no exhibit signals. One third of all mature people have high blood pressure and, of those, one-third are unaware that they have got it. High cholesterol levels are a measure of the fats stocked by your blood. Fats can be dropped anywhere in your physique, but tend to congregate around internal organs as well as your heart. This tends to run in family members so even if you're at a good weight and do not smoke, have you need to have your cholesterol and blood pressure examined frequently. Once isn't enough.

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3  Men and women DON'T feel the same signals.

Males and females can, in fact, experience any of the warning signs, however, they typically don't. Ladies usually tend to have the subtler symptoms while males more regularly experience the more expressive forms. Both men and women may experience the “grab-your-chest-and-fall-down-gasping” kind of heart attack, but not necessarily. It is quite common to experience subtler symptoms such as jaw achiness, nausea or vomiting, breathlessness and intense low energy. Unfortunately, these subtler symptoms often tend to get described away. “My jaw hurt simply because I chewed my lunch too hard,” or, “I’m probably out of breath because I ate too much.” You need to pay close attention to your own body and to all the signs and symptoms.

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4  Assuming that high blood glucose levels or being diabetic isn't a heart threat.

Although trying to keep your blood glucose level with a proper range (80ml-120ml) will help keep you healthy, simply having the extra glucose in your blood increases the risk for heart attack, stroke, angina, and coronary artery disease. Nearly 65 percent of people with diabetes will die from heart disease and stroke. In fact, diabetic adults are two to four times more likely to have heart disease or suffer a stroke than people without diabetes.  Healthy adults should get at least 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity, eat the proper foods, eat more fibre, quit smoking and take medications as directed in order to help control blood glucose levels.  Don't forget to also test your blood pressure and cholesterol.

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5  My medical doctor would order medical tests if I were at risk of cardiovascular disease.

Quite often, most people fail to inform their doctor of the little pains they feel. The medical doctors, not knowing most of the things we considered 'unimportant,' might pass over heart tests. Heart scans can find plaque build-up in your arterial blood vessels before you even know you have a problem but unfortunately heart scans aren't usually performed unless the doctor believes the patient is at risk of an immediate cardiovascular issue. That means all those “unimportant issues” we fail to report may leave our doctors just as unaware of our budding heart disease as we are, leaving far too many people go undiagnosed and untreated. With early detection, there is time to slow or even reverse the course of heart disease.
M. M. Bruce has a college diploma in Medical care from the University of Glasgow. She also counselled and trained adult nutrition in Adult Treatment centers.

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Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water

Heart Attacks And Drinking Warm Water

This is a very good article. Not only about the warm water after your meal, but about Heart Attacks.

The Chinese and Japanese drink hot tea with their meals, not cold water, may be it is time we adopt their drinking habit while eating.

 

For those who like to drink cold water, this article is applicable to you. It is nice to have a cup of cold drink after a meal. However, the cold water will solidify the oily stuff that you have just consumed. It will slow down the digestion. Once this 'sludge' reacts with the acid, it will break down and be absorbed by the intestine faster than the solid food. It will line the intestine. Very soon, this will turn into fats and lead to cancer. It is best to drink hot soup or warm water after a meal.

Common Symptoms Of Heart Attack...
A serious note about heart attacks - You should know that not every heart attack symptom is going to be the left arm hurting . Be aware of intense pain in the jaw line.

You may never have the first chest pain during the course of a heart attack. Nausea and intense sweating are also common symptoms. 60% of people who have a heart attack while they are asleep do not wake up. Pain in the jaw can wake you from a sound sleep. Let's be careful and be aware. The more we know, the better chance we could survive.

A cardiologist says if everyone who reads this message sends it to 10 people, you can be sure that we'll save at least one life. Read this & Send to a friend. It could save a life... So, please be a true friend and send this article to all your friends you care about.
request from heart

TOP TIPS for Diabetic - Forget pills, pop ALMONDS

TOP TIPS for Diabetic - Forget pills, pop ALMONDS

As India grapples with a major public health problem, being home to an estimated 50.8 million diabetic population, the largest in the world, experts say "consuming a few almonds daily can help combat the lifestyle disease."

"Eating almonds has a positive effect on reducing low density cholesterol and also improves insulin sensitivity; so it does help in pushing diabetes away," says Ritesh Gupta, head of clinical operation at Fortis C-Doc Hospital.

"It is a healthy source of fibre, protein and calories and has been found to have a positive effect in reducing bad cholesterol and improved insulin sensitivity," Gupta told.
Diabetes is caused when there is deficiency of insulin hormone, which controls blood sugar level. Its symptoms include fatigue, excessive thirst and frequent urination.

"With an estimated 50.8 million people living with the disease, India has the world's largest population of diabetics in the world, followed by China with 43.2 million," says the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The number in India is expected to go up to 87 million - 8.4 per cent of the country's adult population - by 2030.

With India staring at a major public health threat due to diabetes and other lifestyle diseases, almond is now being hailed as the health nut.

"Indians are more prone to lifestyle diseases like diabetes. The increasingly sedentary lifestyle and fast food double up the risk. Almond, which has traditionally been part of our diet, is a high source of nutrition and helps push these diseases away," says Anoop Misra, director of Diabetes Foundation (India).

"A handful of almonds contain 164 calories and 7 gm of protein, which helps in fighting hunger pangs and helps you control what you eat. Almonds also help growing children in developing strong bones," he adds.

A study done by scholars from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, West Chester University, Pennsylvania, and Loma Linda University of California, all in the US, and published in the Journal of the American College of Nutrition also confirms that the nut can control diabetes if consumed regularly.

"A diet consisting of 20 per cent of calories as almonds over a 16-week period is effective in improving markers of insulin sensitivity and yields clinically significant improvements in LDL-C (low density lipoprotein cholesterol) in adults with pre-diabetes," the study said.

Five easy steps to pump up your heart

Five easy steps to pump up your heart

Want to keep your heart healthy? Then you need to know the following. 

Holly Andersen, director of education and outreach at the Ronald O. Perelman Heart Institute of NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital has offered some easy steps to improve heart health and overall well-being throughout the year.

Step 1: Know your numbers

Your blood pressure, cholesterol and triglyceride levels are the most important numbers you will need to know before you begin on the path to good heart health. 

Step 2: Start walking

Exercise is the fountain of youth. A simple 20- to 30-minute walk a few days a week can actually reduce the risk of premature death by more than 50 per cent. 

Step 3: Laugh out loud

Laughter really is the best medicine. Just 15 minutes of laughter is about equivalent to 30 minutes of aerobic exercise with respect to our cardiovascular health. Laughter has also been linked to the healthy function of blood vessels, an increase of the brain hormones that improve mood, and reduction of pain and anxiety.

Step 4: Focus on your waistline, not your weight

Your waistline is a better measurement of your overall health than your weight because the amount of fat around your waistline is directly linked to high blood pressure and high cholesterol and can place you at increased risk for diabetes. 

Step 5: Get a good night's sleep

Sleep is one of the most undervalued elements of our daily routines, but it is absolutely vital to good health. Lack of sleep increases your blood pressure, induces stress, increases your appetite and slows down your metabolism, dampens your mood and decreases your cognition.

Source: ANI

Photo gallery: Heart

 

Photo gallery: Heart

Your heart beats stronger with yoga

Your heart beats stronger with yoga

"Yoga began with the first person wanting to be healthy and happy," someone once said. And a happy 'you' is the secret to a healthy heart. "Yoga is not merely about a few asanas," says yoga expert and senior consultant cardiologist. "It is a combination of all the components of a healthy lifestyle-low-fat diet, physical exercise, stress management, not smoking-everything that will keep your heart in fine fettle," . According to research from Yale University School of Medicine, people who practice yoga and meditation thrice a week may reduce their blood pressure and most importantly, their risk of heart disease. A great deal of other scientific evidence also supports the therapeutic effect of this age-old practice on the heart. Here are some important ones:

Controlling BP Yoga helps us cope better with stress and anxiety through blood pressure regulation. "It brings back the sensitivity of the BP-regulating nerves in patients with hypertension and keeps BP stable,".

Regulating stress hormones
"Yoga brings down the levels of stress hormones-cortisol and catecholamine's. While cortisol increases blood sugar levels, catecholamine's can lead to high BP and heart rate irregularity- both modifiable risk factors for heart disease," .

Increasing heart rate variability
In healthy individuals, heart rate variability (HRV)-the beat-to-beat changes in heart rate-is high. Whereas cardiac abnormalities lead to a low HRV, in yoga practitioners HRV is higher than in non-practitioners, according to a study published in the International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics (2010). Here are a few heart-healthy yoga asanas you can practice at home with help from a good yoga trainer.

Uttanpadasana
This asana has a therapeutic value for those suffering from diabetes, constipation, indigestion and nerve-related problems. It also corrects pancreatic malfunction and prevents hernia.

How to do it: Lie flat on your back, keeping your knees and feet together, arms by your side on the floor, palms facing downward. Breathe normally. Exhale and slowly raise both legs together until they are at a 30 to 40 degree angle from the floor. Your butt and back should rest on the ground. Exhale and slowly lower your feet to the floor to release the pose.

Make it easier: Slide arms under your hip to support the lower spine and bend the knees slightly.

Keep in mind: Do not practice this pose more than 5 times a day. Those with a spinal injury should consult their doctor before starting on this asana and do it raising just one leg at a time.

Padahastasana

This pose improves digestion and aids blood circulation in your brain.

How to do it: Stand erect with feet together. Raise your arms above your head. Inhale as you raise arms. Now bend forward, exhaling as you come down and allow your hands to touch your feet without bending your knees and ankles. Try to touch your knees with your forehead.

Make it easier: You can keep your knees slightly bent. But work on straightening the spine.

Keep in mind: Listen to your body while you stretch, else you may hurt yourself.

Paschimottanasana
This pose relieves problems of sciatica and invigorates the nervous system.

How to do it: Sit straight with your legs together, stretched out and feet pointed towards the ceiling. Inhale and stretch your arms up over your head. Exhale, extend forward from the hips and bring your hands down. Catch hold of your big toes with index fingers, pull heels with your hands and place elbows on the ground. Try to touch the knees with your forehead without bending them.

Make it easier: Do it by bending the knees slightly. If you cannot reach your feet, let your hands fall comfortably on the shins or thighs, or rest them alongside the legs on the floor.

Keep in mind: Make sure your back is straight, not rigid. Bend from the hip area. "If you have lower back pain you should avoid this pose," says yoga experts..

Matsyasana
Traditionally this asana is known as 'destroyer of all diseases'. Besides improving your respiratory faculties and relieving you of constipation, it takes away anxiety and fatigue too.

How to do it: Sit in the lotus pose by keeping the right foot over the left thigh and the left foot over the right thigh. Lie down on your back. Raise the trunk with the help of your elbows and head. Reach out to hold both toes.

Make it easier: This is not an easy pose. "If you find it difficult to sit in the lotus pose, try a simple crosslegged one," suggests.

Keep in mind: Be careful while doing this asana. Make sure you keep the abdominal muscles tucked in to protect your spine.

Easy tips for a healthy heart

Easy tips for a healthy heart

A strong heart is a result of healthy lifestyle choices. Be active and stress-free.

Today's fast-paced life and workplace pressures escalate stress levels, taking a toll on one's heart. We must realise that the healing power of the body decreases when under stress, leading to many complications like hypertension and poor immunity. Today, even youngsters are prone to heart ailments. So, it's very important to stay healthy and manage your stress levels by understanding the risk factors -- high cholesterol levels, stressful lifestyle, smoking, and lack of exercise -- following simple changes in lifestyle.

Avoid smoking

Smoking reduces life expectancy by 15-25 years. If you are a smoker, you are twice more likely to have a heart attack than a non-smoker. The moment you stop smoking, the risk of heart attack begins to reduce.  

Cut down on salt

Too much salt can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease.

Watch your diet

Try to have a balanced diet. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables, starch foods such as wholegrain bread and rice

Monitor your alcohol

Too much alcohol can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and also lead to weight gain. Avoid intake of alcohol or at least limit it to one to two units a day, gradually decreasing the consumption.

Get active

At least aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise a day. Keeping yourself fit not only benefits the heart but also improves mental health and well-being.

Monitor your BP, blood sugar and cholesterol levels

Routine medical check-ups will ring an alarm, if you need medical help.

Manage your waist

Cholesterol deposition in blood vessels begins in the first decade of life. Carrying a lot of extra weight as fat can greatly affect your health. Make small but healthy changes in your diet.

Manage your stress level

If you find things are getting on top of you, you may fail to eat properly, smoke and drink too much. This may increase your risk of a heart attack. Practice yoga/meditation. Take a vacation.

Check your family history

If a close relative is at risk of developing coronary heart disease from smoking, high BP, high cholesterol, lack of physical activity, obesity and diabetes, then you could be at risk too.

Laughter is the best therapy

Laughter anytime will work wonders for you. It is an instant way to unleash the pressure and it makes you feel light.

Source: Circle2Corner.com

Healthy food for your heart

Healthy food for your heart

Foods loaded with heart-healthy nutrients that help protect your cardiovascular system

Dietary advice for reducing heart disease risk includes eating a balanced diet with less saturated fat from red meats, more fresh fruits and vegetables, more fish, less sugar, more fiber and for many people, fewer total calories. We can reduce our chances of developing heart disease by eating a diet that is high in fruit and vegetable content. Add these foods to your diet to make your cardiovascular system more healthy

TOMATOES:

Tomatoes are packed with vitamins and lycopene, which has been shown to reduce heart disease risk. Add thick slices of tomatoes to sandwiches and salads or enjoy tomato sauce on whole wheat pasta. In fact, cooked tomato sauce and canned tomato sauce that you buy in the store both contain more lycopene than raw tomatoes. The red colour of tomatoes is due to the antioxidant lycopene, research has linked eating plenty of tomatoes, especially cooked, canned, pastes and sauces with a reduced risk of heart disease. Tomatoes are a source of antioxidant vitamins C and E, flavonoids and potassium, which may help to regulate blood pressure.

POMEGRANATE

A daily glass of pomegranate juice slows down the damage caused by cholesterol and reduces the risk of heart disease, it also reduces blood pressure and more than doubles the levels of health-boosting antioxidants in the blood.

 

 

 

PUMPKIN

Pumpkins are lavishly supplied with beta-carotene, the antioxidant which is converted to vitamin A in the body. Beta-carotene has a range of beneficial effects on the body, preventing the tissue damage caused by free radicals that can lead to heart disease, cancer and accelerated ageing. Half a cup of pumpkin provides a quarter of the recommended daily allowance of beta-carotene and a healthy dose of heart-protecting potassium.

 

FISH

Fish is an excellent source of omega-3 fatty acids that protect your heart by reducing both inflammation and the risk of blood clots. These fats also work to keep your cholesterol levels healthy. Eat salmon or other oily ocean fish like tuna, sardines or herring at least two times per week. For a heart-healthy meal, try grilled salmon steaks with a green vegetable and a side salad with a sprinkling of lemon juice instead of high-calorie salad dressing. Oily fish such as sardines are a really good source of omega 3s and sardines eaten with the dissolved bones are an incredible rich source of minerals.

BROCCOLI

Broccoli and Broccoli Sprouts belongs to the crucifer family of vegetables, They contain a number of chemical compounds including carotenoids and indoles, which inhibit the production of cancer cells. Broccoli is very rich in vitamin C - weight for weight, it contains more than an orange. It contains antioxidant vitamin E and is a good source of calcium and B2. Because broccoli is a good plant source of iron, It contains sulphoraphane - which may help protect the heart from high blood pressure,heart disease, and stroke.

AVOCADO

One cup of avocado has 23% of the recommended daily value of folate. Studies show that people who eat diets rich in folate have a much lower incidence of heart disease than those who don't. The vitamin E, monounsaturated fats, and glutathione in avocado are also great for your heart.

 

 

 

GRAPES

Eating grapes may not only please your palate; it may also improve your heart health. Grapes reduce cardiovascular risk by lowering blood pressure, improving heart function, reducing inflammation throughout the body and reducing signs of heart muscle damage.

 

 

 

 

 

 

BERRIES

Eating a diet rich in berries may help to keep your heart healthy by lowering blood pressure and increasing levels of 'good' cholesterol.Eat your fill of fresh strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. Berries (fresh or frozen) are a highly concentrated source of polyphenols, disease-fighting antioxidants also found in red wine, grapes, chocolate, and nuts.

 

 

Source: India Syndicate

HEART PATIENTS WATCH OUT - WINTER CAN BE DEADLY

 

Heart patients watch out, winter can be deadly

As the mercury dips, doctors warn that heart patients are at double the risk of suffering a cardiac attack as compared to summer.

Though winters see lesser diseases linked to breeding of bacteria and viruses, the fall in temperature poses an additional risk for those suffering from heart problems or high blood pressure.

"The risk of having a heart attack during the winter months are twice as high as in summer. And a heart attack in the winter is also more likely to be a fatal one than at any other time of year," says cardiologist.

"In winters, the peripheral blood vessels under skin constrict as an effect of the cold. This reduces the area of blood flow, resulting in higher pressure on heart to pump blood."

"The metabolism of body is also high, so is the oxygen need, cumulatively increasing the pressure on heart”.

"The heart is working against a heavy load, if the pressure in summer is 80 by 100, it may rise up to 140 by 150 in winter”.

"When the weather is cold, your heart must also work harder to maintain body heat and your arteries tighten, which restricts the blood flow and reduces the oxygen supply to your heart”.

"All these factors can trigger a heart attack, especially in the elderly or those with existing heart disease’.

Doctors add that lack of sunlight is another influential reason which explains why heart attacks occur more often during winter.

"It's a fact that less daylight in the winter can worsen mood problems, increase depression risk, and can also affect the heart”.

"Studies have looked at heart attack patients and found they have lower levels of vitamin D than healthy people”.

Flu is another factor which increases heart attack risk. "The flu is another culprit responsible for the winter surge in heart attacks.

According to doctors, some basic precautions, like avoiding dehydration, can reduce the risk. 

"Drink 10 glasses of water to keep dehydration at bay. Too much alcohol and high calorie food should also be avoided.”

"The body needs to be conditioned physically, mentally and medically to fight cold. Patients should not get exposed to cold conditions and the risks and precautions should be clear to prepare the patient”.

"A patient should remain in touch with a doctor so that any change in blood pressure and other body conditions is noticed”.

While some doctors suggest light exercise, experts warned that too much of exercise may be harmful. 

"If someone is not in the habit of exercising, they must not start exercise suddenly. For those suffering with very high blood pressure, very early morning walks must be avoided”.

"If you are diabetic, hypertensive or elderly, get an influenza shot to lower the chances of heart attack. Do keep your blood pressure in check. In case you experience giddiness or heaviness consult a doctor”.

Source: IANS

BAD FOR WOMEN’S HEARTS

JOB STRAIN IS BAD FOR WOMEN’S HEARTS

Work – Related Stress Doubles the Risk Of Heart Attack & Other Cardiac Problems

Women with high job strain are 40% more likely to suffer from cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and the need for procedures to open blocked arteries, a new study has claimed.

Job strain is a form of psychological stress defined as having a demanding job with little to no decision-making authority or opportunities to use one’s creative or individual skills.

“Our study indicates that there are both immediate and long-term clinically documented cardiovascular health effects of job strain in women,” said Michelle Albert, the study’s senior author and associate physician at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston.

“Your job can positively and negatively affect health, making it important to pay attention to the stresses of your job,”she added.

According to the researchers, who presented their findings at the American Heart Association’s scientific sessions 2010 in Chicago, apart from the stressful conditions, job insecurity, or the fear of losing job, was also associated with risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

However, it’s not directly associated with heart attacks, stroke, invasive heart procedures or cardiovascular death, the researchers said.

For their study, the researchers analyzed job strain in 17,415 healthy women who participated in the landmark Women’s Health Study.

The women were Caucasian health professionals with the average age of 57 who provided information about heart disease risk factors, job strain and job insecurity. They were followed for more than 10 years to track the development of cardiovascular disease and researchers used a standard questionnaire to evaluate their job strain and insecurity. It was found that women who reported high job strain had 40% higher risks of heart attacks, coronary artery bypass surgery or balloon angioplasty and death.

PANCREAS – TRANSPLANT

PANCREAS – TRANSPLANT BREAKTHROUGH RAISES HOPES FOR DIABETICS

SWEET SUCCESS

The Da Vinci Shdi robot’ carries out the transplant at Pisa's University Cisanello Hospital

Pisa (Italy): Italian doctors have carried out the world’s first robotically-assisted pancreatic transplant in an operation that could help diabetes sufferers everywhere, they said.

The robotically assisted operation “creates new prospects for the treatment of diabetics, because its “mini-invasive” nature strongly reduces post-operation complications, the team at the university hospital in Pisa said. The robotic technique allows surgeons to carry out the transplant through three small holes and a 7cm incision, the hospital said.

This will put an end to the decades-old dilemma of whether it’s possible to do pancreatic transplants because the operation is so invasive when done in the traditional way.” Ugo Boggi, who heads the team, said.

The transplant was carried out on a 43-years old mother of two who had suffered from the type one diabetes since she was 24 years old and had already had a kidney transplant. The patient suffered no complications from the three hour operation.

Pancreatic transplants have been very invasive until now because of the organ’s vascular structure and the fragility of diabetic patients, who in 50% of cases develop post operative problems. The medical team carried out the operation with the assistance of the “Da Vubcu SHDI robot”-a large machine with several arms – designed in the multidisciplinary Robotic Surgery center in Pisa.

HEART TALK

H E A R T T A L K

Eating smart for your heart

One of the prescribed modifications in our day-to-day habits to prevent heart disease is a change in diet. We tell you how

In the case of healthy eating, one’s overall eating patterns are more important than obsession over individual foods. No single food can make you magically healthy, so your goal should be to include a variety of healthy foods cooked in a healthy manner into your diet, and make these habits your new lifestyle. When it comes to eating, a little bit of everything is the key. Our body needs all foods in moderation. While saturated and trans fats present in foods like-puff pastries are roadblocks to a healthy heart, unsaturated fats like those present in vegetable oils, olive oil and nuts like walnuts and almonds are essential for a good heart.

Make a heart-healthy diet a part of your daily routine by eating right. You can enjoy your favorite food by learning the art of the heart-healthy toggle-a switch in the intake of food you eat. Substitute Maida products like bread, noodles and pasta with whole wheat/multigrain ones.

Make your diet rich in fibred by including various fruits, vegetables, whole grains and beans. A rough guide would be to make sure that your plate has fruits/vegetables in all colours and varieties. Give up your sugar and salt habit-add flavour to your food by using herbs and seasonings like coriander, mint and lemon juice. Adopt healthier methods of cooking, like-steaming, pressure cooking, boiling, stir frying and baking.

The biggest challenge is to overcome the odds and stick to low-fat eating while dining out at restaurants or a party. When you start out, this may seem like a mammoth task, but it is easy to learn.

• Snack sensibly before eating out
• Salad bars are helpful. But avoid creamy dressings
• Go for boiled/steamed food in place of fried foods
• Avoid second helpings even in your favorite foods
• Do not add extra sugar or salt into your food
• Choose a low fat dessert/fruit

A healthy heart is a result of a healthy lifestyle. Educating and inculcating healthy habits at home will create a healthy generation.

HEART TALK

HEART TALK

With over 35,000 heart surgeries, over 20 heart transplants and a famous and leading Doctor in Chennai has successfully put Chennai on the global heart care map. From performing the first successful coronary artery bypass surgery to the first infant cardiac surgery and the first heart-and-lung transplant, Doctor has several medical landmarks to his credit. He tells us about Chennai’s present position in cardiac care and the need for technological innovations in this discipline.

Chennai is touted as a growing medical hub. Where does the city stand in terms age groups. In the last decade, we have acquired the technical know-how to conduct both off-pump coronary heart surgery and pediatrics heart surgery.

It is popular knowledge that as Indians, we are inherently prone to heart diseases. What preventive steps should one take to address this?

Doctors and hospitals are coming forward through mass campaigns and outreach program's to create awareness about the risk factors with respect to coronary heart disease that include smoking, cholesterol, diet and lifestyle. More than cure of providing world-class infrastructure and technology in cardiac care?

Chennai is on par with any other developed country in terms of quality care and cutting edge treatment technology in cardiology. When I came to the city in 1975, I could sense it potential. Although medical tourism is fairly new diction in the field of medicine, it was a trend that was prevalent in the city during the 70s and 80s. We had patients coming all the way from Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Africa even then. As for cardiac care, whether it is bypass surgery, infant surgery, heart transplant, laser surgery or heart-and-lung transplant, the city is filled with skilled doctors and world class technology to treat patients across all prevention is Clearly the focus area. Most cases of adult heart diseases are lifestyle related. While 30% of heart failures occur due to family history and genetic factors, 70% occur due to a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. India is set to become the cardiac capital of the world. The need of the hour, as we keep stressing, is to improve the quality of life. It should be started at the grass roots level by educating children on the need to control one’s diet, exercise, meditate and de-stress. The government should also take initiatives to develop rural areas, by bringing in technology, manpower and hospitals. We do not have any registry or statistics to track down the number of people suffering from heart diseases in the country every year. It is important that the systems and processes are put in place.

Rheumatic heart disease and congenital heart disease are becoming more common in the country. Are they controllable? What about treatment for the same?

Rheumatic heart disease is a condition whereby heart valves are damaged by a streptococcal infection, such as environment, hygiene and sanitation contribute to this disease; it mainly impacts people from the lower strata of the society. Although treatment us available, it is quite costly and therefore, cannot be afforded by the weaker sections of the society where it is more widespread. It can be controlled only by practicing personal hygiene and keeping the surrounding environment clean. As for congenital heart disease, which is a condition that someone is born with, it is widespread around the world and is not something that can be prevented. We have treatments available on par with the best in the world.

What is the future of heart care in the country?

Currently, the focus is on developing cutting-edge technology at the molecular level. Tissue engineering, genetic engineering and stem cells are thrust areas of medical research. While stem cells will help regenerate damaged hearts muscles, tissues will help create artificial valves for children. Genetic engineering, on the other hand, will detect defects in the heart in advance. In five years, the heart care system in the country will be completely revolutionized.

THE NEED OF THE HOUR, AS WE KEEP STRESSING, IS TO IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE. IT SHOULD BE STARTED AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL BY EDUCATING CHILDREN ON THE NEED TO CONTROL ONE’S DIET, EXERCISE, MEDITATE AND DE – STRESS.

OBESITY

OBESITY

Obesity, Diabetes and Heart If you prevent obesity you are also preventing chronic diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart diseases: People with weight problems are at a higher risk of developing heart diseases or heart failures. Even if you are healthy, being obese poses a huge threat of having heart problems. Effects of obesity: Obesity does not only affect the heart of the persons, but also the liver and other organs People who are obese are likely to develop hypertension Obesity and heart failure: Obesity can and often does cause heart failure because the obese person’s heart is overworked Having diabetes puts you at a risk for heart disease Diabetes and heart disease: People with diabetes who have already had one heart attack are at a higher rise of having a second one Constant high blood glucose levels can lead to increased depositions of fat on the blood vessel walls which in turn may affect the blood flow, increasing the chances of being affected by atherosclerosis Tips to lose weight and keep diabetes in control: Make gradual changes in eating habits. Avoid food items with high calorie and fat content Regular aerobic exercise like brisk walking, jogging or swimming Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol in excess if you prevent obesity you are also preventing chronic diseases like diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and heart disease.