Is Your Heart O.K.

I have written an article about foods for a
healthy heart with general life style tips which are useful for each and every
one of us. In this short article, I will mention some specify medical and
physiological risk factors and try to advise some solutions.


Blood Pressure


It is important to keep blood pressure
below 130/80 mmHg. Anything above 130 mmHg Systolic is high risk especially for
elderly people (over the age of 55 years). Check out my article on how to
reduce blood pressure and low blood
pressure problems for more information and guidance.


Bad Cholesterol


This is one of the well known factors
affecting heart health. It is important to reduce this

Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL) to under 100
mg/dl. Bad Cholesterol contributes to hardening arteries, restricting
blood flow and over time is a leading cause of heart problems. Some natural
foods that help in reducing bad cholesterol include Bengal Gram and Soya. Find
more information in my Heart Foods article.


Good Cholesterol


This is one of the less known factors
affecting heart health. It is suggested by doctors to keep this

High Density Lipoprotein (HDL) above 40
mg/dl (for men) and above 50 mg/dl (for women) for healthy arteries. HDL is seen
to help counteract the ill effect of LDL and help maintain healthy arteries.
However HDL below recommended levels is seen to do more harm rather than good.
Therefore it is important to get the right balance.


Control Triglycerides


It is recommended by doctors that it is
important to keep triglycerides below 150 mg/dl. This is a form of fat and
contributes to the problem with arteries causing pressure on heart.


Cholesterol levels can be checked easily
with a blood test. The results need to be evaluated by a doctor to identify
border line cases and also cases where medication is required.


Diabetes


Control of blood sugar levels is important
to maintain a healthy body and healthy heart. People with diabetes have a
significant heart risk, so it is important to maintain blood sugar levels within
control through medication. Some natural foods that also help are given in our
Diabetes Cures article.


Obesity


Obesity is asignificant risk
factor. Reduce weight if obese to reduce the risk of heart problems. Some
Diet Tips can be found here.


Smoking and Alcohol intake


Smokers have a significantly higher risk of
heart problems. It is also recommended that alcohol intake may be limited for
reduced risk. It is best not to smoke and drink only in moderation.




I hope you found the above concise write up
useful. It is really never too late to start to take control of your
health for a healthy life.

Eish scary na. . It's very useful tru friend. . Thanks