If being overweight clogs arteries, losing that weight can also help to unclog them, this new study has suggested. It has been seen that atherosclerosis can actually be reversed by weight loss, and not just slowed down.

People of middle age with diabetes and heart disease were examined in the study. They were seen to lose more than 12 pounds over a two year period which was seen to reduce the amount of plaque deposits that had been clogging their arteries. The deposit not only stopped accumulating, they actually were seen to reduce.

And there is more good news. It does not matter what diet you use or which method of weight loss you use.  So long as you lose the weight you can reap the benefits of a healthier body and lower risk of obesity related disease. Earlier studies that examined atherosclerosis used powerful drugs whereas this one relied solely on weight loss that resulted from diet control.

Source: CNN

It is no surprise then that people who want to live longer and healthier begin by eating heart healthy recipes to ensure that their heart is always in good working condition.

Just because we are always conscious about fatty build ups in visible areas of our body like our thighs, tummy, and arms doesn’t mean we have to consider these areas first when choosing the right foods to eat. The hearts is still the most important organ of the body.

Today, you can easily look for heart healthy recipes. They are found in cookbooks, health magazines, and even online. They feature recipes from all over the world which are all designed to keep the heart strong and healthy.

One thing these heart healthy recipes have in common is the fact that they all use ingredients that are good for the heart.

Most common ingredients in heart healthy recipes

1. Fish

Compared with other meat products out there, fish is more preferred in heart healthy recipes. They are rich in omega 3-fatty acids proven to lower the risk of cardiovascular diseases.

They also prevent inflammation and blood clot. Tuna, salmon, and sardines are just some of the most common varieties of fish you have to eat at least three times a week.

2. Fruits

Heart healthy recipes are nothing without the inclusion of fresh fruits like apples, berries, oranges, mangoes, grapes, and bananas. Fruits contain soluble fibers which can lower bad cholesterol.

They are also rich in vitamins that can boost the immune system. Moreover, they are packed with nutrients like lycopene, carotene, and phytochemicals that protect the heart from harmful ailments and fight the growth of cancer cells.

3. Vegetables

Green leafy vegetables like cabbage, broccoli, and spinach are good sources of vitamin E and folate. They provide the body with nutrients for healthier cells, better memory, and stronger immune system. They go well with heart healthy recipes like garden salads and soups.

4. Nuts

If you are fond of eating chips and candies, switch to nuts. Almonds, peanuts, walnuts, and pistachios are just some of the nuts found in heart healthy recipes. They are rich in healthy oils, vitamin E, protein, and fiber.

5. Legumes

If meat is not an option, substitute with legumes like beans, peas, and lentils. They are excellent sources of protein and have lower fat content.

6. Whole grains

You can also find whole grains in heart healthy recipes. They contain fibers that naturally rid the body of harmful toxins. Further, they have less fat and packed with vitamins for a healthy heart.

7. Olive oil

Heart healthy recipes also include frying. However, you can’t just use any oil. Olive oil is the best choice since it contains monounsaturated fatty acids, phenols, vitamin E, carotenoids, carbolic acid, and chlorophyll. These nutrients are essential in lowering bad cholesterol level and fighting cardiovascular diseases like heart attack and stroke.

According to this write up, one third of women will die from cardiovascular disease which is the No1 killer in the country.  Another shocking statistic: Ninety percent of women have one or more risk factors for developing heart disease.

Wear red day is meant to talk about cardiovascular disease, making people aware of its risks, and celebrating those who have managed to come out of it unscathed.

While there is little one can do about one’s genes (we can pick our friends not our parents after all) we can do all that we can about eating right, exercising,  cutting out smoking and cutting down on drinking.

It is also important to get regular checkups and be honest with the doctor. Don’t be either brave or scared, do what is required to be done for cardiovascular health. If tests and follow-ups are required, get those done. This is not about later, or I don’t have the time.

Symptoms to be watching out for: chest discomfort is the most obvious, then there is breaking out into a cold sweat and experiencing shortness of breath, nausea, and pain in the back or jaw.  This is not a message just for the overweight, or just men or just women; everyone fat or thin needs to get on board.

waist circumference and body mass index are known risk factors for heart diseases, but the Dutch researchers found that BMI and waist size can actually help predict the risk of developing heart disease.

Ineke van Dis, who led the study, said that the impact of obesity on the burden of cardiovascular disease will be even greater in the near future.

Source: Reuters

Endocarditis can be serious and even with aggressive treatment or removal of implanted device, the mortality rate with this particular cardiac infection could be as high as one in five.

Mayo clinic researchers designed a new teachable software that mimics human brain is helpful to diagnose cardiac infections without any invasive exams. The software program is named as “artificial neural network” (ANN) as it mimics the cognitive function of brain and reacts accordingly to accumulate knowledge.

M. Rizwan Sohail, M.D., a Mayo Clinic infectious diseases specialist and leader of the study, says that if this specific novel method can help us to determine the percentage of cardiac infections, hopefully it saves significant number of patients’ discomfort from standard diagnostic procedures.

Source: Mayo Clinic

According to research presented at European Society of Cardiology meeting in Barcelona, people taking dabigatran etexilate, made by German pharmaceutical Boehringer Ingelheim were also at risk to have heart attacks or other side-effects like stomach pain.

Warfarin, which has been around since 1950s, has certain side effects like bleeding risks and requires lifestyle changes like dietary restrictions.

A new research on dabigatran, sold as Pradaxa in 40 countries to prevent blood clots, has found that risk of stroke is reduced even further to about 0.10 percent every year. So, doctors hope that the new drug can help improve treatment for patients with heart diseases.

Source: The Associated Press

There was a 12 percent reduction in heart failure among those who ate fatty fish only once per week.

Men who consumed between .32 and .40 grams of omega 3 fatty acids per day had the lowest risk overall.

Fatty fish include herring, salmon, mackerel, sardines, albacore tuna, char and whitefish. Other natural food sources of omega 3 fatty acids include walnuts, beans, olive oil, flax seed and winter squash.

Omega 3 fatty acids are a part of the healthy diets of all persons, even those who are not at risk for heart disease. The American Heart Association recommends two servings of fatty fish each week.

Omega 3 fatty acids may also help individuals who have rheumatoid arthritis because of their anti-inflammatory properties, and may reduce the risk of stroke.

There is some evidence that consuming omega 3 fatty acids can also help prevent high blood pressure, and improve brain function and immunity.

There is firm evidence that a diet that contains adequate amounts of omega 3 fatty acids can not only prevent a first heart attack, but can also prevent a second heart attack.

Study author Dr. Carl J. Lavie, medical director of cardiac rehabilitation and prevention at the Ochsner Clinic in New Orleans, says ” a lot of individuals know that omega 3 fatty acids are a good thing, but have thought of them in the list of healthy and nutritional foods.”

Many people are unaware of the amazing benefits of omega 3 fatty acids in prevention and treatment of many heart diseases such as atrial fibrillation, heart failure, heart attack and also atherosclerosis.

Read more at HealthDay

According to the study reports, more youngsters in U.S. are not getting enough amounts of vitamin D and that deficiency may put them at risk of developing life threatening heart diseases.

The lead author of the reports revealed the simultaneous publication of the both papers most recently in an online edition of pediatrics.

Both surveys used U.S. data from the 2001-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, and both were initiated because of a lack of information about the possible effects of low vitamin D levels on cardiovascular risk in young people.

Read more at HealthDay

The study’s lead author, Marcus Hacker, M.D., resident physician in the department of Nuclear Medicine, said “Independent of the patient’s sex , age and other coronary risk factors, amount of calcium in the coronary vessels is of high predictive value for subsequent serious or fatal heart attack”.

Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease. According to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, it is the leading cause of death in the U.S. for both men and women, killing more than 500,000 Americans each year.

Source: Radiological Society of North America