The Potential Health Benefits of Cardiac Supplements

For people with high cholesterol, or at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, there are a couple of concentrated nutritional supplements that may be helpful to aid in lowering cholesterol and prolonging the healthy life span.

The first is the unique and natural native product from China - red yeast rice. It has been used in customary medical systems from about 800 A.D. This rice is produced when white rice is fermented with (monascus purpureus) red yeast. It is said to be used first in China (more than 2800 years in the past) as food coloring agent and food preservative. The first assumed use of the recipe for making red yeast rice was in 1368-1644 - the Ming Dynasty. It was reported even at that time to boost blood circulation. There is careful production of the red yeast rice extract to prevent any citrinin presence, a by-product of the process of fermentation which is sometimes toxic. When CoQ10 is added, there appears to be further enhancement of the product to support the immune system as well as healthy cardiovascular functions.

Chinese cuisine has used red yeast rice as cardiac supplements for centuries - that is, to encourage blood circulation and reduce clotting. Asian countries use red yeast rice as a staple for diets, used in making rice wine, flavour agent, as well as to maintain the colour and flavour of meat and fish. The yeast rice develops inhibitors referred to as monacolins. These inhibitors (hydroxymethylglutaryl-CoA reductase (HMG-CoA reductase)) occur naturally. The healing properties of the red yeast rice positively affect the lipid reports of patients who are hypercholesterolemic.

The second concentrated nutrient that may be of benefit to your heart is omega-3 fatty acid. This appears to be helpful for people that are at risk of heart disease, or are currently experiencing the negative effects of heart disease. Omega-3 fatty acids appear to have an anti-arrhythmic effect, and have been shown in some research to reduce the risk of sudden death by about a half, and reduce the risk of cardiac death by a third. Modest doses are recommended because of the possible interaction with other supplements or medications a person may be taking, such as aspirin and other blood-thinning medications.

The primary side effects of red yeast rice appear to be primarily due to contaminants during production. Selecting a product from a reputable manufacturer is especially important for this supplement. The primary side effects of omega-3 fatty acids likely come from interactions with pharmaceuticals. It is important to let your physician and pharmacist know about what you are taking, so they can help you minimize any side-effects. Also, keep in mind that supplementation does not replace a healthy diet full of plant foods. Balance supplementation with a moderate diet.

REFERENCE

Ong HT, Cheah JS. Statin alternatives or just placebo: an objective review of omega-3, red yeast rice and garlic in cardiovascular therapeutics. Chin Med J (Engl). 2008 Aug 20;121(16):1588-94. PMID 18982874.

Tom Heston is the Editor of the Internet Medical Journal and developer of android medical apps.

Original article

The Right Vitamin K Nutrition Is Essential to Your Heart Health

Vitamin K nutrition is showing up in the press a lot lately. Many people are concerned they aren't getting enough.

This vitamin recently grabbed headlines because new discoveries show it has a powerful ability to add bone density to protect you from a hip fracture. Research also shows it can protect your heart by keeping the blood flowing through your arteries.

What You Need to Know About Vitamin K Nutrition

If you eat asparagus, kale and broccoli regularly, you're probably getting enough of one type of vitamin k. This is also called Vitamin K1 or Phylloquinone. It helps your blood clot.

There's a possibility you could be deficient in this vitamin if you have Chron's disease or other diseases that blocks absorption in the digestive tract. You could also be deficient if you take blood thinning drugs.
Otherwise, you probably get enough.

However, scientists say you probably don't get enough of a different type of Vitamin K. This is K2 or Menaquinone. This is important because it regulates your calcium levels.

For a century, doctors knew that people developed a strange, bone like structure lining their arteries as they aged. It was dismissed as an oddity of age until recently when doctors realized that "bone like" material was actually calcium. And it shouldn't be there.

How Eating More Cheese Can Help

A Dutch study followed over 16,000 women for 8 years. They had no coronary disease at the start of the study. They were monitored for Vitamin K1 and K2 intakes. At the end of the study, nearly 500 women had developed coronary heart disease. They had eaten less cheese, eggs and meat than the others.

Surprising isn't it? The same foods the doctors have told us to avoid just might help us increase our K2 intake.

Fermented cheese like gruyere are the best. See K2 is a fat soluble vitamin. That means it needs fat to dissolve into your body and do its work. So, fatty foods like meat and cheese can be good resources.

But don't get too excited yet.

Doctors say it's hard to get all the K2 you need from your food unless you start eating Natto. This is a Japanese food of fermented soybeans. Sources say it's a gooey, stinky substance that smells like the Japanese equivalent of limburger. It's a great source of K2 but not very popular among those who didn't grow up eating it.

So, to increase your vitamin k nutrition, you can develop a taste for Natto and eat more cheese and meat. Of course, then you risk other cardiovascular problems.

However, if you'd to make it easier on yourself and maintain a healthy diet, you can take a multi-vitamin supplement with K2.

All supplements don't have this important ingredient so you should always read the label. I have found one that combines k2 with 79 other essential vitamins. It may be the most potent multi-vitamin available. You can learn more at my website below.

Jen P. April is a passionate advocate of health and nutrition. To learn more about effective supplements she recommends after extensive research, visit http://vitamin-and-minerals.com/.

Original article

Lowering HDL Cholesterol Is Bad For Your Health

When it comes to cholesterol, there are actually two different types: the good and the bad. The good kind is called HDL and the bad is called LDL. Though many people get them confused, it is actually important to realize that lowering HDL cholesterol is not the goal. The goal is to lower LDL cholesterol. In order to understand how to lower LDL cholesterol, you must realize that this rises when you consume too much saturated fat. Your liver will produce cholesterol when it receives saturated fat and too much cholesterol can lead to many heart problems and can eventually lead to heart attacks or strokes. You will have to understand what foods are high in saturated fat so that you will be able to avoid these foods at all costs.

Butter And Dairy Products

Butter is the main culprit behind a lot of the saturated fats that you eat. You will be able to see butter in a lot of the foods that you eat and of course in the desserts. Avoid eating foods like popcorn and ice cream because these are some of the most loved foods, yet still very bad for you.

Hydrogenated Oils

Avoid all foods that have "hydrogenated oils" on the back label, as this is a warning sign to ignore this food. A lot of foods that are said to be "healthy" actually have this and it should automatically tell you that the food is not good for you. These foods will dramatically increase your bad cholesterol levels and even pull down your good cholesterol levels.

Junk Food

Junk food is full of saturated and trans fat and this is actually much worse. Most people are addicted to junk food and this is the main cause of obesity in America, as well as lowering HDL cholesterol. Combine this with video games and the Internet and you are left with millions of people living sedentary, unhealthy lives. Foods like chips, ice cream, whipped cream and anything with refined sugars are all the main causes of high cholesterol.

Instead of lowering HDL cholesterol, avoiding these foods will help you lower your bad LDL cholesterol. Also, become more active and avoid being lazy at all costs. Try to take up a new hobby and realize how important it is to exercise and feel active. If you truly want to avoid having high bad cholesterol, you must avoid all these foods and start to eat all the foods that are healthy for you. Foods like fruits and vegetables should definitely be a heavy focus of your diet. Combine that with lean meats, like fish and chicken, and you will be able to see your cholesterol levels drop naturally. Lowering your cholesterol is not impossible, but it will take commitment and perseverance to be able to stick to your diet and you must stay active. With the right determination and knowledge, you will live the healthy lifestyle that you have always wanted.

Darran Butler is a heart health and cholesterol wellness expert with a passion for showing others how to live healthy and passionate lives. He has helped countless others achieve their health objectives and lowering HDL cholesterol. For more information on Darran Butler and how he can help you, visit his site for a free report that will show you how to stay super heart healthy with ideal cholesterol at http://improvinghealthsecrets.com/

Original article

Your Heart Health Could Be at Risk During the Holidays

At this time of year with several big holidays approaching, like many of my patients, you may feel overwhelmed with too much to do and are starting to feel cranky and out of sorts. Along with all the usual responsibilities of jobs, family routines, etc, this season brings the added pressure of financial concerns from holiday spending.

In addition, friends and family that we may not have seen in a while show up in our lives again, relationship issues may become magnified, and our emotions run the gamut between joy and anger. Add those concerns to overeating high salty and fatty foods, drinking more alcohol, sleeping less, and skipping regular exercise, all of which can accompany the holiday season and we've created quite a little powder keg of stress.

It's no wonder that many heart attacks occur during the holiday season - even hospital emergency rooms have their nicknames for them: The Hanukkah Heart Attack, The Christmas Coronary, and The New Years Nuke. However, it doesn't have to be this way if you learn how to control stress, decompress from holiday pressures and practice simple, natural health. Here's how.

What's Stressing You?

Stress is a double-edged sword. It stimulates you to get through your day and actively participate in your life, helps you achieve goals and gives you the energy to do so. However, too much stress can have the opposite effect on you. It can cause muscle tension, high blood pressure, anxiety, irritability, and contribute to lack of sleep. It can also contribute to overeating, drinking, and smoking as a means to relieve stressful pressures. All this can have a bad effect on your heart.

When stress gets out of control, your adrenal glands pump out too much adrenaline that causes a feeling of anxiety. You may become restless and unable to sleep, much like the feeling you get when you've had too much caffeine. It can cause irregular heart rhythms as well as gastric upsets and inflammation that can set the stage for sudden, as well as chronic illness.

Excess adrenaline produces a stress hormone called cortisol which causes blood sugar and blood pressure to rise. It also causes us to store a lot of fat around our mid section. Chronic over-secretion of cortisol can lead to diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease, a weakened immune system, damage to arteries and the development of atherosclerosis. These chronic conditions can put you at much higher risk for a sudden heart attack during stressful conditions.

Here are some questions I ask my patients about their stress levels:

Do you feel anxious, tense, angry, and sad?Do you have muscle tension, headaches, jaw pain?Do you have an upset stomach, skin rashes, racing heart, sweaty palms?Are you having trouble sleeping?Do you feel overwhelmed about impending holidays?

If you answered yes to 2 or more of these questions, you're over your stress threshold.

How To De-Stress Your Heart

The holidays are all about our hearts - our emotional hearts are focused on dealing with friends and relatives and wanting to give our loved ones a joyful and beautiful time while having fun ourselves. Our spiritual hearts are focused on trying to embrace the spirit of the season and extending good will, time, and often money to those less fortunate. Our physical hearts are the part of us that feels the over-taxing of ourselves trying to do all these things at once. Here's what I recommend to help control the effects of all the "holiday doing" on your heart:

De-stress yourself. Include at least 30 minutes of exercise everyday which helps release harmful stress agents like adrenaline and cortisol. In addition, take at least 15 minutes just to sit and meditate quietly or go outside and take a walk through nature.
Decrease caffeine. Switch to herbal teas or ice water with lemon in it.
Watch your food intake - It's okay to sample a little bit of holiday food in small portions, but draw the line at overloading on salty foods which can drive your blood pressure up suddenly.
Get enough sleep. Many people forego sleep during these busy holidays, but that's one of the worst things you can do for your health. Even if you have to sneak off for an hour's nap here and there - your heart will thank you for it.
Accept what you cannot change. Holidays often bring together a mix of personalities and when alcohol is involved, some personalities can ignite into stressful combatants. Old and unresolved issues may arise. Take responsibility for what you can do to create harmony in these situations and accept that you can't change some things or people.
Prioritize your schedule. List what needs to be done first, second and what can be left for another day. Try to consolidate holiday shopping trips so you're not constantly running back and forth to stores, and don't wait until the last minute to shop for gifts.

Stress can lead to a whole host of diseases, particularly sudden heart attack. Taking time during the holidays to fit some needed "me-time" in, exercising, relaxing, visiting with friends and family, laughing, can go a long way in helping to control stress levels and save your heart!

I am one of the few doctors in this country who is board certified in anti-aging and am currently the Director of South Florida's Institute For Healthy Aging. With more than two decades of experience in treating thousands of patients, you could say I've seen it all. I treat a wide range of medical conditions- from cancer to obesity- and believe that natural, practical alternatives carry the day.

I believe that education is fundamental to prevention and wellness. I've partnered with other medical experts and developed an online health education site, http://www.healthyanswers.com/, which offers a wealth of natural health information, written by top physicians and medical experts.

On January 3, 2012 my natural health information site will be giving away a 6-month supply of vitamins. You can enter by "liking" us on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/healthanswers.com ) and filling out the entry form.

Original article

A Sample Low Cholesterol Diet That Will Greatly Improve Your Health

If you have been diagnosed with high cholesterol or simply want to take better care of your health to avoid future health problems, a sample low cholesterol diet can make a huge difference. Cholesterol is a substance made by our bodies and, in the right amount, is a vital part of our systems. Cholesterol is essential to every cell, but a poor diet can causes our bodies to produce way too much cholesterol which can lead to serious health problems and even death.

A high level of cholesterol is dangerous because it leads to an increased chance of heart disease and strokes. The good news is that your diet can vastly reduce cholesterol levels and will also have the added benefit of improving your overall health. A lot of health problems can be linked to poor diet. High blood pressure, digestive problems and obesity are just a few of the health conditions that can be improved with a good diet. By changing what you eat to help reduce cholesterol you will also be improving your health in many other areas.

In a few cases, genetics can play a part in causing high cholesterol. However, in most cases diet and a lack of activity are the cause. The most likely cause is the consumption of a lot of saturated fat. Even if the cause of your high cholesterol is genetic it can still be helped by improving your diet.

Saturated fat is found in junk food, cakes, red meat, eggs and dairy products, so you must reduce your intake of these types of food.

Here is a good example of a sample low cholesterol diet.

Breakfast

Whole grain cereal with almond milk. - Unsweetened cereals high in bran and whole grain are especially good. Avoid sugary of cereals. It is important to use non-dairy milk to lower cholesterol such as almond milk or rice milk.

Replace coffee with fruit juice - This will introduce more vitamins and minerals to your diet and help to reduce your blood pressure. Smoothies are excellent as they have more fibre than fruit juice. If possible blend your own to cut costs but there are some very good store brought ones. Make sure any juice you purchase is fresh juice and not a juice drink which is mainly flavored water. They are often packaged very similarly. Just be careful to not overdo fruits and juices because they contain a lot of fructose, a type of sugar that causes the body to release insulin and, ultimately, causes cholesterol to increase. 2 Slices of whole grain toast - If you use a spread look for one that is specially designed to lower cholesterol. Benecol is a good example.

Lunch

A vegetable based soup, served with whole grain bread.
Chicken salad sandwich with whole grain bread.
Serve with two portions of fruit such as strawberries, cherries or grapes.

Dinner

Grilled oily fish served with fresh vegetables and boiled potatoes. - Oily fish contains Omega 3 which actively cuts cholesterol in the body. This makes fishes, such as mackerel, a very good food to include in a low cholesterol diet.

During the day it is good to drink plenty of water and green tea which are very good for your health. If you are hungry, choose snacks such as walnuts, pistachio nuts, pumpkin and sunflower seeds. A good guide is to choose as many different colors of fruit and vegetables as possible.

If you apply these tips for a single day sample low cholesterol diet to your every day diet you will soon benefit from an improvement in your cholesterol level and blood pressure. This will vastly reduce your risk of serious illnesses. It is also a good idea to introduce some light exercise to your lifestyle, you should consult with your doctor on the level of exercise that is right for you as it will depend on the seriousness of your condition.

Darran Butler is a heart health and cholesterol wellness expert with a passion for showing others how to live healthy and passionate lives.  He has helped countless others achieve their health objectives and, specifically, create a sample low cholesterol diet.  For more information on Darran Butler and how he can help you, visit his site for a free report that will show you how to stay super heart healthy with ideal cholesterol at http://improvinghealthsecrets.com/

Original article

Chocolate Health Benefits May Prevent A Stroke

Just two bars of chocolate per week is all it takes, according to some new research out of Sweden, for a woman to bring down her stroke and possibly prevent a stroke. This latest work builds on earlier findings in both men and women, but also provides us with some new information on stroke type and chocolate health benefits.

A team of researchers from Sweden examined 33,372 subjects taking part in a large study who were from 49 to 83 years old, for a period of ten years that ended in 2008.

The participants completed questionnaires about how regularly they ate chocolate along with 95 other foods throughout the previous year. The subjects were broken into 8 categories depending on how much chocolate they ate. The categories ranged from an astonishing "never" to a far more reasonable "3 or more each day."

Throughout the follow-up period, 1,549 strokes took place, and of that number, 1,200 were brought on by clots or another disturbance of the blood vessels. Burst vessels caused another 224, and the reason for the last 125 was not specified. But even after making an adjustment for stroke risk factors, the team saw that chocolate was protective. This may be because it helps to lower blood pressure, a major risk factor for stroke.

Stroke protection began at over 45 grams (almost 1.5 ounces) of chocolate a week, the group that ate the largest volume chocolate got the greatest benefit, cutting their stroke risk by 20%. The average intake in this group was almost 2.3 ounces of chocolate per week. And while earlier studies have shown a link between chocolate eating and stroke risk, this project uncovered a small difference in the protection in terms of the type of stroke.

The subjects who consumed the highest volume of chocolate had a greater protection from strokes due to hemorrhage than those brought on by obstructions like blood clots. No one is sure why this difference in protection might be.

Chocolate, besides tasting divine, is loaded with beneficial flavonoids that are a natural part of the cocoa and act as antioxidants once inside the body. They help protect our cells from free radical damage that can be especially troublesome for the cardiovascular system.

An intriguing quirk of nature means chocolate has eight times the antioxidants that are a natural part of strawberries.

Also important, the study used Swedish milk chocolate and this variety has around 30% cocoa solids, while the milk chocolate usually found in the U.S. probably has much less than this amount. Dark chocolate naturally has higher amounts of cocoa and is lower in sugar, lower in fat and has fewer calories as well.

What's more, only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is known to be bad for you.

This is just another bit of research that finds chocolate health benefits, but before you tuck in, make a wise and informed choice in order to get the benefits (without the nasty calories, adding pounds) to your body. Many experts recommend chocolate with a minimum 70% cocoa, based on earlier research that found the higher concentration of cocoa lowers the risk of heart disease and may prevent a stroke.

FREE Bonus Secret Health Reports - For a limited time you can grab 5 FREE essential health reports from the Daily Health Bulletin. Click through now to discover more top tips to help prevent a stroke.

Original article

Tips On How To Optimize Your Heart Health

The heart is the body's most hardworking muscle. It never stops working. Unfortunately, cardiac disease is one of the leading causes of mortality in the entire globe. The mere fact that most of us live with very stressful lifestyles and with many things to think about, often times results in us losing time and effort in taking the best care for our health. Here we listed some tips on how to take care of our heart health. Some are actually just common sense and we already are aware of these but they are often taken for granted.

EAT HEALTHY

Eating 4 to 5 servings of fresh fruits and vegetables daily keeps the doctor away. These essential foods will not only help you to cut down your calorie intake but they also contain loads of vitamins, minerals and fiber that are important in order for us to keep a healthy heart. However, if you think your present diet lacks some of these essential nutrients consider taking supplements as an alternative.

For you to control your rising cholesterol levels and high blood pressure you have to eat whole grains. These kinds of food are high in fiber and have low fat and loads of vitamins that will help you lower down the figures. Studies show that by eating at least three servings per day can lessen your risk for cardiovascular disease, obesity and diabetes. You can jump-start your day by eating whole grain cereals or oatmeal. Studies also show that a diet rich in Omega-3, garlic and olive oil will help reduce heart ailment risks.

Hydrate yourself. Drink at least 8 glasses of water per day. This will actually help you in two ways. First, it helps you lose or maintain your weight. Sometimes the body confuses dehydration with hunger thus; dehydration will lead you to eating a lot more than you usually take in. Secondly, it helps you reduce the viscosity of your blood. Basically, thicker blood strains your heart because it will need to pump a lot harder in order for your blood to reach various areas of your body. By keeping yourself hydrated, you can help in taking care of your heart health.

REGULAR EXERCISE

Like all other muscles, the heart needs to be exercised. Exercise is an essential part of heart health. Aerobic exercises are the best form of exercise that you could do for your heart. This includes bicycling, walking, dancing and swimming. Always keep in mind that when you try to pick an exercise program always think of what you enjoy doing. If you enjoy what you do, it will not be hard for you to stick with it.

The recommended time for exercise is at least 30 minutes, three to four times a week. If you are a newbie, you have to take things gradually. Do not pressure yourself in doing exercises you know you are not ready for yet. It will have to take time and you will eventually be ready for it after a few weeks or days. Exercising regularly can help control cholesterol levels and blood pressure and will make your heart stronger.

SLEEP WELL

A lot of people sacrifice sleep just to finish a task. Lack of sleep can actually lead to the worsening of blood pressure and cause cholesterol levels to rise up. Try to sleep at least 6-8 hours per night so that you will be able to keep your heart stronger.

STOP SMOKING

If you smoke, it is beneficial for you to talk to your doctor and search for a way on how to quit. Smoking increases your chances of acquiring heart diseases. The amount of blood that flows to the heart is increased by nicotine thus decreasing the amount of blood that is needed to flow to the other parts of the body.

The heart needs to be taken good care of. We have shared you tips on how to optimize your heart health. We hope you, too, will start taking good care of your heart.

Click here to get more info about heart health today.

Original article

3 Ways to Improve Your Heart Health

Heart: Size of a fist, strongest muscle in the body, a marvellous system that starts beating about three weeks after conception but vulnerable! Vulnerable to damage from things that we do or may be born with a heart condition.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is biggest killer in both men and women globally. Globally, 17.1 million lives are claimed every year accounting for 29% of all deaths caused by CVD, making it world's number one killer. In Australia, it accounted for 34% of all deaths in 2008. Cardiovascular disease kills one Australian nearly every 11 minutes as per national heart foundation. It remains one of the biggest burdens on our economy.

Sadly a disease that can be mostly prevented is number one killer of loved ones globally.

In developed countries, the main underlying problem is atherosclerosis. This is a condition that forms abnormal build-ups of fat, cholesterol and other substances in the inner lining of the arteries (plaque). It is most serious when it affects the blood supply to the heart (causing angina or heart attack) or to brain (which can lead to stroke). The process leading to atherosclerosis is slow and complex, often starting in childhood, and it progress with age.

What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease is disease and conditions of heart (cardio) and blood vessels (vascular disease) including heart attack and stroke. It is a broad term used for heart, stroke and blood vessel diseases and any system that has heart at its centre. There are many groups of cardiovascular disease, some of them are:

Rheumatic heart disease - It is a type of heart disease caused by one or more attacks of rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever usually occurs in childhood. It may follow a streptococcal infection that may affect the heart, particularly the heart valves, weakening the heart muscle, or damaging the sac enclosing the heart.

Congenital heart disease - It is a heart defect present at birth. It can be caused by adverse exposures during pregnancy or genetic factors but mostly the cause is unknown.

Hypertensive heart disease - High blood pressure can overburden heart and blood vessels, thereby causing hypertensive heart disease. It may be of unknown origin, known as primary hypertension or secondary to a specific diseases or infections.

Ischemic heart disease - Ischemic heart disease is sometimes commonly referred as coronary heart disease. It is caused by narrowing of the blood vessels supplying the heart muscles. Therefore, blood supply to the heart is decreased and may cause conditions like angina, heart attack, sudden death.

Cerebrovascular disease (stroke) - Commonly known as cerebrovascular accident (CVA) or stroke is the brain equivalent to a heart attack. It is the result of an impeded blood supply to some part of the brain.

Inflammatory heart disease - Inflammatory heart disease may be caused following an infection or by a toxin or may be of an unknown origin. It may affect the heart muscle (myocarditis), the membrane sac (pericarditis), the inner lining of the heart (endocarditis) or the myocardium (heart muscle).

Is cardiovascular disease preventable?

Cardiovascular disease is mostly preventable. Some people are born with condition that predisposes them to heart disease and stroke but most people who develop cardiovascular disease is due to combination of one or more risk factors.

There are many risk factors associated with coronary heart disease and stroke. The major risk factors include smoking, alcohol use, high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, obesity and overweight, physical inactivity, unhealthy diets, high glucose levels (diabetes), physical inactivity to name a few. The more risk factors you expose yourself to, the higher the chance of developing cardiovascular disease.

The role of diet is crucial in the development and prevention of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Diet is a key modifiable risk factor for CVD.

Most heart disease is preventable, and risks can be reduced by lifestyle changes such as increasing physical activity, choosing healthy eating habits (food options), saying no to smoking, to name just three.

Economic Impact

Cardiovascular disease is expensive and cost billions of dollars around the world. The economic implications could be vast. It is felt as cost to the country's health as well as loss of income and production of those affected either directly by the disease and as caregivers to those with cardiovascular disease, who cease to work.

Cardiovascular disease is also one of the leading causes of disability, with around millions of people estimated to have disability associated with cardiovascular conditions.

It affects one in five Australians, and affects two out of three families.

Can we help to reduce the burden?

Simple answer is YES we can help! Cardiovascular disease is mostly preventable. Simple steps like:
heatlhy eating habitsincreasing physical activitystop smoking

... to name three can be anyone's starting point.

There is no dollar figure that could be associated to the loss of loved ones. So, do not let your loved ones get affected by it.

Nations around the world feel the burden of cardiovascular disease.

So, why not take the responsibility and make a commitment to change the way we live and help ourselves, family, friends and future generations towards a healthy heart...

There is a heart that keeps us alive...so let's help to keep it alive!

About Author:

Dr Hemani Thukral is Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. She received her degree in 1995 from Maulana Azad Medical College, a highly reputed and a prestigious institution in India. Dr Hemani practiced medicine in India as a resident doctor in multi-specialty hospitals and worked closely with the healthcare system. Through her years of experience in medicine, she has deep knowledge and understanding of health-care, quality, patient care, safety.

Dr Hemani Thukral founded MyMedicalChoices (http://www.mymedicalchoices.com.au/) in 2007. A medical tourism company based in Australia. MyMedicalChoices is committed to deliver excellence in overseas medical treatment (commonly known as medical tourism). Dr Hemani laid the foundation of company based on Quality, Trust and Savings! She has appeared on national TV several times as an expert on medical tourism.

Dr Hemani also worked in world's largest consulting company as an Information Technology security specialist. An exceptional combination of professional backgrounds, special academic interest in healthcare and quest to help are her key strengths.

Original article