Be aware in Heart Disease

Heart disease is a general term that refers to a variety of acute and chronic medical conditions that affect one or more of the components of the heart. The heart is a muscular, fist-sized organ that is located in the left side of the chest cavity. It continuously pumps blood, beating as many as 100,000 times a day. The blood that the heart moves carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body and transports carbon dioxide and other wastes to the lungs, kidneys, and liver for removal. The heart ensures its own oxygen supply through a set of coronary arteries and veins. The heart is also an endocrine organ that produces the hormones atrial natriuretic hormone (ANP) and B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP), which coordinate heart function with blood vessels and the kidneys.

Diseases affecting the heart may be structural or functional. Anything that damages the heart or decreases the heart’s supply of oxygen, makes it less efficient, reduces its ability to fill and pump, will disrupt the coordinated relationship between the heart, kidneys, and blood vessels and will harm not only the heart but the rest of the body as well.

How to Protect the Heart

1. Don’t smoke. If you do, quit. If you don’t, do not start.
2. Have your blood pressure checked regularly. Be especially careful to make sure that the systolic blood pressure (top number) is less than 130.
3. Have your cholesterol checked every year, preferably after not eating overnight. Be especially careful to make sure your LDL (bad cholesterol) is less than 100. You would also like your HDL (good cholesterol) to be over 40 for men (50 for women) and your triglycerides (blood fat) under 150.
4. Increase the fiber in your diet. This helps fill you sooner and clean out your system.•Eat frequent but small meals
5. Consider exercising a minimum of 20 to 30 minutes every single day of the week rain or shine.
6. Keep your blood sugar under control.
7. Always keep and protect our Heart by doing good, exercise and eating habits.