Divorce Women

Image Credit : http://www.lng.jetzt/

So it turns out women who are divorced are at more risk of having heart attacks, even if they remarry, than those who are continuously married.

According to the new study by Duke Medicine, a woman who has been through two or more divorces is nearly twice as likely to have a heart attack when compared to their stably-married female peers.

Study's lead author and associate professor Matthew Dupre, Ph.D., said that the study was one of the first to look at the cumulative effect of divorce over a long period, and they found that it could have a lasting imprint on people's health.

The findings were based on the responses of a nationally representative group of 15,827 people ages 45 to 80 who had been married at least once. Participants were interviewed every two years from 1992 to 2010 about their marital status and health. About one-third of participants had been divorced at least once during the 18-year study.

Although men are generally at higher risk for heart attack, it appears women fared worse than men after divorce, although the differences were not statistically significant. Men who had been divorced had about the same risk as those who stayed married. It was only after two or more divorces that the risk for men went up, the study found.

The study also found that men who remarried also fared better than women. These men experienced the same risk of heart attack as men who had been married continuously to one partner.

The study is published in Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes. 

Article Credit : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/

Heart Disease

Heart attacks and cardiac arrests can take away loved ones in an instant. The best way is to prevent such unfortunate and tragic otucomes is to keep a constant check on heart health. Heart disease must be detected well in advance, before it can cause damage. One way to do this is to lower cholesterol and reduce unnecessary fats in the body. But heart diseases also affect people who are 'slim' or who have no history of heart problems in the family. Just like any other disease and sickness, there are ways to judge if you will suffer a heart attack and there are signs that you can watch out for in others around you. These are the top 10 signs of heart problems

Sign of Heart Problems #1

Tiredness and weakness

Everyone feels tired at the end of the day, but if you are literally dead exhausted then you should check with your physician, he will perform other tests to help you pin point the problem. If this kind of fatigue persists, it could be leading to the final day.

Another way to spot heart problems is weakness. If you are weak to the bone where you can barely get out of bed then there might be a chance that you may suffer a heart problem.

Sign of Heart Problems #2

Discomfort in the chest

This is actually the main symptom or sign to detect heart problem. Women are more likely to experience chest pain followed by a heart attack. Chest discomfort is associated with clogged or narrow arteries which prevents the blood to flow to other parts of the body. This lack of supply of blood can cause heart problems. Blocked arteries also cause numbness and weakness in the body.

Sign of Heart Problems #3

Sweating

What makes you sweat? Summer, hot bodies, workouts and intense activities creates sweat patches. But if you start to sweat if you are not doing anything, like sitting on the couch then you should be concerned. Sweating is generally accompanied by discomfort, numbness and pain in other parts of the body.

Sign of Heart Problems #4

Dizziness

Dizziness is associated with ear infection, low blood pressure or motion sickness. But if you feel dizzy or light headedness then it could be a sign of heart problem. Dizziness and heart problems are linked when the pulse is irregular or rapid or slow. This erratic pulse induces dizziness.

Sign of Heart Problems #5

Nausea

Nausea is the biggest symptom of food poisoning. But if you experience some of the other symptoms of heart problem and nausea you may want to rush to the hospital. People tend to throw up before they suffer a heart attack.

Your stomach too goes for a toss when your abdomen swells during this period. The swelling of the stomach makes to lose your appetite too. But more or swelling later.

Sign of Heart Problems #6

Anxiety

It is believed that people who survived a heart attack have experienced tension or a feeling that you are going to die. But it could well be linked to psychological anxiety and stress.

Sign of Heart Problems #7

Body pain

Earlier we had mentioned about chest pain, this pain can travel to other parts of the body. Generally, men experience pain in the left arm while women can experience pain in both the arms. The pain can be experienced at the shoulders, jaw, elbow, back or neck; this pain tends to go and come. Body pain is due to clogged and blocked arteries.

Sign of Heart Problems #8

Irregular pulse

When you experience other heart disease symptoms along with erratic pulse you may want to get your self tested immediately to avoid fatal consequences. Irregular heart beat is mainly due to thickening of heart muscles or due to valvular heart disease. Valvular heart disease may be caused by narrowing to the valves, leaking or if the valve doesn’t close properly.

Sign of Heart Problems #9

Shortness of breath

There are several reasons why you could experience shortness of breath, in terms of the heart:

- Thickening of blood vessels is one of the major causes of shortness of breath. This causes lack of supply of blood to the body.

- Irregular heart beat

- Heart defects

- Thickening of heart muscles

- Heart infection

- Valvular heart disease

Sign of Heart Problems #10

Swelling

Swelling is caused when fluid accumulates in the body which is a sign of heart problems. Swelling is generally experienced in the legs, ankle and stomach. Swelling is a sign of heart defects or thickening of the heart muscles; it is also attributed to valvular heart disease.

Image and Article Credit: http://healthmeup.com 

Food for Healthy Heart

Apples: An apple a day keeps the doctor away: a very clichéd saying but very true. Phytochemicals, present in apples, act as an anti-inflammatory and also prevent the blood from clotting. It is also high on fibres and vitamins. An apple also makes the perfect snack for someone who is always on the go. Plus it is available in different varieties, so you might not get bored of it soon. Add a few chopped pieces of apple in your Greek salad making it healthier.

Almonds: Have you been avoiding nuts for the oil they contain? If yes, then bring it back to your plate because this oil is actually healthy for your heart. The Vitamin E that almonds contain helps in keeping your cholesterol level under control. Like apples, almonds are also high on fibre and Vitamin content. Again a perfect 5 PM snack. Add to your heart's health by eating 4–5 soaked almonds each morning with your breakfast.

Soy: Soy is not a very tasty option but it's really good for your heart. Soy protein can prevent you from having a stroke. It is also a great replacement for the red meat that you've been trying to cut on. This will help in reducing the intake of saturated fats. Add a few chunks of soy to your rice or stir fry it with your veggies. You can also use soy milk as a substitute for regular milk, for making milk shakes and with your morning cereal.

Berries: Strawberries, cranberries, blueberries, mulberry, huckleberry, gooseberry and all the other berries are a pack load of vitamin C. With so many flavours you can possibly never get bored of eating berries. Apart from vitamin C they also contain calcium and beta-carotene. These fibrous fruits are perfect with breakfast oats or with yogurt. Out of all these berries blueberry has the most nutrients that will keep your heart healthy.

Salmon: Your heart will love you for the fresh salmon you have and so will your taste buds. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids. This will help your blood from clotting. It is suggested that you should eat fish (sea food) atleast twice a week for a healthy heart. Opt for grilled fish and avoid spicy seasoning. You can also add a dash of lime to it for an excellent flavour and add it to your green salad.

Tomatoes: Tomatoes contain lycopene (a phytochemical) that is known to lower cholesterol, cut risk of colorectal cancer and heart disease. Studies show that men who regularly eat food rich in lycopene have lesser chances of developing prostate cancer and heart disease. You might want to start enjoying tomato sauce as it has more lycopene. Cooked tomato works much better on your body that raw ones. So start adding it to your vegetables and salads.

Green leafy vegetables and olive oil are vital for maintaining a healthy heart. One serving of leafy greens a day can be key to preventing heart disease. So add them in plenty to your daily diet!

Whole Grain: Starting the day with whole-grain cereal may lower the risk of heart failure in the long run, as whole grains protect against coronary heart disease.

Oats: Start your day with a bowl of oats! Oats are full of fibre, omega-3 fatty acids, folate, and potassium, and can help lower cholesterol levels and keep arteries clear.

Brown rice: may be a better choice over white because it has an ingredient that protects against high blood pressure and atherosclerosis. It is also a good source of fibre and helps lower cholesterol levels in the body.

Red Wine: And last, but not the least, ditch your beer and whiskey and say cheers with wine. Antioxidants in red wine called polyphenols may help protect the lining of blood vessels in your heart.

Image and Article Credit: http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/photos/foods-for-a-healthy-heart-slideshow/foods-for-a-healthy-heart-photo-1339565106.html