Numerous diets have been recommended over the years. Heart-healthy diet books are available including Esselstyn’s “Prevent and Reverse Heart Disease”, Campbell’s “China Study” and Sears “Zone Diet”.

These diets promote hormonal balance, lower cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and promote healthy weight loss. They may also be beneficial in type II diabetes, as the foods promote more stable blood sugar levels.

While the foods recommended by the different sources vary, possibly due to personal tastes, there are some commonalities.

Foods to Avoid

Although Esselstyn’s diet is plant-based and most of the others focus heavily on fruits and vegetables, there are some plant foods that should be avoided.

According to the Mayo Clinic, you should avoid:

Coconut (high in saturated fats) § Vegetables with creamy sauces (creamed corn, creamed peas, etc.) § Fried or breaded vegetables (French fries, onion rings, etc.) § Canned fruit packed in heavy syrup (because of the added sugars) § Frozen fruits with added sugars

Grains are plant-based foods, but refined grains should be avoided, because of their effects on blood sugar levels and their high calorie content. Combination foods such as cakes and pies are high both in refined grains and added sugars.

Some foods to avoid:

White bread Muffins Frozen waffles Doughnuts Biscuits Granola bars

The diet should be low in total fat. Esselstyn recommends the near elimination of beef, pork, turkey, chicken and other meats. Some diets are less restrictive, but there is a general agreement that meat is a big problem, because of the saturated fat.

Cheese is another problem food. It is the largest source of saturated fat in the American diet. Saturated fats raise cholesterol levels.

There is agreement that trans-fats should be eliminated. They are listed on food labels as partially hydrogenated oils. Vegetable shortening and lards are examples of trans-fats.

Foods to Eat

Fish, as long as it is baked or grilled, can be eaten in nearly unlimited quantities and can be used to replace meat in the diet.

All raw fruits and vegetables are good choices.

Berries are particularly healthy because of all the antioxidants they contain. Antioxidants may help prevent the oxidation of fats in the bloodstream.

Yogurt may be beneficial, because of the probiotics it contains. Probiotics help to balance gut flora, which makes your digestive system more efficient. Some studies suggest the food keeps your gums healthy, too.

Unlike refined grains, whole grains help to keep your arteries clear. They contain soluble fiber that absorbs cholesterol from foods and that produced by your liver. Cholesterol leaves the liver and enters the digestive system. If it is not carried away as waste with soluble fiber, it can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. Oatmeal and brown rice are good choices.

The healthiest fats include those found in fish like salmon, those in olive oil and those in nuts. As you can see, there are plenty of foods to choose from and this is only a short list. You just may need some new recipe books for your heart disease diet.

The post Heart Disease Diet – Foods to Eat – Foods to Avoid appeared first on HealthPlace.com.

Coronary or Ischemic Heart Disease

Symptoms include chest pain upon exertion, during cold weather and in emotional situations. A heart attack, which is severe chest pain not relieved by rest, is sometimes the first symptom. Difficulty breathing, swelling in the hands or feet and heart burn are other possible symptoms.

Cardiomyopathy

Chest pain may be noticed, but this type is frequently without symptoms. Arrhythmias or irregular heartbeat may be noticed.

Hypertensive Heart Disease

pressure is high by visiting your doctor. There are also blood- pressure checking machines in many pharmacies.

Heart failure or Congestive Cardiac Failure

The term heart failure leads many people to believe that the heart is not working at all, when in fact it is functioning. It is failing.

The symptoms include:

–      Difficulty breathing/shortness of breath

–      Irregular heartbeat

–      Chronic cough due to excess fluid in the lungs

–   Fatigue

–      Swelling in the feet, ankles and lower legs

–      Swelling or bloating in the abdomen

Dysrhythmias

People often notice dysrhythmias. Heart palpitations may be frequent, infrequent or continuous. If the heartbeat is too fast, too slow or too weak to supply the body’s needs, symptoms of lightheadedness, fainting or dizziness may occur.

Endocarditis, Cardiomegaly and Myocarditis

The symptoms of these depend on the degree of inflammation. If an infection is present, fever and other symptoms of the infection may be present. Palpitations may be noticed. The symptoms of congestive heart failure may occur, as the inflammation can lead to cardiac failure.

Valvular Heart Diseases

Valvular heart diseases do not cause symptoms unless they are quite serious. The diseases are usually detected during routine physical exams when doctors hear a “murmur”.

Cerebrovascular Disease; Embolisms/Aneurisms

Embolisms and aneurisms may not cause symptoms until a stroke occurs. Severe headache is the most common symptom of a stroke. Confusion is another. Loss of consciousness sometimes occurs, but is rare. Visual disturbances and temporary blindness may occur. Other symptoms vary depending on which area of the brain is affected, but weakness and unsteadiness are usually present.

The post What Symptoms of Heart Disease? appeared first on HealthPlace.com.

Coronary or Ischemic Heart Disease

The coronary or ischemic type is usually caused by atherosclerosis, the causes of which are described in some detail below. It is the most common type of heart disease.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy may be intrinsic, which is defined as weakness in the heart’s muscle not due to an identifiable external cause. The condition may be genetic, acquired or a combination.

Acquired cardiomyopathy may be caused by stress. One type is referred to as broken heart syndrome, because it can occur after the death of a loved one or after a breakup.

Another type of cardiomyopathy is caused by a worm. The worm causes thickening or fibrosis of portions of the heart.

The extrinsic type is an ischemic disease which is caused by poor oxygen supply to the heart’s muscle. Extrinsic cardiomyopathy can be caused by metabolic disorders, inflammation, endocrine disorders, diabetes or hyperthyroidism, exposure to toxins, alcohol abuse, nutritional deficiencies, muscular dystrophy or atherosclerosis.

Hypertensive Heart Disease

The hypertensive type is caused by hypertension or high blood pressure. Hypertension may be caused by another disease, such as hyperthyroidism or Cushing’s syndrome. It can also be caused by obesity, sleep apnea, pregnancy, prescription medications, illicit drugs, herbal remedies and even excessive liquorish consumption.

Primary hypertension is the more common type and is caused by a combination of genetic variations, lifestyle and diet.

Heart failure or Congestive Cardiac Failure

The most common causes of heart failure include ischemic heart disease, cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, obesity, diabetes and valvular diseases. Obstructive sleep apnea is another cause that has been identified, although the cause of obstructive sleep apnea may be obesity, diabetes or high blood pressure. Rarely, the condition is caused by a viral infection such as HIV, diseases of connective tissues such as lupus, arrhythmias, alcohol abuse, drug abuse or prescription drugs.

Cor Pulmonale, in which only the heart’s right vertical becomes enlarged and inefficient, may be caused by high blood pressure in the longs, COPD, pulmonary embolism, trauma, surgery, obstructive sleep apnea, altitude sickness, sickle cell anemia, birth defect or pneumonia.

Dysrhythmias

Dysrhythmias may be caused by drugs, cigarette smoking or caffeine and are not always life threatening. Sometimes, however, a sudden change in heart rhythm brings on a cardiac arrest.

Endocarditis, Cardiomegaly and Myocarditis

Endocarditis may be caused by infection such as rheumatic fever or certain kinds of cancer. Cardiomegaly may be caused by hypothyroidism, obesity, dwarfism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, radiation exposure, sickle-cell disease, tumors or drugs.

Myocarditis may be caused by viral, bacterial, fungal or parasitic infections. It can occur as a result of drug use or rejection of a heart transplant. Other causes include electric shop, radiation, allergic reaction, toxins, heavy metals and drugs.

Valvular Heart Diseases

Valvular heart diseases may be caused by birth defects, rheumatic fever, age-related calcification, hypertension, diabetes, infection, trauma or illness.

Cerebrovascular Disease; Embolisms/Aneurisms

Cerebrovascular diseases are caused by embolisms or aneurisms. High blood pressure, smoking, obesity and diabetes are the main causes, but embolisms and blood clots sometimes occur for no identifiable reason.

Peripheral Arterial Disease

The most common cause of peripheral artery disease it type II diabetes. Smoking cigarettes, high LDL cholesterol levels, high blood pressure and obesity are other causes.

Atherosclerosis

Atherosclerosis is believed to be caused by the immune system’s response to LDL cholesterol molecules sticking to the walls of the vessels. Once the LDL molecules are inside the vessel wall, they may be oxidized by free radicals. This makes the molecules toxic to the cells. The body responds as it would to other toxins or infectious agents. A cascade of immune system responses, primarily the release of inflammatory molecules, occurs and these can cause swelling in the arterial walls. Eventually, a hard cover may form over the site or the vessel wall may rupture.

There are other theories concerning the underlying cause of atherosclerosis. Viral infections and vitamin C deficiency are among the interesting theories. What we know for sure is that most people have some degree of atherosclerosis. The fatty yellow streaks may even be present in childhood.

The post What Causes Heart Disease? appeared first on HealthPlace.com.