Cardiovascular Health

Have you given your heart a hug lately? Your heart is one of the hardest working muscles in your body, pumping oxygen and vital nutrients throughout your body an average of 100,000 times a day. So it’s crucial to give your heart the tender loving care it deserves.

Unfortunately, most of us take the health of our cardiovascular system, which consists of our heart and blood vessels (veins, arterioles, venules, and capillaries), for granted. Poor cardiovascular health is one of our nation’s biggest health problems and is a risk factor in a wide range of health issues. Consider the following:^1-8

• Heart disease and stroke (a sudden stoppage of blood flow to the brain) are the most common cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). They are, respectively, the first and third leading causes of death for both men and women in the United States, accounting for nearly 40% of all annual deaths.
• More than 910,000 Americans die of CVDs each year, which is 1 death every 35 seconds.
• Although these conditions are more common among people aged 65 or older, the number of sudden deaths from heart disease among people aged 15–34 has increased.
• More than 70 million Americans currently live with a CVD.
• Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of premature, permanent disability in the U.S. workforce.
• Stroke alone accounts for disability among about 1 million Americans.
• More than 6 million hospitalizations each year are because of CVDs.
• 3 out of 10 adults (28 percent) have at least 2 risk factors for CVD. This is up from 23 percent in 1991.
• Incidence of CVD among our youth is growing at an alarming rate. Nearly two-thirds (64.7 percent) children and teenagers have at least one metabolic abnormality, and nearly one-third (31.2 percent) of overweight/obese adolescents have signs of metabolic syndrome.² Furthermore, at-risk children tend to carry these risks into adulthood.³

You can beat the odds

But don’t let these statistics dishearten you. Although our modern lifestyles and diets put us at great risk for CVD, it is also largely preventable. There are steps you can take—starting today—to improve your cardiovascular health considerably. These include:

• Eating a healthier diet. Whole grains, legumes, and vegetables (especially the dark-green leafy variety) are not only rich in nutrients but they are also lower in calories.

• Starting a daily exercise regimen. Among other benefits, regular exercise reduces the risk of CVD by improving blood circulation throughout the body. Even low to moderate intensity activities such as walking the dog, stair climbing, and gardening can provide significant benefits. Note: before beginning an exercise program, it is wise to have a physical and get your healthcare provider’s approval. Individuals with certain conditions such as excessive obesity, chest pain, recent heart attack, severe valvular heart disease, irregular heartbeat, uncontrolled diabetes, blood pressure greater than 180/100 (even with medication), acute illness, or resting heart rate over 110 should not begin an exercise program without their healthcare practitioner’s approval.

• Taking quality, heart-smart supplements. Scientific research shows that concentrated levels of certain nutrients—at doses that are difficult to obtain from diet alone—may be beneficial in supporting overall cardiovascular health.
• Managing stress. More and more evidence suggests a relationship between the risk of CVD and stress. Managing stress makes sense not only for your cardiovascular health but for your overall health, too. Relaxation techniques such as breathing exercises and meditation have been shown to help control high blood pressure, and may even have a preventive effect.

FirstLine Therapy^®—Better health now and for a lifetime

FirstLine Therapy (FLT) is a therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC) program developed to help you address the underlying causes of disease and lead a healthier, more vibrant life. The basic principles of FLT—healthy eating, regular exercise, nutritional supplementation, and stress management—are the foundation upon which you and your healthcare practitioner can build a program tailored to your specific needs.

You can start to improve your cardiovascular health today! For more information about FirstLine Therapy^® or to find a certified FirstLine Therapy practitioner near you, click here.

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REFERENCES 

1. Excerpts from: “Your Guide To A Healthy Heart”, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, NIH Publication No. 06–5269, November 2005.
2. American Heart Association, Journal Report 10/11/2004, “ Heart disease risk factors rooted in childhood”. Available at http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=3025371. Accessed 2/12/07.
3. Katzmarzyk PT, Perusse L, Malina RM, Bergeron J, Despres JP, Bouchard C. Stability of indicators of the metabolic syndrome from childhood and adolescence to young adulthood: the Quebec Family Study. J Clin Epidemiol 2001; 54:190–5.