Cardiovascular Disease and Male Health
The next 7-10 days are going to be covering MENS health: i have ten good points for you to consider starting today.
Cardiovascular disease or CVD refers to any conditions relating to the heart and blood vessels and is a major problem concerning men’s health. CVD is often simply referred to as heart disease. There are various conditions associated with cardiovascular disease, with stroke and heart attack being the most common.
These two conditions are usually related to atherosclerosis. Atherosclerosis is a condition that is caused when fatty deposits or plaque form in the arteries wallscausing them to narrow. These narrow blood vessels become an entrapment point for blood clots. Blockages, caused by blood clots, can lead to a heart attack or stroke.
Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading causes of death in men in America,with 1 in 4 of every male death relating to the heart. In Australia, one person dies every 12 minutes from cardiovascular disease, with men being over half of that percentage.
Types of Cardiovascular Disease
Specific types of cardiovascular diseases include:
Risk Factors
Many risk factors are linked to cardiovascular disease, and many of them can be attributed to living an unhealthy lifestyle. Lack of physical activity, poor diet,and smoking tobacco are some of the top risk factors related to cardiovascular disease. All of these can lead to weight gain, depression, stress and elevated levels of high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
These conditions are detrimental to your health and are known to cause and exacerbate heart problems. Increasing age and being a male can also increaseyour risk of developing a heart condition.
Signs and Symptoms
Some of the symptoms of cardiovascular disease can be quite noticeable,although in the early stages you may not have any physical signs. The most common symptom that most people have is angina, most commonly known as chest pains.
This means you may not be getting enough oxygen or blood to your heart caused possibly by clotting or blockages in the valves.
Some other signs include:
If you have any or more than one of these signs, it is important that you call an ambulance or your healthcare center for further instructions.
What Can You Do?
Medical intervention will be needed in most cases although supplementary treatment or preventing the advancement of cardiovascular disease with a holistic approach is possible. Some herbs and supplements are available in most health food stores or isles that may be of use to help your condition. Adopting a healthier lifestyle can prevent heart disease by up to 51% and sometimes even reverse the condition.
Taking The Natural Approach
Some of the more holistic treatments include using the following herbs and supplements:
Sleep
Adequate quality sleep is essential for heart health. 8 hours a night is considered the minimum.
Before starting any holistic treatments, it is important to speak to yourhealthcare professional as some herbs and supplements may have serious side effects if not taken correctly.