dance cardio workout

Heart disease is one of the nation’s deadliest killers taking the lives of almost one million Americans each year. Each of us has a different susceptibility to cardiovascular disease. Your fitness level and what you eat plays a major role. Approximately 64 million Americans have cardiovascular disease
and here’s the shocker; as many as 40 percent of those who suffer a heart attack have no symptoms. A heart attack may occur due to heart disease but not always and although it is the leading cause of death it can be prevented. Women usually have fewer heart attacks than men but after menopause women catch up to men in the number of heart attacks experienced.

So
what are the factors that lead to heart disease?
The most commonly recognized risk factors are:

1 Stress
2 Smoking
3 High levels of LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol)
4 Low levels of HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol)
5 High Blood-pressure.
6 Obesity
7 Diabetes
8 Destructive form of amino acid called homocysteine
9 Heredity

The heart is the most crucial organ to sustain life and to keep it ticking efficiently
our priority should be to prevent its deterioration. The simplest Mantra for prevention of heart disease is; eat well
exercise and adopt a healthy lifestyle. This has been said countless times before and the simple truth is that those who do follow through with the advice enjoy a much healthier and longer life.

NOTE: Always check with your physician first before changing or implementing any sort of a diet or exercise program especially if you're taking prescription or over the counter medicines.

Some factors to consider when adopting a healthier lifestyle include but not limited to: (also check with your physician)

1 Cut down on dietary fat and cholesterol

2 Check your blood pressure regularly

3 Don’t smoke (fortunately there are a lot of resources available for those wanting to quit).

4 Learn to meditate
this will lessen stress.

5 Exercise - Being sedentary is one of the biggest risk factors for heart attacks.

6 Control your weight - If you're obese

7 Control your diabetes


Symptoms of a heart attack

NOTE: These symptoms may or may not indicate a heart attack. In any case medical help should be sought immediately because some heart attacks are the ’silent type’.

The American Heart Association lists them as:

-Uncomfortable pressure
fullness or squeezing and excruciating pain in the chest.
-Pain spreading to shoulder
neck
and arms. Specifically left sided neck and arm pain.
-Light headedness
fainting.
-Shortness of breath with little exertion.
-Profuse sweating.

The first hour is very critical. So
don’t waste time thinking its gas or flatulence. Act immediately and call 911 don’t waste time calling your doctor
he’ll most likely ask you to call 911 anyway. Heart disease can be easily prevented it's just a matter of implementing a healthier lifestyle.

Cardiovascular disease
also known as CVD
is the number one killer of men and women of all ethnic groups in the United States. Cardiovascular diseases include such ailments as high blood pressure
arrythmia
valve disease
congestive heart failure and stroke. Though worries of more "high profile" diseases such as breast cancer are on the forefront in many women's minds
the hard truth is that one in four women are affected with some form of cardiovascular disease.

Risk factors for cardiovascular diseases are things such as high blood pressure
obesity
abnormal blood glucose
and even the use of tobacco
among other factors. When caught at an early age
these risk factors can be muted to help prevent manifesting themselves as cardiovascular disease later on.

Altering your lifestyle can help to lower your chances for cardiovascular diseases. Such alterations as eating a diet that is low in fat and cholesterol
adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet
drinking enough water daily
and exercising for half an hour a day are all ways that physicians suggest can assist in lowering your chances for cardiovascular disease.

Cardiovascular diseases are known as silent killers
as they often have no symptoms. If you think you may be having any symptoms of heart disease
you should speak to your doctor about the many tests available. Doctors often begin with simple tests
the results of which can lead to tests that are more complex.

In connection with cardiovascular disease are "extra" heartbeats
which typically happen when there is an irritation in the lower part of the heart's pumping chambers. They interrupt the normal heart rhythm
which can feel like a missed beat. This can actually be a harmless "quirk" of your body's functions
or can lead to problems that are far more serious.

If a woman has these palpitations or any other symptoms such as dizziness
blurred vision
or shortness of breath
she should contact her doctor right away. A complete medical history
physical exam
and other tests will be run to determine the cause of these behaviors
which can be anything from stress-related behavior to something far more dangerous. The advice and consultation of a physician where heart disease is concerned is the only way to go.