Attempts to prevent cardiovascular disease are more effective when they remove and prevent causes, and they often take the form of modifying risk factors.
Diet
Foods for Cardiovascular Health are alkalinizing (neutralizes acid formation in the body and are produced by the ingestion of acid-forming foods) and Dr. Darrell Tanelian presents them in the book Molecular Fitness. One does not want to consume too many acid-generating foods, as a person can develop a state called “low-grade metabolic acidosis). This condition can then result in hypertension and atherosclerosis.
In addition, Dr. Tanelian in Molecular Fitness has created tables listing direct connexin-enhancing molecules.
Research has shown that a diet that includes dark chocolate, fish, wine, fruits, and vegetables can increase life expectancy and decrease your risk for cardiovascular disease. These foods interestingly contain many connexin-enhancing molecules, polyphenols and are alkalinizing.
Eating oily fish containing long-chain fatty acids, DHA and EPA at least twice a week may help reduce the risk of sudden death and arrhythmias. A 2005 review of 97 clinical trials by Studer et al. noted that omega-3 fats gave lower risk ratios than did statins.
Magnesium deficiency, or lower levels of magnesium, can contribute to heart disease and a healthy diet that contains adequate magnesium may prevent heart disease.
Increased daily potassium and magnesium intake has the benefit of naturally decreasing blood pressure and is therefore overall beneficial for heart disease..
Cardiovascular disease and salt (sodium chloride)
There is evidence from one large controlled trial of more than 3000 patients that reducing the amount of sodium in the diet reduced the risk of cardiovascular events by more than 25%. This results complement evidence from the Intersalt study published in 1996, that high levels of dietary salt are harmful.
Sodium restriction – excessive sodium intake may precipitate or exacerbate heart failure, thus a "no added salt" diet is recommended for patients with CHF. More severe restrictions may be required in severe CHF.
Reduced sodium (salt) diet has proven very effective: it decreases blood pressure in about 60% of people.
Awareness
Atherosclerosis is a process that develops over decades and is often silent until an acute event (heart attack) develops in later life. Population based studies show that the precursors of heart disease start in adolescence. The process of atherosclerosis evolves over decades, and begins as early as in childhood. The beginnings of atherosclerosis have been shown to appear in all the aortas and more than half of the right coronary arteries of youths aged 15–19 years. Primary prevention starts with education and awareness that cardiovascular disease poses the greatest threat and measures to prevent or reverse this disease must be taken.
Physical Activity
Moderate physical activity can be beneficial when symptoms are mild or moderate; or bed rest when symptoms are severe.
Weight Reduction
Weight reduction through physical activity and dietary modification is beneficial, as obesity is a risk factor for heart failure and ventricular hypertrophy.
Weight reduction and regular aerobic exercise are recommended as the first steps in treating mild to moderate hypertension. Regular mild exercise improves blood flow and helps to reduce resting heart rate and blood pressure. These steps are highly effective in reducing blood pressure.
Smoking
Discontinuing tobacco smoking and alcohol drinking has been shown to lower blood pressure. Blood pressure (especially systolic) always transiently increases following alcohol and/or nicotine consumption. Stopping cigarette smoking is important for people with hypertension because it reduces the risk of many dangerous outcomes of hypertension, such as stroke and heart attack.
Relaxation Therapy
Relaxation therapies such as meditation can reduce hypertension. Biofeedback and paced breathing are effective also. The effectiveness of relaxation therapies relies on the patient's attitude and compliance.
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