Petty 1

Scott Petty Professor Widdison Health 1020 03/01/2014 Heart disease Heart disease is very common in the United States, It is likely for it to run in our families, and many people know someone that has it. But what is heart disease, and what causes it? Is there anything a person can do to reduce their risk of heart disease, like better nutrition and exercise? And say a person already does have some form of the disease, is there something they could do for their bodies to live a longer, worry free life? Heart disease runs in my family, and that is the reason I want to find the answers to all these questions, to hopefully broaden mine, and the readers understanding of heart disease. WHAT IS HEART DISEASE AND WHAT CAUSES IT? Heart disease is a simple term used to describe several problems related to plaque buildup in the walls of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. As the plaque builds up, the arteries narrow, making it more difficult for blood to flow and creating a risk for heart attack or stroke. (American Heart Association) There is not one form of heart disease, but many different kinds. Heart valve problems and irregular heart beat are other types of heart disease that people can get. Heart valve problems can be caused by illness or can be age related. Irregular heart beat can be caused by anxiety and current problems inside the heart, but a person should not

Petty 2

automatically panic if feeling a sudden high heartbeat or irregularity, it could be caused by anxiety. If there is the appearance of some symptom which calls the attention of the patient to their heart and leads to doubt as to its integrity, whether it is a flutter or fast beat, it is possible for this to be the result of anxiety, or even excessive use of tobacco or coffee (Weiss, Edward, b.) Many problems with the heart are associated with a lack of good diet and exercise, and many people are not aware of what it is doing to their bodies. High sodium in the diet is associated with hypertension and too much fat in the diet can restrict flow through arteries. So it is important to pay attention to diet and always make sure we are exercising to keep the heart strong and keep excess fat off. Anxiety can also be a big factor in high pulse and high blood pressure, if someone is constantly anxious and stressed it can have a negative impact on their heart in the long term because of the elevated blood pressure it can cause. The environmental pollutions play a large part in the risk various diseases, including heart disease. What is environmental pollution? It is the ambient air around us, the food we eat, the water we drink, the streets and roads and land we build on. During our lifetimes the environment reacts with us and upon us influencing our psychology, our physiology and even our genes. Each factor acts independently or in concert, directly or indirectly. ( Task Force on Environmental Cancer and Heart and Lung Disease (U.S.)) So understanding this, we should take care to make sure we are living in a safe and clean environment that will promote a healthy life for ourselves , and for our loved ones as well. REDUCE RISK AND PREVENTION

Petty 3

Many people that have a family member who has heart disease may be worried that they will get it as well, and wonder what they might do to reduce their risk. Understanding what you can do to reduce your risk is a very good thing to know, and will help you live a much healthier life, regardless if heart disease ever would have happened in the first place. A healthy diet and lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease. (American Heart Association) And not only will living this way reduce your risk of heart disease, but it will also increase your energy level and overall quality of life. So, what types of foods are to be eaten, and which ones should be avoided? Here in the US many people do not understand that their diet is very poor, and is causing more harm than good. From the high saturated fat and sodium in hamburgers, to the high sugar content of soda, many people are drifting closer to being overweight and sick later in life. Many people understand that what they are eating is unhealthy, but what could we all do to eat healthier? What types of foods are generally considered to be healthy for us? Fish is considered to be healthy, because it is high in good fat omega 3.Research has shown that omega-3 fatty acids decrease risk of arrhythmias (abnormal heartbeats), which can lead to sudden death. Omega-3 fatty acids also decrease triglyceride levels, slow growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque, and lower blood pressure (slightly). (American Heart Association) Vegetables are a good source of fiber and have no cholesterol, and they are packed with vitamins and minerals, they also have phytochemicals like beta carotene in carrots which arent fully understood, but they do act as a very strong antioxidant. Fruits also have many good vitamins and minerals, and also contain phytochemicals to promote good health in our bodies. An average adult consuming 2,000 calories daily should aim for 4.5

Petty 4

cups of fruits and vegetables a day. Also, variety matters, so try a wide range of fruits and veggies. (American Heart Association) Eating a healthy diet, staying active and having a good sense of emotional well-being will help prevent many types of heart disease, but some are trickier than others. Aortic valve stenosis is the calcification of the heart valve, making it harder for blood to pump through. Heart disease when calcification is concerned is tough to know how to prevent. Vitamin K is a general term for a family of related stuctures. (Vermeer, Cees.) Vitamin K2 may play a large role in the prevention of the problem and may possibly helping it not progress. Vitamin K2 is found in fermented foods like Gouda cheese, kim chi and is also found in grass fed animal products. Our body also synthesizes it in a small supply. The molecular function of vitamin K is precisely known: it serves as a cofactor for the enzyme gammaglutamate carboxylase (GGCX), which is found in the endoplasmic reticulum of a wide variety of mammalian cells and that catalyzes the conversion of the amino acid glutamate into Gla. All Gla-proteins are secretory proteins found in the extracellular matrix or in body fluids. Gla-residues form strong calcium-binding groups in the proteins to which they are attached (Vermeer, Cees.) A study was done showing the effect on heart disease when taken in supplement form, it was a 10-year follow-up of 4,500 elderly subjects taking 45 UG/day of K2. It showed that vitamin K2 intake is correlated with cardiovascular disease, and reduced mortality in the people who took it. (Vermeer, Cees.) Vitamin K2 helps prevent soft tissue calcification and it is great news that it is being studies further for its health promoting factors. LIVING WITH HEART DISEASE

Petty 5

People with heart trouble can sometimes feel like they should be very careful how they live on a daily basis. Should people with heart disease exercise hard, should they be very careful how they eat and what they think? People can often feel shortness of breath and light headedness if things get really bad. So what should someone do if they have heart disease? A person s doctor will give them good advice about how to lower blood pressure if needed and cholesterol too, but on a day to day basis what is it like and what should someone generally do? If there is no pain then people can generally cope pretty well with daily activities and not worry too much about doing what they need to do. Pain is generally the one thing that makes people go see their doctor about what might be going on with them. (Levin, Louis, 1897) Staying happy and positive are great things to do if someone has a heart problem, because anxiety of course can raise blood pressure and heart beat speed. Staying positive will help someone live a longer and better life and they will much better enjoy life. If someone has high blood pressure their doctor may want to put them on medication to help with it, this will help the person not have to worry so much about their blood pressure being a concern for them. Also their doctor may want them to take an aspirin every day to help thin their blood so they have less risk of a heart attack or other problem. Things like this that your doctor can help you with are very good because they will take that stress out of your life, but people need to realize that nutrition is also very important and should not be forgotten just because they feel safe now that they are on medication to help them. I think that nutrition is overlooked when people are living with a heart problem, because they start feeling like they dont need to worry about it anymore because the drugs will make everything ok, but I think when people forget about the nutrition side they are missing out on more great benefits they could have. The combination of

Petty 6

treatment from the doctor and our own nutritional decisions are both very important in fighting the problem. CONCLUSION Heart disease is a huge problem in our society, and one that doesnt need to be so prominent. Not knowing what our diet is doing to us and what we need to do to change is very concerning, because that plays a huge factor in our risk to develop it. There are many different kinds of heart disease, and the causes are different for many, but caring for our body and mind can do many great things regardless of which specific problem we are referring to. I think Vitamin K2 is a great vitamin to understand, because of its effect on calcium build up in soft tissue in the body, and understanding that plants and fruits have phytochemicals along with vitamins and minerals that support our health is paramount. When it all comes down to it we make our own decisions on how we eat, exercise and the way we control our mental health as well. From knowing all we know now about the causes and prevention of this illness, people need to stop pleading ignorance and take a stand for their health. We need to stop blaming fast food chains and processed food for our problems, and just simply start making the best possible choice we can for our health and our loved ones health. I think anything is possible for anyone, if they only make the effort to change, but changing can be very difficult for some people I feel. I think we can change the direction our society is headed, but we need to start now.

Petty 7

Works Cited American Heart Association. www.heart.org. The, Feb. 2014. Web. 1 Mar. 2014. < http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/ >. Levin, Louis, 1897-. Living Along With Heart Disease. New York: The Macmillan company, 1935. Print.< http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b4155333;view=1up;seq=7> Task Force on Environmental Cancer and Heart and Lung Disease (U.S.). Environmental Pollution And Cancer And Heart And Lung Disease. Washington, D.C.: United States Environmental Protection Agency, 1978. Report.< http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015034862329;view=1up;seq=7> Vermeer, Cees. "Abstract." National Center for Biotechnology Information. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 02 Apr. 2012. Web. 08 Mar. 2014.< http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3321262/> Weiss, Edward, b. 1895. Emotional Factors In Cardiovascular Disease. Springfield, Ill.: Thomas, 1951. Print. <http://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=uc1.b4425614;view=1up;seq=5>