Concerned About Your Heart Health?

As we age, more of us become more aware of our health and the various ways to measure our risks. My concerns recently are of heart health and a friend of mine shared some great information that I wanted to share.

WHAT I’VE DISCOVERED

Using a Tape Measure to Predict Your Heart Attack Risk

from Johns Hopkins Heart Alert

Pot belly, love handles, spare tire -- whatever you call it, excess weight around your middle is no laughing matter. Abdominal fat is a strong risk factor for heart attacks. In fact, many doctors now believe that waist size may be even more important than body mass index in predicting coronary heart disease. And according to the latest research, adding hip size to the equation may make the prediction even more accurate.

Waist circumference. Numerous studies have found a link between waist circumference and heart attacks. In one of these studies researchers examined data on 27,000 people from 52 countries and reported that as waist circumference increased, so did the risk of a heart attack. In fact, men and women with the largest waist circumferences had close to double the heart attack risk as those with the smallest waist sizes.

Waist-to-hip ratio. Other research suggests that people can get even more information about their heart disease risk by measuring the circumference of their hips in addition to their waists. In a study of nearly 25,000 people, researchers reported that waist-only measurements underestimated heart disease risk by 10 to 20%, compared with measurements of waist-to-hip ratio. They also found that having a large waist was less of a problem if the person also had large hips, suggesting that accumulation of fat in the lower body -- even in people with significant fat accumulation in the abdomen -- may help protect against the dangers of abdominal obesity. In other words, a more even distribution of fat is less risky than fat predominantly in the abdomen.

Taking Measurements. To find out whether you're at risk, measure your bare midriff just above the hipbones using a standard tape measure. The measurement should be taken right after exhaling normally, with the tape held snugly but without compressing the skin.

Your waist measurement should be below 40 inches if you're a man or below 35 inches if you're a woman. Because people of Asian descent tend to have smaller builds, their waist measurements should be below 37 inches for men or 31 inches for women. To determine your waist-to-hip ratio, divide your waist circumference by a measurement of your hips at their widest point.

According to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases(NIDDK), men with a ratio of greater than 1.0 and women with a ratio of greater than 0.8 are at the greatest risk for heart disease.




Take a great quality fish oil. Omega-3 can help:

* reduce inflammation which increases LDL
* lower triglycerides
* increase HDL
* decrease the risk of heart arrhythmias
* reduce elevated blood pressure
* reduce cholesterol without dangerous side effects
* reduce hardening of arteries along with exercise

There are plenty of Omega-3 options out there, but you really want to make sure to avoid the "cheaper" versions as they often contain mercury. There are many experts that suggest consuming approximately 1 gram of EPA+DHA Omega-3 fatty acid daily, however, due to the concerns of contaminated fish, the government has recommended no more than 12 of fish per week should be consumed, which makes it difficult to get what we need. Take a look at the chart below...(click on the picture to enlarge)




I personally believe and trust my heart health to the pharmaceutical-grade, potency guarantee of USANA Health Sciences and their Bi-Omega.

Now I have a question for you...What Omega-3 fish oil are you taking?

A Little Heart Health Info

Are you looking for Heart Health? Need (another) reason to keep your vitamin D intake up? Here is some information I found. New research suggests that those with low levels of this essential nutrient may have an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. Researchers in Utah followed 27,000 men and women over the age of 50 who had no previous history of heart disease. After a year, they found those with the lowest levels of vitamin D were:

1. 77 percent more likely to die than those with adequate levels of vitamin D.

2. 45 percent more likely to develop coronary artery disease than those with adequate levels of vitamin D.

3. 78 percent more likely to have a stroke than those with adequate levels of vitamin D.

4. Twice as likely to develop heart failure than those with normal levels of vitamin D.

The study, from the Intermountain Medical Center , was presented at the Nov. 16, 2009, session of the American Heart Association's Scientific Conference. Click here for the release

Share this information with the world and leave me your comments on what you think of this information. Life is Good!