What is Menopause?  Menopause is when the ovaries naturally stop producing 2 hormones called estrogen and progesterone.   Your ovaries are similar to what a car does in that over years it wears down, well so does the mechanism that regulates your hormones which is the ovaries.  You go 12 consecutive months without having a period with no reasons to be explained for its occurrence, both biological or physical with it never returning.   If both ovaries are removed surgically the menopause kicks in immediately.    Menopause has signs and symptoms (s/s) that kick in which have varying intensities (it depends on the individual).   You may experience mild  to severe s/s.   Those s/s can be : 1- Hot Flashes 2-Irregular Periods 3- Breast Pains 4- Night Sweats 5- Mood Swings  6- Loss of Labido 7- Vaginal Dryness  8-Brittle Nails 9-Bloating 10-Irritability 11-Depression 12- Weight Gain 13- Osteoporosis-one of the worst symptoms of menopause.

Did you know over 60% of adult Americans are considered obese or overweight?

Weight gain happens when a person increases their body mass, whether it is a result of fat deposits, additional muscle tissue, or excess fluid. However, weight gain associated with menopause typically involves increased amounts of fat around the abdomen.  One of the most accurate ways to see if you are obese is to measure your body mass index which is free online, check out the internet.  I do every so often.

Go to Free BMI Calculator – AICR.org‎

www.aicr.org/bmi calculator‎.

On average, a women gains about 12 to 15 pounds between the ages of 45 and 55, this is usually when menopause typically occurs. This extra weight generally does not evenly distribute itself throughout a woman’s body.  The weight tends to accumulate around the abdomen instead and women often notice the shape of their bodies slowly losing their hour-glass figure.

What can resolve this issue?  As years progress the metabolism slows down; setting the physiological stage for weight gain.  As a woman’s hormones fluctuate prior to menopause and preparing for a permanently reduced hormonal level, it is likely to experience weight gain.  I’m over 40 y/o and in menopause.  I have found a way effective for me to stay in my BMI therapeutically by increasing my metabolism and keeping it at a steady rate without any heavy workout at this time.  If you too are experiencing this problem and would like guidance in how to fix this naturally with not being put on drugs than come to healthyusa.tsfl.com.   We will show you how to increase your metabolism with you making the choices of what foods you want in your body.  You will be able to treat yourself to foods high in fats or carbohydrates or sugars occasionally when you reach your therapeutic ratio of your body mass index.  Join Dr. Anderson with his book “Dr. A’s healthy habits” and myself as a health coach assisting you in doing what you need to know in understanding how the body works with foods and what foods (out of the 4 food groups is good for the body on a regular daily basis).  I hope you join me like so many others where we were so happy with ourselves with the results, how it financially stayed within our budget or cheaper, and how it all paid off.  You take a look for yourself and I think you may just like what you see.  No contract, No fee, No donations, it’s just a look at the website healthyusa.tsfl.com.  I have been a RN a quarter just over a quarter of a century and have seen disease from cancer units to cardiac units to all types of med surg. & could go on with my experience.  I have worked from sea to shining sea, NY to California.  I saw what unhealthy habits have done to peoples bodies of all ages in the US and will try every attempt not to end up like that but be healthier in living my life with staying out of facilities.  Come aboard in helping yourselves with others making a healthier USA we take that responsibility on as a citizen in America and to those around us (particularly the young).

What is Menopause?  Menopause is when the ovaries naturally stop producing 2 hormones called estrogen and progesterone.   Your ovaries are similar to what a car does in that over years it wears down, well so does the mechanism that regulates your hormones which is the ovaries.  You go 12 consecutive months without having a period with no reasons to be explained for its occurrence, both biological or physical with it never returning.   If both ovaries are removed surgically the menopause kicks in immediately.    Menopause has signs and symptoms (s/s) that kick in which have varying intensities (it depends on the individual).   You may experience mild  to severe s/s.   Those s/s can be : 1- Hot Flashes 2-Irregular Periods 3- Breast Pains 4- Night Sweats 5- Mood Swings  6- Loss of Labido 7- Vaginal Dryness  8-Brittle Nails 9-Bloating 10-Irritability 11-Depression 12- Weight Gain 13- Osteoporosis-one of the worst symptoms of menopause.

According to U.S. Census data from 2000, there are about 37.5 million women reaching or currently at menopause (ages 40 to 59).

As women near menopause, they may have symptoms too from the changes their body is making. Some women may not have any other symptoms at all. Symptoms that some women experience near menopause include symptoms close to the actual menopause symptoms are like the hot flashes (getting warm in the face, neck, or chest), night sweats or sleeping problems that led to feeling tired, stressed or tense, vaginal changes (the vagina may become dry and thin and sex may be painful) and thinning of bones, which may lead to loss of height and bone breaks. If a woman would like to treat her symptoms, she should talk to her health care provider to discuss treatment options.

Did you know over 60% of adult Americans are considered obese or overweight?

Weight gain happens when a person increases their body mass, whether it is a result of fat deposits, additional muscle tissue, or excess fluid. However, weight gain associated with menopause typically involves increased amounts of fat around the abdomen.  One of the most accurate ways to see if you are obese is to measure your body mass index which is free online, check out the internet.  I do every so often.

Go to Free BMI Calculator – AICR.org‎

www.aicr.org/bmi calculator‎.

On average, a women gains about 12 to 15 pounds between the ages of 45 and 55, this is usually when menopause typically occurs. This extra weight generally does not evenly distribute itself throughout a woman’s body.  The weight tends to accumulate around the abdomen instead and women often notice the shape of their bodies slowly losing their hour-glass figure.

What can resolve this issue?  As years progress the metabolism slows down; setting the physiological stage for weight gain.  As a woman’s hormones fluctuate prior to menopause and preparing for a permanently reduced hormonal level, it is likely to experience weight gain.  I’m over 40 y/o and in menopause.  I have found a way effective for me to stay in my BMI therapeutically by increasing my metabolism and keeping it at a steady rate without any heavy workout at this time.  If you too are experiencing this problem and would like guidance in how to fix this naturally with not being put on drugs than come to healthyusa.tsfl.com.   We will show you how to increase your metabolism with you making the choices of what foods you want in your body.  You will be able to treat yourself to foods high in fats or carbohydrates or sugars occasionally when you reach your therapeutic ratio of your body mass index.  Join Dr. Anderson with his book “Dr. A’s healthy habits” and myself as a health coach assisting you in doing what you need to know in understanding how the body works with foods and what foods (out of the 4 food groups is good for the body on a regular daily basis).  I hope you join me like so many others where we were so happy with ourselves with the results, how it financially stayed within our budget or cheaper, and how it all paid off.  You take a look for yourself and I think you may just like what you see.  No contract, No fee, No donations, it’s just a look at the website healthyusa.tsfl.com.  I have been a RN a quarter just over a quarter of a century and have seen disease from cancer units to cardiac units to all types of med surg. & could go on with my experience.  I have worked from sea to shining sea, NY to California.  I saw what unhealthy habits have done to peoples bodies of all ages in the US and will try every attempt not to end up like that but be healthier in living my life with staying out of facilities.  Come aboard in helping yourselves with others making a healthier USA we take that responsibility on as a citizen in America and to those around us (particularly the young).

“The voice of the intellect is a soft one, but it does not rest until it has gained a hearing.”

Sigmund Freud (6 May 1856 – 23 September 1939) was an Austrian neurologist who became known for creating psychoanalysis = as the founding father of psychoanalysis.

Do you want to learn about how hearing loss can be brought on by certain diseases that are preventable and how to prevent them?  Well than go to striveforgoodhealth.com and take a peek;)  Have a great weekend all!

Men are more likely to experience hearing loss than women.

Of adults ages 65 and older in the United States, 12.3 percent of men and nearly 14 percent of women are affected by tinnitus. Tinnitus is identified more frequently in white individuals and the prevalence of tinnitus is almost twice as frequent in the South as in the Northeast.

Approximately 17 percent (36 million) of American adults report some degree of hearing loss.

There is a strong relationship between age and reported hearing loss: 18 percent of American adults 45-64 years old, 30 percent of adults 65-74 years old, and 47 percent of adults 75 years old or older have a hearing loss.

About 2 to 3 out of every 1,000 children in the United States are born deaf or hard-of-hearing. Nine out of every 10 children who are born deaf are born to parents who can hear.

The NIDCD estimates that approximately 15 percent (26 million) of Americans between the ages of 20 and 69 have high frequency hearing loss due to exposure to loud sounds or noise at work or in leisure activities.

Only 1 out of 5 people who could benefit from a hearing aid actually wears one.

Three out of 4 children experience ear infection (otitis media) by the time they are 3 years old.

Roughly 25 million Americans have experienced tinnitus.

Approximately 188,000 people worldwide have received cochlear implants. In the United States, roughly 41,500 adults and 25,500 children have received them.

Approximately 4,000 new cases of sudden deafness occur each year in the United States. Hearing loss affects only 1 ear in 9 out of 10 people who experience sudden deafness. Only 10 to 15 percent of patients with sudden deafness know what caused their loss.

Approximately 615,000 individuals have been diagnosed with Ménière’s disease in the United States. Another 45,500 are newly diagnosed each year.

Approximately 3 to 6 percent of all deaf children and perhaps another 3 to 6 percent of hard-of-hearing children have Usher syndrome. In developed countries such as the United States, about 4 babies in every 100,000 births have Usher syndrome.

One out of every 100,000 individuals per year develops an acoustic neurinoma (vestibular schwannoma).

High levels of cotinine, the chemical that indicates exposure to tobacco smoke and second-hand smoke has been directly linked to higher risks of some types of hearing loss. **

More than 500 million people around the world are experiencing some form of hearing loss right now. Are you one of them?

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If you have hearing loss, you are not alone. About one in six people experience some degree of hearing impairment over the course of their lives.

The effects may not be obvious…

Hearing loss affects people in different ways. Left undiagnosed or untreated, it can damage communications and erode relationships. Over time, hearing loss may degenerate from a strictly physical condition to a psychological one, which is just one of the reasons it is so important to seek a solution promptly. For most people with hearing loss, there is help. Properly fitted hearing aids improve communication for at least 90 percent of people with hearing loss.^[1]

The cause of hearing loss may not be clear…

Hearing loss is not just the result of attending loud concerts or a factor of the aging process. Illness and infections can also play a part in damaging your hearing. A University of Wisconsin Medical School 2001 study^[2] revealed that hearing loss occurred in nearly 80% of those who may have suffered from a heart attack. They further determined that individuals who exercised at least once a week experienced a 32 percent reduction in the risk of suffering from hearing loss compared to those who did not work out.

Other health issues associated with either temporary or permanent hearing loss include the following:

• Sluggish or poor blood flow to the ear
• High blood pressure
• Sickle Cell Disease
• Diabetes

Screenings for diabetes and other conditions typically do not include hearing tests. If you have one of these conditions, it’s probably a good idea to ask for a referral to a hearing care professional who can conduct a hearing screening to see if you are suffering from any kind of hearing loss.

Many other factors can lead to hearing loss, including your family history, repeated exposure to loud noises, injuries, and smoking.

But the options for improvement are many

No matter what effects you are experiencing due to hearing loss or the source of your condition, the next steps are obvious. Contact your family doctor, specialist, audiologist, or other hearing care professional to get your hearing tested. You will be surprised how many options are available to help you regain as much of your lost hearing as possible.

There are options you can do towards prevention of hearing loss.  You can start with keeping your ears cleaned routinely with having the doctor checking your ears every 6 months to yearly.  You can even live healthier and being able to control what your body is exposed to in eating better foods of the 4 food groups, perform exercise in your routine life, if not daily then 2-3 times a week (from walking fast to working out in a gym).  You can also keep your weight in a therapeutic range (all factors in prevention of diabetes II, and high B/P that can cause hearing loss.).  At the same time, do not smoke or expose yourself to a lot of second hand smoking or a lot of extremely loud noises from work areas to concerts without wearing ear plugs for safety.  You can also keep your ears cleaned with having the doctor check your ears every 6 months to yearly.  So there are things you can do to help prevent hearing loss.

If you need help in being given the knowledge in how to lose weight, knowing what foods are lean to leaner to leanest out of the 4 food groups, understanding exercise being a part of daily living, how all 3 interact with each other and making this a part of your regular life not just a few months to a year then you came to the right blog.  This is provided through a Dr. Anderson and myself as your health coach.  You can order Dr. Anderson’s book “Dr. A’s healthy habits” with tsfl.com providing foods to help you lose the excess of weight, you make all the choices.   I needed to lose weight and lost 22 lbs.  So if you want to prevent hearing loss with so many other diseases and illnesses go to healthyusa.tsfl.com and join me. Take a peek for no charge, no obligation and no hacking. I hope you have learned something new from my blog.  Recommended to check with your md on any changes with diet or exercise especially if diagnosed already with disease or illness for your safety.

References:

1-World Health Organization. http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs300/en/

2-Torre P 3^rd, Cruickshanks KJ, Klein BE, Klein R, Nondahl DM. (2005). The association between cardiovascular disease and cochlear function in older adults. http://jslhr.asha.org/cgi/content/abstract/48/2/473

3-National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD).

“I saw many people who had advanced heart disease and I was so frustrated because I knew if they just knew how to do the right thing, simple lifestyle and diet steps, that the entire trajectory of their life and health would have been different.”

Dr. Mehmet Oz (cardiothoracic surgeon & The host of The Dr. Oz Show)

Now knowing the anatomy and physiology of the heart let’s now understand more about cardiac disease in how they develop and in how it effects the engine of the body, being the heart and other areas of the body.  If eating unhealthy or living unhealthy habits or even overweight to obese these are the problems that can arise regarding the cardiac system alone:

A-   High Blood Pressure is the primary cause of death among Americans older than 25. About 75 million people suffer from high B/P or hypertension, which is a major risk factor for heart disease and more.  Did you know that from the National Health Survey in 1981 their statistics indicated that hypertension afflicts at least 17 to 22 million American adults during that time, in the book of “Principles of Anatomy and Physiology” by authors Tortora and Anagnostakos? Look at today, yes our population has increased but the debate with that is we now know better and have for awhile. We as responsible people for ourselves, families (children in particular) and as a country should be living healthier but still too many EAT and PRACTICE unhealthy habits based on statistics, if we weren’t disease would be less in percentage throughout America.

AMERICA wake up or else we will just continue increasing high in the following problems we already have at home and make life, especially for many, unbearable.

Uncontrolled high blood pressure is of considerable concern because of what harm it can do to the HEART, BRAIN, and KIDNEYS if it remains uncontrolled:

1- Heart=Angina to Heart Attack (infarction) 2- Brain=Transient Ischemia Attack (TIA) to a stroke  3- Kidneys=Reducing blood suppy to kidneys causing the kidneys to secrete RENIN into the blood.  This enzyme breaks down angiotensin from the plasma protein (a powerful blood constrictor in the blood ) making the blood pressure higher.   It stimulates aldosterone release in our blood stream that promotes sodium and water retention in the blood ,= increases your B/P more due to how it works.

These 3 organs with conditions are all due to obstruction of blood flow to the organs and due to the effect of Hypertension (HTN)=VASOCONSTRICTION OF THE VESSELS.   High blood pressure climbs, and the heart must work or pump harder=things that happen to our engine:   One, the heart muscle tissue eventually thickens and the heart becomes ENLARGED causing it not to do its job properly causing it to go in time into failure.   Two, is stress to the heart = lack of oxygen = chest pain or myocardial infarction (heart attack).  When we stress the heart out = over- worked, lack of oxygen to the heart tissue happens that leads to pain as a symptom (we call it Angina that can be reversed) and if it continues it can lead to a heart attack = scarring to the heart = damage done to the heart that’s not reversible.  Also with constant HTN which can cause constriction of vessels in the brain this can cause the same stress but with different symptoms, the brain with uncontrolled HTN can cause lack of oxygen to the brain = headache which if not resolved can lead to a TIA (reversible) or stroke (scarring to the brain, not reversible).   All of these responses are made worse by low potassium intake and high sodium intake orally (in a lot of cases these conditions could have been controlled via diet, exercise with balancing it with rest and check up with a doctor (cardiac especially). 

2 – Arteriosclerosis or Atherosclerosis both = CAD (Coronary Artery Disease)

 This is a common disorder, typically affecting men over age 50 and women as well but possibly earlier. People are at higher risk if they have a personal or family history of coronary artery disease (heart disease) or cerebrovascular disease (stroke), diabetes, smoking, hypertension (high blood pressure), or kidney disease involving hemodialysis.   Than live healthy if you want to live longer and not get these risks or even if you do have them already than be compliant in reaching your optimal level of health with the disease.  If no history and not diagnosed yet with any of these but want to prevent it live healthy, if you’re not.  Arteriosclerosis is hardening of the arteries, which occurs with aging (wear and tear from also practicing bad habits that takes over years allowing this to form not just due to age; that’s why most books state it happens later in life.  As opposed to adults not too many with cardiac disease young).  Atherosclerosis is a form of arteriosclerosis but this is the lipid related arterial lesion, is the major disease responsible for the principle clinical complications = BLOCKAGE in the arteries.  Definitely affected if already with high cholesterol and fats in the diet and of course smoking from tar build up in the vessel.  Over time CAD can weaken the heart muscle also causing the heart to go into decompensation causing symptoms of chest pain=angina to even a heart attack. This may lead to heart failure, a serious condition where the heart can’t pump blood the way that it should. Even an irregular heartbeat, or arrhythmia, can also develop that if it gets worse could lead into cardiac arrest.  The CDC states under CHF (congestive heart failure) “Diseases that damage your heart—including coronary heart disease, high blood pressure, and diabetes—are common causes of heart failure. Smoking; being overweight; eating foods high in fat, cholesterol, and sodium; and physical inactivity also increase your risk of developing heart failure.”  Let’s wake up America with health and practicing good habits to decrease your risk of developing these diseases.

High Cholesterol levels — High cholesterol is one of the leading causes of heart attacks. Cholesterol is transported through your blood in two ways: the low density lipoprotein (LDL), which transports cholesterol to the cells that need it, and the high density lipoprotein (HDL), which is the healthy cholesterol that reduces your risk for heart attack. Having high LDL levels raises your risk of having heart disease by 20%. Losing 11-20 pounds can help you significantly reduce your cholesterol level so you prevent blockage from occurring preventing heart attack and atherosclerosis.   

A sedentary lifestyle and lifetime lack of exercise seems to be major contributing factors for getting arteriosclerosis and heart-disease onset; see how they all interrelate with one causing another people.

Starting to get it?  That based on how healthy you live in many cases is the determining factor of how you turn out regarding disease, but there are non-modifiable risk factors to disease (not controllable) = 1.) Age 2.) Sex (Ex. A higher amount of cases with HTN are males vs. females).  3. Race (Ex. African American have a higher count in HTN than Caucasian)   4. Heredity.

Modifiable Risk Factors (things you can change that effect diseases) = 1- weight 2- smoking  3 – living conditions 4 – diet 5 – The health & unhealthy habits you practice.

How to prevent these cardiac conditions all listed above, don’t live the type of life that’s unhealthy, at least on a regular basis (if at all occasionally live unhealthy – Ex. eating fast foods) to decrease the chances of developing these cardiac conditions that are high in America now and have been for several years.  Need help and guidance in how to go about this; then you are on the right website.  The answer to prevention or treatment of cardiac disease is in changing or modifying your diet, if it’s unhealthy 100% or just partially.  The answer includes exercise (from just walking fast or if you like working out, even better) and if needed medication your doctor will decide that, particularly cardiac – the specialist for this area.  All these changes can modify your blood lipid profile = cholesterol control, which helps increasing your heart to a better tolerance with activity, stress and simply functioning.  Recommended is going to a cardiologist for people diagnosed with heart conditions or your general practitioner with any illness/disease before making changes to help guide you towards the right choices.  Your doctor can help you in determining which prevention or treatment plan is best for you.

Bad Foods high in cholesterol too avoid = Fast foods, whole fat dairy products = milk/cheese/ butter/mayonnaise/bacon/processed deli meats/salad dressings/shortening.

The key is to living a healthy life overall.  This consists of diet, exercise or activity and healthy habits learned and practiced routinely in your life that will help prevent or assist you in treating cardiac disease.  The better we treat ourselves regarding health the higher the odds we will live a longer life.  It is pretty simple. There is not just one food to eat or one type of exercise to do or one healthy habit to keep you healthy, there are choices.  Come onto my website which is no fee, no charge, no hacking, just letting you check us out to look further in understanding how to take a shape for your life with Dr. Anderson and even myself as your personal health coach in helping you learn what healthier habits or changes you want for a healthier way of living.  It allows you to make all the decisions in what you want to do regarding what to eat (diet) using the 4 food groups, what to do as exercise/activity, and what healthy habits you want to add in your life, that you may not be doing at this time.  We just provide the information and healthy foods in your diet, and you decide if you want it.  You make all the choices.  Wouldn’t you want less disease/illness for yourself and for others throughout the nation including the future generations?  Thank you for taking the time to read my article to how we can help you get healthier and make a healthier USA.  Click onto healthyusa.tsfl.com and I hope to hear from you soon.

“The medical literature tells us that the most effective ways to reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, stroke, diabetes, Alzheimer’s, and many more problems are through healthy diet and exercise. Our bodies have evolved to move, yet we now use the energy in oil instead of muscles to do our work.”

David Suzuki (born March 24, 1936) is a Japanese Canadian academic, science broadcaster and environmental activist.  .

America lets wake up & get healthier by being in a therapeutic weight for our height, eating healthy in our diet, doing some form of exercise/activity daily and practicing healthy habits routinely to decrease disease with treating ourselves to things that aren’t the most healthiest habits, OCCASIONALLY,  to become better now for ourselves and future generations that would help our health care economy as a whole.   Learn about the heart (our engine of the body) and how cardiac diseases can be prevented or even decreased in degree.

Let us first understand how the heart functions.  For starters think of a car, without the engine the car won’t move unless pushed in neutral but the engine is still not working at all.  Well, the body can’t work at all if the heart isn’t working=dead.  Right?  We can’t live without the heart but more importantly you can’t function actively and productively with a one that is diseased not cared for or just severely diseased.  We need to take good care of our bodies especially if diseased already, that includes your heart.

Looking at the anatomy and physiology of the heart it will help us understand in how it functions.  For starters the heart is like an engine in having chambers (2 on the top called atriums and 2 on the bottom called ventricles), 4 chambers to be exact (sort of like a 4 cylinder car).  It also has valves, in allowing our blood to go in and out of the heart.  They are located before the entrance of the blood entering the heart on the left and right upper chamber, between the upper and lower chambers (atriums & ventricles), at the beginning of arteries and veins involved in moving blood throughout the heart and to or from the lungs to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide in the blood, in allowing the blood to leave the heart with oxygenated blood to now go throughout the body (like oil/gas entering and leaving the engine which allows it to work).

Now getting down in how the heart works.  First take our blood, in particular our red blood cells are the cells that carry oxygen and carbon dioxide throughout our body; the body without enough oxygen in the body tissues=cellular starvation.  We can’t survive without oxygen sent to our tissues=food to our tissues (Ex. poor circulation to any tissue of the body = pain and if not resolved it will go into necrosis = death of the tissue, like in a diabetic that has poor circulation to the toes/foot that has pain/numbness and unresolved = necrosis to amputation).  So your blood, in particular the red blood cells, need to transport oxygen (O2) to and take carbon dioxide (CO2) from our tissues in the body and refill up with more 02 and release C02 (O2 used up by our tissues) that takes place at the lungs.  This process is done constantly in the body to feed our tissues O2 (by RBC’s picking up 02 upon inhalation), with tissues releasing CO2 picked up by the RBC’s that take the CO2 to the lungs in release it from our body completely via breathing=exhaling but only done due to the heart beating allowing the blood to circulate and recirculate throughout the body and get more 02 from our lungs (just like the engine how the engine works to allow fuels, oils to circulate throughout the engine and other areas of the car to allow the car overall to function).

In review, our bodies oxygen is the food to our tissues in keeping them alive through our red blood cells (RBC’s) that carry the O2 to the tissues but there through a working heart and lungs only (one organ cannot live without the other).  There has to be a systemic way we allow this to work and this is through the heart, lungs, and RBC’s (3 systems that connect with each other).  The heart = right side deals with more C02 blood which is blood returning to the heart to get more 02 going first via the Rt. side of the heart to the Rt. and Lt. pulmonary artery, each of which carries blood to the lungs for 02 and C02 exchange to occur.  This is for getting more 02 in our RBC’s with allowing them to release C02 at the lungs and then return them to the left side of the heart to be sent through both Lt. chambers of the heart to our blood stream to utilize the new 02 in our RBC’s to our body tissues.  This is a 24hr/7days a week job for our red blood cells, lungs and heart in functioning to keep the human body alive.

In simpler terms this is how it works:  The blood that needs to be refreshed with more 02 when it enters the right (Rt.) atrium coming from a vessel that brings back mainly carbon dioxide in the blood from the toes and the brain that was mainly used up by the tissues and those RBC’s need to be reoxygenated with higher levels of oxygen for the RBC’s to deliver 02 again to tissues.  It first goes to the Rt. atrium & fills up to its max level simultaneously while the left (Lt.) atrium is filling up to its max level.  When the Rt. atrium is ready to drop its blood max level into the Rt. ventricle below it the valves open between the chambers simultaneously dropping the blood to the Rt. Ventricle (Lt side does the same thing) but only the Rt. side ends up going to the lungs through a Rt. and Lt. pulmonary artery to get more oxygen to send it to the highly oxygenated side of the heart, being on the left side.  The job the Rt. side of the heart does is this, it just goes from the Rt. side of the heart to our lungs and back to the heart on the Lt. side through the 4 pulmonary veins to the L atrium; so the path or distance for the Rt. side of the heart to do its function is a short distance = it gets your used up oxygen in the red blood cells (that are high in carbon dioxide) to get more oxygen by going through the Rt. side of the heart sending them to the lungs where they get more O2 and then they are sent back to the Lt. side of the heart.   This is the Rt. side of the heart’s function.

Now let us look at what the Lt. side of the heart does in function.  The RBC’s reoxygenated leave the lungs and sent via the 4 pulmonary veins to the Lt. side of the heart reaching the Lt. atrium thus carries a high 02 level in the RBC’s (this blood just came directly from the lungs where O2 and CO2 exchange for the RBC’s took place).  Next the RBC’s go to the Lt. ventricle to our Aorta that sends this high oxygen level of RBC’s out to all our tissues as food to prevent starvation of the tissues).   Again, when the valves open between the chambers and allowing this blood to fill up in the lower chambers called the Rt. and Lt. ventricles it is simultaneously done also including the valves that open and close in the the pulmonary artery and the aorta that is in the  Lt. ventricle sending RBC’s out to our circulatory system high in O2 to be utilized by our body tissues.

So the way it works with both sides of the heart is the Rt. side sends blood of highly carbon dioxide blood (RBC’s) to the lungs to get re-oxygenated through 2 vessels from the Rt. side of the heart to the lungs that sends this re-oxygenated RBC’s through 4 vessels to the Lt. side of the heart and it reaches the Lt. side of the heart which sends this highly oxygenated blood throughout the top and bottom of the Lt. side of the heart to the aorta that sends this blood throughout our body tissues.  When this oxygen is used all up from dispensing it out to tissues the C02 is taken back from the tissues by RBC’s that replace it with O2, this process starts all over again with these RBC’s that returned to the heart.  Ending line the right side of the heart is for higher levels of carbon dioxide in the blood (used up blood) to get more oxygenated whereas the left side of the heart sends higher levels of O2 throughout the body all the way to the toes  (a harder job=muscle mass of the left side of the heart works out more than the right making the left side of the heart a bigger muscle vs the right side.

To keep your engine (the heart) with the cardiac system working and functioning at its optimal level it takes doing 3 things:  1.) Healthy Diet 2.) Healthy Activity and Exercise balanced with rest 3.) Living in your routine life daily healthy habits of practice.

Need guidance in how to reach an optimal level for your cardiac system with already cardiac disease or better with no disease?  Great, than you have come to the right blog site.  No matter if you are in a high or low income bracket there are affordable foods that you can have in your diet with gradually increasing to 30 minutes of exercise daily or every other day in your life, of course in time.  It’s just like watching TV,  you just have to fit it in your life and in time it will become a regular part of your activities of daily living with not making you feel as if this is a burden but routine, especially knowing your only helping your health.  If you want to live a longer life, and/or  help decrease cardiac diseases with the diseases it can cause in bodies from its impact of its effects on the body in our country then make a move whether young, mid-age or even older.  It is like a wound that our society over generations allowed to happen, in time. The ending result is 2/3 of our country is obese which risks you to cardiac disease, do we want to continue making this wound larger.  We already have caused a large number of obesity with cardiac disease cases but like all wounds, time heals them (if not completely than to a degree and in America the case is a large one).  We are now in a technology that knows what foods high in fat, high in sugar, high in carbohydrates, high in calories on a daily basis in all yours meals can cause obesity, cardiac disease and many more diseases as the ending result of this behavior.   We are a stronger nation in all colors, races, ages, and sexes with knowing the knowledge of what to do.   Do you want a better fit body, including a healthier family to grandchildren and even our country than take the action NOW.  For your goal in playing a part is:  1.) You to be healthier and feeling better.  2.) Also, for the next decade & generation to be healthier will help Americans in their lives all around (including our health care showing a spread of disease in lower percentage that for years has been due to poor diet and activity choices by our people, who are so important in helping to decide what and where the health of the present and future of the US people lie.  Should it take our government to make a move (finally after so many years)?  I know I would want the people making the last move in our society and if you want to take part in joining me (at almost 50 y/o) than go to healthyusa.tsfl.com and be a part of making our home a healthy USA.   Take a peek;)

Now knowing the anatomy and physiology of the heart let’s now understand more about cardiac disease in how they develop and in how it effects the engine of the body, being the heart, and the overall parts of the body which will be PART II tomorrow on Friday.

“Let both sides seek to invoke the wonders of science instead of its terrors. Together let us explore the stars, conquer the deserts, eradicate disease, tap the ocean depths, and encourage the arts and commerce.”
John F. Kennedy ((May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963 35^th President of the U.S.)

To eradicate illnesses or diseases in this country we the people need to take a stand in what is acceptable as HEALTHY and NOT HEALTHY if we want things to change for the better of everyone now and generation to come.  Take a look at what poor dieting and unhealthy habits due to you personally and the people around you including the future generations impacting the health care economy.

We live for generations relying more on treatment versus prevention (secondary versus primary care).  Yes we have drastically improved in the health care system leaning more to primary through further research and technology.  Also, we have advanced in practicing prevention to some degree; that would be regarding certain illnesses/disease but the society in our nation is still too high on being the ones relying on treatment rather than prevention.  Adults alone are 65% obese which is a main cause for certain diseases remaining on the rise in this country.  These diseases are still on the rise due to some of our cultural eating habits in our homes.  For American culture that includes the restaurant industry and social acceptance of the do’s and don’ts in our communities.  Out of homes in America we are exposed to fast foods, lack of allowing kids to play in a baseball fields with safe/ responsible adults because they don’t have a permit, no desire to be active due to being in the computer too many hours or even watching TV instead of 30 to 60 minutes of exercise squeezed in our daily schedules somewhere.  Due to this behavior we inflict on ourselves either increasing risks of or the cause of or worsening of diseases or illnesses in American citizens or any citizen in some country who lives the same life style; ending line its due to the diet or the poor health habits practiced in the individual’s life.  If you and others knew in our country the baby steps in becoming healthier NOW not tomorrow it would benefit your health and your life line extending it dramatically, especially if you start in your younger years with no illness/disease or very little.  You’ve heard the line I’ll start next month with next month never happening or this will be my New Year’s resolution on Christmas and it’s already forgotten on Jan. 1st.  Unfortunately a lot end up with the poor health due to their sedentary life style being their diet and poor healthy habits.  Don’t put it off anymore, take the first step, and increase the changes you need to a better mind and body.  Join me with others in learning healthy habits.   Prevent the following diseases that obesity alone can cause, which are: 

1. High Blood Pressure–High blood pressure is the primary cause of death among Americans older than 25. About 75 million people suffer from high blood pressure or hypertension, which is a major risk factor for heart disease. Blood pressure tends to increase with weight gain and age. It is not known why obesity is a major cause of high blood pressure. However, research has shown that obese patients displayed an increase in blood volume and arterial resistance causing more stress to the heart. For people who are overweight and have high blood pressure, losing as little as 8 pounds can help reduce blood pressure to a safe level.

2. Diabetes–Obesity is considered one of the most significant factors in the development of insulin resistance, and insulin resistance can lead to type 2 diabetes. According to the World Health Organization, more than 90 percent of diabetes patients worldwide have type 2 diabetes. Being overweight or obese contributes to the development of diabetes by making cells more resistant to the effects of insulin. A weight loss of 15-20 pounds can help you decrease your risk of developing type 2 diabetes 

3. Heart Disease — According to the American Heart Association, obesity is a major risk factor for developing coronary heart disease, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. People who are overweight are at a greater risk of suffering a heart attack before the age of 45.  Obese adolescents have a greater chance of having a heart attack before the age of 35 than non-obese adolescents. If you are overweight, losing 10-15 pounds can reduce your risk of developing heart disease. If you exercise regularly, the risk of developing heart disease falls even more.

4. High Cholesterol levels — High cholesterol is one of the leading causes of heart attacks. Cholesterol is transported through your blood in two ways: the low density lipoprotein (LDL), which transports cholesterol to the cells that need it, and the high density lipoprotein (HDL), which is the healthy cholesterol that reduces your risk for heart attack. Having high LDL levels raises your risk of having heart disease by 20 percent. Losing 11-20 pounds can help you significantly reduce your cholesterol level.

5. Cancer — A study by the American Heart Association found that being overweight increases your chances for developing cancer by 50 percent. Women have a higher risk of developing cancer if they are more than 20 pounds overweight. Regular exercise and a weight loss of as little as 12 pounds can significantly decrease the risk.

6. Infertility — Being obese can cause changes in the hormonal levels of women, which can result in ovarian failure. Women who are 15-25 pounds overweight are at a higher risk of suffering from infertility and ovarian cancer. Our bodies need to be at an appropriate weight to produce the right amount of hormones and regulate ovulation and menstruation. Don’t think men are immune to infertility. Overweight men have a greater chance of developing motility and a lower sperm count. Shedding 12-14 pounds can help you lower the risks.

7. Back Pain — Obesity is one the contributing factors of back and joint pain. Excessive weight can cause injury to the most vulnerable parts of the spine, which carries the body’s weight. When it has to carry excess weight, the odds of suffering from a spinal injury or structural damage increase. Being overweight also raises the risk of developing osteoporosis, lower back pain, arthritis, and osteoarthritis. Losing 10-15 pounds can help you decrease the risk of developing these problems.

8. Skin Ulcers & leading to infected ulcers — Obese and overweight individuals may have skin that folds over on itself. These creased areas can become irritated from the rubbing and sweating, which can cause alteration in the skin from a rash first forming to an actual ulcer of the skin occuring that can lead to ulcer skin infections (local infections) that can go further into systemic infections (which is an infection throughout the circulatory system).

9. Gastric Ulcers — According to a study by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), obesity can be a contributing factor to the development of gastric ulcers. Gastric ulcers occur when there is an imbalance between the amount of hydrochloric acid that is secreted and the enzyme pepsin. Overweight men are at a greater risk of developing gastric ulcers than women. A weight loss of as little as 7 pounds can help reduce the risk.

10. Gallstones — Being severely overweight increases the risk of developing gallstones, especially in women. Gallstones are caused when the liver releases excessive amounts of bile, which is stored in the gallbladder. Gallstones are more common in older women and those with a family history of gallstones. Losing 4-9 pounds reduces the risk of developing gallstones. Moderate exercise also can help lower your risk.

If you suffer from type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes, cardiac disease including high blood pressure or cholesterol and need to lose weight I can help you manage the disease through nutrition and fitness education including behavior modification.  You will  learn healthy habits that will help you lose weight through Dr. Anderson and me as your health coach for direction .   My blog healthierusa.tsfl.com can help people with diseases that are inflicted or impacted by obesity.  I can assist you in losing weight that only benefits you with the diseases I have mentioned in both prevention or in helping you take care of it with whatever your doctor prescribes (if needed).  Take the right step in moving towards a healthier, happier and even longer lifestyle.  Take a peek at my website healthierusa.tsfl.com at no price, no hacking, just seeing what can you do in making the choices you want to becoming healthy, at your pace.  I hope you like myself and so many others take the step in reaching a healthier body and spread the news to make America overall a healthier country.  It is recommended anyone with a disease or illness to first check with your doctor for clearance before doing any diet or activity changes you plan to add to your life to prevent injury.

References

American Heart Association, National Institutes of Health, mediweightlossclinics.com and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.