Battling Heart and Stroke

By Jose Santiago

Of the numerous types of cardiovascular conditions, the one that is most likely to lead to a heart attack is what is known as Coronary Heart Disease or more appropriately, Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). One Condition increased cardiovascular risk is diabetes and high cholesterol level.

You want reduce the risk for CAD. Highly variable cyclic training has been linked to increased anti-oxidant prodcution in the body and an anti-inflammatory response, a more efficient nitric oxide response,which can encourage a healthy cardiovascular system. Also increased metabolic rate response which can assist with weight loos and decrease cholesterol level. To summarize, some of the potential benefits of variable cyclic training compared to steady state endurance training are improved cardiovascular health, increased anti-oxidant protection, improved immune function, reduced risk for joint wear and tear, reduced muscle wasting and increased capacity for the heart to handle life’s every day stressors. In addition, regular cardiovascular exercise can increase the concentration of hemoglobin in blood, allowing the body to become more efficient at transporting oxygen to the cells that need it, as well as removing waste products such as carbon dioxide. Antioxidants protect arteries as well as the heart itself in several ways.

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By Rita Tate

Did you know that if you have diabetes you have a greater chance of dying from heart disease or stroke and it doesn’t make any difference if you are a woman or a man? One reason is high blood levels of sugar make the walls of your blood vessels thicker and cause them to lose their elasticity, which in turn makes it harder for blood to pass through.

Type 1 diabetes is know as juvenile-onset diabetes and usually affects children and young adults and is genetically-linked. The following are some conditions that are typically found in people with type 2 diabetes, which is know as adult-onset diabetes, heart disease and stroke.

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By Don Ford, M.D.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a disease where your blood glucose (sugar) levels are above normal. It results from the inability of the glucose to get into your cells. As a result your cells are starving for their food (glucose). It would be like a starving person surrounded by tables of wonderful food but their mouth has been sewn closed and they can’t eat.

About 17 million Americans are believed to have diabetes and one-third of those patients don’t even know they have it. Diabetes can cause serious health complications including heart disease, blindness, kidney failure, and lower-extremity amputations. Diabetes is the 6th leading cause of death in the US. And most diabetics develop heart disease. In fact, just having diabetes carries the same risk of having a heart attack as someone who has already had such an event. Therefore it is very important for patients that have diabetes to also have a physician that closely monitors and treats their cholesterol levels as well as their blood pressure. Additionally, any use of tobacco products multiplies the risks and should be stopped.

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