AVOID THINGS THAT STRESS YOUR HEART It goes without saying that no one wants to develop heart problems. This is bcause developing such is not just one of the surest paths to early death, surviving it can also decrease your quality of life in many ways. Yet, cardiologists warn that in addition to keeping from saturated fats that are usually found in denatured ad processed foods, we also need to recognise certain stealthy factors that can stress the heart and lead to damnable consequences, health-wise. What are these sly factors that we need to guard against? Please read on. Too little, too much sleep According to Consultant Cardiologist, Dr. Greg Obi, when you don’t get enough sleep, your heart becomes stressed. Conversely, he informs, when you also sleep too much, your heart health is also in danger! Sounds strange, isn’t it? For one, experts say, sleep — in the right quantity and quality — keeps the immune system strong; and where anything goes wrong with your sleep pattern as to make you unable to sleep, your heart health is at stake. ‘How come?’ you may ask. Obi says when people who are suffering from hypertension or heart failure are treated for sleep problems, the measures of their blo pressure or heart failure are significantly improved. He adds that those who sleep less than six hours per night — as well as those who sleep for nine or more hours at night — are at increased risk of heart disease. Researchers say that short sleepers have a 48 per cent increased risk of developing or dying from coronary heart disease; while long sleepers (those who sleep for nine or more hours a night) stand a 38 per cent increased risk of developing or dying from CHD. Obi explains, though, that lack of sleep doesn’t necessarily cause heart disease. “Rather, what happens is that it really increases the risk factors for heart disease,” he assures. The bottom line: Aim for quality sleep that is neither too short nor too long. Air pollution Epidemiologists say the air we breathe in these days is filled with chemicals that are being unleashed on the environment due to indiscriminate manufacturing activities. Perhaps you are unaware, the fume that comes out of your generator, or the one spewed out by the pure water manufacturing industry in your neighbourhood is capable of giving you heart problems as time goes on. A Professor of Reproductive Endocrinology, Oladapo Ashiru, warns that many people’s blood system has been polluted as a result of regularly breathing in pollutants. Ashiru warns that air pollution can affect heart health, while it can also trigger heart attacks, which can result in stroke. The end result is agonising death, Obi adds. The physician says those who are exposed to air pollution for a long time risk heart diseases because the particles that come with fumes wreak debilitating effects on the heart, nervous and vascular systems. “Those who live near sources of pollution such as major roadways, ports, and railways tend to be badly exposed to air pollution,” Ashiru notes. Again, the bottom line is to make sure that you and your household are not exposed to exhaust fumes from generators, vehicles, industrial plants, etc. And if you live in problem areas as enumerated above, please, change residence! Heavy metal toxins “Heavy metal toxins such as lead, mercury and cadmium can be present in dangerous quantities in the blood of people who are exposed to them,” Ashiru warns. He argues that even if you are able to run away from them by living in clean environment, some of these toxins get into the blood system via the foods we eat. Corroborating this, a nutritionist, Ms. Grace Dada, says sometimes, sea foods come with warnings, informing the consumer that they have heavy metal toxins. “When you see such warnings, please, don’t ignore them. Steer off the food. This is because in some countries, such warnings are enforced because the sea food you are about to eat probably came from a river that is surrounded by manufacturing industries,” Dada says. Well, you may not know where your sea food comes from, but be wary of eating fish such as sharks and swordfish, which, experts say, can have very high mercury concentrations in their meat. Mackerel, crab and croaker are also high-risk sea foods. And when it comes to fruit, even nutritionists are afraid to give an unfettered ‘go ahead’ again. Relating how “corrupt” fruits have become, Dada notes that fruit should be consumed with caution, especially because of the unethical activities that go with planting, harvesting and preservation. “And the further the journey a fruit goes, the more the impurities, and the more exposed you are to toxins that can impact your heart health,” the nutritionist counsels. The bottom line? Be careful of those imported, beautiful and shiny fruits at the supermarket. Eat more of the fruits that are grown here by buying in the local market, instead of shopping for fruits in high-end super marts. Pessimism and sadness Well, you can hardly be happy when you are a pessimist. If you always see the cup as ‘half empty’ instead of ‘half filled,’ psychologists say, chances are that you are stressing your heart too much — a situation that can culminate in heart disease if persisted in. A psychologist, Dr. Georgina Martins, says optimism enables you to view the future with hope; and that being hopeful makes you less sad. This will make you prepare to live healthy, while encouraging the people around you to do the same. Martins adds, “Sadness weighs so much on the heart, because it also breeds fear. That is why, when you are afraid, your heartbeat increases; and, for some people, they can actually hear the heavy thudding of the heartbeat. Needless to say, such situation is the surest path to heart attack, stroke and, in worse scenario, death.” The bottom line: Stay positive. Be happy. Face each day’s challenges as they come, instead of worrying yourself to death about what might likely be. “Sufficient for the day is its own trouble,” the Bible says.
Posted on: Tue, 28 Jan 2014 13:55:23 +0000
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