Natural Treatment for Heartburn - How to Make it Work for You

People who suffer from heartburn usually find themselves in wanting of a treatment that works. Natural treatment for heartburn works as well as any other available treatments. However, the effectiveness of these natural treatments-or any treatment, for that matter-is how well a person can keep his or her self on track all the time. Even the simplest of tips will not work in achieving full healing without sufficient self-control, discipline, and determination.

The first tip in the process of treating heartburn is to eat food that will not cause damage when ingested. Some food-with sharp edges or rough textures-ends up inflicting small wounds in the lower esophageal sphincter. Such food must be avoided to keep this from happening.

Additionally, beverages with alcohol must be avoided. This is especially true for people whose regular diets include regular consumption of alcoholic beverages. For natural treatment for heartburn to become effective, staying away from such beverages, and even drinks that are considered acidic, which include orange juice or lemon juice, is important. This, of course, includes staying away from carbonated beverages which include popular sodas and cola products.

The third tip is to keep off the spicy food. Unfortunately for lovers of spicy food, spicy food causes heartburn. This requires some changes in the foods included in the diet. This is because under no circumstances will people with heartburn successfully employ the natural treatment for heartburn by carrying on with spicy or acidic food.

The fourth way of applying natural treatment for heartburn, and particularly interesting, is to stop smoking. Treating heartburn the natural way requires the elimination, not only of smoking but also of products that contain high levels of caffeine. This means removing smoking from one's habits, and reducing if not eliminating consumption of things such as coffee.

Of course, tips to make natural treatments for heartburn work won't be complete if it doesn't advise against stuffing tons of food into one's mouth. Chewing slowly aids in digestion. Easily digestible food like mash potatoes, soup, oatmeal, and even scrambled eggs works very well with helping the human body to heal itself naturally from wounds incurred during heartburn.

While these are extremely simple and may seem second nature to many, people who experience heartburn need to recognize that it's in the implementation that it becomes difficult. Determination, discipline and self-control are important in making sure that all the previous tips in fact lead up to the desired result of natural treatment for heartburn. While the speed of recovery differs from patient to patient, it is nonetheless the equally required of them to keep healthier lives in the future, eating healthier food in moderation.

See how many are finding freedom and relief from heartburns using natural treatments for heartburn from my health blog.

Davion is a successful webmaster, author and healthy lifestyle advocate. Discover more effective and natural heartburn treatments and how you can cure your heartburn easily and naturally from home at http://Natural-Heartburn-Treatments.blogspot.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Davion_Wong

Living Better With Cardiomyopathy Right Now!

You are taking quite a few prescription medications to help with the symptoms of cardiomyopathy, and you are feeling okay, but the improvements in your heart aren't happening very quickly or maybe not at all. You are feeling better, but you still have heart failure and you might be wondering if you will need to take all these medications from now on. Are they going to fix your cardiomyopathy or is this just a temporary fix?

Cardiomyopathy can become a more serious condition if your heart doesn't improve its muscle functions. The heart muscle loses its ability to pump blood and becomes abnormally enlarged. Blood clots may form because of the stagnation of blood in the heart chambers and this may lead to embolism and reduced blood supply to other areas such as the brain, gut and extremities.

There are different types of Cardiomyopathy:

Dilated Cardiomyopathy, also known as congestive cardiomyopathy is a condition where the heart becomes enlarged or dilated because the heart muscles are too weak to pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. Arrhythmia or Abnormal heart rhythms are sometimes present in patients with dilated cardiomyopathy. The heart structure that has changed with the cardiomyopathy affects the way that the electrical signals regulating the heartbeat travel through the heart, therefore causing tachycardia, which is increased heartbeat or rbradycardia, meaning decreased heartbeat.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an abnormal thickening of the muscular heart wall. This leads to obstruction of blood flow from the heart, known as HOCM or hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy.

Restrictive cardiomyopathy is a rare form of cardiomyopathy. In this case, the heart muscle becomes rigid and so the heart has difficulty relaxing and cannot fill properly. The heart is unable to pump blood as effectively as it should be.

Prescription drugs will help tremendously to help you heart function better for now, but will they heal your heart? Medical doctors concede that the medications that are given to Cardiomyopathy patients cannot reverse the damage already done to the heart muscle. So this means that you will probably need to stay on them for a very long time just to keep your heart functioning normally. The problem is that in most cases, over time your heart may eventually get weaker and a heart transplant will be recommended by your cardiologist.

There are other solutions that can be effective but where do you turn? I have found that proper nutrition is the key to most all sickness. And it can help your heart failure or cardiomyopathy. There are no known bad side effects, and recommended nutrition along with your prescribed medications can have positive results in cardiomyopathy patients.

Instead of accepting that prescription medications alone are the only treatment for cardiomyopathy, it might be beneficial to investigate the latest nutritional advantages just for your heart health.

Verona Raymond knows nutritional supplements and diet can be positively effective in the outcome of cardiomyopathy, and the health of your heart. For more valuable information and an effective solution, visit:http://www.cardiomyopathy-treatment.com

Disclaimer: The information in this article is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Verona_Raymond

Tryglicerides - Controlling Your Levels

Triglycerides are a type of fat found in your blood used to store energy, as they play an important role in metabolism as energy sources and transporters of dietary fat. Measured as part of a blood test that measures your cholesterol, triglycerides and cholesterol are separate types of fat that circulate in your blood. They are not present only in the body through the consumption of fats, but also through the carbohydrate consumption.

Triglycerides are also made in the liver from carbohydrates and proteins, where they are transported in blood as part of lipoprotein particles, where they are removed as they move through the circulatory system where they break down to form other fats used to build cells within the body. Alcohol abuse can cause elevated levels as well as the increased consumption of sugar.

Contrary to popular belief, a low fat diet is not the solution to lowering your levels. Research suggests that a low-fat diet will produce a result opposite to the desired effect, and the levels will actually increase. This phenomenon is not surprising since insulin resistance may be one of the driving factors behind elevated levels. The proper way to control your levels is by reducing their sugar and grain intake.

Triglycerides are also becoming a primary heart health concern for many people. They should not immediately be branded as bad, they are necessary for survival and are at the core of our bodies energy storage, but that too much of a good thing can prove damaging and even deadly.

Aaron H Prather owns and operates http://www.tryglicerides101.com an informational site about tryglicerides and cholesterol and how to lower them with a proper diet. Tryglicerides

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aaron_Prather

The HDL LDL Ratio - The Key To Preventing Heart Disease

The HDL LDL ratio is an indicator of your risk for heart disease. The better the ratio, the less likely you are to have a heart attack or other cardiovascular problems. I will show you how to increase HDL and the foods to raise HDL.

About the Ratio

High Density Lipoprotein is a substance that carries cholesterol particles from your artery walls back through the bloodstream and into the liver where some of it is metabolized and some excreted from your body in the form of bile salts. Statistics show that when the ratio is favorable, your risk of heart problems is minimized, so it makes sense to learn how to increase HDL, and keep the HDL LDL ratio as good as possible.

The ratio is determined by taking your LDL, (low-density cholesterol) number, and dividing it by your HDL (high-density cholesterol) number. The result is what doctors use to determine your risk of cardiovascular disease.
The higher the HDL, the lower the risk. Lets look at some numbers to give you an idea of how this works.

For example:

* Total cholesterol is: 200

* HDL is: 50

* LDL is: 150

The ratio would be: 3 This would be considered a good ratio, indicating the person would have a lower than average risk of heart disease.

Over time, what was considered to be good or safe levels of cholesterol have been adjusted downward, in part due to the push to get more people on cholesterol lowering medications. Foods to raise HDL have not been emphasized for this reason. The current medical model for prevention of cardiovascular disease focuses on drug therapy. This is why you must learn how to increase HDL and get the optimal HDL LDL ratio to prevent heart disease.

High-density lipoproteins have recently been found to have potent antioxidant activity, and this may well be the reason for its "protective" role in regards to vascular disease. See the notation below:

Vohl MC, Neville TA, Kumarathasan R, Braschi S, Sparks DL: A novel lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase antioxidant activity prevents the formation of oxidized lipids during lipoprotein oxidation. Biochemistry; 1999 May 11;38(19):5976-81

Several things that are known to raise HDL levels.

* Aerobic or interval training exercise

* Dietary changes - with balanced fat intake

* Eat for your blood type and metabolic type

* Specific nutritional supplements

The foods to increase HDL do it in several ways. Some foods like healthy fats, provide the raw materials or (precursors) your body needs to make HDL. Other foods such as high fiber foods and low glycemic fruits and vegetables may indirectly raise HDL by preventing inflammation, boosting antioxidant status, and lowering blood sugar and insulin. Some of these foods may also possess antioxidant activity themselves and work synergistically with HDL to protect against cardiovascular disease.

Specific supplements that will raise HDL levels and help optimize the HDL LDL ratio are:

* Fish oil

* Pantothenic acid (vitamin B-5)

* niacin - (vitamin B-3)

* Gugulipid

* Coenzyme Q-10

* Carnitine

* Vitamin-C

* Magnesium

* Polycosanol

* Vitamin E-complex

* Alpha Lipoic Acid

* N-Acetyl-Cysteine

* CLA - conjugated linoleic acid

All of these supplements help increase HDL levels, however niacin (B-3) and calcium pantothenate (B-5) are the most effective. Focus on them first, and add others if needed.

Foods to Raise HDL

There are a number of foods that are claimed to raise HDL levels. Among these are:

* Fatty fish such as salmon, tuna, mackerel, sardines

* Raw nuts and seeds such as walnuts, pecans, almonds, and flaxseeds

* Whole eggs

* Onions

* Fresh raw low glycemic vegetables - especially dark leafy greens

* Oat bran

* Alcohol - 1 or 2 drinks per day maximum

Action Steps

* Get your HDL LDL ratio tested to establish baseline levels

* Work in 3 sessions of circuit weight training or interval training per week

* Eat for your blood type and metabolic type

* Avoid of refined foods as possible - stick to raw fruits and vegetables

* Be sure to get plenty of good fats in your daily diet

* Supplement with niacin (B-3) and calcium pantothenate (B-5) to raise HDL

The HDL LDL ratio is one of the cornerstones of wellness and antiaging. It's a benchmark that will help you really reduce your risk of heart disease and ensure a long and healthy life!

George Parigian Jr. is age 53 and has lived and worked in the Boston area all of his life. He is an NSCA certified personal trainer. He writes and consults on the topics of health, antiaging, and exercise.

Learn more about antiaging diet and exercise here

Visit his new Wellness and Antiaging Website at: http://www.age-better.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=George_Parigian

Prevent Heart Disease With Flax Seed

Diet and lifestyle dictate the conditions of the human heart. In fact, certain dietary preferences can make or break the physiology of this vital organ and the bodily systems that support its functions. Consider a diet frequently enriched with heaving grams of saturated fats and transfats over salty and greasy meals. This likely promotes hypertension and the gradual build up of cholesterol plaque over the arterial walls which can obstruct the transport of oxygen and blood towards the heart over time, to trigger the onset of heart diseases and other cardiovascular problems. Meanwhile, immense cravings for processed food items packed with carbohydrates, refined sugars and preservatives could upset regular blood sugar levels which become the precursor to pre-diabetes. Complement this diet of empty calories with a sedentary lifestyle and soon enough one would be on the threshold of diabetes mellitus. According to pertinent statistics, 75% of those diagnosed with type II diabetes die of cardiovascular illnesses-including heart disease.

In view of these health-averse diets and lifestyles, is there a way to mitigate its harmful effects on our cardiovascular system, particularly with the heart? Begin with a modest diet shift towards low-fat, low-salt and high nutrition meals. Integrate a mild exercise routine daily and you'll be on your way to averting the risks of elevated blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Though if you prefer a natural dietary support for the cardiovascular system that would strongly prevent the future incidence of heart failure, consider a supplementation of flax seed daily.

On top of the portfolio of nutrients readily available in every serving of milled flax seed is the essential fatty acid called Omega 3, an unsaturated type of fat not synthesized by the body and should therefore be obtained from the diet. The heart healthy benefits of Omega 3 in flax seed emanates from its conveyance of the good cholesterol or HDL into the bloodstream that sweeps the walls of the arteries from an undue build up of bad cholesterol or LDL. These help tone down blood pressure levels and stabilize cardiovascular conditions as well. Moreover, Omega 3 aids in the regulation of metabolic functions that makes flax seed an ideal dietary supplement for pre-diabetics and diabetics alike, likewise due to the nutrient's ability to soothe elevated blood sugar readings.

What are the chances of being diagnosed with heart problems later on in life given our diets and lifestyles? But then again, why reckon its likelihood when you can actually prevent these risks from taking shape through a modest diet change, exercise and of course the daily intake of milled flax seed sprinkled over meals as a dietary supplement. Flax seed supplementation is the approach to a healthy heart!

Bruce Maul is a partner in Gold Flax Seed, Inc. which provides only top quality Flax Seed and Health related products. Learn more about Flax Seed by visiting http://www.goldflaxseed.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Bruce_Maul

Foods That Lower Blood Pressure

The Internet is a wonderful source of "miracle" foods and diets. Some claim to boost your brain power, others your sexual potency. And when it comes to high blood pressure there is certainly no shortage of culinary cures. But do any of these really work?

Unfortunately, most miracle cures - and that covers foods, herbs, supplements, elixirs and potions of all types - are due purely to the placebo effect. The placebo effect can be powerful and should not be underestimated. It accounts for the endless wave of "cures" that suddenly appear promising the moon only to disappear as quickly as the pet rock.

Because of the placebo effect there are always a number of people who believe themselves to be helped by whatever the current craze is. Naturally, they tend to make a lot of noise and it's easy to get caught up in their (often genuine) enthusiasm. But what you don't hear about are the 95% of others who tried Formula X with no effect whatsoever.

But no matter... natural cures are like the proverbial bus; there's always another one coming along right behind.

So we should forget about cures but are there any foods that genuinely help to lower blood pressure? The answer is a qualified yes, but there is nothing you can really count on as a reliable and practical high blood pressure treatment.

For example, beetroot juice was recently in the news for its ability to lower blood pressure, demonstrated in credible scientific experiments. However, keep in mind that the amounts of reduction and duration of its effects are not enough to make a serious difference for people suffering from seriously high blood pressure. And then there's the practicality issue; beetroot juice is hard to get, it's expensive and could you really stand to drink large volumes of the stuff on a daily basis?

Chocolate is another food that has firm scientific support for reducing blood pressure. And this one doesn't suffer the same complaints as beetroot juice; many people would love to be prescribed a daily dose of chocolate! But, again, the benefits are minimal and would probably be cancelled out by the extra weight its users would pile on!

Then there's celery or, even better, celery root. A lot of people swear by it but the jury is still out on the scientific evidence. The same can be said for grapefruit, apple cider vinegar, bananas and oily fish, all foods that some claim to lower blood pressure. These usually have negligible effects, if any. Maybe a chocolate beetroot banana smoothie sprinkled with celery root powder is the answer!

A related issue is foods that we are advised to avoid if you have high blood pressure. This should also be approached with a certain amount of skepticism because there are simply no "bad" foods. Salt, for instance, is a perennial bad boy. But this is groundless. Salt is harmless - in fact, it's healthy when used in the right way. The problem is actually an imbalance of the minerals sodium, magnesium and potassium caused by eating unnatural, processed foods.

Another "bad boy" is usually thought to be cured meats. Salt is again the alleged culprit. But despite the salt, cured meats are in fact good for your blood pressure because they contain nitrates, the same substance in beetroot that is responsible for dropping blood pressure!

If there are any bad foods they are the artificial food substitutes designed to replace salt, butter and other "unhealthy" foods. In fact, it would be fair to say that unnatural, processed, or over-packaged foods are bad.

Which brings us back to our original topic: the right thing to focus on for lower blood pressure is not specific foods in isolation but our overall diet. In fact, there is a specific diet recommended for those with high blood pressure called the DASH diet (Dietary Approach to Stop Hypertension). The DASH diet is really little more than a common sense healthy diet that emphasizes fruits, grains and vegetables while minimizing fatty meats and other high-fat or sugary foods.

But let's forget about acronyms and components. The way to stay healthy and prevent high blood pressure is to eat a varied diet of high-quality, whole, natural, unprocessed foods. It's as simple as that. Remember the salt problem? Whole foods avoid the whole issue because they contain the proper balance of minerals. This kind of diet will keep everything else in balance too, including your blood pressure.

Jan Oliver is an academic, writer and researcher in natural health. See more of her work at http://www.control-your-blood-pressure.com/ - Discover genuine natural ways to lower blood pressure immediately. Click Here to get your free report on dealing with blood pressure.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jan_Oliver

All About Echocardiograms

Echocardiograms, also known as a Doppler ultrasound of the heart or a surface echo, are medical tests that use sound waves to create a moving picture of the heart. Echocardiograms are more detailed than x-rays and do not involve radiation exposure. They are helpful in detecting abnormal heart sounds, an enlarged heart, and investigating unexplained chest pains, shortness of breath, or irregular heartbeats. Additionally, the test can measure the thickness and movement of the heart's walls, if an artificial valve is performing properly, locate blood clots and tumors, and check the cardiac blood flow.

No special preparation is necessary for patients undergoing a Doppler ultrasound. A trained sonographer performs the test then a cardiologist can interpret the results. A transducer, an instrument that transmits high-frequency sound waves, is placed near the patient's ribs. After emitting the waves, it also picks up the echoes and transmits them electronically to an echocardiography machine. This machine interprets the transmissions and creates a moving picture of the heart. Doctors can watch a person's beating heart and visualize many of the structures. Normal results from this test reveal efficient cardiac performance and structure. Abnormal outcomes can uncover heart disease or other complicated ailments such as primary pulmonary hypertension.

Different types of surface echo tests exist. The most common type is a transthoracic echocardiogram that simply involves movement of the transducer to get a view of different parts of the heart. Stress echocardiograms measure blood flow and heart movement after exercise or induced stress. Doppler echocardiograms specifically focus on the movement, speed, and volume of blood flow within the heart. Finally, the transesophageal version of the test reveals a clear picture of the heart by passing a tube down the patient's esophagus. The lungs and chest bones do not interfere with the picture, allowing the cardiologist to interpret the results more easily.

This type of heart examination can uncover primary pulmonary hypertension, a rare and serious disease affecting the blood pressure in the lungs. With elevated pulmonary blood pressure, additional stress is placed on the heart, often causing valve damage. Although primary pulmonary hypertension can be caused by genetics, it is often caused by diet drug use, such as Fen-phen. Once discovered through a test such as an echocardiogram, several treatment options exist, although there are no cures.

If you are interested in learning more, this primary pulmonary hypertension treatment options website can be a helpful source of information.

Joseph Devine

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Joseph_Devine