Heart Aid Project 2.0: Top 5 Keys to a Healthy Heart

Friday, October 28, 2016

Top 5 Keys to a Healthy Heart

One in four deaths per year in the US results from heart disease, according to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention -- it is the foremost cause of death for both genders and most ethnic groups. Approximately 735,000 people in the country per year suffer heart attacks. Everyone knows better health comes from a combination of a healthy diet and regular exercise, but most are unable to put this into action even when they have a family history or high risk factors of cardiovascular disease.

With that in mind, here are the top 5 keys to a healthy heart.

1. Get Up

In modern society, most people sit at a desk, in a car, or in front of a screen for the bulk of their day. Physical inactivity is one of the top factors that lead to heart disease, according to the CDC, yet less than one-third of the population are moving enough. To boost heart health, stand up every 30 minutes, alternate between sitting and standing at work if possible, and consider cycling to work one or two days a week. Electric bikes, for example, have been shown to increase exercise levels while making the commute to work easier than ordinary bicycles. At the end of the day, take a brisk walk or do housework for a good cardio workout that adds up over the week and use a heart rate monitor to track it!

2. Drink Tea

Instead of consuming alcohol, which is another top factor for heart disease, have a few cups of tea. The flavonoids in tea keep coronary arteries from hardening, according to the Journal of the American College of Nutrition. The benefits show up even without long-term use, so individuals would not have to drink tea over a lifetime as the Chinese do to lower their chances of cardiovascular disease and cardiac death.

3. Eat Better

Recent studies have shown berries such as blueberries, cranberries, and strawberries decrease inflammation, increase antioxidant levels, and bring other benefits that improve the heart over all. Both "exotic" berries -- such as acai and blackcurrants -- and common choices such as blackberries and raspberries protect the heart. The Journal of Nutritional Science also touts almonds for raising the level of good fats and decreasing cholesterol in blood, which in turn increases heart health. Almonds are of course a common component of a Mediterranean diet, which is one of the top keys to a healthy heart in itself.

What about those who are not interested in fruit or nuts, but still wish to be healthier? Early research results suggest they should add more whole-fat dairy to their routine, such as cheese, yogurt, and cultured milk products.

4. Have an Open Heart

Research shows feeling grateful and helping others is physically good for the heart. According to the University of California San Diego School of Medicine, focusing on what's good in other people and in life helps the body handle damage to and plaque in the coronary arteries. When doctors asked patients to record and focus on those positive things, the patients' heart rhythms improved in just two months. The American Journal of Cardiology also reports that having sex two or more times a week significantly lowers the chances of heart disease. Opening one's heart to other people is truly good for the heart.

On top of these top 5 keys to a healthy heart, scientists continue to discover more ways to improve heart health and prevent heart disease. Follow these tips and enjoy a longer, healthier life instead of becoming a mere statistic.

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Modern Medical Technology Makes the Heart Grow Fonder

Now that it is officially the year 2016, medicine just keeps evolving in conjunction with that of technology. This is true in cardiology and also in all other fields of medicine. Particularly, for cardiologists it is quite exciting to see how far this specialty has come in regards to the new heart pacemaker technology available for patients in needs. Individuals are living longer with the aforementioned medical advances and the degree of safety along with much higher standards that physicians are held to on a daily basis .

The Micra

In April of this year, the Federal Drug Agency approved Medtronic's newest heart pacemaker called "The Micra". This amazing device is not only implanted inside the heart but it is named appropriately so because of the fact that is actually the size of a small capsule. This device is the smallest heart pacemaker in the world; in fact it is reportedly only one tenth the size of all other 'normal' pacemakers on the market. What is even more astounding is that the heart does not even have to be touched directly nor an incision to the heart made because of the fact that the physician approaches implantation via the shoulder. The implanting doctor starts the procedure by making the incision at the shoulder and then proceeding by going through a blood vessel to properly place "The Micra" in the right ventricle chamber of the heart.

Wireless Pacemakers

Another advancement made in heart pacemaker technology is that doctors now have wireless pacemakers. This enables them to implant pacemakers and no longer worry about attached leads. Harvard Health reports that while heart pacemakers in general are stable medical devices, the most common problems associated are those with the leads. They are often times the source of problems or infections therefore this elimination makes pacemakers safer in general for the population that requires them.

With almost one million patients receiving pacemakers each year, new heart pacemaker technology is something that must continue to advance rapidly as science and learning are both two things that are always progressing. Medtronic even has an application available to patients with smartphones - whether it is on an Android or Apple platform - called MyCare Link Smart Monitor. With just the click of a button or the use of a smartphone application, patients are able to see their own stats as per their implanted pacemaker and can also transmit this data to physicians. Such can also be uploaded to a Medtronic service called Carelink which is resourceful because the aforementioned will monitor at risk patients and if detected, send a notification from the center to the authorized treating physician.

All of the above are amazing, new heart pacemaker technology advances that have changed many lives and will only continue to do so. Again, it is not only cardiology that benefits from clinical research but all other subspecialties and specialties in the medical field. There should be no doubt that even a cure for cancer will one day be found.