Natural, holistic medicine: Your weapon against heart health hassles

Chronic illnesses like heart disease account for seven in 10 deaths across the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. With drug and surgery costs skyrocketing, optimizing one's heart health through preventive methods is the way to go.

 

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Some natural strategies have been proven to reduce the risk of having a heart attack. Up the chances of a better health with these strategies worth trying now:

A "heart healthy" diet. Studies show a diet composed of foods rich in soluble fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, and soy reduces bad cholesterol levels and inflammation of the arteries. Supplement this diet with the right amounts of vitamin E, vitamin C, beta-carotene and magnesium. Get those nutrients from foods such as carrot, broccoli, and fatty fish such as salmon.

 

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Stress management. "The connection between stress and heart disease is significant," says Dr. Rose Kumar, medical director of the Ommani Center for Integrative Medicine. Excessive worrying and stress can cause spasms in the arteries, creating room for plaque into which bad cholesterol may enter. Practicing yoga can boost moods and reduce stress, and so can meditation. Another mind and body exercise called qigong involves breathing and movement techniques that promote better circulation.

 

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Positivity. Simply maintaining a positive outlook in dealing with stressful situations can lower blood pressure levels, a study reported in Prevention.com reveals. The technique, called positive emotion refocusing, significantly lowered the blood pressure level of all the study participants. The result is that 12 percent of them even reduced their drug intake. Doing it is no rocket science. Just conjure a positive feeling like love for your loved ones as soon as anxiety sets in.  

A cardiologist and thrice-published author and co-author, Dr. Steven Farber advocates an alternative, cost-effective approach to preventing and overcoming deadly illnesses such as heart disease. Visit this site to learn how to achieve better heart health.

The link between sleeping habits and obesity among toddlers

It has long been established that there is a strong link between loss of sleep and weight gain among adolescents and adults. Obesity is primarily attributed to one’s hormones and the body received mixed signals regarding hunger and fullness when it does not get enough sleep.

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A recent British study meanwhile shows that this link exists among youngsters as well, particularly among toddlers. The study, which focused on children age 16 to 21 months from over 1,300 British families, showed that those who slept for less than 10 hours a day consumed around 10 percent more calories than those who slept for 13 or more hours. The root cause, the researchers assert, is that the lack of sleep brings around a similar disruption of hormone levels related to appetite.

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The link may not come as a surprise for those who have experienced a similar pattern, but the study is revolutionary in the sense that it is the first one to do actual measurements on young children, especially kids who are 3 years of age and below. The study also took into consideration the factor of parental decision-making: the patterns between sleep and obesity among adolescents and adults are much more direct, because they are the ones who decide when and how much they want to eat, something that toddlers do not have as much control over. Thus, the link is not a direct cause-and-effect one, only one that brings up the possibility that children who sleep less may be prone to the increased calorie consumption, thus making them more prone to obesity by association, a possibility parents will have to be aware of.  

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Dr. Steven Farber is an accomplished physician whose expertise spans healthcare finance and management, cardiology, and internal medicine. Learn more about his stellar career here.