Issue No. 11 - Healthy Heart

The old saying of dying of a broken heart may hold some truth.  Researchers are finding out that sudden overwhelming emotional stress can trigger symptoms similar to those of a heart attack due to the massive amount of chemicals being released as the body's response to stress.  According to researchers at John Hopkins University, the release of these stress hormones can be temporarily toxic to the heart, effectively stunning the muscle and producing symptoms similar to a typical heart attack, including chest pain, fluid in the lungs, shortness of breath and heart failure.  It is important to note that in most cases there is not any permanent, irreversible damage done to the heart.  However, recent studies suggest that the mind/heart connection is much stronger than once thought and that psychological stress can affect our overall health and well-being.  The science behind this is starting to emerge and there is more evidence that what our mind says and feels really can affect the heart. 

Stress can kill and here is why

Although it is not actually "stress" that kills us, it is the stress hormones that have detrimental effects on our bodies and over the long term lead to poor health and potentially an earlier demise.  Negative emotions like sadness, anger, frustration result in stress and anxiety causing biochemical changes in the body.  The release of these stress hormones can cause various changes including an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, inflammation, disrupted digestion, sleep disturbances and so much more.

The news is not all bad...

The mind/heart connection is much stronger than once thought and that although psychological stress can affect our overall health and well-being, the good news is that the power of positive emotions is becoming clearer along with the positive impact it has on our health. It has earned the term behavioural cardiology and there has been a dramatic increase of research in this field.

One study from the University of Pittsburgh suggests that positive emotions like happiness and optimism have been linked to healthier hearts and fewer signs of early heart disease than in individuals who were more pessimistic.

Patch Adams: A Pioneer of Joy

Who didn't love Robin Williams' portrayal in the movie of Patch Adams, the director and founder of the Gesundheit Institute in Washington, DC.  Dr Adams has touched many lives and brought the value of joy and laughter to our attention and that of the medical establishment when there was little if any academic research on this subject.

According to Adams happiness is a choice that you make, and a practice. We can build meaningful lives that bring us joy. And it can be a simple and fun process. Happiness is not something we have to earn, deserve or that is external to us. It is the result of cultivating positive thinking, emotions, virtues and strengths that can buffer us against life's misfortunes and build lasting levels of contentment and gratification

So do you want to die of a broken heart?   If not, start laughing.  That's right, laughing......

Did you know that laughing for 15 minutes can actually increase circulation to the heart?  Other health benefits include:

• An increase in endorphin levels- the natural "feel good" hormone.
• Reduction of adrenaline and cortisol, the stress hormones
• Reduction in muscle tension
• Increase in oxygen

Laughter may very well help to prevent heart disease, insomnia and depression.  But laughter alone is not the only answer.  Other ingredients involved in the recipe for a healthy heart include

Omega 3 essential fatty acids found in fish and fish oil supplements.  These necessary products reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.  Research has shown that they

• decrease risk of arrhythmias, which can lead to sudden cardiac death
• decrease triglyceride levels
• decrease growth rate of atherosclerotic plaque
• lower blood pressure

Co Q10 is important nutrient shown to benefit heart disease, atherosclerosis and hypertension.  It plays a role in energy production and is a valuable antioxidant that inhibits free radical damage. As CoQ10 is especially important for heart function, there is evidence that statin drugs actually lower plasma concentrations of CoQ10 and daily supplementation of CoQ10 can be beneficial for individuals taking these prescription medications.

Multi-vitamin/mineral formulation is a nutritional supplement essential for everyone to take each day.  It makes up for the shortfalls in vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are missing from our daily diets.  According to the Council for Responsible Nutrition large observational studies support the use of a multivitamin and Vitamin E to help lower the risk for heart disease.  Folic acid and the B-vitamins also help reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease as well as supporting the nervous system during stress. The nutrition house multi-vitamin for men and women use vitamins and minerals in real usable doses and have added herbal support including hawthorn and grapeseed extract to support heart health, inflammation and circulation.