Heart Health and Homeopathy

Abstract

Statistics suggests that two out of six people will die from heart disease and six out of ten men over age 30 may have signs of heart disease. Yet, the irony is a majority of people continue to disregard their body signals. The result is ‘invited’ trouble sooner than one would think. The saving grace, however, is heart disorders are manageable; besides, they can be prevented, or even reversed, with timely, professional medical treatment. A multitude of risk factors plays a role in the development of heart disease-cigarette, smoking, physical inactivity, stress, obesity, high blood cholesterol, hypertension (high blood pressure) and diabetes. These factors are controllable and not controllable. If, for instance, one has any two of any of the following risk factors-high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol and cigarette smoking-the chance that they will have a heart attack is four times greater than if they had none. On the other hand, if they have all the three major controllable risk factors- hypertension, high blood cholesterol and smoking-the chance is eight times greater. It is possible for one to ‘control’ the three major risk factors-viz., diabetes, obesity and sedentary lifestyle as also other accompanying factors, such as type ‘A’ personality, besides aggression, certain medical conditions and conventional medications. However, there are factors that are not under one’s control: male susceptibility, family history and increased age. The best way one can reduce the risk of heart disease is by minimizing, or avoiding, the risk factors-giving up smoking, avoiding alcohol, restricting salt usage, limiting calorie intake, exercising regularly, reducing emotional stress, getting monitored and investigated for hypertension, elevated fat, cholesterol and other factors. The first step, of course, should be aimed to lower one’s high blood pressure-the higher the blood pressure, the greater is the risk of heart attack, stroke and kidney disease. More importantly, if any of one’s close relatives have had high blood pressure, at an early age, such individuals should be advised to have their blood pressure monitored on a regular basis.