Print ArticleWhen many of us work out, we target specific parts of our body. We aim for six-pack abdominals, bigger biceps or smaller "love handles." We all want to look good on the outside.
Unfortunately, many of us don´t pay enough attention to what´s on the inside, forgetting our body´s most important muscle: the heart. It´s an absolutely amazing machine and, unlike muscles that we see in the mirror, the heart never gets a break. It has to keep going, even when our other muscles rest.
Maintaining your heart is critical to a long, healthy life. But too many of us ignore it.
Coronary heart disease and stroke accounted for more American deaths in 2004 than all forms of cancer combined. And the leading cause of heart disease and stroke is atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is what our parents and grandparents used to call hardening of the arteries. It involves the gradual deposit of fatty substances called plaque along the inside of our arteries, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As plaque builds up over the years, it can hinder the blood supply to one or more parts of the body.
If that happens in your brain, for example, you´re at a high risk of having a stroke. If blood flow to your arms or legs becomes limited, you could face anything from numbness and pain to tissue death and gangrene. And if you´re a man, there´s another part of the body to worry about: Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of erectile dysfunction. In fact, a study found that over 60 percent of men who´d suffered heart attacks had erectile dysfunction before they knew they had cardiovascular disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Yet only about half of Americans understand how dangerous atherosclerosis really is, according to a recent Harris survey. Part of the reason is that most people don´t experience any symptoms until it´s too late. Heart attacks kill 600,000 Americans every year.
That´s the bad news. The good news is that atherosclerosis is also highly preventable, and there are some common sense steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Step One: Get fit
A great starting point is getting up off the couch and engaging in regular physical activity. While it may be tempting to just dive into a new workout routine, you should always check with your doctor to make sure your training plan is right for your current medical condition.
Depending on your personal situation and general health, your doctor might recommend a program specifically geared to weight loss, building muscle mass or improving tone.
Step Two: Do the right things
There are plenty of simple steps that can put you on the road to a healthy heart:
Eat more fruits and vegetables, cut back on salt and cook low-fat, low-cholesterol meals.
Stop smoking.
Keep an eye on your LDL cholesterol. This is the "bad" cholesterol that can result in more plaque deposits in your arteries.
Step Three: Talk with your doctor
Sometimes, you need a little more than diet or exercise to maintain proper heart health. Sometimes it´s genetic and there is not a lot you can do about it. In those cases, there are a number of medications you can discuss with your doctor that can slow down the process of hardening arteries.
A simple aspirin can reduce the chance of blood clots formed by platelets that can clump together in the bloodstream. Some statins have even been shown to slow the progression of atherosclerosis. There also are anticoagulants like heparin or warfarin that can thin your blood, thereby helping prevent clots.
Remember: Your heart is the engine that drives your body. Keep it fueled with the right foods, and don´t allow atherosclerosis to gum it up.
For more information about heart health, go to:
Us against Athero: www.usagainstathero.com
American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4440
Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.com
Healthology: http://www.healthology.com/
WebMD: http://www.webmd.com
Joe Decker is recognized as "The World´s Fittest Man" because he is an ultra-endurance power athlete, renowned fitness trainer, motivational author and speaker who has helped thousands of women, men, children and seniors get into shape and lose weight.
Once overweight and out-of-shape, Joe transformed his body and his life through an amazing journey from fat-to-fit. In 2000, Joe broke the Guinness World RecordsŪ 24-hour Physical Fitness Challenge to help inspire and motivate people to get fit.
He recently authored the book, The World´s Fittest You, which outlines how anyone can get on the road to a lifetime of physical fitness with hard work and discipline.
Unfortunately, many of us don´t pay enough attention to what´s on the inside, forgetting our body´s most important muscle: the heart. It´s an absolutely amazing machine and, unlike muscles that we see in the mirror, the heart never gets a break. It has to keep going, even when our other muscles rest.
Maintaining your heart is critical to a long, healthy life. But too many of us ignore it.
Coronary heart disease and stroke accounted for more American deaths in 2004 than all forms of cancer combined. And the leading cause of heart disease and stroke is atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis is what our parents and grandparents used to call hardening of the arteries. It involves the gradual deposit of fatty substances called plaque along the inside of our arteries, which carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body. As plaque builds up over the years, it can hinder the blood supply to one or more parts of the body.
If that happens in your brain, for example, you´re at a high risk of having a stroke. If blood flow to your arms or legs becomes limited, you could face anything from numbness and pain to tissue death and gangrene. And if you´re a man, there´s another part of the body to worry about: Atherosclerosis is a leading cause of erectile dysfunction. In fact, a study found that over 60 percent of men who´d suffered heart attacks had erectile dysfunction before they knew they had cardiovascular disease, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Yet only about half of Americans understand how dangerous atherosclerosis really is, according to a recent Harris survey. Part of the reason is that most people don´t experience any symptoms until it´s too late. Heart attacks kill 600,000 Americans every year.
That´s the bad news. The good news is that atherosclerosis is also highly preventable, and there are some common sense steps you can take to reduce your risk.
Step One: Get fit
A great starting point is getting up off the couch and engaging in regular physical activity. While it may be tempting to just dive into a new workout routine, you should always check with your doctor to make sure your training plan is right for your current medical condition.
Depending on your personal situation and general health, your doctor might recommend a program specifically geared to weight loss, building muscle mass or improving tone.
Step Two: Do the right things
There are plenty of simple steps that can put you on the road to a healthy heart:
Eat more fruits and vegetables, cut back on salt and cook low-fat, low-cholesterol meals.
Stop smoking.
Keep an eye on your LDL cholesterol. This is the "bad" cholesterol that can result in more plaque deposits in your arteries.
Step Three: Talk with your doctor
Sometimes, you need a little more than diet or exercise to maintain proper heart health. Sometimes it´s genetic and there is not a lot you can do about it. In those cases, there are a number of medications you can discuss with your doctor that can slow down the process of hardening arteries.
A simple aspirin can reduce the chance of blood clots formed by platelets that can clump together in the bloodstream. Some statins have even been shown to slow the progression of atherosclerosis. There also are anticoagulants like heparin or warfarin that can thin your blood, thereby helping prevent clots.
Remember: Your heart is the engine that drives your body. Keep it fueled with the right foods, and don´t allow atherosclerosis to gum it up.
For more information about heart health, go to:
Us against Athero: www.usagainstathero.com
American Heart Association: http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=4440
Mayo Clinic: www.mayoclinic.com
Healthology: http://www.healthology.com/
WebMD: http://www.webmd.com
Joe Decker is recognized as "The World´s Fittest Man" because he is an ultra-endurance power athlete, renowned fitness trainer, motivational author and speaker who has helped thousands of women, men, children and seniors get into shape and lose weight.
Once overweight and out-of-shape, Joe transformed his body and his life through an amazing journey from fat-to-fit. In 2000, Joe broke the Guinness World RecordsŪ 24-hour Physical Fitness Challenge to help inspire and motivate people to get fit.
He recently authored the book, The World´s Fittest You, which outlines how anyone can get on the road to a lifetime of physical fitness with hard work and discipline.
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