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February is for heart lovers.
February is Heart Health Awareness Month and a good time to pay attention to the hardest working organ in our bodies.
Heart disease is one of the leading killers nationally. Let's look at a few things we can do to show our tickers some love.
According to the American Heart Association, the top five suggestions for heart health are to manage your blood pressure, quit smoking, maintain a healthy weight, reduce stress and improve sleep. Let's take a look at each of these concerns.
High blood pressure, also known as hypertension, has been called the "silent killer" because by the time you notice you have symptoms it's usually in a serious state. High blood pressure puts a strain on the heart and blood vessels and increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
Smoking not only affects the lungs but contributes to coronary artery disease. The heart supplies the rest of the body with blood but the coronary arteries supply the heart with blood—and without good circulation, the heart, like any organ, suffers. It is estimated that 20 percent of all deaths from heart disease can be attributed to smoking.
There has been plenty of talk in the news lately about how obesity in America is becoming a major concern for a whole slew of reasons. Carrying around extra weight puts extra strain on the heart, contributing to hypertension and coronary artery ideas, not to mention diabetes and arthritis. Bigger is not always better.
While stress is a part of life, not all stress is bad. The difference between eustress (good stress) and distress (bad stress) is in how we perceive the stimuli that cause the stress. The classic example is a roller coaster. Some people love riding roller coasters for the exhilaration. Others find them terrifying. Same stimulus, different perception.
Unfortunately, life is full of situations that "push our buttons" and have a negative effect on our health by triggering excess amounts of adrenaline, which has a detrimental affect on our well being and heart in particular.
There's nothing like a good night's sleep but unfortunately too many people suffer from a lack of deep, restful, restorative sleep. This in turn has been linked to a whole host of diseases affecting the heart. Our bodies need rest to replenish and repair themselves. Sleep is not wasted time, it's time well spent.
The bad news is that all five of these health concerns are common today.
The good news is there's planet we can do to correct them.
Acupuncture and Chinese medicine can help treat these health problems naturally, and effectively. Acupuncture has been proven to stimulate the release of endorphins, the body's natural stress relievers. Endorphins are our natural "feel good" chemicals that reduce cravings for cigarettes and food along with decreasing stress, high blood pressure and promoting restful sleep.
Chinese herbs have been used for centuries to treat all of these health issues as well. Along with a healthy diet, proper exercise and regular check–ups, acupuncture can play a significant role in helping maintain optimum heart health.
© 2010 Larry Forsberg. All rights reserved.
Articles posted on this Web site are for personal use only and remain the property of Larry Forsberg, L.Ac.
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