Heart Health & Heart Disease

What is heart disease?

Heart disease describes poor health conditions affecting the heart, including disorders of the blood vessels. Cardiovascular disease is widespread and responsible for over 25% of deaths in the U.S. Cardiamin^® was created in an effort to elevate the awareness of the dangers of heart disease and provide a means for supporting heart health. Taking preventative measures, especially when you are at risk for heart disease, may decrease your chances of developing cardiovascular conditions. Being aware of risk factors and supporting heart health by following a good nutritional plan that may include taking heart healthy vitamins are just a few examples of preventative measures.

What are the risks factors for heart disease?

Education and prevention are some of the more powerful tools for battling heart related conditions. If you wait for symptoms to occur before taking action to protect your heart and arteries, it may be too late. Cardiovascular disease can progress gradually with coronary artery disease (clogging of the arteries), but it can also be asymptomatic and result in a heart attack or sudden cardiac death. It is important to assess your individual predisposition to heart disease and take precautions for protecting your heart and arteries.

Heart Attack Facts:

• Cardiovascular disease is the most common cause of death in the U.S.
• Most sudden cardiac events occur in men
• Half of men who die suddenly from heart disease never experience previous symptoms
• Heart disease is the number one killer among women
• Almost two-thirds of women who die suddenly from heart disease never experience previous symptoms

Know Your Risks:

• Smoking
• High blood pressure
• Family history of cardiovascular disease
• High cholesterol
• Overweight
• Diabetes
• Even with no symptoms you can still be at risk!

What can you do to protect yourself from cardiovascular disease?

The prevention of heart disease may require lifestyle changes:

• Stop smoking
• Control blood pressure
• Manage diabetes
• Get regular exercise
• A doctor may recommend an aspirin regimen
• Follow a heart healthy diet
• Nutritional supplementation

It is important to make heart healthy food choices:

• Lean meats and poultry
• A variety of fruits and vegetables
• Reduce salt
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Two servings of fatty fish a week (i.e. salmon, trout or herring)

The American Heart Association recommends you eat fish at least twice a week. Recent research shows that eating oily fish containing omega-3 fatty acids helps lower your risk of death from coronary artery disease.

If you are not able to eat the necessary fish or other vitamins and minerals, nutritional supplementation may help provide appropriate nutrition for supporting heart health. This is why omega-3 fatty acid supplements are some of the best heart supplements.

What should you look for in a heart healthy supplement?

Include in your multivitamin:

• Omega-3 fatty acids - recommended by the American Heart Association
• Vitamin D - helps support healthy bones
• B-Complex - the right amount to support nutritional health

Avoid in your multivitamin:

• Vitamin K - Vitamin K can counteract or interfere with blood thinners such as Warfarin (Coumadin)