Heart disease is a leading cause of death in the United States. Heart disease can affect anyone, but men and women are affected differently. Heart disease is rare in children and young adults, but becomes more common with age.
The heart is a muscle that pumps blood throughout your body. It’s made up of four chambers that work together to pump blood to all parts of your body through arteries and veins. In an adult, the heart beats about 100,000 times per day!
Heart disease develops when a part of the heart becomes too thick or stiff to allow it to function properly. This can be due to coronary artery disease (CAD), which occurs when fat and cholesterol build up on the walls of the coronary arteries and make them narrow or blocked. The narrowing reduces blood flow through those arteries and restricts oxygen supply to the heart muscle itself. When this happens, it can cause chest pain, also known as angina; shortness of breath; dizziness; fatigue; and other symptoms depending on what area of your heart is affected by CAD.
There are many foods that can help you prevent heart disease, but what should a heart failure patient eat?
Below is a list of some of the best fruits for people who have heart problems:
Apples – Apples contain quercetin, which inhibits inflammation and reduces excess cholesterol. They’re also high in fiber and vitamin C.
Apricots – Apricots are high in antioxidants like beta-carotene, lutein and alpha-carotene. They also contain potassium and vitamin A.
Berries – Berries are loaded with antioxidants that prevent damage to blood vessels and reduce inflammation.
Cherries – Cherries contain anthocyanins that help prevent plaque build-up in arteries. Cherries also lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels.
Kiwi – Kiwis are loaded with vitamin C, which helps fight off free radicals in the body. Free radicals can cause damage to the lining of blood vessels which causes plaque buildup on artery walls leading to heart disease and other conditions such as cancer or diabetes mellitus type 2*.**
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide and the most common type of cardiovascular disease. It can be caused by several factors, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking.
A healthy diet can help prevent heart disease. The following foods can help keep your heart healthy:
Omega-3 fatty acids: Found in oily fish such as salmon and tuna, omega-3 fatty acids have been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease. They also have anti-inflammatory properties that may help reduce the buildup of plaque in arteries.
Fiber: This type of carbohydrate helps lower cholesterol levels by preventing it from being absorbed into the bloodstream. Foods rich in fiber include whole grains, fruits and vegetables.
Monounsaturated fats: These fats are found in olive oil, nuts and avocados. In one study, people who ate monounsaturated fats instead of saturated fats had a lower risk for coronary heart disease (CHD).
Nuts: A handful of nuts every day can help lower bad cholesterol levels and protect against heart disease. Walnuts are especially beneficial because they’re high in omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants that help prevent damage to blood vessels due to free radicals (molecules that cause cell damage).
Heart disease is the No. 1 killer of Americans, and heart failure is a common complication of heart disease.
Certain foods can help reduce your risk of heart disease, and others can increase your risk. Heart-healthy diets emphasize fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy products and fish.
Heart-healthy diets also limit saturated fats (found in meat and high-fat dairy products) and trans fats (found in many processed foods). Here are some heart-healthy food choices:
Vegetables: Veggies are rich in vitamins A, C and E as well as folate, potassium and fiber. They’re also low in fat, sodium and cholesterol.
Fruits: Fruits provide fiber, vitamin C and potassium, which may reduce the risk of high blood pressure. They’re also low in sodium and fat.
Whole grains: Whole grains such as brown rice or whole wheat pasta contain fiber that helps lower cholesterol levels in the blood, making them good choices for people with high cholesterol or diabetes who need to control their weight as well as their blood sugar levels.
Heart disease is a common medical condition that affects millions of people in the United States. Heart disease occurs when there is a build-up of fatty deposits and plaque in the arteries, which restricts blood flow to the heart. When this happens, it can cause chest pain and/or shortness of breath.
If you have been diagnosed with heart disease, it is important to follow a healthy diet to help prevent further complications. Follow these tips for heart-healthy eating:
Eat more fruits and vegetables. Fruits and vegetables are rich sources of fiber, potassium and antioxidants. These nutrients help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels and reduce your risk of heart disease. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables may also reduce your risk of developing diabetes or cancer.
Eat whole grains instead of refined grains. Whole grains contain fiber that helps control cholesterol levels in the body and decrease inflammation throughout the body — both important factors for maintaining good health. You can find whole grains in breads, cereals and pastas made from 100 percent whole wheat or rye flour; brown rice; oats; quinoa; millet; barley; cornmeal; wild rice
The heart, which pumps blood through the body, is the center of our circulatory system. It’s a muscular organ that weighs about the same as a fist and is about the size of your fist, too.
The heart beats about 72 times per minute and pumps about 2,000 gallons of blood every day! It is made up of four chambers: two atria (the upper chambers) and two ventricles (the lower chambers). The atria are smaller than the ventricles but they pump blood into them. The ventricles do most of the work, pumping out blood to all parts of the body.
When your heart beats faster than usual or when it doesn’t beat regularly, this is called arrhythmia (ahr-RITH-me-uh). Arrhythmias may be harmless or serious depending on how often they happen and how long they last.