The heart plays a significant role in the inner workings of your body, as it not only pumps blood throughout your system, but also supplies oxygen to all body parts. With such a big responsibility, you should become familiar with home remedies for heart disease to ensure the health of one of your most important organs.What is Heart Disease?
Heart disease is an umbrella term where a range of diseases that affect the heart falls under, which includes infections and defects that an individual is born with . However, the most common disorders of the heart are:
• Coronary Heart Disease – Blockage (clots) in the blood vessels of the heart • Arteriosclerosis – Thickening of the walls of the arteries • Cardiomyopathy – Weakened heart muscle • Angina Pectoris – Chest pains that follow hardened arteries
Causes and Symptoms
The symptoms of heart disease will vary depending on the primary location and diagnosis of your medical concerns. Below you will find the common causes of heart disease along with their symptoms:
Cardiovascular disease involves a range of heart or blood vessel problems. The term is most commonly used to reference damage caused to your heart or blood vessels by atherosclerosis – when fatty plaques built up in your arteries. Atherosclerosis is the most common cause of cardiovascular disease, which is often brought on by an unhealthy diet, lack of exercise, being overweight and smoking. Symptoms include chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, as well as pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in the legs or arms.
Abnormal rhythms (arrhythmias) also affect the heart when it beats too quickly, slowly, or irregularly. Common causes or conditions that can lead to arrhythmias include coronary artery disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, excessive use of alcohol and caffeine, drug abuse, and stress. Symptoms include fluttering in the chest, racing heartbeat, slowed heartbeat, chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, dizziness, and fainting spells.
Cardiomyopathy is a thickening or enlarging of the heart muscle. The exact cause of the condition is unknown, but can affect the pumping chamber and blood flow. Symptoms of cardiomyopathy emerge as the condition worsens. They include breathlessness with exertion or even at rest; swollen legs, ankles and feet; bloating (abdomen fills with fluid); fatigue; and irregular heartbeats that feel rapid, pounding or fluttering. Dizziness, lightheadedness and fainting may also take place.
Heart infections are caused when an irritant, (such as a bacterium, virus or chemical) comes in contact with the heart muscle. There are three types of heart infections – pericarditis (affects tissue surrounding the heart), endocarditis (affects the inner membrane that separates the chambers and valves of your heart) and myocarditis (affects muscular middle layer of the walls of the heart).
The most common causes of heart infections include bacteria, viruses, parasites, lupus, and medications that lead to allergic or toxic reactions. Typical symptoms include fever, shortness of breath. weakness or fatigue, swelling in your legs or abdomen, changes heart rhythms, dry or persistent cough, and skin rashes or unusual spots.
Valvular heart disease affects the blood flow of the heart. You could be born with this disease or suffer damage from another condition, such as rheumatic fever, infections, connective tissue disorders, or radiation treatments for cancer. A patient may experience fatigue, shortness of breath, irregular heartbeat, swollen feet or ankles, and chest pain.
Heart Disease Home Remedies
According to the CDC, heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Every year, thousands of people lose their battle with conditions that affect the heart. When you’re looking to prevent ailments of the heart or treat pre-existing symptoms, consider the following home remedies for heart disease:
Add high-fiber foods to your diet, including barley, oats, brown rice, lentils, and beans – especially kidney beans and black beans.??
Monounsaturated sources of fat are recommended by the American Heart Association and the American Dietetic Association as a preferred option. Olive oil is considered a healthier choice for cooking over other vegetable oils. Next time you’re interested in sautéing your vegetables, reach for the olive oil, which also makes a tasty base for salad dressings. ?
One-third of your daily intake of vitamin E is satisfied when you eat two tablespoons of peanut butter.
When you’re yearning for a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, reach for whole-wheat bread. One slice contains 11 mcg of selenium, which mingles with vitamin E to protect your heart.
Some studies have shown that drinking a glass of alcohol on a daily basis may help fight heart disease. Moderate consumption is one glass for a woman and two glasses for a man. One drink is the equivalent of 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of whiskey. ??
Eat grapefruit and you could encourage a toned heart.
Combine one tablespoon of honey with the juice of half a lemon, and add to a glass of water. Drink the concoction before going to bed. Consuming lemon on a daily basis is said to prevent heart issues, as it is proven to reduce the accumulation of cholesterol in the blood vessels.
Studies have shown that smoking cigarettes and other tobacco products is a major cause of coronary heart disease, which can lead to a heart attack . Smokers place themselves at a higher risk to suffer chronic disorders.
This versatile fruit is known to stimulate the heart – so sip on apple juice or spread apple jam on your toast in the morning.
A healthy heart is one that benefits from regular exercise. This may include taking a brisk walk or participating in aerobic exercise.
Receive an ample amount of vitamin C (45 milligrams) when eating just ½ cup of strawberries. You will also enjoy a decent dose of fiber and potassium, which also encourages a happy heart.
Take advantage of the high-fiber content in a bowl of bran cereal, which is good for lowering cholesterol levels.
You can drink parsley tea two to three times per day to keep your heart healthy.
It is said that consuming beet juice is an effective home treatment for heart conditions.
The magnesium found in pecans offers heart-friendly properties.
Lower your risk for heart disease by adding sweet potatoes to your plate. There is double the daily requirement for vitamin A found in one serving of sweet potatoes.
If you suffer from heart problems, take advantage of vitamin E, which improves the oxygenation of the cells. Studies have also shown that vitamin E can protect the body against heart attacks and strokes You may take a supplement or consume foods rich in the vitamin, such as wheat germ, nuts, seeds, green leafy vegetables, and fortified cereals .
Milk isn’t the only calcium-rich option that does a body good – broccoli is also jam-packed with calcium. One cup of broccoli supplies you with 90 mg of calcium.
If you are unable to consume dairy, there are plenty of other foods to consider that are rich in calcium, including kale, salmon, figs, pinto beans, and okra.
Encourage a healthy heart by limiting the amount of salt you put on your food.
In addition to following a diet low is saturated fat and cholesterol, consuming 3 grams of soluble fiber from oatmeal on a daily basis may reduce the risk of heart disease.
Three ounces of chicken provides the body with 1/3 of your daily requirement for vitamin B6 – a nutrient that helps maintain a healthy heart.
If heart disease runs in your family, you may want to add a fatty fish (like salmon) to your diet, which offers vitamin B12 – a vitamin that is good for your heart. Three ounces of salmon satisfies your daily recommendation for the vitamin. The fish also contains omega-3 fatty acids, which are known to lower triglycerides and decrease blood clots that have the potential to block arteries in the heart.??
In an effort to prevent heart disease, add spinach to your meals. One way to get the folic acid and B vitamins associated with a healthy heart is to use spinach in a salad instead of iceberg lettuce. ??
According to the American Heart Association (AHA, losing as little as 10 to 20 pounds when you are overweight can do a wealth of good for your heart.
Packed with antioxidants, garlic has the ability to lessen the buildup of plaque, reduce chest pains, and promote a healthier heart. You can also use garlic to help thin the blood, as it is a mild anticoagulant. Keep in mind that this home remedy may take a bit of time to truly reap the benefits – one study noted that it took a couple of years of eating garlic on a daily basis. You may also consume two pieces of garlic boiled in milk as a home remedy for heart disease.
 http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease/DS01120  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/UnderstandYourRiskofHeartAttack/Understand-Your-Risk-of-Heart-Attack_UCM_002040_Article.jsp  http://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/vitamine/