Heart health?

Could anyone help me find out what supplements can help my poor heart?

My family history isnt good. My mother has high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. My father has had a heart attack, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetis.

Im still young, and already having some moderate/severe heart problems, and have a heart arrthmyia.

So, im looking to start protecting my heart. Could anyone reccomend some supplements or anything?

I currently am unsure of my blood pressure, but it normaly is about 117/69 which is really good, but the last few weeks its been higher.

I also suffer from orthostatic hypotension, and posutral orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Sorry to keep editing! Just wanted to add that I have no risk factors other than genetics. My BMI is 19 and my fat percentage is 11% I do not smoke either.

[edit on 19-12-2008 by hardcoremusiclover]

[edit on 19-12-2008 by hardcoremusiclover]

[edit on 19-12-2008 by hardcoremusiclover]

[edit on 19-12-2008 by hardcoremusiclover]

well as a person with heart problems myself due to past drug problems
i would say try not to get stressed out, take plenty of vitamins and regular visits to the doctor to make sure everythings ok
But at your age right now, I dont think you have much to worry about

Best thing you can do on a long term basis is to see a cardiologist on a regular basis. With your family history and your own experiences this is essential because regular visits will allow the cardiologist to have prior tests to compare your results against.

I'm not very knowledgable when it comes to supplements and vitamins etc because it seems that every time you turn around there's different statements being made about them.

However one thing I can tell you from personal experience is that Omega 3 does help, particularly with cholesterol readings. The best thing for you to have is grilled salmon. I have it at least twice a week and noticed quite an improvement.

Make sure to ask your doctor what kind of workout you should stick to. Obviously you shouldn't work out too hard with tachycardia unless it's well controlled, but you can certainly develop a good fitness plan with your doctor that might contain less intense elements.

Working out is critical... the combination of Omega 3 and activity will raise your HDL levels which in turn will lower your LDL level.

Other than that... stay away from ANYTHING FRIED, EVER. I would advise you that judging by your family history alone, your own conditions make that even more critical. Bake it, grill it, whatever... don't fry.

Hopefully some of my advice will be helpful to you, but I really must emphasize that the first thing I said is the most important... I assume you have a cardiologist based on your writing... make regular visits and consult him/her on everything you do.

You mention being young... this is the best time to take action. It gets harder as you get older. You're doing the right thing.

Yes, I have an appointement with a cardiologist comming up in a few weeks.

I think im going to try taking omega 3 supplements and try to work out a little bit more. Im trying to find a good multivitamin that has low, to no iron in it. Being a male, I dont need extra iron, and that would just cause more problems.

I have been having palpitations and some very mild chest pain the last several days (not severe like a heart attack) so im a bit worried.
I dont want to jump in and do any hard aerobic exercise untill I get things under controll, I dont want to kill myself!

I recently stopped taking prescription amphetamines for a combonation of Fatigue and ADD. Which caused a cardiac episode. Hopefully a few months of amphetamines didn't cause any harm.

I have read that people who dont consume sea food, get almost no omega 3's and are at higher risk for heart disease.

[edit on 19-12-2008 by hardcoremusiclover]

reply to post by hardcoremusiclover


I assume since you don't say, that your cholesterol levels are fine? And that you've had a blood workup and everything's okay (electrolytes, etcetera)?

I have orthostatic hypotension (drop in blood pressure on moving, usually standing) and I find it helps to make sure that I'm well hydrated.

I would definitely talk to your cardiologist about this. The problem with recommending supplements for heart conditions is that they can stem from so many different things, and sometimes what's good for one is bad for another. And since you're young a lot of the advice that's out there might not be that applicable – your circulatory problems probably aren't caused by plaque buildup, for instance.

In my not professional or expert opinion, I would focus on eating a good diet without a lot of empty carbs or fats – the diabetes, high cholesterol, and high blood pressure in your family make it a good idea to be extra careful with diet while you're young, since those are all things with definite dietary ties.

Oh, and try not to stress about it – that's not helping anything

My latest blood work up came out good. Except one occasion where I cut my food intake down to about 10-20% of what it normally was for weeks, then I had to be hospitalized since my heart couldn't handle the low electrolytes, on top of having an arrythmia.

Im going to start taking a multivitamin, thats probably all untill I consult my cardiologist. I'll try to eat healthier foods instead of junk.

Like i said before, Im not over weight, I dont smoke, although when I was younger I was exposed to second hand smoke for 4 or so years, and I get light-moderate exercise regularly. My deit isn't terrible, but its not ideal.

[edit on 20-12-2008 by hardcoremusiclover]

Originally posted by hardcoremusiclover
Im going to start taking a multivitamin, thats probably all untill I consult my cardiologist. I'll try to eat healthier foods instead of junk.

That sounds like a solid course of action.

If the POTS is the arrhythmia you're referring to, I don't think it poses a threat in itself, but they probably want to figure out what's causing it. Just avoid standing up too fast, especially after activities that tend to bring it on (which could be exercise, a meal - esp high-carb, or other things).

Stay off stimulants, limit caffeine, be honest with your doctors – those are all pretty safe bets

The other thing that helps me with the orthostatic hypotension is knowing that I need a little more sodium in my diet than is recommended. It's not a big deal most of the time – a "normal" diet is plenty high in salt – but if I'm eating a lot of health-conscious foods I sometimes need a little sodium boost.

But that's the kind of thing I was talking about in relation to the heart – for me, sodium is good. For many heart patients, it's really bad.

You might also ask your cardiologist for a referral to a nutritionist if you're interested. One thing that a good nutritionist can help with is not just telling you what to eat and what to avoid, but helping you make a realistic plan of how to eat better. It's great to say that you'll start eating good foods and preparing all your meals at home from fresh produce, but if you're used to taking most of your meals in a diner or fast food place, it's not realistic as a first step.

Here are my suggestions:

-Exercise
-Cut out red meat and foods that have added fats. Use olive oil where possible in the place of normal fats and oils.

-Tumeric is excellent for the heart.
-Cayenne will help to normalize the blood pressure (high or low)
-Try peppermint and valerian for the palpitations. These are mild muscle relaxors.

I use CoQ10 (ubiquinone) for my heart palpations and it worked wonders. it is especially helpful after a catheter ablation as it is a supplement created by your own body to keep the heart functioning. If you are having heart arrythmias you need to get to cardiologist and confirm you do not have Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT's) or other heart arrythmia problem.

Oh boy, what a fun thread.....

CoEnzyme Q10 is great if you're feeling weak and/or need energy, especially if you're taking statin drugs.

Cutting red meat and fats won't help you.

Multivitamins won't do much either.....though, vitamin D will.

I do agree with the idea of staying off of stimulants....including prescriptions for ADD, ADHD.

A word on sodium: Dietary sodium is thought to contribute, or cause, hypertension. The reasoning is; Salt intake causes the retention of water, which causes hyptetension. Sounds simple, right? It's not...

Insulin.....causes sodium retention, which causes water retention...which causes hypertension. Insulin also causes the body to excrete magnesium. What does magnesium do? It is an intracellular muscle relaxer. Without it, the cells that line arterial walls tend to constrict....which increases blood pressure.

I wouldn't ask my cardiologist a damn thing about nutrition, honestly, including which dietitian to use. Both doctors and most nutritionists will only make the problem worse.

What do you consider eating healthily?

My advice.....the best thing you can do to prevent heart disease, and any other disease of civilization, is limit carbohydrates.....and restrict processed carbohydrates.

By limiting carbs...you're lowering blood sugar and insulin levels...thereby achieving hormone balance, improving blood pressure, improving cholesterol levels, decreasing glycation, decreasing insulin resistance while increasing sensitivity, and, ultimately, reducing your risk of heart disease tremendously.

Make sure and consume plenty of monounsature/saturated fat and protein....

I know it sounds counterintuitive but it's scientifically correct. If you want sources or proof...or whatever....just ask...i'll be glad to post them.

Doctors study medicine(not nutrition)....and nutritionists, for the most part, don't understand biochemistry.

If you want a real nutritional expert, seek out an individual whom is a Certified Nutrition Specialist(CNS). Look for someone with a masters or PhD in nutrition, biochemistry or nutrient biology. Researchers with first hand experience in more than epidemiological data.

Regarding nutrition, most MD's-excluding those that actually attend nutritional conferences or read journals on nutritional research-shouldn't be listened to. Most dieticians shouldn't be listened to.

Don't believe every headline or press release regarding studies and their findings. Look for second opinions and always find the srouce(the study) and form an educated opinion, rather than excepting what a journalist tells you.

-Dev

According to Brian Peskin www.brianpeskin.com Cancer and Heart disease are called by the same thing. Lack of oxygen to the cell and the adulterated oils we use in cooking and processing foods. We need more Omega 6 than omega 3...I use flax oil and evening primrose oil. If you can get the book I would encourage you to do so . The Hidden Story Of Cancer..

Also I may ad the flax oil I use is barleans...1000 mg
and Evening Primrose oil called Elamol...I will be glad to help you direct you to the sourses I use...please get the book and go to his site..and study and become pro active..