Goji Berry fights Heart Disease

When most people consider heart disease, they tend to think specifically of coronary artery disease, a narrowing of arteries leading to the heart. It's no wonder- coronary artery disease is the largest killer of American adults, causing roughly 1.5 million heart attacks each year (about one every 26 seconds).

One reason some women aren't too concerned about heart disease is that they think it can be "cured" with surgery or medication. This is a myth. Heart disease is a lifelong condition-once you get it, you'll always have it. True, procedures such as bypass surgery and angioplasty can help blood and oxygen flow to the heart more easily. But the arteries remain damaged, which means you are more likely to have a heart attack. What's more, the condition of your blood vessels will steadily worsen unless you make changes in your daily habits. Many women die of complications from heart disease, or become permanently disabled. That's why it is so vital to take action to prevent and control this disease.

Heart disease is one of several cardiovascular diseases, which are diseases of the heart and blood vessel system. Other cardiovascular diseases include stroke, high blood pressure, angina (chest pain), and rheumatic heart disease.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1/3 of those suffering heart attacks do not survive, with about 340,000 of them dying in the mergency room. Even more troubling, another 250,000 people with heart attacks will succumb before they reach the hospital. Most of these are sudden deaths caused by cardiac arrest.

And yet, as deadly as coronary artery disease may be, it is just one of a number of serious conditions known collectively as cardiovascular disease (CVD). CVD includes dysfunctional conditions of the heart, arteries, and veins that supply oxygen to vital life-sustaining areas of tghe body like the brain, the heart itself, and other vital organs. A lack of oxygen causes the tissue or organs to die.

The American Heart Association states that CVD claims more lives each year than the next 5 leading causes of death combined, which are cancer, chronic lower respiratory diseases, accidents, diabetes mellitus, and influenza and pnuemoniaThe National Center for Health Statistics estimates that if in all forms of major CVD were eliminated, our life expectancy would rise by almost seven years. Compare that with the estimate for cancer. If all forms of cancer were eliminated, the gain would be only 3 years. (U.S.Decennial Life Tables for 1989-91, Vol.1, No.4, Sept. 1999)

 COMMON FORMS OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE 

Ischemic Heart Disease (and Stroke)

Obstruction of the blood vessels caused by excess deposits of cholesterol-laden fat (arteriosclerosis) or plaque (atherosclerosis). Depending on where in the body it occurs, the obstruction can restrict oxygen flow, resulting in heart attacks or stroke.

High Blood Pressure (Hypertension)

Nearly one in four U.S. adults has high blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can lead to stroke, heart attack, heart failure, or kidney failure. This is why high blood oressure is often called the "silent killer".

Arrhythmia

An abnormal rhythm or rate of heartbeat caused by a disturbance in the electrical nerve impulses of the heart. The most common cause of arrhythmia is arteriosclerosis as a result of inadequate blood supply to the heart. Arrhythmias occur more frequently after a heart attack. They can cause palpitations, faintness and dizziness, and can even initiate a heart attack.

Diabetes

Although not a cardiovascular disease itself, type II (adult onset) diabetics are two or four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease.

High Cholesterol

There are both "good" (HDL) and "bad" (LDL) forms of cholesterol becomes dangerous when it oxidizes in the body. The resulting lipid peroxides adhere to the walls or arteries in the form of atherosclerotic plaques.

CVD is Not Just an American Disease

Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of mortality worldwide.

         ❤ 38% of all deaths in Australia (National Heart Foundation of Australia)

         ❤ 27.5% of all deaths in the Philippines (Dept. of Health, Republic of the Philippines

World Health Organization Statistics inform us that:       

         ❤ 17 million people around the globe die of CVD each

         ❤ 600 million people worldwide suffer from high blood pressure