mother was diagnosed with congestive heart failure… nutrisystems diabetic programs food has a ton of salt in it. can u recommend another food delivery company? thank you !!!

I have a very strong preference for freshly prepared food as it contains many more nutrients than processed food and it is easy to limit sodium (salt). I am certainly not suggesting any particular prepackaged diet plan but there are many that are well suited for a diabetic who needs to limit salt. NutriSystem itself has a plan for diabetics. I might rather suggest a low glycemic index diet with little to no refined carbohydrates, low salt, low fat, low cholesterol, and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Diabetics and those with heart failure need to eat ‘heart healthy’. This diet may sound ‘boring’ but that is the diet that I eat and it honestly is not so bad. Please beware the pernicious advertising that foods have the ‘equivalent’ of a serving of fruits or vegetables. There is no nutritional nor scientific basis to their claims. All of the studies that have shown health benefits have been performed using fresh fruits and vegetables rather than processed foods. If I may be of further assistance please let me know. I wish you and your mother the very best of health and in all things may God bless.

My mother gained 100 pounds in 3 months. She has no medical insurance so she goes to the local health department. They told her that she was just fat and to diet and exercise. Well finally tonight my dad took her to the emergency room and she is retaining fluids possible congestive heart failure & liver failure. The are currently running all these tests on her. Anyways the emergency room doctor said that its unbelievable what the health department told her & that they should have ran all these test. Do we have a case?

I think it is somewhat negligent on their part to say that to her, but I don’t believe you will win any lawsuit over it. You can always talk to an attorney that specializes in medical malpractice and see what they say.

Your mom should do a lot better once they get that fluid under control. I had liver failure and had the same thing happen to me but had no congestive heart failure. I lost about 60 lbs. in a week and had to get my stomach drained to help get rid of the fluid. Like your mom, I suddenly gained a huge amount of weight in a short period of time and it wasn’t from eating. As a matter of fact, even though I was gaining weight in my abdomen, the rest of me (face, arms, legs,) was getting thinner from not eating at the same time.

There are a lot of medications and treatments that they can do to help your mom. I don’t know where you live at, but if she is low income and her life is at risk for health problems, she will qualify for free health care. I’m sorry she is sick right now and hope they will get things under control very soon for her and get her on the right track to getting better.

My husband was just diagnosed with congestive heart failure, and high blood pressure and has been released from the hospital with a lot of pills and a 2000mg a day diet. I am desperate to find a good cookbook to help me prepare something that he will eat. HELP!

go to amazon(you can just look and buy from a local store if you like)
type in low sodium diet books
and the readers reviews will let you know how good the book is.
the more reviews the better. as long as most of them are very postive review then it’s a good one.
i buy lots of books from amazon and i always go by the readers reviews. saves me money because i don’t buy the books that get bad reviews.

At the risk of sounding sarcastic and being hounded by the feminist lobby High Blood Pressure is what they call an “Equal Opportunity Disease” and by that I mean that it does exactly what the description says it can hit anyone of any gender at any one time!

I do wish to stress here that I am certainly not misogynistic in any way shape or form in my outlook and wish to stress this former point more as a matter of record than anything else.

But, and this is where it gets serious, though both Men and Women can develop high blood pressure, there are a few areas where the gender difference can make a difference.

One of the major areas that women have to be wary of and certainly on their guard against is the early onset of High Blood Pressure. It is sad fact that three out of every four women who are sufferers of High Blood Pressure are aware of their condition and situation. Yet, and this would appear to be the stunning reality, studies indicate that fewer than thirty three percent of those same women are doing anything positive to control their hypertension.

To try and emphasise this point another way. What would you think was the leading cause of death in Women in the Western World? The obvious answer would be Cancer yet this would also be the incorrect answer.

According to Scientists, the leading cause of death amongst women in today’s world is Heart Disease which affects nearly 35 percent of all women at some time or other in their lives.

One in ten women in the United States between the ages of 45 to 64 suffers from some form or another of Heart Disease. This apparently increases to over 1 in every four in Women over the age of 65. Add to this the fact that approximately 2 million women have suffered from the effects of having a stroke and you begin to get the measure or scale of this situation.

High Blood Pressure is one of the biggest single contributory factors to Stroke and Heart Disease. Even slightly elevated blood pressure levels can double a woman’s risk and this if left unchecked can further increase the risk of developing congestive heart failure and kidney disease.

So what can be done to try and either prevent this condition from developing or to control it once it has occurred?

Firstly, it can be controlled once you have been diagnosed and yes there are certain preventative measures that you can take to minimise the risk of High Blood Pressure.

Limit your alcohol intake to sensible levels. Secondly, use less Salt and Sodium in cooking. Thirdly, try and remain as physically active as you can and get as much regular exercise as possible.

If you suffer from weight problems then try and lose as much as you can and try and achieve this is as nice and controlled manner as possible. Aim to keep the weight off once it has been lost.

If necessary take a controlled and measured look at your eating habits and dietary intake. Aim for nutrition and well balanced diet and aim for health first and foremost.

If you smoke then stop – this has to be a given.

Lastly, measure if possible your levels of iron and other base vitamins / minerals (such as calcium) within your body system. Young women lose large amounts of iron on a monthly basis via menstruation. Where possible keep things like Milk and dairy produce on the agenda as they are vital sources of calcium.

So as you can see, far from being selective, High Blood Pressure is well and truly an Equal Opportunity Condition.

Stephen Morgan
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/high-blood-pressure-an-equal-opportunity-condition-75138.html

At one point, Doctors hesitated to prescribe medication for patients with a blood pressure reading of less than 159/99 Hg. This was described as “mild hypertension” and as such not deemed at the time to be dangerous.

The rationale behind this that Doctors felt that the adverse side effects of the medication used at the time would possibly be of more danger to the patient than the high blood pressure readings.

Times have changed however and this line of thinking is no longer in use. Both of the above perceptions relating to the danger of the side effects and the mild nature of the blood pressure readings have lead to the discontinuance of this practice.

Recent research has firmly established the value of treating “stage 1 Hypertension” (a reading of between 140/90 – 159/99 Hg) with medication if necessary. It is now also considered prudent to treat patients who also suffer from Diabetes and High Blood Pressure if their readings are as low as 130/80 Hg. The sensitivity of medication nowadays is such that blood pressure levels can be controlled with much lower dosages meaning that the danger of side effects can also be reduced.

There has never been a greater variety of medication for High Blood Pressure available to Doctors from which to choose. These “antihypertensive drugs” also include many types of medication where there is a combination of several different types of drug. The newer types of medication quite often have a different chemical makeup and structure compared to the older ones but quite often produce nearly identical effects on the human body.

The range and sophistication of medication is such now that Doctors can produce care plans and treatment programmes tailored to the individual patient and in most cases prescribe medication that have little or minimal side effect to the patient and protect against possible further complications down the line.

On of the most important aspects of where treatment differs nowadays is that Doctors can quite possibly provide one single course of medication that can treat conditions like Hypertension and accompanying medical problems like congestive Heart Failure.

The generally accepted initial approach to Hypertension Treatment nowadays is to start slow & low and then build gradually where possible gradually increasing the dosage of the medicine prescribed until the blood pressure level sinks to a normal level. If this is not shown to work or causes troublesome side effects then a wide number of replacement medications are available for use.

The presently accepted course of treatment for Stage 1 Hypertension is to start with one drug and add a second if the blood pressure reading does not respond or decrease to normal levels. The target levels here are 140/90 Hg. For those with diabetes or chronic kidney disease then the ideal targets are reduced to 130/80 Hg. For “Stage 2 Hypertension” (the old levels of conventional High Blood Pressure) then the accepted treatment programme is to start with at least 2 drugs. Again if the response to this is not within an acceptable timeframe then the introduction of a third drug may occur.

Just when you think that Hypertension can be controlled with purely medication. There is a marked improvement to all of these programmes when the medication is accompanied by the introduction and implementation of lifestyle changes such as a well balanced diet, reduction in the consumption of alcohol, increased exercise and a complete cessation of smoking.

‘Nuff said really.

Stephen Morgan
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/an-introduction-to-treatment-for-high-blood-pressure-107658.html

It is now, in general, accepted that individuals who take drugs may actually be self-medicating themselves. Rather than just being an addiction to the pleasure drugs give them, drugs are even more important to the individual as a mood-altering method of feeling better than they felt before. Many people who have become dependent on drugs were suffering from severe mood disorders. They could have felt melancholy, sad, or even depressed. Many had events earlier in their lives that might have made any person very unhappy. Some had lived in or at present are living in high stress-generating situations, another reason that might make someone seek relief with drugs. Some of these people felt so low, melancholy, and depressed that they were withdrawing from life. By taking drugs they could overcome their negative moods, become less depressed, and generate an active, exciting life, the opposite of what they were feeling from the negative influence of their past, or an ongoing life situation.

Cocaine generates dopamine in the brain, which lifts people from their depression and makes them excited and full of enthusiasm for life. Instead of sitting home depressed, they are out at parties and discos having fun. At work, instead of being hesitant and reticent, they are dynamic and forceful. However, frequently they become too self-centered and even abrasive under the drug’s influence, even hurting those relationships that are most important to their life. The dopamine feels good, too, from a pleasure point of view. But, it is highly addictive and builds up resistance in the body, requiring more and more of the drug for experiencing the same effect the longer you are taking it. Of course, it is very detrimental to the health of the body, so having to take more and more of it is very bad. But, if you stop you may fall back into the same melancholy and depression and pain you were experiencing from your negative past or present situation as when you first reached for the drug. So, many will do anything sometimes to avoid feeling like that again.

Ecstasy, another illegal drug in common use today, generates the brain neurotransmitter serotonin. Serotonin is in particular good for those under stress and for those who may not necessarily be depressed but who have a deeply negative outlook on life. It gives the user a sense of peace and well-being. But, like all illegal substances, it is habit forming and in this case, too, harmful to the health of the brain.
Some people might even desire both. They want to feel full of energy and confidence and step right into living a more full and active life while at the same time experiencing less stress and a stronger sense of overall well-being.

People who are seeking to recover from drug use therefore have a need to deal with the psychological and mental conditions that influenced them to seek relief with illegal substances to begin with. For this there are two routes toward better health that one can take: The first is psychological, that is, seeking therapy that can uncover, release, and resolve any past hurts from which the drug addict may have been seeking relief; another approach is by changing the body chemistry so it makes the mind, and thus the individual, feel better. Many doctors prescribe various pharmaceuticals to change people’s moods. This can be viewed as a medical intervention that does not restore health to the body and mind but only acts as a compensation for negative conditions, creating mostly symptomatic relief.

Fortunately, there is another choice for those seeking to escape a serious drug habit permanently: Omega-3 fatty acid supplements can boost the brain’s natural production of both dopamine and serotonin, making people more psychologically resourceful. It is essential for those in recovery to have their minds in the most resourceful state as possible and free themselves from the need for self-medicating with drugs. In addition, it has been found that depressed people have a decreased blood flow in the brain. Omega-3s increase the blood flow within the brain. By taking fish oil you will have improved blood flow within the brain, which provides better distribution of those nutrients that are critical to a well-functioning and positive-feeling brain, such as oxygen and glucose, the main fuel for the brain.
Ongoing research on the value of omega-3s has shown that it has many values for health. It can regulate and enhance mood, sharpen memory, and even aid concentration and learning. Remarkably, it is now believed they can be used to fight depression, including postpartum depression, and help those afflicted with bipolar disorder and attention deficit disorder. They can also reduce stress and any resulting anger and violent behavior.

In addition to the psychological benefits, some of the top researchers in the world have shown that omega-3s, in particular EPA and DHA, play a role in preventing heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and even cancer. They help maintain the elasticity of artery walls, prevent unhealthy forms of blood clotting, reduce blood pressure, and stabilize heart rhythm. Omega-3 fatty acids have been shown to reverse atherosclerosis, ameliorate angina, and reduce heart attack, congestive heart failure, arrhythmias, stroke, and peripheral vascular disease.

It has now become widely recognized that fish oil is one of the healthiest supplements you can add to your diet. However, not just any fish oil will do. Only fish oil free of harmful pollutants such as mercury and industrial chemicals is completely safe for consumption. Some excellent store brands are by Nordic Naturals and Carlson Laboratories. If you prefer to buy online one of the finest is cerebrafil.com.

And, this is also one reason why supplementing with pharmaceutical-grade fish oil can be safer than just eating much more fish. Many fish, including tuna, halibut, swordfish, bluefish, king mackerel, and tilefish, are highly contaminated and need to be severely limited. Sadly, most of the salmon in the markets and served in restaurants is farm raised and because of their unnatural commercial diet have significantly lower levels of omega-3s.

Some people mistakenly think flaxseed is an appropriate way to get DHA and EPA because the body has the ability to change the shorter-chain omegas into long-chain omegas. The problem with this is that the process to do this is very long and difficult, so that in the end very little of the valuable DHA and EPA is produced at all. It is not advisable to take cod liver oil for the reasons regarding contamination above, and also because, to get enough omega-3s from cod liver oil you would have to take so much that you would be overdosing on vitamins A and D.

You should ensure an adequate intake of antioxidants when taking fish oil by taking 100 to 400 I.U. (international units) of vitamin E daily. Be sure to take D-alpha-tocopherol, not DL-alpha-tocopherol, as the D-alpha is natural and the DL-alpha is synthetic and therefore not recommended. Please read the label to make sure; many stores carry both varieties.
________________________________________

Jeffrey Rose
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/easing-recovery-with-omega3-fatty-acid-supplementation-52905.html

I have Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) and I have had it for 2 years now. I am 34 and the mother of 5 kids. Since getting it it was worsened. My ejection fraction was @ 11%. I am on a diet, have lost 47 pounds and my EF is now at 24%. My question is will it still get worse and will my life expectency still be limited to 5 to 8 years? Or is there ever a case where people can live with CHF for 20 years or more? Thanks.

Every patient is different. There are many different causes of heart failure and each has its own course and life expectancy. It is very difficult to predict outcomes in heart failure patients and it depends on the cause of heart failure and whether it can be corrected. I do not know the details of your heart failure or its cause so it is difficult to answer your question. Some patients with heart failure may have improvement and potentially reversal of their heart failure with appropriate therapy, such as medications, surgery if needed such as for a leaky valve, etc. For example, heavy alcohol use can lead to heart failure in some patients. If these patients stop drinking alcohol, then their heart failure may potentially reverse. I am not saying this is your situation, but just an example. I have a patient who was diagnosed with heart failure and very sick at the time of diagnosis. We started him on good heart failure medications, and now he is doing excellent and his ejection fraction is normal. Yes, it is possible to have CHF and live > 20 years. You really should discuss this with your doctor who knows all the details of your disease. There are many medications available for heart failure that have been shown to prolong survival, reduce symptoms and in some cases reverse the cardiac dysfunction.

People begin diets for any number of reasons. A doctor may recommend weight loss as a means to prevent future health problems like adult on-set diabetes or congestive heart failure. A once active person may want to resume a favorite high-performance sport, and seek to lose a few pounds to better enjoy play. A person about to undergo surgery may need to lose some weight before being admitted to the hospital.

For many, many others, vanity plays a large role in the desire to lose weight. An upcoming high school reunion, a desire to wear a sexy bikini to the beach, and just wanting to look and feel beautiful every day fuels many of us to try various diet and exercise programs and hope for the best. Unfortunately, saddled with vanity is another factor that may spur people to lose weight for the wrong reasons – societal pressure.

Watch any television program, open up any fashion magazine, and you will be bombarded with images of rail-thin celebrities and models, glamorized by the media as the ideal body image and definition of beauty. True, while today’s top movie stars, athletes and singers may evoke an aura and personality people find appealing, it should be noted that the standards they maintain need not necessarily be held by everyone else.

Consider the life of a famous actress or pop star – how many professionals are in her employ to keep her looking young and beautiful? Factor in a hair stylist, makeup artist, fashion consultant, personal trainer, and personal chef, and it is easy to see how one person can look like a million dollars. More than likely, a million dollars is how much it costs annually to stay that beautiful!

Consider, too, that being thin is not always equated to being healthy. It would be unfair to say that the petite, size 2 movie star is healthier than the busty, size 14 rap artist just because she weighs less for her frame. For all we know, the rap artist may exercise daily and be a vegatarian, while the movie star gorges on junk food and lives a rather sedentary life.

Being thin also does not exempt you from health problems – genetics can play a large role in your risks for heart ailments, high cholesterol, and low blood sugar. Consequently, being underweight presents health problems as well. Whoever said “You can never be too rich or too thin” didn’t consider that being underweight increases your risks for osteoporosis, anemia, fertility problems, and a compromised immune system.

So why should you lose weight?

You should lose weight because it is what you want to do for yourself, not because a magazine tells you to do so. You should lose weight if you feel the change in your body will change your life for the better. If you feel losing weight…

…will improve your sexuality and stamina

…will give you more confidence and raise self-worth

…will boost your self-esteem every time shop for clothes and browse smaller sizes

…will allow you to better enjoy activities with your family

…will give you a new, positive outlook on life

…then definitely consider doing it to benefit yourself and your life. When you do lose the weight, then society will benefit from your positive mood and improved health. But let this be a decision only you or your doctor dictates, not society.

Kathryn Lively
http://www.articlesbase.com/fitness-articles/why-should-you-lose-weight-76060.html

Cholesterol is a fatty, wax-like substance normally produced by liver, substance which has an important role in maintaining one’s overall health by assisting in a series of cellular processes. While in small amounts cholesterol has many beneficial roles for the human body, when in excess it is very dangerous, increasing the risk of arteriosclerosis (thickening and hardening of the arteries) and coronary disease. Excess cholesterol deposits inside major arteries and other blood vessels, interfering with the normal blood circulation and preventing oxygen and nutrients from reaching in various regions of body. Deprived from normal supplies of oxygen and vital nutrients, the body organs are more susceptible to disease. On the premises of abnormally high blood cholesterol levels, one is very exposed to heart attack and stroke, and is also susceptible to developing an entire series of cholesterol-associated diseases (diabetes mellitus, kidney failure).

It is important to note that not all types of cholesterol have a malignant effect on the organism when in large amounts. There are three different types of cholesterol, each type having distinctive characteristics and actions: LDL the so called “bad cholesterol”, the main cause of arteriosclerosis and coronary disease; VLDL generally has a neutral action but can in time become LDL, posing a serious threat to one’s overall health; HDL also referred to as “good cholesterol”, has a benefic role inside the body, collecting LDL from arteries and taking it back to the liver, where it is broken down. According to recent studies, persons confronted with excessively high “bad cholesterol” levels are three times more likely to suffer a heart attack, six times more susceptible of developing congestive heart failure and up to seven times more susceptible of suffering a stroke than persons with normal cholesterol levels.

Persons confronted with high cholesterol levels are often required to follow treatments with cholesterol blockers, medications that regulate the production of cholesterol inside the body. However, due to the fact that many pharmaceutical cholesterol blockers can have serious side-effects, it is advisable to replace them with natural cholesterol blockers whenever possible. There are various natural remedies that have been recently discovered to have an efficient cholesterol-blocking action. One of the most efficient natural cholesterol blocker is green tea, a common natural remedy used for treating a wide variety of conditions.

Green tea contains catechins, and is particularly rich in a substance called epigallocatechin gallate, which has been confirmed to have a very beneficial action in controlling high cholesterol levels. Epigallocatechin gallate contained by green tea makes a perfect cholesterol blocker, according to medical scientists. The substance also has the ability to prolong the action of norepinephrine, a body hormone that stimulates the burning of fat. In addition, the caffeine contained by green tea also helps the body burn existing fat deposits and reduce blood cholesterol levels.

The substances contained by green tea render this natural remedy perfect for persons confronted with obesity and excessive levels of “bad cholesterol”. Besides being an efficient natural cholesterol blocker, green tea can also reduce appetite, reduce the risk of diabetes (by regulating blood sugar), protects blood cells and reduces the risk of viral infections. Considering the fact that green tea is also very safe to use and has no side-effects, it is the perfect alternative to synthetic drugs with cholesterol-blocking action.

If you want to find great information about many cholesterol subjects like high cholesterol, low cholesterol diet or many more please visit us at http://www.cholesterol-info-guide.com/

Groshan Fabiola
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/roles-fulfilled-by-cholesterol-blockers-67662.html