Archive for the 'congestive heart failure diet' Category

Fun With GF/LG Food Review

November 5th, 2009 -- Posted in breast cancer prevention diet, congestive heart failure diet, cooking healthy for kids, diabetic weight loss diet, diet for rheumatoid arthritis, diet stroke, healthy eating, healthy eating articles, healthy living, hypertensive diet | 1 Comment »

Fun With GF/LG Food Review

Gluten Free Quiche

Fun with GF/LG Food is the one cookbook that is a must for anyone who suffers from a sensitive stomach, diabetes, or hypoglycemia.

If you or a loved one suffers from a sensitive stomach, diabetes, or hypoglycemia, this Fun With GF/LG Food review shows how this cookbook may help you eliminate almost all the food related problems in a person’s life.

GF stands for gluten free and LG stands for low glycemic index, and in my Fun With GF/LG Food review, you’ll learn how to prepare food that anyone who suffers from food allergies, diabetes, IBS — or other conditions that limit what they can eat– can eat without fear and truly enjoy when they dine with you in your home.

All the recipes in this gluten free low glycemic index cookbook are marked with which ingredients may be prone to cause a reaction in someone sensitive to them, and substitutes are listed that can be used in place of these sensitive foods to make it possible to prepare the dish without having to fear that someone in the family or a guest at a party may react to the food in a bad way.

Click here to read my Fun With GF/LG Food review.

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High Blood Pressure, an Introduction to Treatment Options

March 10th, 2010 -- Posted in congestive heart failure diet | No Comments »

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.

Scott James
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/high-blood-pressure-an-introduction-to-treatment-options-103460.html

Try Phentermine, it Really Works

March 4th, 2010 -- Posted in congestive heart failure diet | 2 Comments »

Obesity is bad news for both body and mind. It makes a person feel tired and uncomfortable throughout the day and hampers his daily activities. Apart from this, there can be more serious consequences like hypertension, high cholesterol levels, liver disease, and type-2 diabetes.

As people get older, they are more likely to develop heart disease, congestive heart failure, bladder problems, and, in women, problems with the reproductive system. Obesity also can lead to stroke, greater risk for certain cancers such as breast or colon cancer, and even death.

There are no second thoughts that obesity has become a big concern today because of its serious consequences. If we analyze, people tend to gain weight when intake of calories is more than what the body can burn out. Apart from this one of the most important factors for weight gain today is the sedentary lifestyle.

Also, with the busy life there is no time to cook healthy meals. Instead, people are getting more dependent on fast food or other unhealthy food options available outside. All these contain more of fat and calories than meals prepared at home.

In modern times diet pills are being used effectively to fight obesity. These help to curb consumption of calories as they act as appetite suppressant. Diet pills have definitely achieved unprecedented success in controlling the weight.

It has proved to be like a boon for all those people who have experienced failure with all other measures of weight management. There are millions of satisfied people who have tasted success with diet pills and have been able to shed the weight.

Amongst all the diet pills Phentermine has been the most popular one. It is a diet pill available on prescription. Phentermine was first approved in 1959, by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as an appetite suppressant for treating obesity. Its popularity can be assessed by the fact that it accounts for more than 50 percent of the total prescriptions.

The three forms in which Phentermine is available are tablet, capsules and resin capsules. These are available in various colors and in strengths of 15mg, 30mg and 37.5mg. The recommended dose of Phentermine should be taken empty stomach before your breakfast, usually once in a day.

It is strongly advised to consult your doctor and share your medical history before you start taking Phentermine. The availability of diet pills is not much of a problem.

There are many approved medical stores which sell cheap Phentermine, adipex and other popular diet pills. You can also buy Phentermine online through various licensed online pharmacies. These online stores not only provide you Phentermine at attractive rates, but also give access to valuable online information and feedback about diet pills which helps in making buying decisions.

To achieve best results in weight loss efforts, it is advisable to combine the usage of diet pills like Phentermine with healthy low-fat diet and a routine of physical exercises. To make a weight loss program a success the attitude and determination of a person is equally important. Do not get bogged down with excess weight, try Phentermine as it really works.

Cathrine
http://www.articlesbase.com/weight-loss-articles/try-phentermine-it-really-works-88688.html

Potassium, Deficiency and Potassium Rich Food

February 25th, 2010 -- Posted in congestive heart failure diet | 4 Comments »

Potassium represents 5% percent of the total mineral content of a human body, even though only about one litre is found in the body at a time. Potassium is found in our bodies both inside and outside cells and is a very important mineral required every day to stay healthy. More than 98% of the body’s potassium is intracellular. The body easily absorbs potassium, but nearly 90% of it is excreted through the kidneys and bowels. Thus, potassium is a natural diuretic and is important for the elimination of body wastes, such as water and sodium.

Potassium is a primary electrolyte, it is a great alkalizer, and important for maintaining pH and water balance.

Benefits of potassium:

1. Along with other minerals such as sodium, chloride and calcium, potassium helps in normal cellular function, such as transmission of nerve impulses, digestion, healthy muscle contractions, proper cardiovascular functioning (heartbeat irregularities are normally a sign of potassium deficiency), and helping the body to convert glucose into glycogen (the body’s stored form of energy).

2. Potassium helps promote healthy cardiovascular health. It is strongly believed that potassium has the ability to pump sodium out of the body’s cells and reduce body fluid.

3. Potassium, along with sodium, helps to regulate blood pressure. Increasing potassium in the diet may protect against hypertension in people who are sensitive to high levels of sodium.

4. Potassium also affects blood vessel tone as well as the way blood vessels react to the flowing hormones, thus affecting pressure within blood vessels.

5. Potassium therapeutically assists in the treatment of alcoholism, acne, alleviating allergies, promoting the early healing of burns.

6. It also helps with problems such as congestive heart failure, chronic fatigue syndrome or kidney stones.

7. Potassium plays a vital role in cellular integrity by regulating the transfer of nutrients into the cell.

8. Potassium also attracts oxygen to tissues, helps correct positioning of vital organs. Potassium deficiency indicates that probably albumin, sugar, sodium, and chlorine are also in short supply or not being properly absorbed.

9. Potassium helps proper functioning of the adrenal glands. It helps support healthy sugar balance in the body.

Deficiency of potassium –

The kidneys excrete excess potassium from the body, and deficiencies are rarely found in people on a normal balanced diet. A deficiency may result in fatigue, cramping legs, muscle weakness, sluggish reflexes, acne, dry skin, mood swings and irregular heartbeat.

A shortage of potassium in body may cause a fatal condition known as hypokalemia, resulting from diarrhoea, increased diuresis and vomiting. Hypokalemia can occur in people with a chronic disease or due to ageing process. Deficiency symptoms include muscle weakness, ECG abnormalities, decreased reflex response, congestive heart failure, cardiac arrhythmia and respiratory paralysis.

If the fluid and electrolyte balance is not restored, the risk of heart failure increases.

Potassium deficiency increases acid levels in the body, lowers the natural pH balance, causes problems with the formation of connective tissue. Kidney diseases (such as acute renal failure), diabetes can also cause fluctuations in the levels of potassium. Many medications such as diuretics, cortisone, prolonged use of aspirin, and laxatives also cause depletion of potassium.

Dietary sources of potassium:

Eating a variety of foods that contain potassium is the best way to get the required amount. Individuals who eat a balanced diet do not need potassium supplements. Foods, which are rich sources of potassium include turnips, whole grains, molasses, fish, citrus fruit, apple cider vinegar, bananas, avocados, yoghurt, tomatoes, poultry, oranges, apricots, potatoes (especially their skins), leafy green vegetables such as spinach, lettuce; and meat. One large orange will supply one with 250 mg of potassium, one-eighth of a person’s daily need. Dried apricots contain more potassium than fresh apricots.

Steaming of foods helps to retain nutrients that are lost through other cooking techniques such as boiling (loss of about 50% of potassium content). Steaming results in only a 6% loss of potassium.

Recommended Daily Allowance of potassium:

There is no recommended daily allowance (RDA) for potassium, but it is advised to get between 2,000-3,000 mg per day. The range of intake for children is 780 to 1,600 mg per day.

This is not difficult, and most people meet this requirement on their own through a normal diet. In general, nutritionists recommend reducing salt intake and ensuring adequate supply by increasing the amount of fresh fruit and vegetables in the diet.

If one is into bodybuilding, he must increase the potassium intake, since potassium is needed to maintain muscles in good form, and also because potassium is lost from excessive sweating and urine.

Symptoms of high intake of potassium:

Excessive potassium can be toxic and will affect the heart. This is a problem especially when one is suffering from some problem such as kidney failure. Irregular heart beat and muscle fatigue is sign of toxic potassium levels. In healthy people, the kidneys in the urine excrete excess potassium.

Who requires extra potassium?

People who require potassium supplements include:

# women on oral contraceptives,

# chronic alcoholics or drug abusers,

# smokers

# people undergoing stress

# athletes

# people doing strenuous exertion,

# anyone suffering from any degree of mal-absorption syndrome

# people with eating disorders, especially bulimia and anorexia..

Candy Willims
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/potassium-deficiency-and-potassium-rich-food-111593.html

Congestive heart failure and ankle swelling?

February 19th, 2010 -- Posted in congestive heart failure diet | 2 Comments »

My Dad was hospitalized for congestive heart failure about 2 months ago. They got a lot of fluid out of his body and he went home with orders to follow a strict diet.

Now, one of his ankles is really swelling up to the point he is having trouble walking.He may be going back to the hospital again.

I know it has to do with the congestive heart failure, but do you know why it is just one ankle and not his whole legs like last time?

I know there is no cure and this gets progressively worse.

Firstly, the ankle edema(swelling) in congestive heart failure(CHF) is not caused by venous insufficiency. Why does it usually show up in the legs and ankles? Because good old gravity is pulling all that "loose" fluid straight down. The cause of the swelling in CHF is systemic and the swelling is generally bilateral( in both legs). So, you have a point when you asked your question.

In case the swelling of the leg, foot, ankle or toes is one sided (as in this case), it should be compared to the other limb to verify the swelling. Press and see on the ‘unswollen’ ankle. If you see ‘pitting’ that persists for 15 minutes, then the swelling is bilateral but unequal.

In case there is no pitting, then one has to think of other local causes such as cellulitis etc. even in the presence of CHF. This is only indicative and does not mean such conditions are present. It is possible that, after the initial treatment, a new episode of swelling may be ‘evolving’ and the other ankle too may show the swelling shortly.

Nevertheless, ask this question to the doctor if the swelling still remains in one ankle by the time the doctor sees your Dad. Good luck.

Can a diet high in sodium (4,000 mg/day about) mimic the symptoms of congestive heart failure?

February 13th, 2010 -- Posted in congestive heart failure diet | 2 Comments »

Please, please, please, answer if you’re a doctor, med student, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner in this area of medicine. I have no health insurance and simply cannot afford $150 for a general practitioner’s visit and if anything comes of that certainly -cannot- afford a specialist. (And perhaps this is excessive information but honestly if I do have some kind of health issue that will kill me, well, I will die of it. I already have medical debt and cannot afford any more. At least that way my family will collect on my life insurance policy :D .) Thank you.

(Oh, btw, yeah, I know, cut the salt out. Just went looking for information and will be doing that in the morning :D .)
Thank you for the reply! I’m more specifically concerned that I have been having palpitations (perhaps 2 times a day tops, usually 0-1) and slight difficulty breathing even though I am quitting smoking. I have smoked for 4 years, but every time I’ve been evaluated the doctor always says my lung capacity is normal. I have a high BMI (I don’t want to post specifics on the internet :) ) but I have been "dieting" (eating healthy + counting my calories – no pills or any nonsense like that) and exercising for a minimum of 1 hour a day for the last two weeks. Additionally, I’ve noticed swelling in my feet. Could all of this be explained by the elevated amount of fluid in my circulatory system retained by all of the salt? Also, I’ve been consuming this high amount of sodium for a year – would it be likely (not asking for a diagnosis, just on a general population basis) that consuming that much salt for a year could cause egregious damage to the heart?
Also, I am 22 years old – so I’m not exactly in a high-risk category because of my age.

Well sodium or salt makes your blood more thick by pushing water out of it. This thicker blood is harder for your heart to pump and as a result has to work harder. If after taking so much salt for so long a time ,the heart can no longer pump effectively and not enough blood is pumped this can turn into the syndrome congestive heart failure.

However, a syndrome is called a syndrome because it has multiple causes not just high salt intake.

So yes high salt can contribute to getting CHF but it depends on other factors like weight, age, activity.

what is Congestive Heart-Failure?

February 12th, 2010 -- Posted in congestive heart failure diet | 4 Comments »

Congestive heart-failure refers to a series of clinical manifestations resulting from cardiac incompensation when an angiocardiopathy develops to a certain stage. According to its symptoms, TCM names them in most cases as "palpitation", "severe palpitation", "dyspnea and cough", "phlegm retention", "hydrops" and so on. Medicated diet therapy can be used for the prevention and cure of light diseases, or for supplementary treatment of serious cases, or for nourishment during con- valescence.

http://www.e-radiography.net/radpath/c/ccf.htm

what is a good low sodium dog food?

February 10th, 2010 -- Posted in congestive heart failure diet | 2 Comments »

my 11 year old dachshund got diagnosed with congestive heart failure today.))): will a low sodium diet be good for her? if so, what is a good brand?

I feed wellness super 5 senior,good food and less sodium than the canidae senior he was on.Stay away from the science diet and other prescription foods sold at the vets.

A Weight Loss Diet Plan That Works

February 10th, 2010 -- Posted in congestive heart failure diet, diabetic weight loss diet, healthy eating, healthy eating articles, healthy living, hypertensive diet, vegetarian weight loss diet | No Comments »

I was astonished when I came across the weight loss diet plan and stopped to read about the diet with a guarantee! I wondered how that could be possible. Diets, of course, are geared toward helping people conquer the fat cravings, but also they expect to be paid for doing so.

I could not believe this wonderful eDiets weight loss guarantee! There was a lot to know about this diet plan. It is not just one plan. No one size fits all. There were over twenty plans to choose from. I filled out a questionnaire, absolutely free they said. (I know they all say that). This time, it was really free. Your information is secure and the diets are all healthy.

Low carb was the only one I did not agree with. Years ago I did a low carb plan where even sweet peas were limited. It may have worked for a while, but left me feeling totally exhausted. Eventually, that plan failed me.

The twenty plans include specialized menus, excellent recipes and fast food restaurant choices. You customize your own personal plan to fit your goals. I tried the GI diet first, and then switched to the vegetarian diet when my appetite diminished.

You might have the problem of hyperglycemia. The eDiet folks have a plan for that. You may be lactose intolerant. They have a diet plan for that. Of course, consult your doctor about these conditions before starting to diet. That is the smart thing to do.

I could not believe everything this plan provided to promote my success. I could ask any questions I had and a fitness trainer would answer them. You know, no diet works without being accompanied by exercise. I asked. The eDiet people answered. I lost 47 pounds of ugly fat and it was easier than any diet I had ever been on.

Now I meet with my online diet buddies who also used eDiet successfully. They gave us an online support forum. It is fun to chat with other dieters AND it keeps me in line to keep the weight off. We all are very grateful we stumbled across the weight loss diet plan.

Help regarding a food stamp case?

February 9th, 2010 -- Posted in congestive heart failure diet | 3 Comments »

The facts of the case:

The person collects $674 dollars from SSI every month.

Her rent is 425, utilities included.

Her worker cut the benefits from 170 something dollars to 87 dollars. The reason given was the inclusion of utilities in rent.

Another person, who goes to the same Food Stamp office, has the same SSI income, and a 325 dollar a month rent with utilities included and receives 170 ish dollars worth of food stamp benefits.

These women live in Louisville, KY. Can someone with social work experience or experience "in the system" explain the reasoning. All the worker could say is that he could not compare cases and the cut was due to the lack of a separate utility bill (both cases do not pay separate utility bills).

The women whose benefits were cut is required to eat a healthy, low sodium diet as she has congestive heart failure (and spina bifida….hence, the SSI). That will be all but impossible at roughly 20 bucks a week for food. The woman whose benefits remained in the range of 170 collects SSI for being bipolar, if the reason for the SSI makes any difference to the program and amount of benefits received.
neither of the women have children nor do they ever intend to. lol.

the government can’t seen to get their sh$t right…they do a lot that is not fair

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