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Angina pectoris is the medical term to what we commonly refer to as just angina. The ‘baddie’ named cholesterol is often one of the culprits, made by our bodies and fed into us by eating animal foods. Do we want cholesterol? Yes. Watch out! Low cholesterol is linked to cancer, we need cholesterol. We may derive it from our diet and make it in our bodies. We have to remember, that it all rests on that simple scale of balance! Angina involves  insufficient blood supply in reaching the heart in times of greater need, resulting in pain the chest area that may spread upwards to the jaw and downwards to the arms. The immediate pain is often dealt with, by the patient taking prescribed medication. In less severe cases the pain will quickly subside, if the patient’s heart blood needs go back to what they were. Cold weather, eating a heavy meal or increased physical activity can lead the heart to needing increased blood supplies. When our coronary arteries (the blood vessels that convey blood to the heart) are healthy it’s all in a days work. However if the arteries are narrowed due to plaque build up and hypertension (any damage to the arteries that causes narrowing) we have problems. Angina can be extremely terrifying for a patient and it is best that anyone near, at the time of an attack, remain calm but efficient in applying help. To assist in acute attacks medical supervision is needed. To support the arteries in reverting to a healthier state requires an investigative overview on the patient’s lifestyle. We have two general forms of cholesterol, HDL (high-density lipoprotein) and LDL (low-density lipoprotein). In cardiovascular disease, HDL is usually lower than what is desirable and LDL higher than what is its desirable level. HDL is a form of cholesterol combined with protein that is travelling from the body to the outside of the body. LDL is a form of cholesterol combined with protein that’s travelling towards the body cells. We know cholesterol is a lipid (fat-like nature, can’t dissolve in water). It’s essential for health but excess is dreadful for health! Fatty animal foods such as eggs, liver, dairy, fish and meat can deliver (if you eat them much more) too much cholesterol. Some people are genetically able to handle this onslaught better than others. Brains are mostly fat! Eating brains of any animal gives the highest cholesterol deliveries. Then there are soybeans! These are also fairly high in fat but they give phospholipids, a form of fat and protein that supports cholesterol moving out. If you wish to evict cholesterol, not HDL but LDL, watch your food. Increase fibre, eat phytosterols (in plants and available in supplement form to aid in cholesterol evictions) and sort out your fridge and pantry. Your pumping heart has been linked to the colour red, the notion of love and the beat of rhythm. We usually take its beat for granted! Yet, after heart-related problems develop there’s likely to be a more conscious responsibility to watch out for your heart. Family history of cardiovascular disease and an unhealthy lifestyle predispose to heart disease. The heart is an ongoing pump that ensures the regular flow of blood circulation. Our blood must flow! The heart muscle is stressed by excess weight and may even function inadequately if anyone is severely underweight. Imbalance of nutrients and excess of fats all have their stressful effects on that fist sized heart of yours. Some known ‘damaging’ lifestyle habits to ward away are smoking, excess drinking of alcohol, a heavy animal produce loaded diet and lack of adequate physical exercise. Why is smoking bad for the heart? Well it introduces free radicals. Free radicals are reactive particles that destruct cells! They are ‘radicals’ that are roaming about freely. To live a life ‘free’ of free radicals might ensure freedom from many diseases and ageing! Wherever there is oxygen there are free radicals. We need oxygen to metabolise! Metabolism implies the process of processing nutrients, making energy and parts of the body. Every time we breathe, we supply oxygen needed for metabolism. During metabolism of essential fatty acids we are known to produce certain free radicals. Certain fats, namely un-hydrogenated fats, are always open to becoming interactive with oxygen. Red alert! Fish and lemon are a prime example of essential fatty acids being supplied with antioxidants (from the lemon). Antioxidants destroy free radicals, to protect against disease and fast track ageing! Antioxidants are part of the wider heroic ‘force’ known as detoxification. Detoxification keeps us alive by knocking down harmful substances every day and night; it’s always open for business. Eating and drinking activates and challenges our detoxification system. All in a days work for the heroic ‘force’, but some of us have stronger ‘forces’ and can take on bigger challenges. This is why some of us should put in extra reinforcements! Naturally during certain phases of detoxification some free radicals spring out and they need to be put down quickly, trampled down by antioxidants and phases of detoxification. The heart and blood vessels, if weak, need extra care from destructive free radicals. Alcohol needs to be detoxified and takes up more attention of the antioxidants! To ensure ‘superheroes’ spend a greater effort on our heart, avoid sources of high free radicals and eat foods with higher antioxidants (vegetables and other plant foods). Lastly, don’t see red! Anger and negative emotions tend to tighten and tense our muscles, including your beloved hard working heart muscle. Anastacia Sampson DN Med |