Look After Your Heart and It Will Look After You

Years ago people knew far less than we know now about how to have a healthy heart through your life. Lucky for us. Genetics plays a part, but even people who are genetically predisposed to heart disease can follow some simple guidelines to increase the likelihood that a heart attack will never be in their cards.

It's been know for a long time that smoking is more than a major contributor to lung cancer. It also is bad for the heart. Chemicals in the smoke irritate the circulator system, causing inflation in the arteries and, well, you can guess how bad that is for your heart. So, if you want to maintain a healthy heart, knock off the cigarettes.

Also, some of the latest research in medical science indicates that there is a link between gum disease and tooth decay and atherosclerosis, a leading cause of heart disease. That means the better you care for your mouth, the better it is for your heart. The same bacteria that cause gingivitis wreak havoc on your heart too. So, brush at least twice a day and floss daily per your dentist's instructions. Also, don't postpone your visits to your dentist. Get cavities taken care of right away, and preserve your teeth as long as possible. Missing teeth are another indicator that your heart may be in trouble.

Diet is another factor that affects the health of your heart. Some foods that are particularly good for the heart include those that are high in omega-3 fatty acids. Walnuts, cold-water fish, and olive oil are rich in omega-3 fatty acids. Also good for your heart are whole grains (forget the white bread and baked potatoes), fresh vegetables, especially tomatoes and eggplant. For dessert, serve up a little bowl of blueberries, and your heart will thank you.

Another key to having a healthy heart is exercise. Burn off that excess fat, especially around the abdomen. It's especially hard on your heart to carry fat around your belly. It secretes harmful proteins into your bloodstream, headed right for your heart. Pick something you like and stick with it. Running, biking, swimming, even walking are all very good. If you walk five miles a day, you'll burn 500 extra calories. And you don't have to do it all in one long walk. You can split it up into two or three shorter walks and still enjoy the benefits.

Medical Alert Bracelet Are a good safe guard and should be worn if you have a medical condition with your heart
Medical alert bracelets should be worn by anyone with a potentially life threatening illness, chronic disease, or severe allergy to a medication or even bee stings. These medical alert bracelets can be instrumental in saving a life in an emergency situation. In the event that an emergency would occur, emergency personnel would be better able to assess the situation and use the proper intervention if they had an insight as to what might be wrong with the person. The victim may be unconscious or otherwise unable to speak and not be able to tell the person trying to help what is wrong.

Many people are allergic to certain classes of antibiotics, and if they are injured they may be given a potentially deadly medication. A person may have a seizure disorder and is severely allergic to Dilantin, an antiepileptic medication. The person goes into a full grand mal seizure while waiting in line at the bank. The seizure continues for longer than five minutes and the person is turning blue and not breathing well. This is known as status epilepticus. Paramedics arrive and administer oxygen while starting an intravenous line though which they give the victim Dilantin. She immediately stops breathing. She is transported to the hospital, but on the way there she dies, because it was not apparent that an allergic reaction was occurring. This may sound extreme, but I’m sure a similar incident has happened. Had this person been wearing a medical alert bracelet or had some type of information regarding the allergy in her purse, emergency personnel would have been aware of her allergy and another medication would have been administered.

Medical alert bracelets are fairly inexpensive and can be purchased at local pharmacies or online. They come in a variety of styles and finishes, so that they can be worn just like jewelry and not be ugly and unattractive. These medical alert bracelets come in 14K gold, white gold, or sterling silver and come in traditional ID bracelet styling for men and women, or have a more feminine design or adorned with semi precious stone accents. Of course, these bracelet come with a higher price tag as well, some as high as $350-400. If you’re interested, check out www.jewelbasket.com/medical-alert-id-bracelets.html, or designer medical alert bracelets from www.hahoriginals.com. If you are only interested in functionality, check out CVS Pharmacy at www.cvs.com for medical alert bracelets priced as low as $ 9.99.

If you have a medical condition, illness, or severe allergy, it would be wise for you to take the time to acquire a medical alert bracelet. Pendants and charms are also available in a variety of style. Many styles also come with accompanying wallet cards for you to carry with you that can give more detailed information about your specific condition. Whichever style you choose, it could be the difference in saving your life or not, in an emergency situation.