As the leading cause of death among Americans – in both men and women – heart disease is not the kind of condition with which you can afford to take any chances. Those who have diabetes, high cholesterol and high blood pressure are especially at risk. How ever, as Phoenix-based Southwest Integrative Medicine has discovered, heart health can be effectively managed using a combination of both conventional and alternative medicine techniques, from neutraceuticals to clinical nutrition.
Diabetes affects 23 million people in the United States. Unable to adequately convert food into energy, their bodies cannot properly regulate blood sugar levels. It's when these blood sugar levels are too high that heart disease becomes a threat, as high blood sugar can damage the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart.
Cholesterol can be as equally dangerous as diabetes to the heart, but only the "bad" kind of cholesterol that we get from greasy, fatty foods. It clogs the arteries and, in turn, can lead to heart disease. What's worse is that there are no symptoms associated with high cholesterol. So unless you're tested for it, you'll never know you have it, which is why it's come to be known as the "silent killer."
High blood pressure can be a silent killer too, as there are often no symptoms of it either. The problem is that if your blood pressure is too high, your heart must work harder to pump the blood through your body. When this happens, it not only strains the blood vessels, but the heart itself. If forced to endure this pressure for too long, the heart can actually become enlarged, forcing it to pump even harder and further increasing the risk of a heart attack.
To help prevent and treat heart disease associated with diabetes, high cholesterol or high blood pressure, you first have to know what your risk is. There are advanced cardiovascular screen tools that go beyond cholesterol and blood pressure which show your true risk. Once you know this risk, any number of conventional and alternative ap proaches may be used. Obviously diet and exercise are critical, as eating healthy low-fat meals and normalizing weight are critical.
If you have diabetes, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or any reason for concern about your heart health, Southwest Integrative Medicine can help, a team of naturopathic doctors who understand and respect the benefits of both conventional and alternative techniques. If you live in the Phoenix area and would like to explore your options, simply fill out their online contact form to schedule an appointment with Southwest Integrative Medicine today.
