According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), heart disease represents one-sixth of the deaths in the U.S. each year. 34% of the population has some form of heart disease.
Heart disease most commonly is an accumulation of unhealthy lifestyle choices and is therefore preventable. Heart disease is also treatable after a diagnosis of disease with changes in diet and increased ophysical activity.
Other factors influencing heart disease:
- The body’s natural chemicals can increase or decrease heart rate, such as epinephrine released in response to stress.
- Temperature: Heat increases heart rate and cold decreases heart rate.
- Emotions: Fear, anger, and anxiety are all stressors that increase heart rate.
- Gender: Women’s hearts beat faster than men’s.
Heart disease isn’t always the result of a bad diet. You can get it from birth defects, problems with electrical conduction in the heart muscle, circulation in the vessels, or infection. Medical science has pretty much figured out how to treat all of these problems.
Common sense dictates what needs to be done to prevent the kind of heart disease that arises from lack of exercise and poor diet.
- Move more with a minimum of moderate exercise 30 minutes a day, 3-5 times per week.
- Choose quality nutrition to lower cholesterol and blood pressure: more plant-based food, high quality oils found in seeds and nuts and cooking with extra-virgin olive oil.
- Limit alcohol consumption, recommended 1 drink per day for women, 2 drinks for men.
- No smoking!
- Reduce the stress in your life.
Acupuncture alone can’t wave away heart disease, but we are very focused on diet, exercise, and healthy lifestyle habits as part of your overall treatment plan in our practice. We have helped many people quit smoking, lose weight, eat a healthier diet, start to exercise and love it, and establish healthier habits. Acupuncture and herbs work to regulate circulation and calm the nervous system, the rest is up to you and we can help.
Mountaintop Acupuncture
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