Florida cardiologists state that people who eat completely meat-based diet are at a higher risk of heart disease than those who eat diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and nuts. Independent surveys have revealed that western diet rich in meat and chicken increases a woman’s risk of getting heart disease by 46%.

Studies show several benefits of eating fresh fruits, vegetables, and plant-based diet over meat based foods, such as lower blood pressure level, low levels of triglycerides, lower level of bad cholesterol, reduced abdominal fat, low blood sugar level, and optimal body weight.

Plant based diets result in lowering the level of triglycerides, reducing blood pressure level, decreasing body weight, and decreasing the C-creative protein in that causes inflammation in the body.

Florida cardiology doctors also state that plant based diet helps improve insulin sensitivity and controls blood sugar level in people who are suffering from diabetes. Heart research and studies conducted in Florida and across the world show that people who take plant based diet and eat more fruits and vegetables have roughly 20-27% less risk of getting heart disease and of dying from cardiovascular heart diseases.  

In addition, plant based diet can make you slimmer, more energetic, and healthier, and can also improve your life expectancy, say Florida cardiologists.

For the ones who are primarily on meat diet, switching to a plant based diet woul not be very difficult. There is a huge variety of plant foods that you can include in your every day diet, such as tempeh, seitan, tofu, broccoli, kale, quinoa, ground flaxseeds, ground chia seeds, raw almonds and walnuts, raw almond butter, olive oil, figs, avocados, tomatoes, berries of all kinds, lentils, black beans, spirulina, hemp seeds, nutritional yeast, organic soymilk, sweet potatoes, squash, carrots, apples, peaches, mangoes, pineapple, garlic, red wine, green tea, brown rice, sprouted bread, brown rice, and steel-cut oats.

You may search the web or read books to learn interesting plant-based food recipes. You can make endless combo of meals by using fresh veggies, quinoa, tofu, and spices. Further, there are fruit smoothies and snacks that are plant-based and can be enjoyed without worrying about your heart health.

Slowly cut down on meat and eggs to get used to a plant-based diet-a healthier way of eating and living!

To know what you should eat and what you must avoid in order to keep your heart healthy and to reduce your risk of heart disease, you may consult our Florida cardiology doctors at the Florida Heart Group.

Mostly, everybody waits for that one fun night when they could dress up as anyone they want to be. In mid of such fun and enjoyment, people tend to forget that they need to be particular about their health especially health of their heart. Generally, people gain too much pounds during the festive occasion. Increasing weight can be a threat for your heart. There are too many delights and too many temptations.  Here are some ideas to help you keep this Halloween week healthier:

• 1.Dedicate yourself to the major daily health habits. Treats now refer to pre-packaged, special-sized commercial candy products and the measure of a successful Halloween seems to be based on how big was the haul. In such a scenario, it becomes necessary to know the value of consuming healthy food.

• 2.A quick workout can be a good way-out to stay healthy with all the candy flowing around you this weekend. A quick workout in the beginning of the day can help you to jump-start your metabolism for the day.

• 3.Drink at least two liters of water every day. This will make you feel fuller, and you won't crave for that candy so much.

• 4.Sleep is also an important part of maintaining good heart health. Get at least eight hours of sleep every night, to make sure your body chemicals stay in healthy balance.

• 5.Do not forget to have a balanced diet rich in vitamins and nutrients.

• 6.Switch onto other substitutes when it comes to give out a treat. Mini boxes of raisins, juice-boxes, snack sized pretzels, pre-packaged trail mixes, pre-packaged dried fruits, crayons, stickers, silly bands, tooth brushes, bubbles, plastic spiders, or coupons to local frozen yogurt stores.

• 7.Avoid the desire to buy discounted candy in the grocery stores after Halloween.

Halloween is great; it is one of the greatly celebrated holidays. Start this weekend with a plan, and build some momentum in your discipline that could sustain your vitality. Experienced doctors at Florida Heart Group are making quality efforts in keeping people attentive about these healthy heart tips so that they remain fit and healthy when it comes to functioning of heart. The professionals here make sure that your health does not become a barrier in mid of all those celebrations. Have a healthy Halloween!

It is a misconception that heart diseases only impact men. Heart problems and heart attack warning signs can be different for females but if these are not given adequate attention, the conditions may turn fatal. Proper exercise and maintaining a healthy diet are two simplest ways to good health. Women in their fifties & above and obese women especially need to take care of their diet and exercise patterns to avoid symptoms of heart attack and other vascular problems. As per expert Orlando cardiology doctors, the factors that need to be taken care of include:

Restricted intake of saturated fats: Minimizing the intake of saturated fats and totally quitting food with trans fats is the best way to reduce the risk of heart attacks. Lavish amount of butter, cheese spread or margarine on bread is simply not good for heart. Women who like potato chips but have observed heart attack signs in the past or are prone to heart diseases must substitute fried potato with baked potato chips. It is wise to cook meals in healthier oils such as olive oil, safflower or sunflower oil instead of oil rich in saturated fats. There are no drastic changes required in diet to have a heart healthy meal. Little variations like adding vegetables, fruits and low fat substitutes to food go a long way in making meals heart healthy.

Avoiding bad cholesterol: The best way to avoid HDL or bad cholesterol is to keep away from fried packaged food. Substituting chips, cookies and fries with fruits, proteins and fibrous food stuffs is an effective way to avoid any form cholesterol intake. Nuts, olive oil and food substances that contain sterols also block absorption of cholesterol. Intake of cholesterol rich food must be stopped by women who have observed heart attack warning signs.

Avoiding processed food: Frequent consumption of processed food can be a major risk factor for heart diseases. Packaged dinners, pizzas, processed meats and dairy products are harmful for heart and must be avoided. For those who do not have time to cook, it is healthier to opt for fresh and light meals from restaurants or better still, fruits, salads, soups, and unsalted meats. Intake of salt must also be reduced – herbs and fresh spices can be added to make food more palatable.

At Florida Heart Group, we have a team of the best Orlando doctors for diagnosis and treatment of heart and other vascular problems. Our doctors not only help through timely diagnosis and treatments but also give good tips to their patients for healthier lives. If you know someone who has observed heart attack warning signs or needs a treatment for vascular diseases, visit Florida Heart Group today. 

A minor blockage in the heart artery obstructs the blood flow in the body. This leads to various problems pertaining to heart. Generally a person might feel pain in chest or upper back or he can have a choking feeling. Such signs act as alarm against severe heart diseases. So, when you notice such signs and symptoms in your body, do consult Orlando doctors for the matter. Florida Heart Group has renowned doctors and physicians who offer the best facilities to all Florida vascular and heart patients.

At Florida Heart Group, patients suffering from any heart diseases are diagnosed by certified cardiology physicians and doctors through medical history and medical test results of the patients. Problems like Cardiovascular Diseases, Angina Pectoris, Arrhythmias, Blood Pressure, Congestive Heart Failure, Heart Attack, Sleep Apnea and Blood Pressure are diagnosed well by Orlando doctors. With latest technology and techniques, these physicians have enabled many patients to live longer life and healthier life.

Cardiology physicians carry out a systematic approach to treat the patients suffering from any heart disease. They carry out all these tests before providing them with proper procedures:

• Ablation
• Cardiac Catheterization
• Defibrillators
• Electrophysiology Studies (EPS)
• Heart Surgery
• Pacemaker
• Percutanerous Transluminal Coronary Angioplasty (PTCA)
• Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD)
• Stress Echo
• Stress Test – Cardiac PET (Positron Emission Tomography)
• Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE

Moreover, Orlando doctors at Florida Heart Group perform special procedures for women suffering from heart ill-functioning. They share a passion for recognizing special needs for women. Supported by American Heart Association in increasing awareness about cardiology treatments for women, Orlando doctors speak for women and heart diseases.

At Florida Heart Group, we have advance facilities and the best FL cardiologists and physicians for diagnosis and treatment of heart attack. For any emergency issues concerning heart, directly contact FL doctors. Treatment of cardiovascular and peripheral artery diseases is provided with helping patients to adopt healthy lifestyle and reduce the risk factors. Consult the most well known FL physicians at Florida Heart Group if you or your loved ones observe any signs of vascular diseases.

This month, the FDA released a statement about the popular antidepressant Celexa (generically known as citalopram). According to the agency, high doses of the drug can lead to problems with the heart’s “QT Interval,” which is basically the reset of the hearts between beats. Celexa may cause irregular, disorganized rhythms in the pumping chamber of the heart.

The FDA says that doctors should not prescribe more than 40 milligrams a day of Celexa. It notes that patients taking other drugs with Celexa, specifically Tagamet (an antacid), should take even less.

The irregular heartbeats caused by the drug can lead to blackouts because of the lack of blood being pumped to the brain. In extreme cases, this can be life-threatening.

If you are taking antidepressants, make sure to let your cardiologist at Florida Heart Group know. He or she may give you an electrocardiogram.

Cardiologists often ask heart patients to follow diets low in fat and cholesterol.

A blood cholesterol level leads to build up of plaques in the arteries which increase the risk of heart attack and strokes. Saturated fat must therefore be less than 7 percent in the total calories consumed by a heart patient. Similarly, trans fats must be less than 1 percent of the total daily calories. The best way to reduce the amount of saturated fats in the diet is to limit the consumption of butter, margarine and shortening.

Reducing the intake of fats however does not imply that heart patients have to give up on consumption of all "taste enhancing" ingredients. They can use low fat substitutes for a heart healthy diet. For instance, a low sugar fruit spread on toast or a salsa topping on baked potato can be used for adding some flavor to apparently bland food. For cooking, olive oil, canola oil and polyunsaturated fats found in nuts and seeds are good choices to prepare healthy meals.

Legumes such as beans, peas and lentils are good sources of proteins and have no cholesterol. These can be prepared in various forms for snacks, salads, soups and main dishes. A soy burger instead of a hamburger is also a good option to reduce fat and cholesterol intake.

Heart patients must include plenty of fruits, vegetables and whole grains in their diet. These are rich sources of fiber, vitamins and minerals. However canned or frozen fruit in heavy sugar syrup must be avoided. Fresh fruits mixed in salads and stir fried vegetables are full of flavor and great for a healthy heart.

The statistics are sobering—over 2,500 people in the U.S. die of heart disease related illnesses every day and even more shocking—every 20 seconds, someone gets a heart attack. Heart disease is the number one killer of women in the United States as well. So it has never been more important to make sure you educate yourself on prevention methods. Our blog is full of posts with these tips… simply look around and educate yourself, then make a plan to make it happen… for yourself and for your loved ones.

Okay… so let’s get to the matter at hand. You’ve heard the terms before, but are unsure of what separates the two.

What is Angina?

Angina is considered to be a symptom rather than a condition in itself. It’s the start of a more serious condition caused when the coronary arteries, which are responsible to supply the oxygen rich blood to the heart, narrow down due to cholesterol or fat deposits. Because the arteries are narrowed down, there is lack of blood supply due to which symptoms like pressure and squeezing pain in the chest occur. The pain and the discomfort may stay from a few minutes to several minutes depending upon the type of angina and the severity of the condition. Because the arteries are narrowed down, angina symptoms occur only when the heart demands increased blood supply, like during some physical or emotional exertion, exercising and so on. An angina attack is painful, but it’s not fatal.

What is a Heart Attack?

Heart attacks are more severe conditions which occur when the arteries that carry the blood to the heart are completely blocked, mostly due to blood clots. Though the symptoms of a heart attack and angina can appear to be pretty similar, the consequences of the same can be absolutely different. While angina doesn't prove to be fatal, a heart attack can actually lead to fatal damages to the heart muscles and arteries, which can even lead to death!

A Few Differences:

BLOOD FLOW…
Angina: Short term or temporary blockage of the blood flow to the heart.
Heart Attack: Permanent blockage of the blood flow to the heart.

TIMING…
Angina: Lasts from a few minutes to almost 10 minutes.
Heart Attack: A heart attack stays for a longer period of time as compared to angina and stays for at least 20 minutes.

CURING…
Angina: Cured with medications and pain killers.
Heart Attack: Permanent condition which cannot be completely cured.

PAIN…
Angina: Chest pain, sweating, nausea, squeezing, sweating etc can subside when at rest.
Heart Attack: The symptoms of a heart attack are also the same, but they are milder in nature and do not respond to rest.

We hope the above information helps you better understand the difference between angina and heart attack. Consult your doctor for more information. And if you feel like you are having a heart attack, call 911 immediately.

We’re sure it won’t take much convincing to get you to pay attention to this post! New research* from Sweden was released today that associates drinking one to five cups of the world’s most popular beverage (coffee) per day with a lower risk of stroke.

The study was conducted on a large group of Swedish women over the course of ten years. It was concluded that women who consumed one to five cups of joe a day had a 22-25% lower risk of stroke.

But Dr. Larry Goldstein, national spokesperson for the American Stroke Association said to look cautiously at this study: “There always can be unmeasured factors that can be contributing to the difference,” he noted. “In this particular study, the researchers used a nutrition questionnaire administered in 1997 and then followed people forward looking for future events. So you don't know about how or if their behavior has changed over time.”
 
The study also did not control for caffeine content of the coffee or how the coffee was processed. "There are so many factors in this type of study that limit drawing strong conclusions," Goldstein said.

So why are researching taking notice of a study that we can’t draw any firm conclusions from? Because no one’s denying the possibility… Many say that coffee consumption could potentially reduce the risk of stroke by increasing insulin sensitivity and reducing inflammation—The phenolic compounds of coffee have antioxidant properties and may improve endothelial function.

We say enjoy your coffee, but do so in moderation. Most important, be careful how much “stuff” you add to your coffee—like sugars and creamers—that’s where most of the trouble lies. Remember, there are many ways that have been proved to decrease your risk for stroke, including eating a healthy diet low in saturated fats, limiting salt and sodium; maintaining a healthy weight and staying active; not smoking; and limiting alcohol consumption, which causes high blood pressure.

Fore more information about stroke, visit: http://www.cdc.gov/stroke/guidelines_recommendations.htm

*The study was supported by the Swedish Council for Working Life and Social Research (FAS) and the Swedish Research Council for Infrastructure.

We all know that fiber is good for us. It’s one of those topics that’s not even up for debate—the proof has always been there. But now there’s even more evidence that fiber can help us lead healthier—maybe even longer-lasting—lives.

A new study led by Dr. Yikung Park (National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD) that was reported on in the Archives of Internal Medicine (February 14, 2011) has shown that fiber intake was associated with “… a significantly reduced risk of total death, including cardiovascular mortality and deaths from infectious and respiratory diseases.”*

In the study, people who consumed the most fiber were 22 percent less likely to die than those consuming the least amount of fiber. Fiber intake was associated with a lowered risk among both men and women.

Specifically, dietary fiber from grains (not from other sources) was inversely related to total death in both genders, so “… fiber isolates probably do not provide the same benefits as intact, whole grains.”

In the past, scientific evidence has linked fiber intake to myriad health benefits, including treating and preventing constipation, hemorrhoids, and diverticulosis; decreasing blood cholesterol levels, and helping control weight.

The authors of this most recently study add that the finding of a strong inverse association between fiber intake and cardiovascular death “supports decades of research indicating that dietary fiber protects against cardiovascular disease and its risk factors,” including lowering blood pressure and reducing cholesterol.

We recently posted about the new 2011 dietary guidelines for Americans, which noted that Americans should place more emphasis on maintaining a fiber-rich diet:

“The intake of vegetables, fruits, grains, and fat-free and low-fat dairy products should all be increased. Lean proteins, including seafood, lean meat and poultry, eggs, beans and peas, soy products, and unsalted nuts and seeds should also take center stage in a daily diet. Specific high-profile nutrients also get a nod, with the guidelines suggesting that foods providing more potassium, dietary fiber, calcium, and vitamin D should be emphasized.”

A diet rich in fiber is easy to maintain. And it can be quite delicious too! Enjoy satisfying whole grain pasta dishes, bran cereals topped with fresh raspberries, or spinach salads topped with a little Gargonzola cheese. The possibilities are endless with fiber-rich foods. Just be a little more aware when preparing or ordering your meals, and you’ll be able to bring more fiber into your diet with ease—without missing any of the flavor.

For more information or to read the study’s full report, visit: http://archinte.ama-assn.org/

*Park Y, Subar AF, Hollenbeck A, et al. Dietary fiber intake and mortality in the NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study. Arch Intern Med 2011; DOI:10.1001/archinternmed.2011.18.

On January 31, 2011, the USDA released the 7th edition of the “Guidelines for Healthy Eating,” which included 23 recommendations for Americans and six additional recommendations for specific population groups.

For the most part, the new guidelines were praised by various medical societies; however, the American Heart Association (AHA) had something to say about the new “sodium guidance” that was released.

The new recommendations call for people who are 51 and older or people of any age (if they are African American or have hypertension, diabetes, or chronic kidney disease) to limit daily sodium intake to 1500 mg. That is "the majority of adults," the guidelines note. But for people who don't fall in those specific categories, the USDA advice is to limit intake to 2300 mg of sodium per day.

In an AHA news release, the organization responded to the recommendation: “The AHA recommends a daily sodium consumption limit of less than 1500 mg a day for all Americans and is concerned that this two-part recommendation does not go far enough to protect the health of all Americans.”

We support the AHA’s position, but we must stress the importance of eating healthy as a lifestyle and being physically active as well. “Enjoy food, but: Eat less. Play more.” That’s a great motto for prevention and and overall heart health.

*The USDA dietary guidelines were first developed in 1980, and the previous sixth-edition guidelines were released in January 2005. Dr Linda Van Horn (Northwestern University, Chicago, IL) chaired the 13-member Dietary Guideline Advisory Committee (DGAC), which has spent 18 months reviewing the evidence for updating the guidelines