Healhtopia

Atherosclerosis is responsible for more than forty percent of the deaths in America and cardiovascular disease is the top cause of death in a great many developed countries, leading to about 38 % of all deaths in 2002, and longterm disability for 1. 1 million people. Yet what’s far more frightening is that one of its most important causes has long been overlooked, and this risk factor resides within your body right this moment, regardless whether you realise it or not.

Advanced Glycation End molecules, otherwise known as AGEs, are molecules created by a process known as glycosylation in which excess sugars attach themselves to your body’s proteins and lipids. And when created, these AGEs are wreaking completely irreversible havoc on your body, where these molecules damage cells and tissues while prematurely ageing your body.

Of course, under normal circumstances, this isn’t a problem, a healthy body is well equipped to remove these types of toxic molecules on a regular basis. But in the all too common case of prolonged oxidative stress, a result of high blood sugar, a diet rich in processed food or an environment steeped in harmful toxins, you may not be so lucky. In instances like these, AGEs build up quicker than your body can handle and studies show that the damage they can do to your tissues, and especially your arteries, kidneys and retinas, is severe.

Research reveals that AGE accumulation occurs in the small arteries in the heart muscle as well as arteries that have lost their normal elasticity because of diminished nitric oxide levels, increased plaque formation and inflammation, all of which directly contribute to the risk of severe cardiac events like heart attacks and strokes. What’s worse, these types of artery hardening and clogging effects have been shown to be totally independent of risk factors like age, high blood pressure and hyperglycaemia, which means that when AGEs are involved, even otherwise healthy people might be at risk.

The only sure fire option to take care of your heart is to block these toxic, AGE molecules from forming in the first place, and lots of natural compounds can play a vital role in doing just that.

For starters, the dipeptide carnosine is a effective AGE inhibitor, which protects proteins and lipids from glycation and reduces the harmful effects of oxidative stress. Unfortunately, muscle carnosine levels drop by around 63 percent from age 10 to age 70, indicating the importance of supplementation with this nutrient.

Compounds like N-acetyl-cysteine and lipoic acid are also proven to reduce AGE related cell death. B vitamins are another crucial source of protection. Pyridoxal-5-phosphate, the active form of B6, is converted to pyridoxamine in the liver. Pyridoxamine inhibits AGE formation, which helps to relieve the AGE initiated aggregation of blood platelets and the formation of clots. And studies show that alpha-lipoic acid in combination with benfotiamine (a lipid soluble form of vitamin B1) can block AGE formation by as much as 40 percent. As an added benefit, this class of antioxidant vitamins is also known to decrease diabetic complications and inhibit the release of inflammation causing chemicals like NFkappaB.

If you ever assumed one particular pressure level suits all, you should think again. You’ll find number of blood blood pressure levels, and just what is thought to be ideal depends on age and health. The standard is for persons in the age bracket of twenty and forty is 120 systolic and 80 diastolic. Systolic pressure will be the reading if the heart is pumping blood in the veins. Diastolic pressure will be the resting period in between pumping actions.

The optimum range in this age group is greater than 120/80. It runs between 90 and 120 for systolic blood pressure and 60 and 80 diastolic blood pressure. Levels on which is standard, elevated, high and low in each age bracket cover a broad range. Pre high systolic pressure is in between 120 and 140 and for diastolic blood pressure, 80 to 90. Start to take measures as soon as pressure levels have reached that level to make sure they won’t move way up the range in the high pressure region. For systolic blood pressure it’s in between 140 and 190 for systolic pressure and in between 90 and 100 for diastolic pressure.

Low pressure is going to need to be watched as well. While potentially less immediately life threatening when compared with extremely high blood pressure, it nonetheless is often an warning sign of bad health. The lower region is in between 70 and 90 systolic blood pressure and 40 and 60 diastolic blood pressure.

There are many of reasons influencing pressure other than a tendency to elevate with age. Such as an absence of activity, excess weight, smoking, an excessive amount of alcohol consumption. Health conditions include kidney disease and type 2 diabetes. Amongst diabetic patients, the danger of having high pressure is 3 in 10 those with Type 1 diabetes, and as high as 8 in 10 for people with Type 2 diabetes.

You’ll find known risk factors for certain other people. Those people whose close family members have dealt with elevated blood pressure are at greater risk of getting this particular disorder. Ethnic origin can be another surprising impact on persons from Afro-Caribbean origin along with persons out of the Indian sub-continent, both of those being ethnical groups at greater risk of elevated blood pressure.

It’s long been presumed that far too much consumption of salt, may be a risk factor that will cause elevated pressure levels. This particular theory is to be re-evaluated which is at present undecided as to what level presents a risk. From the health and fitness standpoint, it’s always largely regarded by health and wellbeing experts that overweight, not having enough physical exercise, an excessive amount alcohol consumption as well as a primarily less healthy daily diet are all regarded risk factors.