Preventing strokes without medication involves adopting a healthy lifestyle and managing risk factors effectively. Many strokes, particularly ischemic strokes (caused by blood clots), can be prevented through these natural and proactive steps:
1. Maintain a Healthy Diet
Focus on a Mediterranean-style diet rich in:
Fruits and vegetables: Provide antioxidants and potassium, which lower blood pressure.
Whole grains: Improve heart health and reduce cholesterol.
Healthy fats: From nuts, seeds, and olive oil to support vascular health.
Lean proteins: Fish, particularly fatty fish like salmon, for omega-3 fatty acids.
Limit salt intake: Excess sodium raises blood pressure, a major stroke risk.
Avoid trans fats and processed foods, which contribute to atherosclerosis.
2. Stay Physically Active
Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise per week (e.g., brisk walking, cycling, or swimming).
Exercise improves:
Blood pressure regulation.
Circulation and heart health.
Blood sugar control.
Include strength training to boost overall fitness.
3. Manage Your Weight
Maintain a healthy body weight to reduce strain on your heart and arteries.
Obesity is closely linked to conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol—all of which increase stroke risk.
4. Control Blood Pressure
High blood pressure (hypertension) is the leading cause of strokes. Lifestyle tips:
Reduce salt and processed foods.
Stay hydrated and limit caffeine.
Manage stress through techniques like meditation, yoga, or deep breathing.
While medications are essential for some, many strokes can be prevented naturally by leading a healthy and active lifestyle. Prevention is most effective when multiple strategies are combined.
Vitamin K2, like its counterpart K1, is a fat-soluble
vitamin that plays a crucial role in various bodily functions. However, it's mainly
known for its role in bone and cardiovascular health. Here's a bit more detail:
Bone
Health: Vitamin K2 is essential for bone mineralisation. It activates
osteocalcin, a protein that helps bind calcium to bones and thus
contributes to bone strength and density. Studies suggest that adequate
intake of vitamin K2 may reduce the risk of fractures and improve bone
health, especially in postmenopausal women at higher risk of osteoporosis.
Cardiovascular
Health: Vitamin K2 also helps regulate calcium metabolism. It ensures calcium
is directed to where it's needed, such as bones and teeth. It prevents it
from accumulating in arteries and other soft tissues, which could
contribute to arterial calcification and increase the risk of
cardiovascular disease.
Other
Functions: Some research suggests that vitamin K2 may have other
potential health benefits, such as supporting immune function and possibly
reducing the risk of certain cancers. However, more studies are needed to
understand these effects fully.
Vitamin K2 is naturally found in fermented foods like
cheese, natto (fermented soybeans), and sauerkraut, as well as in animal
products like egg yolks and certain meats. It's also available in supplement
form, often as MK-4 or MK-7 (different forms of vitamin K2).
As with any supplement, talking to a healthcare professional
before adding vitamin K2 to your regimen is essential, especially if you're on
blood-thinning medications or have any underlying health conditions.
Bio-chemical angioplasty (BCA), also known as chelation therapy, treats coronary artery disease (CAD). It involves injecting a chemical called ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) into the bloodstream. EDTA binds to calcium, a major component of plaque buildup in the arteries. This helps to break up the plaque and improve blood flow.
BCA typically lasts about an hour over 20-30 treatments. The treatments are usually given over several weeks or months.
BCA is not a standard treatment for CAD, and it needs to be clarified how effective it is. Some studies have shown that it can improve symptoms and reduce the risk of heart attack, but other studies have not found any benefit.
The American Heart Association and the American College of Cardiology do not recommend BCA as a treatment for CAD. However, it can be a helpful alternative to surgery or other medicines.
If you are considering BCA, talking to your doctor about the risks and benefits is essential. They can help you decide if this is the proper treatment for you.
Here are some of the potential risks of BCA:
Allergic reaction to EDTA
Low blood pressure
Headache
Nausea
Vomiting
Muscle cramps
Pain at the injection site
In rare cases, BCA can cause more serious complications, such as kidney damage or stroke.
If you have any questions or concerns about BCA, be sure to talk to your doctor.
Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP) is a non-invasive
medical therapy used to treat certain cardiovascular conditions, particularly
chronic stable angina and heart failure. It works by improving blood flow to
the heart and reducing the workload on the heart muscle. Here's an explanation
of how EECP works and its benefits:
Principle of EECP: EECP involves using external or
pressure cuffs wrapped around the patient's legs (from calves to thighs) and
connected to a computer-controlled air compressor. The cuffs inflate and
deflate in sync with the patient's heartbeat, creating a pulsatile pressure
wave that travels upward from the legs toward the heart. This process is
synchronized with the ECG (electrocardiogram) to ensure it matches the
patient's cardiac cycle.
Enhancing Blood Flow: During inflation of the cuffs, blood
in the lower extremities is pushed upward toward the heart. This increase in
blood flow is particularly beneficial for individuals with compromised coronary
arteries, as it helps to supply more oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle.
Additionally, the diastolic phase of the cardiac cycle, when the heart relaxes
and fills with blood, is extended due to the cuff deflation. This allows the
heart to receive more blood and oxygen, further reducing the workload on the
heart.
Benefits of EECP:
Symptom Relief: EECP is often used to alleviate symptoms of
chronic stable angina (chest pain or discomfort) that do not respond well to
other treatments. Patients typically experience reduced angina frequency and
severity.
Improved Exercise Tolerance: EECP can enhance a patient's
ability to engage in physical activities by improving cardiovascular function.
Reduced Heart Workload: By increasing diastolic blood flow
and reducing afterload (the resistance the heart has to overcome to pump
blood), EECP can reduce the overall workload on the heart.
Stimulation of Collateral Blood Vessels: EECP may encourage
the development of collateral blood vessels, which can help bypass blocked or
narrowed coronary arteries.
Treatment Course: A typical course of EECP treatment
involves multiple one-hour sessions over several weeks. Patients are usually
required to complete around 35 sessions, with five sessions per week. Each
session involves lying on a specially designed treatment table with cuffs on
the legs. The treatment is painless and non-invasive, allowing patients to
relax, watch TV, or read during the sessions.
Safety and Considerations: EECP is generally considered safe
but may not suit everyone. It's essential to consult with a
healthcare professional to determine if it's an appropriate treatment option,
as it may not be effective for all individuals with cardiovascular conditions.
EECP is a therapeutic option for select patients with
specific heart conditions, and its effectiveness can vary from person to
person. It should always be used under the guidance and supervision of a
qualified healthcare provider.
Cynical hostility is a personality style of cynicism and anger mismanagement in social relationships. Sometimes called chronic anger, it is associated with mistrust and weakened social support networks.
How Cynical are you?
Unless you’re a real curmudgeon, it’s unlikely that you’re cynical about everyone all the time. But there may be a few areas where you tend to err on the side of negativity. Gaining insight into the aspects of your life where you may be a tad too pessimistic could be helpful.
Here’s a quick test—consider how much you agree with the following statements:
I think most people would lie to get ahead.
It’s safer to trust nobody.
Most people will use somewhat unfair reasons to gain profit or an advantage rather than lose it.
This tool—which was used by researchers to study the link between cynicism and dementia—shows there are degrees of cynicism. Perhaps you agree with one of the above statements. Or maybe you think all three of them are partially true. Or perhaps you’re only cynical about certain people—like all sales professionals.
Cynical hostility is a potential pathway to cardiovascular disease by preventing a healthy response to stress over time, according to a study led by Baylor University.
Hostility generally is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease. But this research explored three types of hostility—emotional, behavioral and cognitive—to see whether one is more predictive of risk factors. Cynical hostility poses the greatest risk based on stress responses, according to the study, which was published in the journal Psychophysiology.
"Cynical hostility is more cognitive, consisting of negative beliefs, thoughts and attitudes about other people's motives, intentions and trustworthiness," said lead author Alexandra T. Tyra, a doctoral candidate in psychology and neuroscience at Baylor University. "It can be considered suspiciousness, lack of trust or cynical beliefs about others."
1. Heal your past wounds. Sometimes a cynical outlook stems from unaddressed past hurts. Whether you got bullied as a child, or your last business partner stole from you, don’t blame the world for a few bad apples. Take steps to heal your past wounds so you can see the world through a more realistic lens.
2. Refuse to see yourself as a victim. Blaming other people for holding you back will keep you stuck. Decide that you’re not going to view yourself as a victim and take charge of your life. Recognize the options you have in each situation and empower yourself to make the best choices possible, regardless of what is going on around you.
3. Practice gratitude. Train your brain to start seeing the good in the world by practicing gratitude. Start your day by acknowledging at least one thing you have to be grateful for. Before you go to sleep, recognize at least one person or incident where someone showed genuine kindness, fairness, or integrity.
The person suffering from an anxiety disorder will not see his life limited only by having problems with attention, memory and concentration. This psychological condition impacts at all levels: mind, body, emotions, quality of life, relationships ... It is a state that distorts everything and that makes us lose control of reality.
We know that anxiety and concentration problems are related, therefore to improve this situation the key must necessarily be to treat the original trigger. The most appropriate thing is to consult a specialized professional . The origin of this disorder is often in lifestyle, lack of coping strategies, or even unresolved trauma .
Gender is a significant determining factor in mental health and in how it is managed by healthcare services, according to recent studies conducted by this group and based on health questionnaires completed in the Basque Autonomous Community (2018) and in Spain (2017), and on the Spanish sample corresponding to the European Health Survey (2014). What stands out in the analysis of these three databases is the higher prevalence of poor mental health among women of all ages and across all social groups; in addition, there is a multiplier effect due to the accumulation of experiences of inequality. This reality also appears to be unequal in terms of the age and socioeconomic level of the patients.
Each person is a world and each mind needs particular strategies. However, on average, the following keys can help us:
Detect irrational and non-functional thoughts, especially those that fuel discomfort.
Rationalize emotions and leave space for them without blocking them. It's about understanding what they want to say, understanding their message to handle it much better.
Practice deep breathing and relaxation techniques .
Get some exercise on a day-to-day basis.
Establish routines and leave spaces for leisure and mental rest.
Accept that you cannot have control of everything that surrounds you and begin to assume that life is also made of uncertainties.
To conclude, these strategies will not pay off in a day or a week. We need time to re-educate the brain, to change the pattern of thoughts and the pressure of emotions. However, change and improvement is always possible. With commitment and psychological therapy, advances always come.
All phobia, whatever it may be, has its origin in anxiety. In this condition, irrational fears, distorted thoughts, uncontrolled emotions and behaviors that escape one's own control intermingle. Therefore, if the person with ailurophobia sees their daily life limited by this type of fear, it is advisable to seek specialized help.
The coping strategy usually starts from the following techniques:
The exposure therapy . In this case, it would imply bringing the person closer to those anxious stimuli (cats), to mediate cognitive and emotional reactions.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is the most suitable to enable the person in the proper management of phobias. Thanks to it, we can detect maladaptive thoughts, regulate emotions and incorporate more adjusted behaviors.
Relaxation and breathing techniques are very suitable in these situations as well.
To conclude, although this phobia is not as common as the fear of dogs, it can also be very exhausting. After all, cats are those common tenants in many homes and on many of our streets. Treating this psychological condition will allow us to live much better.
The fear of cats is not as common as the phobia of dogs, but in certain cases, it can be very limiting. Let's know the characteristics and possible associated causes.
Mysterious, intelligent, vigilant, agile and always wrapped in that eternal aura between elegance and enigma. Felines have been the protagonists of legends and even terrifying tales, such as the now classic story by Edgar Allan Poe, The Black Cat . Be that as it may, the fear of cats is for some something justified and real, a very limiting type of phobia in a world that generally adores these creatures.
To speak of phobias is to enter a world that is as ordinary as it is singular at the same time . We are facing one of the most common psychiatric disorders, because who more and who less has their own irrational fear, that which may or may not hinder the performance of their daily life. Now, if there is one aspect that defines this condition, it is the clear difficulty in finding the origin of these fears.
In 1914, the American psychologist G. Stanley Hall published his now famous genetic study of fear in the American Journal of Psychology. In it, he identified 136 phobias, a list that is much more extensive today. For his part, the benchmark for the study of ailurophobia or fear of cats was the American neurologist Silas Weir Mitchell , who in 1902 began to collect as much information as possible to better understand this type of phobia.
continue reading on https://www.psychological-consulting.com/l/having-trouble-concentrating-lately/
Michigan State University and Stanford University scientists have invented a nanoparticle that eats away—from the inside out—portions of plaques that cause heart attacks.
Atherosclerosis is a cardiac-based disease where plaque builds up inside the body’s arteries, the blood vessels responsible for carrying oxygen-rich blood to the heart and other organs of the body. Plaque is made up of white immune blood cells, known as macrophages, fat, cholesterol, calcium, and other substances found in the blood. As this plaque hardens it narrows the arteries, limiting the flow of oxygen-rich blood around the body. This, in turn, can lead to serious problems, including heart attack, stroke, or even death.
The team states their nanoparticle reduces and stabilizes plaque, providing a potential treatment for atherosclerosis, a leading cause of death in the United States. The study is published in the journal Nature Nanotechnology.
Macrophages are a type of white blood cell in our immune system, which engulf and digest cellular debris, foreign substances, microbes, cancer cells, and anything else that does not have the type of proteins specific to healthy body cells.
Once inside the macrophages of arterial plaques, the nanoparticle delivers a drug agent that can stimulate the cell to engulf and eat cellular debris, removing the diseased/dead cells. By reinvigorating the macrophages, plaque size is reduced.
Future clinical trials on the nanoparticle are expected to reduce the risk of most types of heart attacks, with minimal side effects due to the unprecedented selectivity of the nanodrug, according to Smith. His research is focused on intercepting the signaling of the receptors in macrophages and sending a message via small molecules using Nano-immunotherapeutic platforms. Previous studies have acted on the surface of the cells, but this new approach works intracellularly and has been effective in stimulating macrophages.
"We found we could stimulate the macrophages to selectively eat dead and dying cells – these inflammatory cells are precursor cells to atherosclerosis – that are part of the cause of heart attacks," Smith said. "We could deliver a small molecule inside the macrophages to tell them to begin eating again."
This approach also has applications beyond atherosclerosis, he added.
"We were able to marry a groundbreaking finding in atherosclerosis by our collaborators with the state-of-the-art selectivity and delivery capabilities of our advanced nanomaterial platform," explained Smith. "We demonstrated the nanomaterials were able to selectively seek out and deliver a message to the very cells needed. It gives a particular energy to our future work, which will include clinical translation of these nanomaterials using large animal models and human tissue tests. We believe it is better than previous methods."
Smith has filed a provisional patent and will begin marketing it later this year.
Tachycardia refers to a heart rate that’s too fast. How that’s defined may depend on your age and physical condition. Generally speaking, for adults, a heart rate of more than 100 beats per minute (BPM) is considered too fast.
A profile for atrial or SVT
In general, those most likely to have atrial or supraventricular tachycardia are:
Children (SVT is the most common type of arrhythmia in kids)
Women, to a greater degree than men
Anxious young people
People who are physically fatigued
People who drink large amounts of coffee (or caffeinated substances)
People who drink alcohol heavily
People who smoke heavily
Atrial or SVT is less commonly associated with heart attack or serious mitral valve disease.
Episodes of faster-than-normal heart rate characterize
paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (PSVT). PSVT is a fairly common type of
abnormal heart rate. It can occur at any age and in people who don’t have other
heart conditions.
The heart’s sinus node typically sends electrical signals to
tell the heart muscle when to contract. In PSVT, an abnormal electrical pathway
causes the heart to beat faster than normal. Episodes of rapid heart rate can
last from a few minutes to several hours. A person with PSVT can have a heart
rate as high as 250 beats per minute (bpm). A normal rate is between 60 and 100
bpm.
PSVT can cause uncomfortable symptoms, but it’s not usually
life-threatening. Most people don’t need long-term treatment for PSVT. There
are medications and procedures that may be necessary in some cases, especially
where PSVT interferes with heart function.
The term “paroxysmal” means that it only happens from time
to time.
What are the risk factors for paroxysmal supraventricular
tachycardia?
PSVT affects about 1 in every 2,500 children. It is the most
frequent abnormal heart rhythm in newborns and infants. Wolff-Parkinson-White
syndrome (WPW) is the most common type of PSVT in children and infants.
PSVT is more common in adults under age 65. Adults over age
65 are more likely to have atrial fibrillation (AFib).
In a normal heart, the sinus node directs electrical signals
through a specific pathway. This regulates the frequency of your heartbeats. An
extra pathway, often present in supraventricular tachycardia, can lead to the
abnormally fast heartbeat of PSVT.
There are certain medications that make PSVT more likely.
For example, when taken in large doses, the heart medication digitalis
(digoxin) can lead to episodes of PSVT. The following actions can also increase
your risk of having an episode of PSVT:
ingesting caffeine
ingesting alcohol
smoking
using illegal
drugs
taking certain
allergy and cough medications
What are the symptoms of paroxysmal supraventricular
tachycardia?
The symptoms of PSVT resemble the symptoms of an anxiety
attack and can include:
heart palpitations
a rapid pulse
a feeling of
tightness or pain in the chest
anxiety
shortness of
breath
In more serious cases, PSVT can cause dizziness and even
fainting due to poor blood flow to the brain.
Sometimes, a person experiencing symptoms of PSVT may
confuse the condition with a heart attack. This is especially true if it’s
their first PSVT episode. If your chest pain is severe you should always go to
the emergency room for testing.
How is paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia diagnosed?
If you have an episode of fast heartbeats during an
examination, your doctor will be able to measure your heart rate. If it’s very
high, they may suspect PSVT.
To diagnose PSVT, your doctor will order an
electrocardiogram (EKG). This is an electrical tracing of the heart. It can
help determine which type of rhythm problem is causing your fast heart rate.
PSVT is only one of many causes of abnormally fast heartbeats. Your doctor will
also likely order an echocardiogram, or ultrasound of the heart, to evaluate
the size, movement, and structure of your heart.
If you have an abnormal heart rhythm or rate, your doctor
may refer you to a specialist who is an expert in electrical problems of the
heart. They are known as electrophysiologists or EP cardiologists. They may
perform an electrophysiology study (EPS). This will involve threading wires
through a vein in your groin and up into your heart. This will allow your
doctor to evaluate your heart’s rhythm by checking the electrical pathways of
your heart.
Your doctor may also monitor your heart rate over a period
of time. In this case, you may wear a Holter monitor for 24 hours or longer.
During that time, you’ll have sensors attached to your chest and will wear a
small device that records your heart rate. Your doctor will assess the
recordings to determine if you have PSVT or some other type of abnormal rhythm.
How is paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia treated?
You might not need treatment if your symptoms are minimal or
if you only have episodes of rapid heart rate occasionally. Treatment may be
necessary if you have an underlying condition causing the PSVT or more severe
symptoms like heart failure or passing out.
If you have a rapid heart rate but your symptoms aren’t
severe, your doctor can show you techniques to return your heart rate to
normal. It’s called the Valsalva maneuver. It involves closing your mouth and
pinching your nose while trying to exhale and straining as if you were trying
to have a bowel movement. You should do this while sitting and bending your
body forward.
You can perform this maneuver at home. It may work up to 50
percent of the time. You can also try coughing while sitting and bending
forward. Splashing ice water on your face is another technique to help lower
your heart rate.
Treatments for PSVT include medications, such as or
flecainide or propafenone, to help regulate your heartbeat. A procedure called
radiofrequency catheter ablation is a common way to correct PSVT permanently.
It’s performed in the same way as an EPS. It allows your doctor to use
electrodes to disable the electrical pathway that’s causing the PSVT.
If your PSVT doesn’t respond to other treatments, your
doctor may surgically implant a pacemaker into your chest to regulate your
heart rate.
Things You Can Do for Rapid Heartbeat:
Make sure you tell your doctor, as well as all healthcare providers, about any other
medications you are taking (including over-the-counter, vitamins, or herbal remedies).
Do not take aspirin or products containing aspirin unless your healthcare provider
permits this.
Remind your doctor or healthcare provider if you have a history of diabetes, liver,
kidney, or heart disease.
If you have a family history of heart disease, stroke, high blood cholesterol, or
high blood pressure, in a first or second-degree relative, you may be at risk for
certain problems. Notify your healthcare provider if you have any of these diseases
in your family.
Smoking can cause palpitations and increased heart rate. If you smoke, be sure to
quit. Smoking can also increase the chance of developing heart vessel damage.
Caffeine and alcohol can cause palpitations and increased heart rate. Eliminate
caffeine and alcohol from your diet, and your symptoms may resolve.
Keep a diary of your increased heart rate, if it is occurring regularly. Write down
the foods that you have eaten, the exercise or activity you were undergoing when
the rapid or irregular heartbeats occurred, and how you felt before they occurred.
This diary may be valuable in determining the cause of your symptoms.
Questions to ask yourself, may include:
Did the increased heart rate occur gradually, or did this episode come on all of
a sudden? Was I feeling anxious? Did I perform any kind of activity, or was I resting?
Make sure to exercise, under the supervision of your healthcare provider. Walking,
swimming, or light aerobic activity may decrease your resting heart rate, help you
to lose weight, and promote the flow of oxygen in your lungs and blood.
Use relaxation techniques to decrease the amount of anxiety you have. If you feel
anxious, place yourself in a quiet environment, and close your eyes. Take slow,
steady, deep breaths, and try to concentrate on things that have relaxed you in
the past.
If you are ordered a medication to treat this disorder, do not stop taking any medication
unless your healthcare provider tells you to. Take the medication exactly as directed.
Do not share your pills with anyone.
If you miss a dose of your medication, discuss with your healthcare provider what
you should do.
If you experience symptoms or side effects, especially if severe, be sure to discuss
them with your health care team. They can prescribe medications and/or offer
other suggestions that are effective in managing such problems.
Keep all your appointments for your treatments.
Drugs That May Be Prescribed by Your Doctor:
ACE inhibitors - These drugs work by opening, or dilating, your
arteries. They will lower your blood pressure, and improve blood flow to your kidneys,
and through out your body. Your healthcare provider may also prescribe these medications
if you have diabetes or protein in your urine, to protect your kidneys. Some examples
of this medication may include: Enalapril Maleate (Vasotec®),
Lisinopril (Zestril®), and Fosinopril Sodium (Monopril®)
Antianxiety medications: If your increased heart rate is due to
anxiety, your healthcare provider may prescribe an anti-anxiety medication, called
an anxiolytic. These medications will help you to relax. It is important to
take these medications only when you are feeling anxious. Do not operate heavy machinery,
or drive an automobile while taking these. If these medications do not control your
symptoms, discuss this with your doctor.
Beta-blockers - can be used to slow down your heart rate, and improve
blood flow through your body. You may take this drug if you have been diagnosed
with irregular heartbeats, or high blood pressure. Some examples of this medication
may include: Metoprolol (Lopressor®), propanolol
(Inderal®), and atenolol (Tenormin®).
Calcium Channel Blockers - These medications may be given to treat
chest pain, high blood pressure, or irregular heart beats. This medication will
slow your heart rate. A few common drugs include Verapamil HCL (Calan®),
and Diltiazem (Dilacor XR®).
Digoxin - Also called digitalis, this medication works by slowing
down the heart rate, and making it beat more effectively. This will pump blood through
out the body better. It is also called Lanoxin®.
Diuretics - may be known as "water pills", as they work to prevent
heart failure by making you urinate out extra fluid. Some examples of this medication
may include furosemide (Lasix®), and Hydrochlorthiazide.
You may receive this medication alone or in combination with other medications.
Do not stop any of these medications abruptly, as serious side effects may occur.
