The Miracle — Getting A Second Life After Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive Heart Failure: Survival – Recuperation – Prevention
By Henry Walczyk
Smashwords ebook edition published by Fideli Publishing Inc.
Copyright 2011, Henry Walczyk
No part of this eBook may be reproduced or shared by any electronic or mechanical means, including but not limited to printing, file sharing, and email, without prior written permission from Fideli Publishing.
Smashwords Edition, License Notes
This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.
ISBN: 978-1-60414-358-4
EXCERPTS:
Book: You Will Rust Out Before You Wear Out If… by Dr. Royce Bailey.
On page 176 of his book he writes: “Is wine now good for you?”
The promotion of alcohol consumption as a preventive measure against heart disease has been a strategy of the alcohol industry for several years. But the truth lies in the grape, not the alcohol.
Book: Perspective Alternatives by Earl L. Mindell, R. PhD, with Virginia Hopkins M.A. page 112:
“Your physician is in very tough position when it comes to treating your blood pressure. If your blood pressure numbers don’t fit into the charts and your physician doesn’t prescribe the drugs, he or she can be penalized by your HMO or insurance company, and he is also then vulnerable to malpractice suits.”
Life Extension publication: June 2008; page: 53 by Dale Kiefer. Title of the article: Doctors Ignore Proven Alternative to Coronary Stents and By-Pass Surgery
This article refers to EECP treatment.
Book: More Ultimate Healing, Bottom Line Publication, by Norman J, Marcus MD; founder Norman Marcus Pain Institute, New York City, past president, American Academy of Pain Medicine, Glenview, Il., and coauthor of Freedom of Pain (Fireside)
“In EECP developed at Harvard in the 1950s and later refined in China, pressure cuffs on the legs are inflated, compressing the blood vessels and forcing blood back to the heart, enhancing circulation through the coronary arteries and improving heart function.”
Book: Let’s Cure The Uncurable by Dr. Michel Tombak the Russian natural medicine specialist:
Page 72: Let’s Help Our Hearts
“The people with heart problems are very sensitive to changes in the weather. In my opinion many such people make the mistake of going to bed when they do not feel well. This forces the heart to service alone all the blood vessels. Each of us has about 600 muscles. The blood vessels provide blood for each muscle through continuous circulation. If we move, there are 600 more small “hearts” helping the big one. If more of these small hearts are doing the work, the ‘big heart’ is much better.”
“Can We Live 150 Years?” asks Dr. TOMBAK:
And he answers: “Yes, almost — if we eat well, move and feel happy (do not be jealous, be healthy and have money).”
“Nine years from the first occurrence, I got well!”
Doctors gave me just one year to live (10 years ago). My ejection fraction was just 10%. Now it is 55% - 60%, no defibrillator or pacemaker was implanted. Doctor recommended a heart transplant.
During those nine years, I could not swim. Now I swim over 200 yards a day. I also play tennis, ping-pong, basketball, and exercise for 2 hours a day. I lift lightweights.
I had several setbacks and health problems. All were solved. My health was regained with the use of alternative medicine. I had a non-invasive treatment that helped me to get back to normal.
— Treatment is outpatient, painless and inexpensive.
— Insurance and Medicare pay for it.
— It substitutes for bypass surgery
— It has been known and effectively used for more than 20 years
— There are 30-80 places in each state in the US to get this treatment
— It is available all over the world
— Sex after congestive heart failure is possible
— Testosterone level improvement by hormone replacement therapy
— Importance of faith and determination
Dedication
I
dedicate this book to my wife, who saved my life.
Thank you,
Teresa.
Henry.
Meet the Author
Henry Walczyk, the author of this book was born in year 1935, in Poland. After 37 years, he left Poland for work in Mexico. Unfortunately, he worked in very difficult conditions. Stress and bad environment of working in the place where there was lead, deteriorated his health. His teeth were in bad condition. This influenced his health greatly.
Later he worked in the textile mill and is a textile engineer. After three years of working in Mexico, he moved to the United States. He settled down in Dalton, Georgia, later moved to Athens, Georgia, followed by a move to Greensboro, Georgia.
In 1979, he had a gall bladder operation and in 1998, he was diagnosed with melanoma. He was given one to five years to live. Fortunately, the melanoma did not spread and he survived. His health returned to normal after the surgery.
In 1999, he was diagnosed with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). He had several episodes associated with this and was hospitalized a total five times. Fluids had to be removed from his lungs, stomach, etc. and his blood thickness had to be adjusted.
The reason for his sickness seemed to stem from a virus, because he was not overweight and he did not have high blood pressure or other conditions that are normally the cause of CHF. The doctors said that he survived because his other organs were strong. He had been an athlete in Poland and he lived a clean life. He never drank or smoked and his nutrition, though maybe not the best, was acceptable. He ate a lot of fruits and vegetables, quite a lot of fish and plenty of chicken, but little red meat.
After the first instance of CHF, he changed his lifestyle and fought for his life using regular and alternative medicines. However his ejection fractions were very low – 10% to 15%. In February of 2008, his ejection fractions were still between 15% and 20%; in April, they were 35%. By June of 2008, they had come up to 55-60%, and at that point, he was proclaimed a normal, healthy person.
He started to exercise and swim, played ping-pong, rode a bicycle, etc. — in other words, he conducted the life of a healthy person. He is still taking some drugs, but in small quantities. He does not need diuretics now, since he does not have any swelling at all.
He credits his recovery to the non-invasive treatment called EECP, coupled with anti-aging products, alternative medicines and regular, properly chosen prescription drugs. All of his check-ups and blood work show good results now, and his readings are within normal range.
Prologue
I decided to write this book in the hopes that it would help others.
I did not expect to recover fully from Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), because all of my doctors as well as statistics for the condition indicated that this was a permanent condition. The average of survival rate is five years.
My first episode of CHF was nine years ago. I decided to try the non-invasive approach try to regain my health. I investigated the various efforts of cardiologists who were using new methods of healing this condition, and my wife and my daughters encouraged me to fight for my life and my health.
My wife dedicated her life to helping me, and encouraged me to use all kinds of alternative treatments like biofeedback, meditation, acupuncture, acupressure, chi-gong, tai-chi, yoga etc. in my efforts to regain my health. She also changed my eating habits and joined me in this new diet, even though she did not need it.
I changed my lifestyle — I stopped traveling, I moved to another (quiet) location, and I started to walk regularly. I was exercising.
In the process of finding the right combination of things that worked for me, we made some missteps along the way, as did some of my doctors. I am describing these missteps in this book so that other people might avoid them.
I Have Achieved More Than I Expected
I have been granted a second life because of the changes I’ve made and treatments I’ve found. I describe how it happened in this book. Please read it carefully. Check and double-check everything I tell you and decide what will be the best for you. Each of us is different, so your process of healing will be different from mine.
Talk to many people as you make your journey toward health. Encourage them to help you in the process. In the end, you will be proud, happy and healthy. You will also make many people around you happy in the process. Do not waste time. Start this process as soon as possible.
I wish you success in your quest for health. If I contributed to this process of improving your health, I will be a very happy person. It is your health, so fight for it as I did.
Good luck to you!
Henry Walczyk
CHAPTER II
Sickness Elements Description
Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
Congestive heart failure is a syndrome in which the heart fails to propel blood forward normally, resulting in congestion in the pulmonary or systemic circulation. Decreased cardiac output causes decreased blood flow to the tissues. Congestive heart failure may be predominantly left- or right-sided. It can develop gradually or suddenly with acute pulmonary edema.
Causes of CHF
Many disease processes can impair the pumping efficiency of the heart to cause congestive heart failure. In the United States, the most common causes of congestive heart failure are:
— coronary artery disease,
— high blood pressure (hypertension),
— longstanding alcohol abuse, and
— disorders of the heart valves
Less common causes include viral infections causing stiffening of the heart muscle (This is probably what took place in my case. I never smoked and I did not drink alcohol at all and was an athlete. I am not overweight; I weigh just 172 lbs and am almost 6’ (180 cm) tall, thyroid disorders, disorders of the heart rhythm, and many others.
Congestive heart failure can affect many organs of the body. For example:
— The weakened heart muscles may not be able to supply enough blood to the kidneys, which then begin to lose their normal ability to excrete salt (sodium) and water. This diminished kidney function can cause the body to retain more fluid.
— The lungs may become congested with fluid (pulmonary edema) and the person’s ability to exercise is decreased.
— Fluid may likewise accumulate in the liver, thereby impairing its ability to rid the body of toxins and produce essential proteins.
— The intestines may become less efficient in absorbing nutrients and medicines.
— Fluid also may accumulate in the extremities, resulting in edema (swelling) of the ankles and feet.
Eventually, untreated, worsening congestive heart failure will affect virtually every organ in the body.
Symptoms
The symptoms of congestive heart failure vary among individuals according to the particular organ systems involved and depending on the degree to which the rest of the body has “compensated” for the heart muscle weakness.
An early symptom of congestive heart failure is fatigue. While fatigue is a sensitive indicator of possible underlying congestive heart failure, it is obviously a nonspecific symptom that may be caused by many other conditions. The person’s ability to exercise may also diminish. Patients may not even sense this decrease and they may subconsciously reduce their activities to accommodate this limitation.
As the body becomes overloaded with fluid from congestive heart failure, swelling (edema) of the ankles and legs or abdomen may be noticed. This can be referred to as “right sided heart failure” as failure of the right-sided heart chambers to pump venous blood to the lungs to acquire oxygen results in buildup of this fluid in gravity-dependent areas such as in the legs. The most common cause of this is longstanding failure of the left heart, which may lead to secondary failure of the right heart. Right-sided heart failure can also be caused by severe lung disease (referred to as “cor pulmonale”), or by intrinsic disease of the right heart muscle (less common)
In addition, fluid may accumulate in the lungs, thereby causing shortness of breath, particularly during exercise and when lying flat. In some instances, patients are awakened at night, gasping for air.
Some may be unable to sleep unless sitting upright. (My doctor recommended I sleep with several pillows under my head or sitting up in a reclining chair.)
The extra fluid in the body may cause increased urination, particularly at night.
Accumulation of fluid in the liver and intestines may cause nausea, abdominal pain, and decreased appetite.
EJECTION FRACTION (Ef)
In cardiovascular physiology, ejection fraction (Ef) is the fraction of blood pumped out of the right and left ventricles with each heartbeat. The term ejection fraction applies to both the right and left ventricles; one can speak equally of the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and the right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF). RVEF and LVEF may vary widely from one another incumbent upon physiologic state. Ventricular Dyssynchrony represents pathology in which the LVEF and RVEF combined may be less than 100%. Without a qualifier, the term ejection fraction refers specifically to that of the left ventricle. Its reverse operation is the injection fraction.
Ejection fraction is commonly measured by echocardiography, in which the volumes of the heart's chambers are measured during the cardiac cycle. Ejection fraction can then be obtained by dividing stroke volume by end-diastolic volume as described above.
Accurate volumetric measurement of performance of the right and left ventricles of the heart is inexpensively and routinely echocardiographically interpreted worldwide as a ratio of Dimension between the ventricles in Systole and Diastole. For example, a ventricle in greatest dimension could measure 6cm while in least dimension 4cm. Measured and easily reproduced beat to beat for ten or more cycles this ratio may represent a physiologically normal EF of 60%. Mathematical expression of this ratio can then be interpreted as the greater half as Cardiac Output and the lesser half as Cardiac input.
Other methods of measuring ejection fraction include cardiac MRI, fast scan cardiac computed axial tomography (CT) imaging, ventriculography, Gated SPECT, and the MUGA scan. A MUGA scan involves the injection of a radioisotope into the blood and detecting its flow through the left ventricle. The historical gold standard for the measurement of ejection fraction is ventriculography.
WOMEN AND CHF
Heart failure affects about 2.5 million women in the United States. Women account for nearly 50% of all hospital admissions for heart failure, but only 25% of women are involved in heart failure studies. Consequently, advances in heart failure therapies apply to most men, but often studies regarding women and heart disease and heart failure have not been thorough.
Differences of women with heart failure as compared to men with heart failure
— Women tend to develop congestive heart failure at an older age than men.
— Women tend to develop diastolic heart failure with a more normal ejection fraction than men.
— The causes of heart failure in women are often linked to high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, valvular disease, and diabetes mellitus.
— Although rare, peripartum cardiomyopathy is a cause of heart failure unique to women. (Peripartum cardiomyopathy is the rare development of heart failure within the last month of pregnancy, or within five months after delivery. Peripartum cardiomyopathy occurs without an identifiable cause.)
— Depression is frequently associated with heart failure and is more common in women than men.
Although the signs and symptoms of heart failure are the same among men and women, women tend to have more symptoms such as shortness of breath and more difficulty exercising than men. They also have swelling around their ankles more frequently than men. In general, women survive longer than men with heart failure.
BLOOD PRESSURE
Blood pressure (BP) is the pressure exerted by circulating blood upon the walls of blood vessels, and is one of the principal vital signs. During each heartbeat, BP varies between a maximum (systolic) and a minimum (diastolic) pressure. The mean BP, due to pumping by the heart and resistance to flow in blood vessels, decreases as the circulating blood moves away from the heart through arteries. Blood pressure drops most rapidly along the small arteries and arterioles, and continues to decrease as the blood moves through the capillaries and back to the heart through veins. Gravity, valves in veins, and pumping from contraction of skeletal muscles, are some other influences on BP at various places in the body.
The term blood pressure usually refers to the pressure measured at a person’s upper arm. It is measured on the inside of an elbow at the brachial artery, which is the upper arm’s major blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart. A person’s BP is usually expressed in terms of the systolic pressure over diastolic pressure (mmHg), for example 140/90.
While average values for arterial pressure could be computed for any given population, there is often a large variation from person to person; arterial pressure also varies in individuals from moment to moment. Additionally, the average of any given population may have a questionable correlation with its general health, thus the relevance of such average values is equally questionable. However, in a study of 100 subjects with no known history of hypertension, an average blood pressure of 112/64 mmHg was found,[7] which are the normal values.
Various factors influence a person’s average BP and variations. Factors such as age and gender influence average values. In children, the normal ranges are lower than for adults and depend on height. As adults age, systolic pressure tends to rise and diastolic tends to fall. In the elderly, BP tends to be above the normal adult range, largely because of reduced flexibility of the arteries. Also, an individual’s BP varies with exercise, emotional reactions, sleep, digestion and time of day.
Differences between left and right arm BP measurements tend to be random and average to nearly zero if enough measurements are taken. However, in a small percentage of cases there is a consistently present difference greater than 10 mmHg which may need further investigation, e.g. for obstructive arterial disease.
The risk of cardiovascular disease increases progressively above 115/75 mmHg. In the past, hypertension was only diagnosed if secondary signs of high arterial pressure were present, along with a prolonged high systolic pressure reading over several visits. Regarding hypotension, in practice blood pressure is considered too low only if noticeable symptoms are present.
Clinical trials demonstrate that people who maintain arterial pressures at the low end of these pressure ranges have much better long-term cardiovascular health. The principal medical debate concerns the aggressiveness and relative value of methods used to lower pressures into this range for those who do not maintain such pressure on their own. Elevations, more commonly seen in older people, though often considered normal, are associated with increased morbidity and mortality.
Average blood pressure in (mmHg): 1 year, 6 – 9 years, 95/65; adults, 110/65 - 140/90.
When I was in the hospital and my blood pressure was being checked, it was changing constantly. The hand devices are usually sufficient to detect major problems and changes in blood pressure, but not in the heart rate. The device will not pick up these changes or the highest or lowest heart rate. In this case, it would be good to learn how to measure your own heart rate with one’s own fingers and watch.
High blood pressure should be taken seriously, and a visit with doctor is indicated if your blood pressure is high. Your doctor should evaluate the situation and recommend the proper procedure based on that evaluation. You will probably have to visit the doctor more than once before a complete treatment is determined.
I would not recommend that anyone jump immediately to prescription medicine. I think this can sometimes cause more bad than good results. Even if your medical professional recommends a beta-blocker, I would not recommend resorting to that immediately thinking it will solve all of your problems. It did not for me, and I am glad that I did not take them. Right now, I do not take any.
REASONS FOR HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
For 85% to 95% of people with high blood pressure, the cause of their high blood pressure is not known. Called primary hypertension, this condition probably results from a variety of causes, they can include:
— Age and Sex. The risk of developing high blood pressure increases as you age. Most cases of high blood pressure are diagnosed in men, until the age of 45. From age 45 to 54, men and women are equally at risk for high blood pressure. After the age of 54, women are actually more likely to have high blood pressure than men.
— Family History. People with relatives who have high blood pressure are more likely to develop high blood pressure.
— Ethnicity. People of African American and Native American ethnicity have very high rates of high blood pressure, and the situation appears to be a growing problem. Compared with Caucasians, African Americans develop hypertension earlier in life, and their average blood pressures are much higher. Hispanics have a higher ratio of diabetes and obesity compared with Caucasians, and have additional risk factors for developing hypertension.
— Diet. People who regularly eat foods that are high in salt are more susceptible to high blood pressure.
— Obesity. People who are overweight are at risk for many illnesses, including high blood pressure.
— Stress. Studies have shown that people with heightened anxiety, intense anger, and suppressed expression of anger were more at risk of developing high blood pressure.
WAYS TO LOWER HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE
People with high blood pressure are often urged to change their diet, exercise regularly, quit smoking, and generally lead less stressful lives. If changes to your lifestyle aren’t effective enough, your doctor may prescribe a medication to lower your blood pressure. These can include:
— Diuretics. Help the body to flush away water and salt
— Calcium Channel Blockers. Reduce the work of the heart, relax and widen blood vessels
— ACE Inhibitors. Block hormones that constrict blood vessels
— Angiotensin II Receptor Blockers. Block blood vessel-constricting hormones
— Beta Blockers. A beta-blocker is a medication that slows the heart rate and reduces the force with which the heart muscle contracts, thereby lowering blood pressure. Beta-blockers do this by blocking beta-adrenergic receptors, preventing adrenaline (epinephrine) from stimulating these receptors
There are effective medicines for lowering blood pressure, but many have serious side effects. In my opinion, blood pressure should be adjusted with supplements only. My chiropractor, Dr. Khalsa, adjusted my blood pressure precisely with supplements. My readings are usually 115/70 or 117/80 which is perfect. I have maintained this for over 4 months using his supplement recommendations. I also track it in my logs.
INFLAMMATION (Chronic Inflammation)
Systemic inflammation has long been recognized as a precipitator of acute congestive heart failure (CHF). The impact of inflammation on prognosis in acute CHF, however, is unknown.
Inflammation is a negative condition that exists in the body. If it is it not detected and the person does not know that it exits it usually causes a lot of health problems. One of the first ways to recuperate from congestive heart failure is to get rid of this condition.
There are many reasons for inflammation. One of them is tooth decay.
Tooth decay, also known as dental caries or dental cavities is a disease of the teeth, which finally results in the damage of the teeth. Tooth decay is caused by a bacteria that is present in plaque. This bacteria extracts sugars from food particles and converts it into lactic acid, then stores it in the cavities present in the teeth. This can lead to the decaying of teeth. There has been research that shows a connection between tooth decay and heart disease.
Bacteria in dental plaque can cause blood clots in arteries. When these potentially fatal blood clots are released into the blood stream, they can induce heart attacks. The formation of plaque in the gums leads to chronic inflammation of the gums, which can also cause inflammation of the walls of the blood vessels, thus leading to the accumulation of plaque in the arteries. If an individual has severe tooth decay and experiences pain in the left arm or in the chest region, then he may be having a heart attack. It is not advisable to ignore signs and symptoms of tooth decay.
Hygiene is a very important factor between the inflammation and the health problems including congestive heart failure. Proper treatment of scratches, cuts and skin problems (including melanoma) becomes very important.
I suffered from melanoma probably due to too much exposure to the strong sun when we lived in Mexico. The stage of my melanoma was 4.5 (very serious) and I was given just one to five years to live. Fortunately, the operation was successful and it did not spread, I recuperated fully. However, the next year I had the first episode of CHF, which could have connection with Melanoma. I think that if I were treated properly from the very beginning I would not suffer from the CHF.
Dehydration
Dehydration is defined as excessive loss of body water. Diseases of the gastrointestinal tract that cause vomiting or diarrhea may, for example, lead to dehydration. There are a number of other causes of dehydration including heat exposure, prolonged vigorous exercise (e.g., in a marathon), kidney disease, and medications (diuretics).
One clue to dehydration is a rapid drop in weight. A loss of over 10% (15 pounds in a person weighing 150 pounds) is considered severe.
Symptoms and signs of dehydration include increasing thirst, dry mouth, weakness or lightheadedness (particularly if worse on standing), and a darkening of the urine or a decrease in urination. Severe dehydration can lead to changes in the body’s chemistry, kidney failure, and become life threatening.
Dehydration due to diarrhea is a major cause of morbidity (disease) and mortality (death) in children. The young child has a more rapid turnover of body fluids than an adult. In re-hydrating a child, there is less margin for error than for an adult. The younger the child, the more careful the re-hydration must be. Cases that demand particular attention to detail are those in which organ function (especially skin, heart, brain, or kidney) is critically compromised. Over-hydration may be as serious as severe dehydration in children; the re-hydration should therefore be done under medical supervision.
The best way to treat dehydration is to prevent it from occurring. If one suspect’s fluid loss is excessive, notify a physician. Intravenous or oral fluid replacement may be needed.
I had also such an episode of dehydration in 2008 when I was recuperating from CHF. A few hours after receiving some IV liquids, I was able to return home. I did not have any further problems associated with this condition.
Intake of liquids should be spread over the day. Excess of water usually causes frequent urination especially during the night. It is recommended to end drinking the whole daily portion before 5 PM in order to avoid frequent trips to the bathroom — especially at night.
STRESS: REASON FOR IT, WAYS to LOWER IT
Some people say that there are two types of stress — good stress (eustress) and bad stress. Good stress helps the body perform. For example, winning a race or election can be just as stressful as losing. A passionate kiss and contemplating what might follow is stressful, but hardly the same as having a root canal procedure. Bad stress is defined as "physical, mental, or emotional strain or tension" or "a condition or feeling experienced when a person perceives that demands exceed the personal and social resources the individual is able to mobilize." Bad stress causes health problems, some of which can contribute to CHF.
In my case, I had to be careful watching television especially basketball. When the score was close, it affected me greatly. I would have to change the channel until the game ended.
HEART RATe AND IRREGULARITY (ARRHYTHMIA)
Heart rate is the quantity of pulsations of the heart per minute. The common formula for a quantity of heartbeats is: heart rate (as maximum) equals to 220 minus the age of the person. I am 73, so 220 minus 73 equals 147 (HR = 220 – 73 = 147). This is the maximum. Normally people have about 70 to 80 heartbeats per minute.
Presently, using medication, my heart rate is between 68 and 75 beats per minute. When I was sick, my heart rate was up to 120 beats per minute. It is very important to have the heart rate under control.
Irregular heartbeat is called Arrhythmia. In an arrhythmia the heartbeats may be too slow, too rapid, too irregular, or too early. Rapid arrhythmias (greater than 100 beats per minute) are called tachycardia. Slow arrhythmias (slower than 60 beats per minute) are called bradycardia. Irregular heart rhythms are called fibrillations (as in atrial fibrillation and ventricular fibrillation). When a single heartbeat occurs earlier than normal, it is called a premature contraction.
The term arrhythmia comes from the Greek a-, loss + rhythmos, rhythm = loss of rhythm.
An electrocardiogram shows this condition very clearly.
I check my heart rate frequently (a few times a day — if needed). I also watch it during exercise such as walking on the treadmill and riding the stationary bicycle. It is recommended to raise heart rate during exercise and it is best if it goes down right after finishing the exercise.
To regulate my heart rate I take the medicine called Zestril — just one tablet daily (20 mg). My heart rate presently is about 60 to 75 per minute.
PALPITATIONS
Palpitations are the feelings of having rapid, fluttering or pounding heartbeats. Heart palpitations can be triggered by stress, exercise, medication or, rarely, an underlying medical condition.
Although heart palpitations can be worrisome, they're usually harmless, since your heart is still pumping effectively. You can often prevent heart palpitations by avoiding the triggers that cause them.
Common sources of heart palpitations include:
— Fear or anxiety. Panic attack, in particular, can lead to symptoms commonly mistaken for a heart attack.
— Stress. Being keyed up or in emotional turmoil for an extended period, or even depression, can cause the heart to skip a beat, race or pound.
— Stimulants. Caffeine is a big offender. A variety of drugs can affect the heartbeat. Antihistamines and over-the-counter diet aids are common culprits.
— Alcohol. Binge drinking is a common source of palpitations, even in younger people.
— Physical Activity. Heavy workouts or competitive activities can cause the heart to race beyond what normally would be expected. The possibility increases when the activity is accompanied by excitement, nervousness, or other emotional reactions.
— Thyroid disorders. Heartbeat irregularities are a common feature of an overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism).
— Mitral Valve Prolapse. The mitral valve controls blood flow from the upper chamber to the lower chamber on the left side of the heart. Prolapse occurs when the valve bulges or balloons out of shape. Usually not a serious condition, mitral valve prolapse causes a distinctive murmur (abnormal sounding heartbeat) and can predispose the heart to heartbeat irregularities.
In rare cases, heart palpitations may be a symptom of a more serious heart condition, such as an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), that may require treatment.
NUTRITION
We should follow the rules of nutrition all the time. However, it is especially important to follow these rules during recuperation from congestive heart failure. There is quite a lot of information — especially recently — on this subject, so I do not want to repeat what is well known and easily available from television, books and the internet.
Personally, since my CHF I have started to eat organically grown foods. My wife has been preparing everything fresh (an example follows). This menu is just an example, but my wife asked me to make it to give her suggestions of what would I like to eat. It helped her to prepare proper meals.
Each person should make such a menu based on the amounts of food needed to be healthy and nutritional. Each of us should eat several times a day, so the snacks also have to be taken into consideration. Too much time between meals can cause low blood sugar and overall bad feelings. Sometimes would feel that I was about to die, and then I ate something was back to normal. Amazing!!!
CHOLESTEROL
Cholesterol is the most common type of steroid in the body, and has gotten something of a bad name. However, cholesterol is a critically important molecule. It is essential to the formation of:
— Bile acids (which aid in the digestion of fats)
— Vitamin D
— Progesterone
— Estrogens (estradiol, estrone, estriol)