Heart disease is an umbrella term for a number of different diseases which affect the heart. The most common heart diseases are:

- Coronary heart disease, a disease of the heart itself caused by the accumulation of atheromatous plaques within the walls of the arteries that supply the myocardium.

- Ischaemic heart disease, another disease of the heart itself, characterized by reduced blood supply to the organ.

- Cardiovascular disease, a sub-umbrella term for a number of diseases that that affect the heart itself and/or the blood vessel system, especially the veins and arteries leading to and from the heart. Research on disease dimorphism suggests that women who suffer with cardiovascular disease usually suffer from forms that affect the blood vessels while men usually suffer from forms that affect the heart muscle itself. Well known causes of cardiovascular disease include diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hypercholesterolemia.

- Pulmonary heart disease, a failure of the right side of the heart.

- Hereditary heart disease, heart disease caused by unavoidable genetic factors.

- Hypertensive heart disease, heart disease caused by high blood pressure, especially localised high blood pressure.

- Inflammatory heart disease, heart disease that involves inflammation of the heart muscle and/or the tissue surrounding it.

- Valvular heart disease, heart disease that affects the valves of the heart.

Some years ago the American Heart Association provides two simple suggestions to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

1. Minimize the consumption of dietary sources of saturated fats and cholesterol, such as beef, pork, eggs, butter, cheeses, and ice cream.

2. Replace animal-based saturated fats with polyunsaturated vegetable oils such as sunflower, soy, grape seed, or wheat germ oils.

Heart Disease Symptom

- Angina

- Shortness of breath

- Indigestion

- Palpitations

- Chest pain

- Arrhythmias

- Light-headedness

- Fainting

Natural Remedies for Heart Disease

Substituting olive oil for animal fat is also effective in preventing cardiovascular disease. In addition to these simple suggestions, those wishing to maintain a healthy heart should:

- Eat at least five portions of fresh fruit a day.

- Eat at least one fresh vegetable salad a day dressed with olive or seed oil.

- Eat a minimum of two or three portions of legumes a week.

- Eat whole-grain bread an pasta instead of white bread and refined pasta.

- Reduce salt and sugar consumption.

- Avoid tobacco and coffee.

- Perform physical exercise for at least 40 minutes three times a week.

A diet based on fruits, oil-bearing nuts, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains simply prepared gives the best results for heart attack prevention. Fruits and vegetables must form the base of a heart-healthy diet, as numerous studies carried out around the world have demonstrated.

After suffering a heart attack a diet rich in fruits and vegetables is highly recommended. Their antiaxidant action reduces necrosis (cellular death) in the heart muscle.

The arteriosclerosis that causes heart attack can also be reversed. After a year of a heart healthy diet and lifestyle, there is a 10% reduction of narrowing of the coronary arteries.

Tip:

Grape juice exercises a significant medicinal effect on the heart and the circulatory system:

- It impedes the deposit of cholesterol in the arteries

- It makes the blood more fluid, preventing clots

- It dilates the coronary arteries.