Sex and Heart

Testosterone, balding and heart

Men get heart disease ten years before women normally do.  Why is this?  Some suggest that men’s higher level of testosterone is the cause; some doctors suspect that there is a link between testosterone and heart disease.

For instance, testosterone is what causes men to go bald.  Although the connection between baldness and heart disease is a little shaky, studies have shown that men with severe baldness have a bigger chance of getting heart disease than men with a full head of hair.  Going bald doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll get heart disease, but it’s a sign that you should start checking things like your blood pressure and cholesterol.  Perhaps testosterone is the link between baldness and heart disease; it’s certain that too much of it can damage the heart and your metabolism.

Are you a playboy?

Surprisingly, promiscuity in sex can also increase risk of heart disease or heart attack.  Promiscuity increases risk of getting a sexually transmitted disease, or STD.  Some STDs, such as human papillomavirus, one of the top causes of cervical cancer, may also increase your risk of heart attack.  So, before you choose your next sexual partner, think wisely.

Erectile dysfunction is an indirect sign

Erectile dysfunction may also be a sign that you have heart problems.  Erectile dysfunction is caused by lack of blood flow - or not enough blood - to the penis.  In turn, this poor circulation is caused by atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries.  Hardening of the arteries in the penis is a warning sign to look for hardening of the arteries around the heart and other organs.  Hardening of the arteries also puts you at risk of having a stroke, peripheral artery disease, or an aneurysm.

However, not all erectile dysfunction signals heart problems.  Men whose erectile dysfunction could be a sign of heart disease are younger than fifty, depressed, overweight, have diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure, or have a history of heart disease in the family.  In the mean time, exercise and healthy eating are good ways to keep your heart healthy as well.

Sexual activity and heart attack

The worry among many couples in old age: could sexual activity cause a heart attack?  Although physical activity is good for your heart, strenuous activity can cause a heart attack.  The risk of having a heart attack while engaged in physical activity is 3.5 times higher than while you’re not doing anything physical.  During sex, that risk is nearly 2.7 times higher.

However, the benefits of exercise are worth the risk.  The more in shape you are, the less risk you have of causing a heart attack by exercising.  Exercise leads to healthier, stronger muscles, your heart included.  However, you shouldn’t over exert yourself.  If you can’t climb a set of stairs without feeling too winded and out of breath, you probably shouldn’t be engaging in sex.  Although sexual activity isn’t too strenuous, it is possible if you aren’t in shape enough that it could trigger a heart attack.

Estrogen – can it stop heart attack?

While testosterone in men seems to be linked to the cause of heart disease, estrogen in women seems to be linked to the prevention of heart disease.  Estrogen largely affects your organs and circulatory system, giving it a direct link to the heart and surrounding blood vessels.  Estrogen helps the heart by increasing good cholesterol (HDL) and lowering bad cholesterol (LDL).  Estrogen also encourages formation of blood clots where needed, and increases blood flow by relaxing, smoothing and enlarging blood vessels.  This increases blood flow to the heart, fighting hardening arteries and increasing heart health.

Unlike testosterone, which may be harmful or helpful, estrogen is mainly helpful.  It even absorbs particles in the blood that can cause harm to the arteries.  Scientists believe that estrogen may be the reason that women become at risk for heart disease ten years after men.  At the age of sixty-five, women’s estrogen levels go down, taking away much of the helpful effects that strengthen the heart.

Although you may not exhibit any of the symptoms listed in the article above for heart disease, as you grow older you should still take precautions.  Make sure you exercise regularly - though not too strenuously - and maintain a healthy diet.  Drinking less alcohol and quitting smoking will help keep your heart healthy too.  If you think you are exhibiting any of the warning signs of heart disease, make sure you go see a doctor.  At the same time, it is a good idea to keep in mind that some of the signs - baldness, erectile dysfunction - are not necessarily major indicators of heart problems.  Make sure you keep your body healthy, and your heart will be healthy as well.

Sources:

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/erectile-dysfunction/HB00074

http://www.aarp.org/home-family/sex-intimacy/info-01-2013/can-sex-give-me-a-heart-attack.2.html

http://www.lifesitenews.com/news/promiscuous-sex-may-do-more-than-break-your-heart-study-finds-hpv-heart-att/

http://www.everydayhealth.com/longevity/can-promiscuity-threaten-longevity.aspx

http://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/2013/04/07/should-male-baldness-new-heart-disease-risk-factor/s6irhhAygRcprtXxfxFcEO/story.html

http://www.health.harvard.edu/fhg/updates/testosterone-and-the-heart.shtml

http://my.clevelandclinic.org/heart/prevention/estrogen-hormones/default.aspx

Copyright © 2013 by Radhakrishnan Ramaraj 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Everything you need to know about Cholesterol

The association between Cholesterol and Heart Diseases

About 2600 Americans die of varying types of cardiovascular diseases every single day. That means one person dies every 34 seconds. With 7.1 million Americans having already suffered from a heart attack, the condition is widespread. The worst part is, a lot of times those who survive through a heart attack move on to have another one later on in life. However, these statistics can easily be reduced if we acquire a basic understanding of cholesterol, what it is, and how it is associated with heart diseases.

So, what’s cholesterol? Fat?

Cholesterol is basically a waxy substance that is produced by the liver, and distributed all through the body for the creation of cell membranes and hormones. The ideal level of cholesterol that should be present in our body is under 200 mg/dl, and heart disease isn’t all that major of a concern if this level is retained. Unfortunately there are around 107 million Americans whose cholesterol levels are significantly above 200. Similar trends can be found around the world. 

Bad Vs. good cholesterol?

Yes, there are two different types of cholesterol in our body. See, when cholesterol is passed on to our bloodstream by the liver, it gets packed into what is known as LDL or Low Density Lipoproteins. LDL is basically the ‘bad cholesterol’ in our body. Although the fact is that LDL is extremely important, as it plays a major role in delivering cholesterol to different parts of our body, but it shouldn’t exceed certain quantities. Excessive amounts of LDL can trigger the risk of a heart attack.

When the cells release cholesterol, it is picked up for disposal purposes by a different package, which is known as HDL or High Density Lipoproteins – the ‘good cholesterol’. When looking at and measuring cholesterol levels, doctors typically consider them as being a basic guide to the risks of heart disease that a person faces.  For ideal health, the ratio between total cholesterol and HDL needs to be less than 4 to 1. Sadly, for the average American male population, this ratio is higher : 5 to 1.

I’ve heard of triglycerides. What are those?

Triglycerides are basically the chemical form that is taken by the fats that exist in our body and food. These can also be found in blood plasma, and they build up plasma lipids in association with cholesterol.

In terms of plasma, these are basically acquired from fats that are present in the foods that we eat, and / or are created in the body through varying sources of energy including carbohydrates. Actually, the calories present in our meals, when not used right away by our tissues, are converted into triglycerides which are then transported to fat cells for storage purposes. Their release from fat tissues is then regulated by hormones, and these are used to fulfill the body’s energy needs in between meals.

How are high levels of cholesterol bad for the body?

Excessive amounts of cholesterol in the blood tend to trigger a blockage in pipes supplying nutrients to the body, particularly the heart arteries. The name of this build up is known as ‘plaque’, and because of it, the arteries tend to lose out on their flexibility. It actually hardens up the arteries, which is a condition called ‘atherosclerosis’, which, as you might know eventually leads to a heart attack.

Increased amounts of plaque in the coronary artery triggers chest pain medically called “angina” as it restricts the supply of oxygen to the heart muscles which then do not receive their desired nutrients. The condition in which your coronary artery hardens up is known as coronary heart disease, and is typically triggered by higher levels of cholesterol.

Know your numbers

American Heart Association recommends a

Total cholesterol level to be less than 200 mg/dl

Bad cholesterol or LDL level less than 130 mg/dl

Good Cholesterol of HDL level greater than 40 mg/dl in males and greater than 60mg/dl in females

Triglycerides less than 150 mg/dl

 If you have suffered a heart attack then the recommendation is to decrease your bad cholesterol to less than 70 mg/dl.

How I can lower the risk of high cholesterol?

There are just a few simple things that you can do in order to control the level of cholesterol in our body. These are:

•       Decrease your alcohol intake
•       Exercise on a regular basis
•       Avoid foods that have high saturated fats such as butter, red meat and whole milk
•       Consume lots of vegetables, fruits, and fiber
•       If you have excess BMI (Body Mass Index), lose weight
•       Decrease your salt intake
•       When cooking meat, trim off excess fat
•       Steer clear of stressful situations
•       Stop smoking or at least smoke less

Eating healthy is a major part of your regime against high levels of cholesterol. The fats that you should be consuming can be found in fish oils, peanut butter, olive oil, unsalted nuts, and avocados. Cut down on your intake of salt, saturated oil, sodas and soft margarine. Animal fats should be avoided, along with egg yolks, butter, take out foods, cheese and butter. These foods need to be consumed in a very balanced manner. Some individuals may need medications to decrease high levels of cholesterol. these medications are known as statins - they help decrease the levels of bad cholesterol in the body and help in your fight against heart disease. 

Copyright © 2013 by Radhakrishnan Ramaraj 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. 

Red Wine- Good or Bad for Heart?

Red Wine – Good or Bad guy?       
Wine is perhaps the most sophisticated form of alcohol, viewed as an expensive drink to be had sparingly at fancy parties, savored glass by glass.  Red and white wine are extremely different, but there isn’t a set argument as to whether one is better than the other. However, there are rumors that alcohol in small quantities - specifically red wine - may actually benefit your health. You’ve heard about how excessive drinking is bad for your health; it causes liver damage, inhibits your senses, and can lead to poor decisions and life-altering accidents.  Binge drinking every night is not encouraged, but rather warned against.  

Increase in good Cholesterol

As a result of the grapes used in creating it, red wine contains antioxidants, which counteract the effect of oxidation.  Such antioxidants may be able to either increase the consumer’s level of ‘good’ cholesterol, or lower the level of ‘bad’ cholesterol.  These antioxidants may also help protect against damage to the arteries of the heart, thereby reducing the risk of heart disease. 

Resveratrol, the magic content
A particular antioxidant called resveratrol is responsible for this, as it helps protect the lining of blood vessels in the heart. Resveratrol is found in red grape skin, which is perhaps why it is said red wine specifically - not white - has more health benefits.  It is supposed that resveratrol could work by helping to activate a protein that helps prevent heart inflammation, keeping the heart healthier.  Some have also begun to speculate that resveratrol might even prevent fat cells from maturing fully, which could prevent obesity.  Resveratrol is often sold as a supplement in capsule form.

Advertisements for such supplements claim that resveratrol helps with weight loss, and may even contain anti-aging properties.  These statements are currently being disputed, as scientists are not entirely sure what properties resveratrol possesses.  A few of the supposed benefits include prevention of blood clots that could lead to a heart attack, limitation of the spreading of cancer cells, protection of nerve cells from plaque buildup that could lead to Alzheimer’s, and prevention of diabetes through prevention of insulin resistance. 

French Paradox      
Some support in the theory that red wine prevents heart disease can be found in what has been called the ‘French paradox.’  The French diet consists of many foods high in saturated fat; however, less of the French people die as a result of heart disease than do people in countries with a lower intake of saturated fat.  Although it has never been proven that French consumption of red wine is the cause, many people suspect that wine is the solution.

A study in Copenhagen, in which over thirteen thousand men and women were observed over the course of twelve years, suggested that those who drink red wine halve their risk of dying from stroke or heart disease.  While some studies have shown similar results, others have not; red wine’s benefits have not been proven to be completely true.

No concrete evidence
Although there have been studies that seem to prove that red wine really is beneficial to your health, there still isn’t much concrete evidence.  What could seem to be the work of red wine could, in fact, be induced by other foods in people’s diets, or other aspects of their daily lives.  Someone who exercises regularly and eats healthily, for example, is less at risk for stroke or heart disease than someone who dose not exercise and consumes large quantities of unhealthy food.

Limit your drink
Even if red wine proves to be beneficial to the health of your heart, too much of it can be harmful.  Overindulgence in alcohol not only affects the liver, it affects the brain, heart, immune system, and pancreas as well.  Even though you may drink red wine to try and make your heart healthier, you could seriously damage it.  Excessive drinking - whether it be in a short period or over time - can cause the heart muscle to stretch or droop, and can make your heartbeat irregular.  Too much alcohol also increases your blood pressure and your risk of stroke. American heart association recommends no more than 2 drinks for male and 1 drink for females and elderly. Pregnant patients should not take alcohol.

It’s a fine line between drinking for health and overdoing it, and wine is not a superdrink.  Red wine will not cure your heart problems, nor will it extremely decrease your risk of heart disease or stroke.  Red wine is only a stepping-stone at most, a little nudge in the right direction for your body.  It is not something to be relied on, and overindulgence can really hurt your body.  So although you may be curious to experiment, to see if the theories about antioxidants and red wine’s power are really true, beware.  Don’t overdo it, and always play it safe.

Sources:

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/resveratrol-supplements

http://www.nutrition.org/asn-blog/2013/01/the-french-paradox-was-it-really-the-wine/

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/red-wine/HB00089

http://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/news/20100621/how-red-wine-helps-the-heart

http://circ.ahajournals.org/content/111/2/e10.full

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001963.htm

Copyright © 2013 by Radhakrishnan Ramaraj 

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher.