Heart disease is the primary cause of death for men and women in the United States. Cardiovascular complications including congestive heart failure, atherosclerosis and heart attack are precipitating factors in the development of heart disease. Once you get heart disease, it is manageable but it is also mostly preventable with lifestyle changes. Vitamins play an important role in overall health and especially in protecting your heart from progressive damage.
Heart Disease Explained
On the right side of the heart muscle, blood that has traveled around your body is collected, and then pumped through to the pulmonary arteries and to the lungs where it is refreshed with oxygen. Blood then enters the left side of the heart muscle and is readied for travel back around your body. A range of diseases can impact your heart and damage can occur at any time, but it generally happens gradually from plaque accumulation in the bloodstream and arterial damage. Blood gets blocked from flowing readily to and from your heart, forcing your heart to work harder while weakening the muscle. Eventually the weakened heart arteries succumb to poor blood flow, clots or rupture, resulting in tissue death and heart attack.
Reduce Artery Damage
A high-fat, high-sodium diet increases your risk of arterial damage. Smoking, poorly managed blood pressure, cholesterol, diabetes and obesity also increase your risk of arterial complications. To diagnose heart disease, your physician may check your heart rhythm for abnormalities, and run blood tests to check for high cholesterol and triglycerides, which form arterial plaque in your bloodstream. Medicinal treatment includes medications to reduce blood clots, lower blood pressure and cholesterol or in severe cases you may require surgery to inflate and reopen blocked arteries. Lifestyle changes are key to longevity with heart disease and include dietary changes.
Vitamins and Heart Health
Vitamins with antioxidants such as vitamins A, C and E help lower your risk of heart disease or complications from heart disease. Antioxidants inhibit bad forms of cholesterol from sticking to the lining of your arteries, notes the American Academy of Family Physicians. The best source of antioxidant vitamins is a diet rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Research is ongoing to determine the exact protective properties of antioxidant vitamin supplements but getting your daily recommended intake from foods is a proactive measure you can begin at any time. Consult your physician before adding supplements to your diet.
Vitamin Doses and Sources
Vitamin A recommended intake is 700 to 900 mcg. Food sources include dark orange, yellow, red or green produce such as squash, sweet potatoes, collards, tomatoes, carrots, cantaloupe or berries. Vitamin C daily intake is 75 to 90 mg and food sources include citrus fruits, broccoli, strawberries, pineapple and red peppers. Vitamin E daily intake is recommended at 15 mg with food sources including brown rice, nuts, sunflower or olive oil and spinach. Whole grains such as wheat bread or pasta and cereals are also sources of these vitamins plus B vitamins important for heart and brain health.
References
- National Heart Lung and Blood Institute: What is Coronary Artery Disease?; February 2009
- Yale Medical Group; A Woman's Guide to Beating Heart Disease; 2011
- Harvard School of Public Health: Vegetables and Fruits; Get Plenty Every Day
- Cleveland Clinic: Antioxidants, Vitamin E, Beta Carotene and Cardiovascular Disease
