infuse - Start With Your Heart

Email article to a friend. Start With Your Heart By George James In I Corinthians 6:12-20, the apostle Paul embarks on a discussion about the human body. In those scriptures Paul speaks of how a Christian ought to live. In verses 19 and 20, Paul says that the "body is the temple of the Holy Spirit." Taking care of your body shows respect to God, Christ's sacrifice for you and a respect for yourself. At what age do we begin to concern ourselves with heart disease? We have to be pretty old before we start thinking about heart disease, right? After all, heart disease is just a natural part of growing old and young people need not worry about it. It is true, according to the American Heart Association, men 45 and over and women 55 and beyond have a greater risk for heart disease. But does heart disease begin in middle-aged adults? Do we just wake up one morning, notice symptoms we have not experienced before like persistent chest pain and then decide to visit our doctor who then diagnoses us with heart disease? Does heart disease just happen to us all of a sudden because we are getting older, or is there something else we ought to know? My answer would be yes, most definitely, there is something else we ought to know. The blocking of blood flow to the heart muscle may first begin in our early 20s or even teenage years. Yes, it is true heart disease, in its initial stages, may manifest itself in people who are not middle-aged, but rather those who are really quite young. One very notable example was the discovery of heart disease in soldiers who had been killed during the Korean and Vietnam wars. How old were these soldiers? The average age was 22. What happens for heart disease to ensue? One or more of the coronary arteries begins to accumulate fat deposits known as cholesterol. Therefore, the arteries begin to narrow. This is significantly detrimental because the arteries carry oxygen and blood to the heart. The reduction in the arterial wall is called arteriosclerosis.
It is true that some of us have more of a natural proclivity to develop heart disease, but every one of us has the capacity to eliminate some of the major risk factors. For instance, high blood pressure, one of the capital symptoms for heart disease, can be reduced through exercise. A blood pressure reading of 120/80 mm Hg is an appropriate level for
quality health maintenance. A reading of 140/90 mm Hg or more places an individual at more dangerous levels that need consistent monitoring. Know your cholesterol level. Levels exceeding 200mg/dl are reason to be concerned. Remember, it is cholesterol that clogs the arteries, and a high accumulation of saturated fat in the diet will cause an elevation of cholesterol. Cholesterol is in foods derived from animals such as: milk, cheese, butter, liver, beef and lamb. Instead of whole milk choose skim milk and rather than beef choose turkey or tuna. Aim for balance in your diet; eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, particularly cauliflower and broccoli. Your heart will thank you. Smoking is another factor that can magnify an individual's risk of heart disease. Performing exercise consistently is another area where our own human decision takes precedence and not genetic factors. Regular exercise equates into a stronger heart muscle and increased cardiovascular endurance. Cardiovascular endurance is one of the five components of fitness, and it correlates with the body's utilization of oxygen in a continuous activity. There will always be things out of our control such as genetic predisposition and age, but do not forget we have more in our control when it comes to our heart. So accentuate the positive by taking control of your life and your health. Do it for your heart.