Heart disease is still the number one killer in the US. It may be a silent killer and may be DEADLY. If you are at risk for developing heart disease, then please take note. This article may provide POWERFUL information for your heart health. Most people know that krill oil may be superior to fish oil due to the structural makeup of krill oil. And this makeup may supply a higher concentration of omega-3 fatty acids, which may promote better heart health.
Now for the serious stuff, and something that may help you LIVE LONGER.
A heart attack is very real event, and may be deadly. Reducing your risk factors for having a heart attack should be your number one priority. Sometimes though, you may not be able to prevent a heart attack from occurring. You can take all the necessary precautions, but it still may occur. Along with heart attacks, there may be an EVEN worse condition for your heart health. And that is heart failure.
Taking the right steps now may PREVENT devastating effects of HEART DISEASE and heart failure.
Heart Failure In the Western world, heart failure may be the biggest cause of cardiovascular death.
Heart failure may occur due to a weakened heart over time or due to injury to the cardiac muscles, which control the beating of your heart. As a result, your heart is unable to pump as much oxygen-rich blood to the rest of your body. This may weaken other organs, due the lack of oxygen. Even though heart failure is a very serious condition, your heart is STILL BEATING.
Your heart may be weakened due to lifestyle choices or injury. And yes, your heart still beats and works, but just not efficiently.
Here are some STAGGERING statistics on heart failure:
• 5.8 million people have heart failure in the US, and over 300,000 people die each year from complications associated with heart failure
• It is estimated that 670,000 people are diagnosed every year
• 1 in 5 people die from heart failure within the first year
• In 2010, heart failure cost the US $39.2 billion, yes with a B, dollars
• Most common causes of heart failure are: coronary heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes
Heart failure is very serious and sometimes deadly. Proper diet, exercise, and adherence to medications, may help people live longer, fuller lives with heart failure. You may be wondering what, if anything, may be effective at reducing heart failure symptoms. That is a valid question and one that may have a NEW answer.
Let me explain…
Krill Oil and Heart Failure Omega-3 fatty acids may help promote better heart health. And omega-3 fatty acids may help raise good cholesterol and lower bad cholesterol and triglycerides. But now, research may have found a new benefit for omega-3 fatty acids, mostly coming from Krill Oil. And Krill may improve heart function in patients experiencing heart failure. When you experience a heart attack, there may be damage to your heart muscle. This damage may result in the size, shape, and function of your heart changing - and not for the better. After a heart attack, your heart undergoes cardiac remodeling, which may be a result of the lack of oxygen to the heart muscle. Now remodeling usually is associated with something good.
However, when it comes to your heart, it refers to something potentially deadly.
Cardiac remodeling may occur when you have had damage or injury to your heart, like during a heart attack.
And this may result in structural changes, typically occurring on the left side, and in the left ventricle. As an anatomy review, your left ventricle is a chamber in your heart that pumps blood to the rest of your body.
Sometimes you experience a thickening of your left ventricle, called left ventricular hypertrophy, which may cause a decline in your left ventricle function. Which means there may be a possibility that your heart may be unable to pump as much blood to the rest of your body.
This may decrease your systolic function and your stroke volume.
I know - a lot of technical words. Simply put, damage to your heart may cause significant changes which may result in loss of function. So how can omega 3, specifically Krill Oil, help in heart failure?
Let me explain…
The Research
Researchers aimed to determine if Krill oil was beneficial in remodeling of the heart after a heart attack and in heart failure. Their results were SHOCKING.
The study separated mice into three groups:
• Pre-treatment with Krill oil before MI (heart attack)
• Post MI treatment group
• Placebo
They discovered that pre-treated mice, before the onset of a heart attack, showed significant benefits after the heart attack. The pre-treated group showed a smaller increase in heart weight, lung weight, and other factors which may be related to cardiac remodeling. Comparatively, the post MI group only showed increase ventricular dilation, or opening of the left ventricle. Also noted, during cardiac remodeling there may be increased inflammatory cytokines present in the heart. And if you remember, increased omega-3 fatty acids in your diet may alter the ratio between omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids - for the better.
This may reduce inflammation, which may be one of the reasons for the reduction in inflammatory cytokines found during cardiac remodeling.
So why is this?
The researchers noted that by introducing omega-3 fatty acids, there was an increase in EPA and DHA in the heart muscle. This may be the driving factor behind the reduced concentration of saturated fatty acids found in the heart.
The best part is: since Krill oil may be more readily absorbed by your body in the phospholipid form, this may increase DHA and EPA concentration found in your heart muscle.
Great news, right? It gets even better! Krill oil not only increased the DHA and EPA found in the blood, but it INCREASED the concentration in the heart’s cell membrane - in both heart failure patients AND healthy individuals. This may have increased anti-inflammatory mediators, which may have decreased the production of inflammatory cytokines. And last but not least, the researchers found by incorporating more omega-3 fatty acids into the heart muscle, possibly increased or maintained myocardial oxidative function.
Why is this important?
Typically when you experience a heart attack, there is a blockage which may prevent oxygen-rich blood from reaching the heart. This may reduce the amount of oxygen reaching your heart muscle. This is where damage or injury to your heart muscle occurs - due to ischemia, or lack of oxygen. And damage that occurs to your heart may reduce your oxidative function. Supplementing your diet with omega 3-rich Krill oil may increase oxidative function, which may supply your heart with the necessary oxygen it needs to survive.
The Amazing Power Of Omega 3
Due to weakness or injury your heart may weaken, causing oxygen-rich blood to not get to your major organs - even your heart. Due to cardiac remodeling, your heart may undergo changes possibly leaving it less efficient. The size of your heart may increase, which may lead to reduced function from your heart and left ventricle. Omega-3 fatty acids have been used for years as a way to promote heart health. However, fish oil has been the major player - up until now! Krill oil, which is structurally different than fish oil, may provide more benefit prior to having a heart attack or developing heart failure than fish oil does.
The omega-3 fatty acids in Krill, which are bound by a phospholipid backbone, may allow the DHA and EPA to be better absorbed by your body.
And this may increase DHA and EPA concentrations in your heart tissue. This may reduce inflammation associated with cardiac remodeling, which increases the function of your heart. Higher concentrations PRIOR to heart attacks may alter cardiac remodeling - for the better. The research is new but may prove promising for the countless people suffering from heart failure.
If you know anyone with heart problems and they need to be on an exercise program please let me know.
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