Cardiovascular Disease
Men no longer corner the market on heart disease. Studies reveal it’s the number one killer of American women. Nearly twice as many women across the nation die of heart disease and stroke rather than cancer (including breast cancer).
Heart disease is responsible for more than half the deaths of women over 50. The incidence increases in menopausal years, as a lowering estrogen level ups the risk. With diminished estrogen levels, LDL (bad cholesterol) appears to increase, while HDL (good cholesterol) decreases. Fat accumulates on artery walls after menopause begins.
On the male side, diminished testosterone levels can contribute to the weakening of heart muscle. Testosterone is not only responsible for maintaining heart muscle protein synthesis, but promotes coronary artery dilation (good circulation) and helps maintain healthy cholesterol levels. Perhaps that’s why an increasing number of studies reveal an association between high-normal testosterone and low cardiovascular disease rates in men.
At MASRI MEDICAL, we address all the keys to preventing heart disease. Heredity may escalate risk and you want to be aware of your family history. We can assist you with Smoking Cessation to help break tobacco’s strangle hold. We will guide you in ways to reduce your stress levels. We will educate you in dietary changes that are scientifically proven to reduce the percentage of body fat and the risk of heart disease.
This includes:
Adding more monounsaturated fats from sources like olive oil, nuts and avocados.
Cutting out the sugar and refined carbohydrates.
Consuming more omega-3 fatty acids, from wild game, grass-fed beef and bison, sardines and wild (not farm-raised) salmon. And take an omega-3 fish oil supplement and reducing as much as possible omega-6 fatty acids in your diet. These come primarily from conventionally raised meats, processed foods, fried foods and vegetable and seed oils (corn, soybean, sunflower, cottonseed, etc.)
Finally, early recognition hormone decline and optimization of those levels has proven quite effective in reducing the incidence and severity of cardiovascular disease. At MASRI MEDICAL, we provide you with that additional key to maintain vitality and quality of life.