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Herbal &
homeopathic remedies useful in Angina (Angina Pectoris)
Angina
HEALTH HERBS & NUTRITION
- REMEDIES - HEART AND CIRCULATION - ANGINA
Angina is characterized by a strangling and constrictive pain in the
chest. It occurs when the heart muscles have insufficient supply of
oxygenated blood due to the partial obstruction of the coronary
arteries (blood vessels supplying blood and oxygen to the heart).
Angina is most common in the middle aged and elderly as the arteries
become increasingly thick and inelastic with age. Angina is thus,
essentially a distinguished feature of the coronary artery disease.
Usually angina is sparked by exertion and
stress and diminishes with
rest, but it may occur even during inactive times, including sleep.
Therefore, angina mostly indicates some serious underlying heart
condition and is considered as a precursor of a heart attack. About
25% of men and 12% of women who develop angina experience a heart
attack within 5 years.
Actually, there are three main types of angina. The first is known
as stable angina in which chest pain comes on during exercise or
slight exertion and is usually common as well as predictable. Stable
angina is most often associated with atherosclerosis (hardening of
the arteries). The second type, called variant angina, can occur
even at rest or during exercise. This type is basically due to
sudden coronary artery spasm, though atherosclerosis may still be a
component. The third and most severe type is called unstable angina.
This angina occurs with no predictability and can easily and very
quickly lead to a heart attack. Therefore anyone with a significant,
new chest pain or worsening of a previously mild angina should seek
medical attention immediately.
As an ECG is not considered the ideal test for angina (you may not
have an angina attack while ECG is being carried out), a series of
ECGs recorded while you exercise (stress test) can only confirm your
problem. These tests not only confirm if you have angina due to
advanced coronary artery disease but the angiograms also show how
badly the involved arteries are affected.
Some health care providers may recommend coronary arteriography,
which involves for a catheter to be inserted through a small
incision to inject a dye that makes your blood flow visible on an
x-ray image. Any blockages in your coronary blood vessels will also
automatically appear. Also, newer non-invasive ways to evaluate the
coronary blood vessels and the heart muscle have evolved that
include cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), electron
beam angiography, and cardiac CT scans.
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Intense pain in the chest going all the way up to the
neck, face, shoulders and arms (mostly the left arm).
Mind you, similar symptoms arise due to other conditions
like heartburn, asthma etc. so if you aren’t quite sure
about the actual cause of your chest pain, it is always
advisable that you think about the worst (angina) and
proceed. If you are diagnosed otherwise, you will
definitely not complain but if your self diagnosis was
improper, you may end up with far more trouble |
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Dizziness, fainting, palpitations |
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Anxiety (mild discomfort) and nausea (indigestion) |
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Rapid or skipping heartbeat |
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Sometimes, diabetics may never feel any angina symptoms
while still having the problem |
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Tobacco and
alcohol – Abuse of body by excessive use of
them (specifically smoking) makes these two big culprits
of angina. Level of carbon monoxide, which displaces
oxygen, in the blood is increased by smoking causing the
blood to carry even less oxygen. Smoking also makes your
blood platelets stick together increasing the blockage
of your already partially blocked arteries. |
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Stress – Constriction of arteries due to stress is
another very common reason. |
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High blood pressure and
high blood cholesterol –
Arteries harden due to these reasons, blocking the flow
of oxygenated blood to the heart muscles. |
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Anemia in its severest form may lead to angina as not
enough oxygen is getting to the heart, even if the blood
flow is normal. |
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Obesity and sedentary lifestyle contribute a lot in
developing coronary heart disease. In effect, they are
major culprits in today’s times. |
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Old age and menopause – Older men and
women after
menopause are more susceptible to angina attacks. |
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Caffeine – Especially in coffee is supposed to be a
cause of angina. 5 or more cups of coffee per day have
reportedly been seen to increase the chances of angina
considerably. |
Herbal
and homeopathic remedies are useful in controlling angina without
the harsh side effects associated with prescription drugs.
Herbal and homeopathic remedies are safe and gentle to use, while at
the same time addressing the underlying causes of the condition.
Herbs
such as Crataegus oxyacantha (Hawthorn) have well-known
cardio-protective qualities that protect against the damage caused
by plaque build up in the coronary arteries. Passiflora incarnata is
a calmative herb which also relaxes blood vessels and reduces blood
pressure. In addition, Viburnum opulus (Guelder Rose bark) is a very
effective cardiac tonic and muscle relaxant, while Ginkgo biloba
improves blood flow throughout the body.
Note: Remember to always consult your doctor before stopping your
prescription medication or adding natural remedies to your
treatment. Also be sure to source natural remedies from a reputable
natural medicines company to ensure safety and effectiveness.
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Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba) – This oldest surviving
tree specie, dating back to millions of years has
predominantly been grown in China till the 18th century.
Then it came to Europe and from there to United States. Leaves of
ginkgo are the ones having medicinal qualities and their
main constituents are ginkgolide terpenes and flavonoids - antioxidants
that strengthen the blood vessels and improve the
circulation. Terpenoids (such as ginkgolides) improve
blood flow by dilating blood vessels and reducing the
stickiness of platelets. Clinical studies have indicated its
effectiveness in restoring the functioning of the
circulatory system. |
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Agathosma betulina (also known as Buchu) has been
used by the natives of the Western Cape of South Africa
for many centuries. The leaves of buchu contain 1.0 –
3.5% volatile oils as well as flavonoids - compounds
found in fruits and vegetables that have diverse
beneficial biochemical and antioxidant effects. Buchu
supports the body’s natural ability to rid itself of
toxins by supporting the secretion of retained water. |
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Hawthorn (Crataegus laevigata, Crataegus Oxyacantha)
– Hawthorn is easily found throughout Europe, West
Asia, North America and North Africa. Bushy hawthorn is
usually grown as a hedge on usually an alkaline, rich
and moist soil and can reach a height of up to 10 metres.
Due to its sweet but very unpleasant smell, it is also
known as May tree, owing this to its blooming time in
May when plague broke down in London in May, 1665. Both
its white flowers with red sprouts and white berries are
used since medieval times for medicinal purposes,
although the use of fruits or berries dates even back.
Flowers contain tyramine (an aromatic amine) which is
known to be extremely good for the heart. They also
contain flavonoids – antioxidants that dilate and
protect blood vessels. Berries contain anthocynins (polyphenols),
vegetable pigments that are again extremely helpful in
maintaining healthy blood vessels. Both flowers and
berries, together are used to treat various
cardiovascular diseases like angina, high blood
pressure, artery hardening, heart palpitations and
irregular heart beat. In effect, hawthorn is and can be
used as general tonic for a tired heart, specially of an
old person. Various and extensive researches have shown
that hawthorn is a wonderful remedy for cardiovascular
illnesses. All the above mentioned constituents of
hawthorn help in strengthening the heart and keep the
heart beat in check. They improve the flow of blood to
the heart and by relaxing the involuntary muscles, check
the high blood pressure as well. This they achieve by
dilating the blood vessels and reducing their resistance
to the blood flow. |
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Viburnum Opulus (also known as Guelder Rose bark)
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This herb is known for its natural ability to relax
muscle while supporting cardiac muscle health. |
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Garlic (Allium Sativum) - Garlic is known to have
very positive action in reducing the fatty deposits on
the blood vessel walls and bringing down cholesterol
levels. This helps in preventing of hardening of
arteries and toning of the circulation of blood. This
also reduces the formation of blood clots thereby help
preventing heart attacks. The coronary blood vessels are
also aided by garlic in dilating which in turn help
reduce the chances of a person having angina. |
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Valerian (Valeriana officinalis) – This
herbaceous perennial is found throughout the Europe and
North Asia. The rhizome (root) of valerian has all the medical qualities which have been harnessed
since Greek times for various diseases but mainly as a
sedative. The rhizome of valerian comprises valepotriates, valeranone and valerenic acid which
together produce incredible muscle spasms calming
sedative effect. Another important constituent is GABA
(Gamma-aminobutyric acid) which blocks the transmission
of signals to the brain. The sedative and antispasmodic
qualities of valerian are mostly due to valepotriates
and valerenic acid and these have made valerian, one of
the most widely used and famous herbal tranquillizers.
Valerian’s antispasmodic effect is supposed to give it
the ability to lower blood pressure. |
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High-Rite
Maintain blood pressure within the
healthy range and promote cardiovascular
health.
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Circu-Live
For circulatory and nervous system
health, keeps healthy toes and fingers
comfortably tingle free.
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Aqua-Rite
Promotes water balance to maintain blood
pressure, cardiovascular, liver and gall
bladder health.
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Bio-Oxidate Defense
Support cell integrity with natural
antioxidants.
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Antioxidants beta carotene and vitamin C prevent
hardening of arteries, so fruits and vegetables rich in
these two are extremely necessary in your diet. |
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Moderate quantities of alcohol and particularly
red wine, which is
also rich in antioxidants, are helpful in dilating blood
vessels and thus in preventing angina. |
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Oily fish, whose fatty acids stimulate blood flow as
well as reduce thickening of arteries, must also be
taken at least once a week. |
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Oat bran reduces cholesterol level and hence can be a
part of daily intake. Grains in general reduce
cholesterol. |
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Only 1 percent fat or non-fat milk products should be
taken. Meat also should be trimmed of all fat before
cooking. |
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Heart friendly monounsaturated oil, e.g. olive oil, must
only be used if you don’t want to play around too much
with your heart’s abilities. |
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Quit smoking immediately or forget about the rest of
this article! |
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Well, this one is tricky - avoid
stressful life.
Although in today’s world, it’s easier said then done,
but do you have another option? At the least, some
meditation or relaxation exercises can be taken up to
calm down your emotions and for de-stressing. |
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Stop your craving for cholesterol rich organ meats like
liver, kidney and heart. |
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A brisk walk of 50-60 minutes a day helps a lot in
bringing down the blood pressure. It also develops
strong muscles which pull out more oxygen from the
blood, thus giving welcome relief to the already
overworked heart of yours. |
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Watch your weight - Angina is one more problem you are
susceptible to, if you are obese. |
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High-Rite
Maintain blood pressure within the
healthy range and promote cardiovascular
health.
|
|
|
Circu-Live
For circulatory and nervous system
health, keeps healthy toes and fingers
comfortably tingle free.
|
|
|
Aqua-Rite
Promotes water balance to maintain blood
pressure, cardiovascular, liver and gall
bladder health.
|
|
|
Bio-Oxidate Defense
Support cell integrity with natural
antioxidants.
|
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