Most of us are conditioned through our educational system on health and wellness, and the role of exercise in our health. Health education classes and physical education, or P.E. as we’ve all come to know it, have stressed the importance of exercise in our health and wellness. Healthy muscles support our skeletal system and aid in circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids. Nutrition is the key to providing our muscles the tools they need for optimum function.

Magnesium affects many of our muscular functions. This includes oxygen uptake, the production of energy in the body, and our electrolyte balance. Thus it is important that we look at the role that exercise plays in our magnesium balance. What affect does magnesium have in our ability to maintain healthy muscle tissue?

The topic of exercise and magnesium balances in the body has been studied by the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Human Nutrition Research Center, a division of the Department of Agriculture in Grand Forks, North Dakota, researched the typical diet and magnesium deficiencies, the affect of exercise on magnesium balance, and the use of magnesium in sports and strenuous activities.

Sweating and urination caused by strenuous exercise or body building can diminish magnesium supplies by as much as 10% to 20%. Magnesium is a vital mineral to over 300 body functions, from a healthy heart to strong teeth. Is the level of magnesium in the body, on an ongoing basis, affect performance type activity?

Dietary surveys show a magnesium intake of less than 260 mg/day for males, and 220 mg/day for female athletes may result in a magnesium-deficient status. Studies also show that a great number of people routinely are deficient in magnesium. Athletics that require weight control tend to be more susceptible to a low magnesium level.

We can’t prove that magnesium does improve our performance in sporting and competitive events. It was noted in the U.S. Department of Agriculture study that giving the body an adequate supply of magnesium does aid in exercise performance.

In our attempts to maintain and improve our health, it is important to consider the vitamin and mineral balances in the body for the support they provide in normal cellular function. Continued research into the affect of magnesium in peak performance will surely show that the simple electrolyte is worthy of consideration.

While most of our magnesium should be ingested, many of us do not eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables to achieve the optimum magnesium balance. Illness or imbalance in the digestive system can also contribute to a decrease in the ability to absorb the magnesium we need. Another option is to provide magnesium through an IV, which requires medical intervention, and this method is used in critical care protocols. An easier method is transdermal application through bath salts or magnesium spray, which absorbs into the skin. Transdermally applied magnesium has been shown to almost immediately decrease muscle and joint pain.

INTRODUCTION: Heart disease is a number of abnormal conditions affecting the heart and its blood vessels. Also known cardiovascular disease, it mainly affects people who are older and is a sign that there are problems with the heart and blood vessels.

It has become the leading cause of death in the United States, is a major cause of disability, doesn’t go away, but by working with your doctor, you can live longer and feel better. Types of cardiovascular disease include: Coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type and is the leading cause of heart attacks.

In 2003, almost twice as many females died of cardiovascular disease (both heart disease and stroke) than from all cancers put together. The older she gets, the more likely she is to have cardiovascular disease; however women of all ages should be concerned.

African American and Hispanic American/Latina females are more prone to get heart disease because they tend to have a greater number of risk factors such as obesity, lack of exercise, elevated blood pressure, and diabetes than White females. Women of color are also more likely to die of the disease.

Having diabetes elevates your chances of developing heart disease and high levels of triglycerides are linked to the disease in some people. Also Being obese increases your risk. Chest or arm pain or discomfort can be a symptom of cardiovascular problems and a warning sign of an actual or impending heart attack.

If your dad or brother had a heart attack before age 55, or if your mother had one before age 65, you’re more likely to eventually have heart disease. Birth control pills can pose risks for some women, especially women over the age of 35, women with high blood pressure, diabetes, or elevated cholesterol and women who smoke.

Close to 700,000 people die of heart disease in the USA each year. You can find out more about heart disease by phoning the National Women’s Health Information Center at 1-800-994-9662.

The risk of coronary disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control those factors that put people at greater risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attack. The very best ways to prevent heart disease are to control high blood pressure, diabetes or a high cholesterol level and, if you smoke, STOP SMOKING.

CHOLESTEROL: What does high cholesterol have to do with heart disease? Cholesterol can clog your arteries and keep your heart from getting the blood it needs. People with high blood cholesterol or high blood triglycerides often have no symptoms, so have your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked regularly. If your levels are high, talk to your doctor about what you can do to lower them. You may be able to lower your levels by eating better and exercising more, if not, your doctor may prescribe medication to lower and bring it under control.

If there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it can build up on the walls of your arteries, forming plaque and producing blood clots. There are basically two kinds of cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is usually called the “bad” type because it can clog the arteries that transport blood to your heart. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as the “good” kind because it takes the bad cholesterol out of your blood and keeps it from building up in your arteries.

All women 20 years of age and older should have their blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked at least once every five years. If you are overweight, losing weight can help reduce your total cholesterol and LDL (”bad cholesterol”) levels.

Try to consume more foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. Skim (fat-free) or low-fat (1%) milk and cheeses, and low-fat or nonfat yogurt, Fruits and vegetables (try for five a day), Cereals, breads, rice, and pasta created from whole grains (such as “whole-wheat” or “whole-grain” bread and pasta, rye bread, brown rice, and oatmeal), Limit consumption of organ meats (liver, kidney, brains), Egg yolks, Fats (butter, lard) and oils, Packaged and processed foods.

There are two diets that may help decrease your cholesterol: Heart Healthy Diet and Therapeutic Lifestyles Changes (TLC) Diet. Exercise can help decrease LDL (”bad cholesterol”) and raise HDL (”good cholesterol”). If your physician has prescribed medicine to decrease your cholesterol, take it exactly as you have been told to.

CONCLUSION: Heart disease is not contagious - you can’t get it like you can the flu or a cold. It is a general term that refers to a variety of acute and chronic medical diseases that affect one or more of the components of the heart. The signs you describe to your physician will help to decide if you need to be tested for heart disease. Your physician will also check if you have any conditions that can increase your chance of developing the disease.

These conditions include: elevated blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, high cholesterol level, menopause in women, family members who have had heart disease at a young age. If you have cardiovascular disease, your angina can be treated by treating the heart disease. Following a healthy diet and maintaining a normal weight level plus a regular exercise program can aid you in avoiding heart disease.

When it comes to your health, strokes are serious business. Even if the symptoms of a stroke are minor, they can turn serious and cause significant long-term problems or even death. That’s why it’s so important to know what a stroke is, how to spot it, and what you can do to prevent strokes or help someone who is having one.

While there are various types of stroke, including heat stroke and ischemic or mini strokes, they are all caused by similar problems. A blockage in the brain blocks blood flow to a certain area and causes that part of the brain to be deprived of oxygen. If the area goes too long without blood flow, there can be permanent damage or even death.

It’s impossible to act when you’re having a stroke if you don’t know you’re having one. It’s therefore important to know the signs and symptoms of a stroke so you can act quickly.

Ignoring serious symptoms is probably the worst thing you can do. The most common indicators of a stroke are:

* Sudden severe headache without cause
* Numbness or weakness
* Dizziness or trouble standing up
* Vision trouble with one or both eyes
* Trouble speaking or understanding speech

The most important thing you can do if you think you or someone else is having any of these symptoms is to seek medical attention. There are new medical advances that can greatly increase the chances of surviving and recovering from a stroke. However, these medicines are only effective if they are given within about three hours of the start of symptoms. The faster you get to a doctor, the better off you are. Once the damage has been done, there is much less medical professionals can do to help.

Whether the person having the stroke is you, a loved one, or even a stranger, its onset can be a very stressful thing. When a stroke strikes, you need to remain calm. If you panic, you will often delay any action and therefore delay any treatment. You can also stress the patient and worsen the situation. Take a deep breath, call 911, and wait calmly until the ambulance crew arrives. When they do, remain calm and let them do their work without interfering.

If you’ve had a stroke, you’ll need to take measures to prevent another one. While some risk factors can’t be controlled (like age and race), there are others that can. Most of the actions you can take to prevent stroke are the same as for prevention of a heart attack and include:

* Eating a healthier diet rich in fiber and nutrients
* Taking steps to lower cholesterol and blood pressure
* Quitting or limiting smoking and alcohol consumption
* Reducing weight
* Relieving stress
* Getting plenty of exercise

These small steps can not only prevent a second stroke, they can also prevent stroke if you’ve never had one.