Scottish Institute of Reflexology

HEART

Get active

Moderate, rhythmic activity such a brisk walking, cycling or dancing is recommended as it halves your risk of developing coronary heart disease.  For best effect you should keep your heart rate raised for a length of time three or four times a week.

Foxgloves

The foxglove plant (digitalis) is the basis for drugs which have been used to treat heart failure for 200 years.

Renowned heart tonic

Ayurvedic medicine traditionally uses Arjuna to support circulation and oxygenation of all body tissues.  Modern clinical research now shows it can help to relieve the pain caused during an angina attack and is also helpful in the treatment of coronary artery disease.   Its effectiveness lies in its ability to suppress the blood’s absorption of lipids.

Have a tipple

Full of antioxidants, red wine is good at helping to prevent clogging of the artery walls.  One or two units a day may help prevent heart disease.  But don’t drink more than this on a regular basis or you will cause more harm than good.

Poor diet

Being overweight, and having a high salt, high saturated fat intake will all contribute to a higher risk of heart problems.  It is advisable to take regular exercise, cut the amount of processed foods such as margarine, biscuits and cakes and avoid adding salt to your food.  Fresh fruit and vegetables are a good source of potassium, which naturally balances sodium (salt) levels in the body.

Smoke

Within ten years of quitting the risk to former smokers, of coronary disease, is dramatically lowered.  It has been proven that your risk of heart attack is doubled and your risk of sudden cardiac death is quadrupled if you smoke.

Heart Beats
During the average lifetime the heart will beat 3 billion times.

Amazing Fact
If you were to straighten out your blood vessels they would wrap around the equator twice.

Heart Disease
Every three minutes a British adult dies from heart disease.

First Heart Transplant
In 1967 the first heart transplant was performed by the South African surgeon Dr. Christian Barnard. The patient lived just 18 days.