Heart Health Guide | Research Blogs on Heart Rate, Afib, Heart Diseases & More

Get continuous ECG and real-time alerts for 20+ activities with the Frontier X2

Meditation is not just good for the mind, it’s great for your heart and overall well-being. According to Harvard Health Publishing (ref link), there are different types of meditation, and they each have different physiological benefits. Guided meditation helps you relax, Transcendental meditation uses repeated sounds and phrases to help you clear your thoughts, and Mindfulness meditation helps you focus on the present and accept it without judgment. So, let’s take a look at Mindfulness meditation, and specifically how it benefits your heart health.

What Is Mindfulness Meditation?

It is a practice that teaches you how to slow down racing thoughts, let go of negativity, and be focused on your present. It allows you to acknowledge and accept your thoughts and feelings without judgment. For this reason attention and acceptance are vital parts of mindfulness meditation. Verywellmind states that to get started with this brand of meditation all you need is a comfortable place to sit, five minutes of free time, and a judgment-free mindset.

How Is Mindfulness Meditation Good For Heart Health?

A report in The Greater Good Science Center at the University of California, Berkeley (ref. link) states that heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, accounting for about 1 in 4 deaths every year. As per other research, meditating can increase respiratory sinus arrhythmia, i.e. the natural variations in heart rate that indicate better heart health and an increased chance of surviving a heart attack. Furthermore, mindfulness meditation improves your cardiovascular capacity and helps your heart perform better.

Tips To Practice Mindfulness Meditation

According to the American Psychological Association (ref. link), it can take a little while to get used to mindfulness meditation. With time and practice you will be able to focus on your heart health and improve your overall well-being. Here are some ways to get started.

Set a Reminder: It is difficult to form any new habit, and so it’s understandable that it will take a while to add this practice to your daily routine. Choose a time, set a reminder, and make it a point not to miss your meditation. Soon it will become a part of your routine, and you’ll reap all the benefits.
Add It To Your Do: While jotting down things to do for the day, make sure that you leave 5-10 minutes aside for mindful meditation. Add it consciously to your to-do list so that you feel compelled to do it.
Treat yourself: Try the reward method. Set a goal of practicing mindful meditation at least 14 days in a row, and when you achieve the target, treat yourself to your favorite dessert.
Opt for Mindful Meditation Classes: Go to classes, learn how to do it, understand the importance and practice it. This way, it becomes easier for you to adapt to meditation.

Overall, ensure that you do it without judgment and keep your heart health and well-being in mind.
Finally, pair your meditative practice with the use of a heart monitoring device to ensure you’re making your heart healthier with every session. Purchase the revolutionary Frontier X2 device, and be on your way to a healthier tomorrow.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

We live in a fast-paced world where stress has become a part of our life. As widespread as it may be, it’s important to understand that chronic stress can cause (ref. link) depression, anxiety, and cardiovascular diseases. Doctors often recommend stress tests to determine heart health. A cardiac stress test and exercise stress test determines how well your heart responds when it’s made to work at its hardest. It is a great way to assess whether your heart is healthy.

What Is The Purpose Of Doing A Stress Test?

According to the British Heart Foundation (ref. link), the stress test helps you and the doctor understand how well your heart pumps blood, and whether it is receiving an adequate blood supply. It lets the doctor analyze if you have any issues with your muscles or valves. Depending on the stress test results, the doctor determines whether you need additional tests.

Types Of Stress Tests

MedicalNewsToday (ref. link) states that there are three types of stress tests.

Exercise Stress Test: In this test, the doctor aims to determine the person’s heart rate, how tired they feel during different levels of physical activity, and their blood pressure. The exercise stress test takes place on a treadmill, with the patient made to jog and continually increasing speeds. The doctor attaches sticky electrodes to the person’s chest so they can monitor the heart and analyze the readings.
Nuclear Test: As per the National Heart, Lung, & Blood Institute (ref. link), a nuclear test, also known as thallium stress test, is performed after the exercise test. Here the doctor injects a tracer dye into the arm of the person taking the test. The tracer dye helps highlight the heart and blood flow on an image, and is able to show the areas of the heart where the blood is not flowing.
Stress Echocardiogram: This is similar to the stress test but provides in-depth details about the heart. Doctors perform an echocardiogram before and at peak exercise. It evaluates blood flow through your heart, the pumping chambers of the heart, and the valve functioning.

What Is The Process Of Stress Test?

Stress tests take place on a treadmill, and the speed and grade of the treadmill increases as the test continues. It lasts for 15-20 minutes. The doctor may ask you to stop the test if you experience chest pains, fatigue, or weakness. Your heart rate and breathing will be monitored for a short while, even after the test. It is advisable to report any chest pains or complications you notice before starting the test. Before the test begins your doctor can check your heart and breathing by attacking stick pads to your body. You will get your results a few days after the test has been completed.

Finally, though stress tests are extremely valuable, they are a snapshot of the functioning of your heart at the time of the test. These tests are usually no longer than 30 minutes, so what do you do if you want to monitor the functioning of your heart through the day, through all your different activities.

Do not worry, because our patented Frontier X2 heart monitoring device allows exactly this. Purchase the Frontier X2 to always know how healthy your heart is!

Frequently Asked Questions on Heart Stress Test:

What Is a Stress Test?

Stress test determines how well your heart responds when working at its hardest. It is a good way to assess if the heart is healthy.

What Are The Three Types Of Stress Test?

There are three types of stress test- the exercise stress test, the stress echocardiogram, and the nuclear stress test.

What Is The Duration Of A Stress Test?

The stress test lasts for 15-20 minutes. The doctor may ask you to stop the test if you experience chest pains, fatigue, or weakness.

Where Is the Stress Test Performed?

It is performed in a doctor’s office or hospital.

What is the normal heart rate during a stress test?

During a stress test, the heart rate should increase in a predictable way as the intensity of the exercise increases. The normal heart rate during a stress test depends on a number of factors, including your age, fitness level, and the type of test being performed.

As a general rule, the heart rate should increase by about 10-20 beats per minute (bpm) for each 1-minute stage of the test. For example, if you are 50 years old, your resting heart rate may be 70 bpm. During the first stage of the test, your heart rate may increase to 90 bpm. During the second stage, it may increase to 110 bpm, and so on.

The goal of the test is to increase the heart rate to a certain level, usually between 85-95% of the maximum heart rate for your age. The maximum heart rate can be calculated using the formula: 220 – age = maximum heart rate. For example, if you are 50 years old, your maximum heart rate would be 170 bpm (220 – 50 = 170). During the stress test, the goal would be to increase the heart rate to around 153-162 bpm (85-95% of 170 bpm).

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

Menopause is a natural part of ageing and usually occurs between the ages of 45 and 55 in women. During menopause, the body’s production of estrogen and progesterone, two hormones that regulate the menstrual cycle, decreases. This can lead to a number of physical and emotional symptoms, including hot flashes, mood changes, and sleep disturbances. Heart palpitations are a common symptom of menopause. They are characterised by the feeling of a rapid, fluttering, or pounding heart rate. Palpitations can be caused by a variety of factors, including changes in hormone levels, stress, caffeine, and certain medications. In most cases, heart palpitations are benign and do not indicate a serious medical condition. However, if you are experiencing heart palpitations and are concerned about your health, it is important to speak with a healthcare provider for further evaluation.

There are a number of ways to manage heart palpitations during menopause, including:

Reducing stress: Stress can contribute to heart palpitations, so finding ways to manage stress can be helpful. This may include activities such as exercise, yoga, or meditation.
Avoiding triggers: Some people find that certain foods or drinks, such as caffeine, alcohol, or tobacco, can trigger heart palpitations. Avoiding these triggers may help reduce the frequency and severity of palpitations.
Managing hormone levels: Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may be an option for some women to help manage menopausal symptoms, including heart palpitations. However, HRT is not right for everyone and should be discussed with a healthcare provider.
Medications: In some cases, a healthcare provider may prescribe medications to help manage heart palpitations. These may include beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, or anti-arrhythmic drugs.

Just like getting grey hair and wrinkles, menopause is a sign of ageing for women. When a woman enters her menopausal phase it is common to experience hot flashes, insomnia, mood swings, and weight gain. It is important to understand that Menopause is not a disease and is entirely natural for women in their mid 40-50s. That being said, you must be aware that it also affects a woman’s heart health. As per Heart.Org (ref. link), more than one in three females get heart disease about 10 years after menopause. So, let’s take a closer look at how menopause affects the heart.

How Menopause Affects The Heart?

Menopause is considered to have begun when a woman does not menstruate for 12 consecutive months. When women start missing their period cycle they develop metabolic syndrome. This is an amalgamation of excess belly fat, high cholesterol, and elevated blood sugar, all of which increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke. In fact, as per American Heart Association (ref. link), heart disease is the leading cause of death amongst women, causing 1 in 3 deaths per year.

Besides weight gain and high cholesterol, depression and insomnia are common symptoms of menopause. Depression, stress, and anxiety reduce blood flow to the heart, which leads to high blood pressure and an increase in levels of stress hormones like cortisol, adding more risk to heart health.

How To Keep Your Heart Healthy During Menopause?

Menopause is difficult for every woman, but making some lifestyle alterations can not only reduce the risk of heart ailments, it can also improve your quality of life.

Switch To A Heart-Healthy Diet : Yes, your diet plays a vital role during menopause. Bid adieu to fats and try to include more fibre, fresh fruits, and vegetables. Reduce the consumption of salt, sugar, and processed food. Opt for lean meats and low-fat dairy as they can also help with your heart health.
Physical Activity Is A Must: The American Heart Association recommends that women going through menopause engage in at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. Whether it’s walking, cycling, dancing, or jogging, you should set a goal to exercise at least five times a week.
Reduce/Avoid Consuming Tobacco: During menopause your body undergoes hormonal changes that are made worse by smoking. Try to reduce smoking so that you can eventually quit.
Visit Your Doctor Regularly: When you enter the menopause stage make sure you get a routine health checkup. It’s essential to monitor your health during this phase and seek treatment if necessary.
Deal With Stress In A Healthy Way: Stress leads to anxiety and depression, thereby increasing your chances of getting heart disease. Engage in activities like meditation and yoga, sleep well, and lead a healthy lifestyle.
Control Your Cholesterol Levels: HDL and LDL are two types of cholesterol levels. LDL is bad cholesterol, and HDL is good cholesterol. During menopause women lose estrogen which then gives rise to LDL levels in the body. Therefore you should keep your cholesterol levels in check by following a healthy diet and talking to your doctor about this.

Finally, pair these lifestyle changes with the use of a heart monitoring device to know exactly how you’re impacting your heart. Purchase the revolutionary Frontier X2 and be on your way to a healthier tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions on Menopause :

What Are The Signs of Menopause?

Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, Difficulty Sleeping, Reduced Sex Drive, Mood Swings & Weight Gain.

Does Menopause Affect Heart Health?

Due To The Loss Of Estrogen and Increase In Hormonal Changes, Menopause Increases The Risk Of Women Getting Cardiovascular Diseases.

Ways To Keep Your Heart Healthy During Menopause?

Quit Smoking, Follow A Healthy Diet, Exercise, and Don’t Miss Out On Your Regular Health Checkups.

Menopause Age In Women?

Women in their early 50s start experiencing menopause. In some cases, women go into the menopause phase in their mid-40s as well.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

The Age-Old Debate of Strength Training Vs Cardio – Which is Better for the Heart?

Given that your heart has a 24*7 job, and a very important one at that, you must keep this vital organ at the peak of its functioning for as long as you can. When it comes to heart health, maintaining a healthy lifestyle can go a long way in keeping cardiovascular diseases at bay. One of the pillars of such a healthy lifestyle is exercise. Therefore, it’s safe to say that almost every type of exercise aids heart health, and according to the American Heart Organization (ref. link), a sedentary lifestyle can actually put your heart health at risk.

While it is true that almost all exercise is good for you, it’s important to understand how different exercise affects the body. Experts suggest that cardio and strength training are complementary to one another, and engaging in one should not affect your engagement in the other. According to a US News Health article (ref. link), both forms of exercise keep us fit and make daily activities easier. For example, consistent cardio makes tasks like standing for long periods, walking the dog, or running to catch a bus much easier, while on the other hand, spending time with strength training lowers the effort needed to climb a flight of stairs, pick up grocery bags, and do common household chores.

What are Cardio Exercises?

Cardio or cardiovascular exercises are typically those that are designed to get your heart rate up. They are also referred to as aerobic exercise and are mostly incorporated into a weight loss routine. According to one article (ref. link), cardiovascular exercise relies on the body’s ability to use oxygen during the exercise session. Common types of cardio exercises include cycling, swimming, running, and walking.

Are Cardio Exercises Good for the Heart?

Cardio exercises improve blood circulation, which helps in lowering blood pressure and reducing heart rate. Johns Hopkins Medicine (ref. link) believes that engaging in aerobic activities can control blood glucose levels and thereby reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes. Cardio exercises put the same muscles to use by engaging in repetitive movements, making the heart beat faster. According to an article (ref. link), regular cardio workouts can help in strengthening the blood vessels, improving oxygen flow, lowering blood pressure, and reducing the risk of heart disease.

What are Strength Training Exercises?

Strength training, also known as resistance training, is designed to improve muscle strength and endurance. It is typically done by overloading a group of muscles for a selected amount of time. These exercises are often linked with weight lifting but other common strength training exercises include lunges, squats, push-ups, bicep curls, crunches, and more.

Benefits of Strength Training on the Heart

According to research (ref. link), strength training exercises help in improving circulation and releasing oxygen in all parts of the body. It also shows that weight training exercises reduce the risk of a heart stroke or attack. According to this Hopkins Medicine article (ref. link), strength training exercises have a specific impact on body weight. They help reduce fat and create leaner muscle mass, which is good for a healthy heart as this helps raise HDL and lower LDL.

What Kind of Exercise is Good for Heart Health?

We can safely conclude that both cardio exercise and strength training exercises affect your heart health positively. Research (ref. link) has shown that either type of activity is beneficial for the overall fitness of the heart. One article (ref. link) determines that cardiovascular exercises impact the heart more directly since those help lower the heart rate, while strength training exercises benefit the heart more indirectly. By increasing muscle mass, strength training exercise helps reduce blood pressure thereby helping the heart. Experts believe (ref. link) that to maximize the benefits and keep the heart at its fittest, people should incorporate both cardio and strength training exercises in their workout regime. People who combine the two exercises seem to experience greater health improvements than those who do either of the two exercises only.

Finally, pair your new and improved workout schedule with the use of a heart monitoring device to know exactly how you’re impacting your heart. Purchase the revolutionary Frontier X2 and be on your way to a healthier tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions on Strength Training :

Is Strength Training Enough For Heart Health?

While strength training helps with weight management, controlling cholesterol levels, and lowering blood pressure, it is advised to combine strength training exercises with other cardio exercises for optimal results.

Which Type of Exercise is Best for the Heart?

A combination of strength training and cardio training is best to keep the heart fit. The most important thing for heart health is regular exercise. Any type of exercise is linked to improving heart health.

Does Cardio Strengthen Your Heart?

Regular cardio can help in strengthening the heart and blood vessels. It can also help in lowering blood sugar levels and managing cholesterol.

Can Too Much Cardio Damage the Heart?

Engaging in too much cardio can make the metabolism slow and the weight loss journey also gradual. The rate at which calories are burned is also reduced thus risking weight gain and negatively impacting the heart.

What Happens If You Train Your Muscles Every Day?

Undergoing strength training exercises daily can have a negative impact on the overall fitness of the body. Using the same muscles, again and again, does not give them enough time to repair, thus slowing down the benefits and risking pain or injury.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

For years we’ve all been told that fried foods are terrible for our health. Despite this being extremely common knowledge, most of us continue to indulge in fried chicken, French fries, and other greasy goodies. Why? Because they’re delicious, of course! As good as it may be, is the taste worth the fallout? These foods contain unhealthy fats, and they’ve been linked to a variety of health issues, including heart disease. But just how bad are they for your cardiovascular health?

Before we get to that, let’s answer another question. How does food change when you fry it?

Frying food doesn’t just change its taste and texture, it changes its nutritional composition.

Put most food into hot oil and the result is a beautifully crispy, golden, but dehydrated product that’s high in fat. This increases the food’s calorie content (ref. link). Cooking at high temperatures also causes a change in the chemical structure of fats (hydrogenation) forming trans fats. Trans fats are associated with an increased risk of heart disease, diabetes, and obesity (ref. link). Fried food also contains Acrylamide. One study (ref. link) discovered a link between dietary acrylamide and kidney, endometrial, and ovarian cancers in humans.

How Does Eating Fried Food Affect Your Cardiovascular Health?

Fried foods are high in saturated and trans fats which increase your blood cholesterol level and damage the walls of your arteries. Cholesterol leads to plaque deposits on the artery walls, thereby narrowing them and making it harder to pump blood. This condition is called Atherosclerosis, and it increases your risk (ref. link) for numerous heart conditions.

Researchers recently examined this phenomenon by reviewing the diet and health information of more than 1.2 million people as part of a meta-analysis of 19 studies (ref. link). According to their research, fried food consumption was strongly associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease (ref. link) (CAD), major cardiac events (like heart attacks), heart failure, and stroke. Two large observational studies (ref. link) discovered that the more frequently people ate fried foods, the higher their risk of developing heart disease. In one study (ref. link), women who consumed one or more servings of fried fish per week had a 48% greater risk of heart failure than those who consumed one to three servings per month. Increased baked or broiled fish consumption, on the other hand, was associated with lower risk.

A high intake of fried foods was linked to a significantly increased risk of heart attack, according to another observational study (ref. link). Those who ate a diet high in fruits and vegetables, on the other hand, were at a significantly lower risk.

How Does Fried Food Raise the Risk of Heart Attack?

A Heart attack, or Myocardial infarction (MI), occurs when a blockage in the artery prevents heart muscle from receiving enough blood. The main cause of heart attack is coronary artery disease (CAD), which is caused by cholesterol-filled plaque that blocks the arteries supplying the heart. Eating fried foods can increase this build up, putting you at a higher risk of having a heart attack. According to research (ref. link), eating fried foods can increase your risk of having a major cardiovascular event, such as a heart attack, by up to 28%.

How Does Fried Food Raise the Risk of Stroke?

A stroke can be caused by plaque build-up in the arteries that carry blood to the brain, just like a heart attack. Reduced blood flow to the brain can cause brain damage due to a lack of nutrients and oxygen. Excessive consumption of fried foods is associated with a 37% increased risk of stroke (ref. link).

How Can You Make Your Fried Food Healthier?

The dietary guidelines of America discourage the use of fried food. However, if you enjoy the taste of fried food, consider frying using healthier oils, or even alternative frying methods.

Healthy oils : Oils that contain monounsaturated fats are stable when heated. Coconut oil, Olive oil, Avocado oil are stable when heated and ideal for frying (ref. link). Using these healthier cooking oils could reduce some of the risks of eating fried food. Keep in mind that while they may not be the healthiest overall, these are the frying oils that are the most stable.

Alternative Frying methods : You can also consider some alternative frying methods like Oven-frying or Air-Frying which uses little to no oil.

Fried foods may be tasty, but they are not good for our cardiovascular health. Fried foods contain large amounts of unhealthy saturated and trans fats. These fats can lead to increased cholesterol levels and increase your risk for heart disease. In addition, frying destroys many of the beneficial nutrients in food, leaving behind unhealthy oils and chemicals. If you want to reduce your risk for heart disease, it’s best to avoid eating fried foods altogether. If you do indulge in an occasional piece of fried chicken or fish, try to minimise the damage by choosing healthier cooking methods like baking, grilling, or air frying, and by using healthy oils like coconut oil or olive oil.

Finally, pair your newfound dietary information with the use of a heart monitoring device to ensure your actions are improving your heart health. Purchase the revolutionary Frontier X2 and be on your way to a healthier tomorrow.

Frequently Asked Questions :

1. What are the risks of eating fried foods?

Consuming fried foods which are high in saturated and trans fats increases the risk of obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

2. What are some healthier alternatives to fried foods?

Baking, grilling, stewing, roasting, and stir-frying are healthier alternatives to frying.

3. How does eating fried foods affect your cardiovascular health?

Fried foods raise blood cholesterol levels, causing deposits to form on the artery walls and block them. This blockage causes heart attacks and strokes.

4. What are some tips for cooking healthier fried foods?

Using healthier cooking oils such as coconut oil, olive oil, and avocado oil could reduce some of the risks associated with eating fried food. Alternative frying methods, such as oven frying and air frying, utilise less oil.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

Diabetes and Heart Health: How Does Diabetes Affect Your Heart?

Several factors contribute to poor heart health, and diabetes is one of them. As per the CDC (ref. link), adults with type 2 diabetes are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke than someone who doesn’t have it. In general, diabetes is one of the major factors for poor heart health in adults. The most common cause of mortality for people with type 2 diabetes is heart disease.

How Is Heart Health & Diabetes Related?

High levels of sugar in a diabetes patient’s blood can lead to damage to the blood vessels and the nerves that control them. Usually, when a person has diabetes, the sugar stays in the bloodstream and leaks out of the liver. And when this happens, the coronary artery in the body gets blocked, which limits or stops the supply of oxygen and nutrients to your heart. Hence, people with diabetes need to be extra careful and take good care of their heart health.

Factors That Contribute To Poor Heart Health When You Have Diabetes

When people with diabetes follow a healthy lifestyle, check their sugar levels consistently, and work out at least four times a week, they not only maintain their heart health but also keep their sugar levels in check. However, there are additional factors that contribute to poor heart health when you have diabetes.

High Blood Pressure : This is one of the most typical risk factors for heart disease in people with diabetes. High Blood Pressure causes stress to your heart and damages your blood vessels. High blood pressure can cause heart attack, stroke, kidney problems, and issues with your vision..

Obesity & Sedentary Lifestyle : If you have diabetes, managing your weight is not only vital for your well-being, it is necessary for your heart health as well. People with diabetes who are overweight and follow a sedentary lifestyle are prone to several heart ailments. Obesity also impacts their blood pressure, blood sugar, and cholesterol levels.

Hence, working out regularly, maintaining an active lifestyle, and undergoing a guided weight loss program will help you combat these problems. As per HealthGov (ref. link), every adult should get at least 2-3 Hours of moderate-intensity level exercise weekly.

Smoking : If you have diabetes, you should completely stop smoking. It not only adds more to your poor heart health, but it can cause heart attack, stroke, and foot problems.

How To Keep Your Heart Health In Check With Diabetes?

Make Health Checkups & Tests A Part Of Your Routine : People with diabetes should get their blood pressure checked, a Carotid ultrasound, a 2D Echo, an exercise stress test, and a CT of the Heart done on a regular basis.

Focus On Improving Your Overall Health : Make lifestyle changes like adding yoga, meditation, and breathing techniques to your daily routine. Avoid smoking and opt for stress management techniques. Besides all of this, also ensure that you are constantly monitoring your health. The American Diabetes Association (ref. link) recommends cardio and resistance exercise daily for people with type 2 diabetes.

Sleep Well : One of the key factors that contribute to good heart health is proper sleep. In fact, National Sleep Foundation (ref. link) suggests that adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep every night.

Overall, follow a good diet, maintain an active lifestyle, and monitor your heart health with the Frontier X2 – this will help you manage your diabetes while maintaining your heart’s health.

Frequently Asked Questions on Diabetes and Heart Health:

Are People With Diabetes More Prone To Heart Disease?

People with diabetes are twice likely to diet with a heart attack or stroke in comparison to others.

Which Type Of Diabetes Is Bad For Heart Health?

Type 2 diabetes which is most common in adults has adverse effects on heart health.

How To Maintain Good Heart Health?

To Maintain good heart health, you must sleep well, exercise regularly and ensure that you are following a healthy active lifestyle.

Tests To Get Done For Heart Health & Diabetes?

People with diabetes should get their blood pressure checked, a Carotid ultrasound, a 2D Echo, an exercise stress test, and a CT of the Heart done on a regular basis.

Do All Diabetics Have Heart Disease?

Heart health can be managed with a good lifestyle. However, cardiovascular disease is common among people with diabetes, and those with type 2 diabetes will eventually develop it.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

“All I can say is that I have taken more out of alcohol than alcohol has taken out of me.”

These were the words of no other than Winston Churchill himself, and such eloquent words they were. There’s this joie de vivre seemingly emanating from it, making us all chuckle and reminisce fondly over memories of times spent inebriated. Perhaps not ALL of us, but the truth is that it is MOST of us.

How Prevalent is Alcohol Consumption?

As per the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 85.6 percent of people aged 18 and older in the United States reported that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime. The same survey noted that 25.8 percent of people aged 18 and older reported that they engaged in binge drinking in the past month. Across the Atlantic, a UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) survey from 2016 shows that 11.9% of 45–64 year olds, and 17.7% of those aged 65 and over consumed alcohol on 5 of the last 7 days.

Yes, we drink a lot. Probably even more than the data tells us, because these already astronomical numbers are just the reported ones. Alcohol is without a doubt the most socially acceptable drug, but that’s not a problem in and of itself. Life isn’t simply about surviving, it’s about enjoying, and certainly alcohol can be very enjoyable. That’s probably why so many of us consume it. The issue arises when this global acceptance of the substance leaves people ignorant to what it truly is, and what it’s capable of when consumed without care.

What is the Impact of this level of Consumption?

What is it capable of? Well, according the WHO, quite a lot. Data published by the organisation allows us to chart the percentage of deaths in different countries that are directly related to Alcohol consumption. In the year 2016 this number was 4.6% for the UK, 4.9% in the United States, 5.4% in India, 6% in Mexico, 6.9% in Brazil, and 7.6% in South Korea. Countries in eastern Europe like Russia, Lithuania, Belarus, and Latvia all have rates above 20%.

It is important to recognise that these numbers are moderately inflated by the fact that any deaths related to alcohol are considered, including crimes and accidents. That being said, a large portion of the deaths represented by these numbers come from health complications caused by alcohol, and one of the bodily systems most affected by excessive consumption is the cardiovascular system.

What about one glass of red wine a night?

Before we get into all the ways alcohol is detrimental to your heart health, it’s important we debunk the myth that tries to make the opposite relationship true.

No, drinking a glass of red wine every night is not the same as self-care for your heart. I hate to do it, I really do, but we can’t keep pretending like we live in this dreamworld where drinking alcohol makes you healthier. The reason this myth came about was because there were a few studies that showed a correlation between moderate alcohol consumption and a lower risk of dying from heart disease. There is evidence that moderate amounts can raise the level of “good” HDL cholesterol, and that red wine in particular has certain antioxidants that protect your heart, but causality is very hard to determine from these studies. Critics believe that factors such as wealth, education, access to healthier food options etc. play a large role, and there’s data to support that. The same UK based survey mentioned above splits its data by annual income to see the difference in binge drinking across this metric, and (as seen below) the results show that richer demographics showed higher rates of binge drinking, meaning those who were drinking more are also the ones with better healthcare access with a higher quality lifestyle to boot.

The Detrimental Effects of Alcohol on Heart Health

So, now that that’s been debunked and we know that drinking isn’t benefitting your heart, let’s look at all the ways it’s hurting it.

Increasing your heart rate

The first and most immediate way is by increasing your heart rate. When alcohol is consumed it has the ability to both raise your heart rate as well as vary the rhythm and time between beats. Regular heavy drinking can cause Tachycardia, which is an increased heart rate due to problems in the electrical signals that produce a heartbeat. Depending on the frequency and severity of the Tachycardia, it can cause blood clots that lead to a heart attack or stroke.

Increasing your Blood Pressure

Another short term manner in which alcohol damages your heart is by raising your blood pressure. Infrequent, temporary rises in blood pressure can be completely harmless, but when it becomes frequent due to excessive alcohol consumption it can lead to alcohol cause hypertension. Having a consistently high blood pressure is terrible for your health as it can harden and thicken your arteries, and is a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

Weakens your Heart Muscle

The first long term effect of alcohol is in weakening the heart muscle as a whole. The heart uses its muscle layer within the wall to be able to contract so that blood can be circulated efficiently around the body. When this layer of heart muscle is damaged it is called a cardiomyopathy, and alcohol induced cardiomyopathy is amongst the most common. The weakened heart muscle and subsequent weakened contractions can lead to congestive heart failure, which is when the heart cannot pump blood as per the body’s requirements.

Arrhythmia’s

Long term alcohol overuse can also lead to irregular heartbeats that are known as arrhythmia’s. Certain acute cardiac rhythm disturbances, like atrial fibrillation, can be induced by alcohol. Atrial Fibrillation can be caused by a random instance of drinking as well as the cumulative effects of overuse. Atrial Fibrillation and other arrhythmias are capable of leading to heart attack and stroke.

Stroke

The other major complication that each of these damages can lead to is having a Stroke. There are two types of strokes that can be caused in such situations. Firstly, an Ischemic Stroke. This kind of stroke occurs when an artery that is supplying blood to the brain gets blocked. Alcohol is directly related to this type of stroke because of all the ways (mentioned above) that it can lead to blockages in the arteries. The second type is a Haemorrhagic Stroke, and these occur when an artery that supplies brain tissue ruptures and bleeds. Alcohol is directly related to this type of stroke as severe increases in blood pressure can create weak points on artery walls that lead to rupturing. Both types result in a disruption of blood flow to the brain, and can result in a loss of motor (movement) and sensory (touch, temperature sensations) functions. Strokes also have the ability to damage your skeletal, muscular, respiratory, digestive, and urinary systems.

Final Words

Finally, there is no doubting the value that alcohol brings to people, and I’m sure there was some truth to Winston Churchill’s words. What is even more certain though, are the many ways in which it can destroy your cardiovascular system, and as harsh as that reality might be, it is one that is worth noting. Because some years after he uttered this famous quote, Winston Churchill died from a stroke.

Enjoy your drink while keeping tabs on your heart health with the Frontier X2 and its continuous ECG recording capabilities.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

Sixteen years ago, whilst establishing his own tech company, Howard discovered his passion for cycling and exploring the mountains of Europe.

Reaching the summit didn’t come without its drawbacks, however, as he began noticing that his wrist-worn heart rate monitor would suddenly stop displaying his data.

“I was either suffering from a lot of flat batteries, or there was something else going on.”

Howard reached out to Professor Sanjay Sharma, one of the UK’s leading Sports Cardiologists, from St George’s Hospital in London, who nudged him in the direction of exploring the Frontier X to monitor his fitness.

“The whole experience since then has been a total game changer.

“The Frontier X has given me an incredible level of clarity and detail about my heart’s performance during these prolonged endurance events. You just can’t get that type of detail from other devices.”

Through the help of a dedicated team of healthcare professionals, Howard was diagnosed with Ventricular Tachycardia.

“In my particular case it appears to be caused by a third spark plug in the heart which is deciding to join the party when my heartbeat reaches about 150bpm!.

At one point, I deteriorated into VT at around 130 bpm, and on one occasion it lasted for around 25 minutes.”

When riding uphill, Howard was finding that his heart rate would reach approximately 160 bpm and causing him to experience an episode of Ventricular Tachycardia.

“I realised in my early 60s that, effectively, my riding days with friends and family were over.”

Howard soon enrolled in the Frontier Heart Program which, along with his Frontier X, made a significant impact on how confident he feels about managing his condition.

“The team gives me 30 minutes a week of detailed reviews and advice, focused and tailored on critical aspects of fitness and endurance training.

“My cardiologist remains in charge of the medical aspects, whilst the Frontier Heart Program team give me very detailed and tailored advice about fitness and recovery.”

Things are now looking up for Howard, who is on a low dose of Beta Blockers and is continuing with steady base performance training through the Frontier Heart Program with the aim of maintaining a consistent heart rate during training sessions.

“Us roadies tend to focus on power output and heart rate quite a lot, and I’m very pleased to say that my power output for a given heart rate has benefited considerably from this style of training, not to mention it’s keeping the VTs at bay.”

“I’m now back to 160 km endurance rides, albeit at a steady pace at the moment.

“For the future, there should only really be one question… on my next trip to the mountains, will it be the Pyrenees or the Alps?”

In October 2022, experienced cyclist Jason had been taking his bike for a quick spin around Telford, UK when he felt as though he’d hit a brick wall. He was dizzy, had no power in his legs, and was forced to roll to a stop.

With his Frontier X buzzing to alert him that his upper heart rate limit had been reached, Jason easily recognised the signs as he’d experienced these symptoms before.

“I knew I was having an episode and something wasn’t right, this time it wasn’t sorting itself out.”

When checking his pulse in his neck, it was so fast that Jason was unable to count it.

In a stroke of luck, Jason’s cycling route had taken him just outside of the Princess Royal Hospital, allowing him to ride through the doors of A&E and be sent straight to triage.

“My heart rate was fluctuating between 27bpm and 240bpm, which was mirrored by the figures on my Frontier X.”

Jason was immediately transferred to resus, where based on hospital diagnosis, a defibrillator was attached to his chest and Adenosine and a defibrillating shock were administered to restart his heart again, ensuring that it returned from ventricular tachycardia to sinus rhythm.

Just three months after his initial experience, Jason’s Frontier X detected a critically high heart rate which had risen to 227bpm and remained at over 220bpm for 90 minutes. Once in hospital, Jason received a cardioversion to return his heart from Ventricular Tachycardia to sinus rhythm as diagnosed by the treating physician.

Jason is now at home recovering from his latest episode, although it may be a while before he can return to training.

“I’ve been using the Frontier X since it was released. I wouldn’t be without it now.

“I also wear it whilst sleeping occasionally, to monitor my heart rate throughout the night when I’m truly at rest. With my resting heart rate dropping to 32 – 36bpm it’s good to know my heart rate is recovering well.”

We’d like to wish Jason a smooth and speedy recovery.

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore:

Frontier X2:

Smart Heart ECG Monitor in USA | ECG Machine Price in India | Best Heart Rate Monitor UK

In the summer of 2018, Tom had just finished his latest windsurfing session when he went into a sudden cardiac arrest.

“I had no warning, there was no chest pain.

“My friends were able to do CPR and use the local defibrillator, and within an hour I was at Papworth Hospital having a stent fitted.”

Tom went on to complete a 12-week Cardiac Rehabilitation Program with Papworth Hospital in order to build both his fitness and his confidence following the incident.

Just one year later, whilst on holiday in Greece, Tom experienced his second heart attack without warning.

With the hospital in Greece unable to fit him with another stent, Tom was sent back home to the UK with heart failure. In January 2020, Tom had three new stents fitted at Papworth Hospital.

“This time, with Covid-19 threatening everybody, I wanted to build my heart strength to the maximum possible.

“I started running for the first time in the local park, combined with home exercises from Papworth Hospital. I did this at the optimum level, 90 minutes per day, 6 days per week within my heart rate limits.”

Tom was offered an Exercise Treadmill Test (ETT) with the aim of increasing his heart rate limit for exercise, however the test was forced to come to an end due to Tom experiencing ectopic heartbeats resulting in his heart rate limit ultimately being decreased.

“It was suggested that I try a Frontier X monitor, which would provide heart rate readings during exercise. My wrist-worn heart rate monitor couldn’t do this, you’ve got to be stationary and calm to take recordings, and when I stop running I don’t get the bad ectopics.

“The Frontier X instead showed my vitals including strain, exertion and heart rate throughout every exercise session.”

Tom’s Frontier X showed that he was most commonly experiencing ectopic heartbeats during the warm-up period of his workouts.

“Normally it was just one, two or three ectopic beats which is safe, but on two occasions I had much longer episodes of up to 22 ectopic heartbeats.

“I couldn’t tell they were happening, I was symptom-free. I couldn’t feel them, but they were happening.”

Tom was fitted with a 24-hour Holter monitor, which unfortunately didn’t provide him with the answers that he was hoping for. The test showed that he was experiencing short bursts of ectopic beats rather than long ones, prompting his healthcare team to inform Tom that no further medical action was required.

“Then I shared my Frontier X results with them. You could see that those short ectopic heartbeats that were visible on the Holter results and the long bursts that had been shown on the Frontier X had the same shape, they came from the same source and they had the same trigger mechanism.

“This completely changed the prognosis.”

Tom attended Papworth Hospital the following week for an ablation procedure.

“Without the Frontier X we might never have known that I had a problem. I probably would have increased my exercise, done more and done it faster for longer – there was a real risk of the ectopics getting out of control.

“I could very easily have become that guy who drops dead when running in the park.

“I have to say, I find that really empowering and reassuring. I’m really grateful for it.”

Other Heart Health Topics To Explore: