Sudden Cardiac Death (SCD) is responsible for numerous deaths in the U.S. and other countries around the world. It is not the same as a heart attack. A heart attack normally occurs when advanced atherosclerosis (clogging of the arteries) slowly starves the heart causing irreversible damage. The heart finally cannot function properly and stops. Sudden cardiac death occurs when the electrical impulses that control heart function become erratic resulting in an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). When the arrhythmia is severe enough the heart suddenly stops, starving the brain of needed blood. Death often follows quickly unless emergency care is administered immediately. Often sudden cardiac death occurs when no other heart disease is detected.
It has long been understood that eating fish can reduce the likelihood of heart attack and other cardiovascular diseases. The reason? Fish, especially cold-water fatty fish, is high in two omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). These two fatty acids are eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). Omega-3 has been shown to reduce the build-up of artery clogging atherosclerosis and keep blood platelets from sticking together thus reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.
But more recent studies suggest that omega-3 fatty acids also have an effect on the dangerous arrhythmias that can cause sudden cardiac death by regulating the impulses that control heart rhythm.
One study involved the use of mycocytes (cells that beat independently). By adding the free fatty acids to these cells arrhythmias were aborted. When the fatty acids were extracted from the mycocytes the arrhythmias would reoccur thus indicating that omega-3 fatty acids have a stabilizing effect on heart rhythm. The apparent mechanism for controlling rhythm involved cell ion channels, proteins that control the movement of sodium, calcium and potassium ions across the membrane of the cell.
Another study, conducted by Danish researchers, examined the relationship between heart rate variability and omega-3 fatty acids in healthy subjects. It had already been determined that heart arrhythmias could be positively impacted in patients who were recent heart attack victims. These researchers wanted to determine if people otherwise free of heart disease could gain the same arrhythmia controlling benefits from omega-3 fatty acids.
Sixty healthy adults were randomly divided into three groups. The first group received daily supplements containing 6.6 g of omega-3 (containing 3.0g EPA and 2.9g DHA). Group two received 2.0g of omega-3 (containing 0.9g EPA and 0.8g DHA). The remaining group received only an olive oil placebo. The supplements were given for 12 weeks. Before and after the supplements were consumed heart rate variability and blood cell fatty acids were measured. It was found that heart rate variability was favorably influenced by the amount of omega-3 consumed. In other words, the more omega-3 one consumed the higher the heart rate variability, especially in men with low heart rate variability before supplementing.
The researchers concluded that omega-3 fatty acids positively affected heart rate variability thus having a protective effect on heart function. These finding were similar to those of earlier studies showing that omega-3 positively affects heart rhythm in patients who had suffered a previous heart attack. Since sudden cardiac death is the result of erratic heart rhythm, omega-3???s heart protective qualities show great promise in the fight against sudden cardiac arrest. The mechanical studies completed by these and other researchers seemed to confirm other studies that the oral ingestion of fish and fish oils provide prophylaxis for the prevention of fatal cardiac arrhythmias when taken regularly in small amounts. In simple terms, consuming fish and fish oil supplements can save lives.
Greg holds degrees in science, divinity and philosophy and is currently an I.T. developer.
http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/fishoils.html
http://www.optimal-heart-health.com/fishoils.html
cleaning help near Mundelein ..Vitamins seem to be so good for everything. The newly... Read More
I have frequently heard alcoholics who are in early recovery... Read More
Fiber supplements can be tremendously beneficial for IBS sufferers. Although... Read More
Vitamin C may be the most famous vitamin. Tens of... Read More
In a 2002 study, a group of researchers used oral... Read More
Liquid vitaminsHardly does a day pass without the liquid vitamins... Read More
Antioxidant vitamins perform many important tasks that our bodies benefits... Read More
VITAMINS:Vitamins are major for Healthy life. Vitamin D may reduce... Read More
At some time or another, most people have taken some... Read More
The next step on your road to real health is... Read More
Nutritional supplements can play a key role in the health... Read More
In a perfect world, your children would eat a balanced... Read More
It seems today that for every mood swing, inconvenient behavior,... Read More
Over the past few years, Coral Calcium has received a... Read More
I've been feeling a tired and slow lately. Just don't... Read More
There are two basic types of constipation - organic and... Read More
Hyaluronic acid is available in a variety of products ranging... Read More
You read about a supplement that allegedly "Boosts your mood... Read More
This article will reveal one easy change you can make... Read More
You've probably been eating blueberries since you were a little... Read More
Did you know that when you take vitamins and minerals... Read More
Turmeric, in all honesty is not a vitamin, but it... Read More
The growing numbers of health conscious people today living more... Read More
Vitamins are organic compounds that our bodies use, in very... Read More
Did you know?? 20% of Australian children reported symptoms of... Read More
reliable maid service Wilmette ..Turmeric, in all honesty is not a vitamin, but it... Read More
1. What supplements do you take?A multivitamin, Glucosamine-MSM-Chondroitin, Odorless Garlic,... Read More
It is well known and scientifically proven that vitamins and... Read More
With dietary supplements making their way in our daily life,... Read More
Nutritional Supplement ? what is it?So what is a nutritional... Read More
L-carnitine is synthesized in the body from the amino acids... Read More
Bodybuilding supplements generally fall under the classification of dietary supplements,... Read More
OK, first let's get something straight here...If you think that... Read More
There is a huge market when it comes to vitamins.... Read More
I finally bought the stuff. I couldn't resist anymore. After... Read More
Recently the news carried the story that a researcher had... Read More
Selenium is a type of trace mineral which supports healthy... Read More
Vitamin C is important to all animals, including humans, because... Read More
There is a generation called the baby boomers that make... Read More
Nutritional vitamin fiber supplements come in a variety of types,... Read More
It's absolutely crucial that your body gets the nutrients it... Read More
In September 2004 Orange County, California published an article "OC... Read More
In July of 1995, the United States Department of Agriculture... Read More
As with most nutrients and minerals, zinc is often ignored... Read More
There are a host of choices for supplementing your Ironman... Read More
"High-dose pharmaceutical-grade fish oil is as close to a medical... Read More
Did you know that vitamin B-1 has two other widely... Read More
A 2002 study reported, funded by the Swiss National Science... Read More
Vitamins are organic compounds that our bodies use, in very... Read More
A dose of vitamin C may give a quick boost... Read More
Nutritional Supplements |