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
eco-friendly cleaning service Bannockburn ..A lot of people actually pay a good deal of... Read More
For women, calcium is one of the most important nutrients... Read More
Vitamins are an important part of a health diet. Unlike... Read More
"But I eat healthy," you might say. That may be... Read More
If you're smart, you should not only be focused on... Read More
"High-dose pharmaceutical-grade fish oil is as close to a medical... Read More
There is no doubt that Omega 3's can not only... Read More
It is important to understand that we are ultimately responsible... Read More
If you're constantly digging your hand into a jar of... Read More
At the present time, one out of ten adults have... Read More
You Need Probiotics For Better Digestion and Overall HealthInside your... Read More
What exactly are phytoestrogens, and how can we use them... Read More
Biological oxidation involves transferring electrons from one oxygen molecule to... Read More
Do you ever find yourself asking any or all of... Read More
The findings, published in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and... Read More
Vitamin B6 is the hardest working nutrient in the human... Read More
A ranch house, a zip lock bag and some ordinary... Read More
It's never too late to change your habits, and if... Read More
Supplement ? what is it?Supplement is a term that means... Read More
HGH is produced naturally, in everyone, by the pituitary gland.... Read More
If you read my last article about bitter orange, it... Read More
You've probably been eating blueberries since you were a little... Read More
1. Do not refrigerate vegetables and fruits (raw and uncut)... Read More
Folic acid is actually just one of the many vitamins... Read More
Sports Supplement ? what is it?We are all aware of... Read More
cleaning lady near Lincolnshire ..A 2003 study by the Health Sciences Department of the... Read More
OK, first let's get something straight here...If you think that... Read More
Before you read the rest of this article I want... Read More
Since the release of a book called" beat chronic fatigue... Read More
This complex mixture of nutrient-rich growth factors, immunoglobulins, glycoconjugates and... Read More
Nutrients form the basis for your body, emotional and spiritual... Read More
We live in a health conscious generation where vitamins and... Read More
A lot of people actually pay a good deal of... Read More
1. Most of the modern western diets contain way too... Read More
You've probably been eating blueberries since you were a little... Read More
Nutritional Supplement ? what is it?So what is a nutritional... Read More
At the present time, one out of ten adults have... Read More
It's green, it's valuable, and it can vastly improve your... Read More
I began a quest to examine over 25 "leading products"... Read More
Selenium is a type of trace mineral which supports healthy... Read More
Looking for quality nutritional supplements can seem quite overwhelming at... Read More
Iron is a mineral that is essential to the health... Read More
Hyaluronic acid has received much press lately as a natural... Read More
There are so many different whey protein powder products on... Read More
"But I eat healthy," you might say. That may be... Read More
Fish oil is oil derived from the tissues of fatty... Read More
1. What supplements do you take?A multivitamin, Glucosamine-MSM-Chondroitin, Odorless Garlic,... Read More
Don't be overwhelmed by this big word, ... Read More
Most people understand the concept of vitamin and mineral supplementation,... Read More
Supplement ? what is it?Supplement is a term that means... Read More
Nutritional Supplements |