By Sandra Prior

Is your kid always on the move, impatient, highly competitive, calling all the shots, and intent on doing everything to perfection? Do you get the feeling he’s another up-and-coming ‘Doogie Howser?’

The profile is familiar, fitting many adults we may know. Recent studies suggest that such personalities at an early age, some appearing even before the first birthday, may be carrying the seeds of Type-A behavior, which is widely thought to contribute to heart disease. Liveliness and sociability are early harbingers in preschoolers, while perfectionism and competitiveness is more likely to appear between ages 9 – 12. Type-A behavior suggests the potential for – but is not an indelible predictor of – adult disaster.

Continuing impatience, aggression, and perfectionism in the young may call for intervention. Such behavior isn’t all bad, only the impatience and aggressiveness. It wouldn’t be fair to stifle a child, to kill his or her enthusiasm and goal orientation. The intent of corrective measures is to cut off the segments of behavior that could lead to adult Type-A risk for heart disease.

Risk Factor People

The combination of moderate elevations in several risk factors can put you at high risk for heart disease. Some risk factors you can’t do anything about are: growing older, being male, or having a family history of early heart disease. However, if you are a non smoking man of 50 with a 130 blood pressure but a cholesterol level of 335, you have a good chance of getting heart disease in 5 – 10 years time. But if your blood pressure is a moderate 50 and your cholesterol a moderate 225, you are even at higher risk if you smoke. Many Americans tend to dismiss moderately elevated risk factors, which by themselves wouldn’t be so bad, but when combined put them at high risk for a heart attack.

Some considerations for heart health awareness.

1. Make sure your cholesterol level rating has the proper ratio value – HDL cholesterol/total cholesterol. Ask your laboratory for the proper conversion.
2. Your systolic blood pressure should be taken after you have been seated for five minutes. An average of two measurements is preferred.
3. You are considered a non smoker if you have not smoked in the past twelve months.
4. You are diabetic if you have a fasting glucose level of 140.
5. Thickening of the muscle in one of the heart chambers or hypertrophy of the left ventricle can mean sustained high blood pressure.

The average risk levels of the American population indicate a high incidence of heart disease.

Bodybuilding can put you in Charge

Most doctors don’t have time to explain all the breakthroughs in heart disease prevention and treatment to their patients and heart patients to be. Many people simply go without the information that would allow them to take charge of their health while there is still time. Others, however, become educated consumers and cut their risk of heart attack.

It’s worth the effort. Even if a heart attack doesn’t kill you, it severely affects you. Heart attack strips a person of dignity, privacy and the productive life he or she knew. It catches victims in a vice like grip they often cannot break for the rest of their lives.

If you are a healthy, vigorous productive person now, you need not risk the heartbreak of wasted years from heart attack. The bodybuilding lifestyle is the surest defense against heart disease. The bodybuilding lifestyle can equip you with the tools to properly maintain a body that could remain free of life threatening disease. It puts you in charge of your life while there is still time.

Exercise and the Heart

Regular aerobic exercise strengthens your heart, helps you control your weight, lowers your blood pressure, relieves stress and helps you sleep better. How do you know if you’re in your aerobic range? Determine your target heart rate: First, subtract your age from 220 to get your maximum heart rate. Then multiply that figure by 60% and 80% to determine the lower and upper limit of your target range.

Example

220 – 56 (age) = 164 (maximum heart rate)

164 x 60% = 98 (lower limit)

164 x 80% = 131 (upper limit)

Target Heart Range = 98 + 131

It may be best to let a health professional determine the best target range for you. When you exercise your pulse must range between the upper and lower limits – 98 to 131, or whatever your limits are. Choose an aerobic activity that suits you: cycling, running, dancing, swimming, walking, tennis, or circuit weight training. Work out 30 – 60 minutes every day.

Know the Symptoms. See your Doctor

Anyone reduced to congestive heart failure ought to know the symptoms. Fluid accumulates in your tissues and lungs when your heart isn’t pumping blood efficiently. If one flight of stairs leaves you short of breath, tired, weak and unable to continue, see your doctor. If the veins in your neck are swollen, or if you cough up traces of blood, see your doctor.