Heart Health

The healHeartth of your cardiovascular system includes the ability of your heart to pump blood properly through your circulatory system to deliver nutrients and collect waste from every cell of your body. The consequences of a malfunctioning cardiovascular system can be life-threatening, particularly when it interferes with the delivery of oxygen to vital organs including the brain and the heart itself. A high blood pressure is a sign of interference in the body’s ability to circulate blood and oxygen properly, which can lead to a heart attack or stroke. High blood pressure can be caused by abnormal cholesterol levels, stress, and many seemingly unrelated causes. Both abnormal cholesterol and high blood pressure are often associated with diabetes, so although diabetes isn’t considered a cardiovascular disease, it is rare to treat diabetes without also involving treatment or prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Some of the symptoms of poor cardiovascular health:

  • Shortness of breath with activity (e.g., climbing stairs)
  • Weakness or dizziness
  • Nausea
  • Sweating
  • Headaches
  • Palpitations (irregular heart beats)
  • Faster heart rate
  • Chest pain/discomfort

Some of the risks of heart disease:

  • High blood pressure
  • Abnormal cholesterol levels
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity (especially abdominal obesity)
  • Smoking
  • Chronic high stress
  • Inactivity / sedentary lifestyle

Naturopathic Treatment

Cardiovascular conditions respond very well to Naturopathic treatment. Countless studies have shown that dietary and lifestyle changes, such as exercise and quitting smoking, can be just as or even more effective than pharmaceutical medications at lowering blood pressure and cholesterol. Your Naturopathic Doctor can help you implement a healthy lifestyle and diet that can help prevent heart disease, as well as utilize natural health supplements, such as vitamins and herbs, that have been scientifically proven to lower blood pressure, re-balance cholesterol levels, lower blood sugar levels, and relax the blood vessels, as needed. All treatment programs are individualized and based on each person’s specific symptoms, conditions, and constitution.

Naturopathic treatments can help you reduce reliance on medication if you choose, and this is always done with careful monitoring. Your Naturopathic Doctor can work with your Medical Doctor or specialist if needed to ensure all your medical needs are met in a safe manner.

Examples of Naturopathic Treatments:

  • Diet plan for a healthy heart
  • Exercise plan to lose weight
  • Natural health products (such as fish oils, plant sterol, vitamin B3) to help lower blood pressure and cholesterol
  • Herbs to treat palpitations
  • Physical exam to monitor blood pressure, heart rate, etc
  • Lab tests to monitor cholesterol and blood sugar levels
  • Stress management strategies to help reduce the impact of stress on blood pressure