Posts Tagged ‘oxygen’

Bolstering heart health is how to combat brain aging and stop cognitive decline. The heart is a vital organ when it comes to cognitive function. We know the heart is important for physical performance, but it is also key to mental functions. The heart delivers both oxygen and nutrients to the body by its efficient pumping ability.

Cognitive Ability

Arrhythmia and electric instability of the heart which is a potentially dangerous abnormal heart rhythm effects physical and mental powers. It is of critical importance to recognize the factors than may cause memory problems.

It has been found that factors such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol may also be a reason for forgetting things. A study presented at the American Academy of Neurology 63th Annual Meeting shows that people with an elevated heart disease risk in middle age were more likely to have memory and cognitive problems.

Researches have found people who have a 10% higher risk of cardiovascular disease were likely to have lower cognitive function and a faster rate of cognitive decline, than those with the lowest risk of heart disease. 

Patients with heart failure and a low left ejection fraction (LVEF) show declines in memory. Cognitive function in millions of American’s is compromised due to the rising incidence of heart failure in people over the age of 60 according to Dr. Joanne Fiesta  (St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital New York, N.Y.)

Brain Function

Your brain cells needs a constant fresh supply of oxygen. The longer the level of oxygen remains low the greater are the chances of cognitive decline. Some call this forgetfulness and brain fog, and it is a very common occurrence. Oxygen is the most important thing that brain cells need.

As you age the blood flow naturally drops and flows less efficiently. The nutrients that your brain need to nourish it are depended on how well your heart pumps.

A Framing ham Heart Study found that people whose heart pump efficiently are less likely to experience brain shrinkage.

Boost Your Memory

Now is the time to boost your memory. The way to do that is to take care of your health’s health. This will mean a more productive life in every area. This is the way to retain new information, and remember why you went to the grocery store. What everyone wants is to recall names, events, and have mental clarity and good cognitive function. Without these abilities the quality of your life diminishes.

Metabolic Syndrome

Adults with metabolic syndrome are significantly more likely to experience a decline in cognitive function over time. This is the one area where we have some control. This is a condition brought about by lifestyle.

In a study of generally healthy adults 65 years and older, those with metabolic syndrome were significantly more likely to experience a decline in cognitive function in a few years time. What is of particular interest is the the phase ”generally healthy adults with metabolic syndrome.”

This is where we are heading: health evaluations are taking a downturn, the optimal weight scale has changed and now what it means to be health has changed. Vigorous, energetic, healthy weight, good cognitive abilities, high fitness level, and emotional stability aren’t the baseline of passing the doctors idea of what is good health.

You can be a walking zombie, as long as some numbers are in the ball park, which by the way are changing yearly, you pass the physical. I wonder whose brains aren’t getting enough oxygen.

Back to the topic you are capable of slowing down memory loss and delaying the onset of dementia by following a healthy lifestyle.

Iron transports oxygen from your lungs to the cells in your body. Iron is not only good but necessary for the human body to function. When iron becomes too much of a good thing it is downright dangerous.

High Iron Dangers

There are studies that show that blood donors exhibit lower rates of many diseases and experience better health. What this means is that by giving some blood you remove some of the circulation iron.

Iron is an important component of hemoglobin in red blood cells, and is required to transport oxygen, DNA synthesis and other processes. It also has a destructive side. In its free form, unbound from hemoglobin or other binding proteins, it accelerates oxidation or “rusting” of body tissue. Also iron-induced oxidation worsens the course of most diseases. Controlling iron is a way to prevent and treat some conditions. These would include heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s.

When this excess iron interacts with oxygen in the body, it produces the free radicals which damage cells and eventually lead to organ failure (like cirrhosis of the liver), heart attack, cancer and pancreatic damage.

Iron Load Increases With Age

Around the age of 18, excess iron begins to accumulate at 1 milligram per day;

Excess iron in the blood stream is called unbound iron, or free iron. The free iron can build up for years and be the instigator of health problems as people age.

This build up has been implicated in premature aging, cancer, osteoporosis, arthritis, diabetes, liver damage, and heart disease.

When inflammation occurs in the body, free iron accumulates there and causes oxidation which then accelerates the inflammation.

Today’s Iron Source

The foods with the greatest amount of iron in the American diet today include fortified cereals, bread, cakes, cookies, doughnuts, and pasta. The more natural sources are beef, liver, beans, lentils, and poultry. Foods that have small amounts of iron are legumes, and dried fruit.

People are getting more than the recommended dietary level of iron from supplements and enriched foods. The consumption of red meet a rich source of iron has been dropping, while the consumption of processed foods has been rising.

There is some data that indicates that iron from natural sources doesn’t result in iron overload. Traditionally many people were carnivores and didn’t suffer from iron overload.

Inhaled tobacco smoke contains significant amounts of iron. Unbalanced estrogen (hormone replacement therapies) promote iron and copper uptake.

People who develop iron overload often take iron supplements. Iron also leaches from cast iron cookware and stainless steel pots. Cast iron and stainless steel are not foods: they contain an iron that is not from food and may cause imbalances.