In the United States alone, many deaths are associated with some type of cardiovascular problem. The number of people who die of a heart attack each year is actually quite scary (approx. 250,000 US citizens). The statistics around the world are equally as daunting.

As a result, health authorities are continually emphasizing the importance of learning more about cardiovascular health and the steps you can take to protect yourself.

Being able to identify the various symptoms associated with a cardiovascular problem is paramount to ensure you seek medical attention quickly.

Cardiovascular disease symptoms you need to be aware of include:

* fatigue
* chest pain
* edema or swelling of the ankles
* short of breath
* sweating excessively
* nausea
* dizziness
* excessive urination
* numbness which is often felt in the extremities

All of the above symptoms are the result of clogged or blocked arteries.

Many experts support the theory that at least seventy percent of the arteries in the body would need to be blocked before these symptoms would become recognizable.

However, you should not wait for this to happen. You should start taking preventative measure to keep your arteries as clear as possible.

If any of these symptoms become noticeable, you should take it a warning sign that you may have a cardiovascular problem.

For some who develop an underlying cardiovascular disease and are taking certain medications, their condition may worsen.

The reason being, some medications can actually result in sodium retention or a decreased ability for the heart to pump effectively.

Ibuprofen and naproxen are examples of such medications that you need to be aware of.

Therefore consult your doctor, and find out all the information you can about any medications that are prescribed to you in the treatment of any cardiovascular problem.

With regard to the pumping power of the heart, many people, particularly senior citizens, are at risk of developing cardiovascular problems.

This is due to the fact that people aged 65 years and older are more prone to arterial blockage because of high cholesterol. Of course, another factor worth noting is that as the body ages, so does the heart.

The good news is though, irrespective of what age you are, you can protect yourself against developing cardiovascular problems by treating the primary risk factor - cholesterol.

You need to adopt a healthy lifestyle and follow a heart healthy diet. Avoid or limit animal products, full fat dairy products, fast food, processed food and pre-packaged food as these are high in saturated fats and trans fats, and will cause your bad cholesterol levels to increase.

Exercise regularly, quit cigarette smoking, manage your blood pressure and take natural supplements, all of which will lower cholesterol and improve your cardiovascular health.

This will prevent a cardiovascular problem from developing, giving you excellent protection against heart disease.

If you are ready to protect yourself against developing a cardiovascular problem and ultimately heart disease, then visit my website today for quality information to guide you to success.

Mary Ruddy is a former high cholesterol sufferer, from a family with a history of heart disease, and has successfully achieved perfect cholesterol levels, reversing and eliminating the risk of heart disease, and is a strong advocate of natural health care. Mary enjoys introducing people to the best natural products she can find and uses herself daily at: http://www.curing-cholesterol.com/

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