Heart Disease and Bad Habbits

[hev]

My family has a history of heart disease and it's hit home lately. My brother died 12 months ago at age 43 (heart attack on the dance floor) and my Dad just died six weeks ago - sudden heart attack at age 72. SInce it happened I have been taking stock of my bad habits - which include most things but nothing up my nose or anything seriously stupid.

So what should i be doing less of.

I quit smoking ganja (I never smoke tabacco) because I was practically a rasta. Cutting back was an obvious thing to do I completely cut it out. Of course it will be legal in my state in a few months so I am considering other forms of consumption.
I cut out shellfish and most organ meet but still can't turn down bacon, pork belly or fried chicken and waffles.
I should be drinking less but it's hard to cut that out and not smoke at the same time and quite honestly I am drinking more because of the cut back on smoking.

I get my heart rate up at least 4 days / week on the bike, running, swimming etc. My diet is mostly good but I definitely cheat when the wife is not around. I have my own business and it's stressing me the fuck out but that managed to not kill my Dad (he took a company public on the NYSE in his 50's).

I get regular labs and am seeing a specialist but he's just telling me how to die, not how to live. What's the maggot advice?

[Mazderati]

Two drinks per day are beneficial for most. What's the reason for avoiding shellfish? I haven't read anything definitive on it's relationship with heart disease. And, even if there were one, the relationship would seem to be between high cholesterol foods and heart disease; not shellfish in particular.

On it's face, this study suggests no significant relationship between shellfish and heart disease.

[skinnyskier]

The risk factors are age and male gender, which we can do nothing about, blood pressure which we can control, cholesterol which we can also do something about, plus smoking and diabetes. Family history matters, as does bad diet, lack of exercise, stress and too much booze. That's more or less all there is in terms of risk factors.

[Mazderati]

Race and SES. But it's probably not a stretch to assume hev is white and does alright given the forum demographics.

[TBS]

Vibes for your brother and dad.

My Advice -
Everything in moderation; food, drink, ganja, hookers/blow. Personally, I'd increase the herb and reduce the alcohol a little from your current regimen.

Get lots of cardio exercise - which you seem to be doing. Helps with the next item as well.

Reduce the stress - prolly the most important part. As part of this, stop worrying about whether eating a doz raw oysters 2x/yr is gonna kill you...

A friend of mine had a family history of heart disease so he exercised a lot and really watched his diet. He died from brain cancer.

[RedWolf]

Not sure where the research stands exactly on it, though i know it is certainly better, but how's about vaporizing instead of smoking and cutting back on the booze?

[The AD]

How's your weight and waist measurement?

[Tye 1on]

i'd prescribe more ganj and seafood, less wheat, more wine, weight training to go with the cardio, less wheat, and yoga. But i've never even stayed at a holiday inn express. Vibes 'bout the double family hit-

[iceman]

I...am seeing a specialist but he's just telling me how to die, not how to live.

What does that mean?

As to advice, I'd say listen to Tye.

[regct]

Why wouldn't you be willing to cut the bacon, pork, and red meat? Of everything you mentioned those and booze should be the first things to go.

Shellfish has omegas and fish oil, aren't those good for heart health?

[natty dread]

Hev! Been a long time man--silverton years ago maybe? ut perhaps with foggy?
Just wanted to tell you how sorry I am to hear about the tragedy in your family. 43 is so young, shit 72 is way too young.
I don't have any great advice for you--I eat pretty much paleo and I was able to cut my BP med dose in half after a few months on that diet (got a strong family history of HTN)--but I am very curious if the docs have any idea why this is going on in your fam? Are there any genetic tests they can do, was there hypercholesterolemia??
As for the herb, vape it I say. And red wine is supposed to be good for you.

[DasBlunt]

Don't be stupid, cut out the pig and saturated fats (fried foods) if you have the gene history.

Start your day with some sort of calcium rich green veggie in a blender, besides all the benefits to the heart/liver/gut, calcium deposits are caused by Calcium deficiency, and blockages are no fun. When the protein balance is off, calcium is off. Because of this fact, the whole paleo diet works for many, but not for all IMO.

Red wine, or any alcohol can be bad for certain metabolisms and nutritional history I.E, nutritional history..... some people have abused their bodies too hard to even consider alcohol, no matter the clinical benefits.


Seems like this should go here

Cholesterol and Shellfish

"Shellfish and marine animals such as lobster, crab, shrimp, clams, oysters, scallops, and abalone have little or no effect on the plasma cholesterol concentration because they are low in fat." American College of Physicians, 1988.

Saturated fat -- not dietary cholesterol -- is the main culprit in raising blood cholesterol. Saturated fat is what turns the body on to making cholesterol. High levels of cholesterol in the blood can lead to blocked arteries, heart attacks, and strokes.

Shellfish received an unfair reputation for high cholesterol because of outdated scientific methods that detected cholesterol-like substances as well as cholesterol. The resulting readings were falsely high.

A serving of most any shellfish is well within the 300-mg daily intake level recommended by major health organizations, including the American Heart Association and National Academy of Sciences. Although crustaceans such as shrimp, lobster, and squid, are higher in dietary cholesterol than mollusks such as clams, oysters, mussels, and scallops, they are extremely low in saturated fat, and doctors see no reason to avoid them.

Prominent heart experts no longer place limitations on specific shellfish for their patients with high blood cholesterol levels as long as portion sizes are not excessive and patients watch their saturated fat intake.

[Danno]

Why wouldn't you be willing to cut the bacon

Because bacon, ldo.

[wooley12]

So what should i be doing less of......... What's the maggot advice?

Sorry for your recent losses. That was a 1-2 punch. Your lifestyle sounds good to me if the meat is 2-3 times a week with your genes. The only other thing you might do less of is to stress about it. My grand dads heart gave out. My dad went at 89 (not his heart) eating his favorite bacon and eggs with buttered whole wheat every day he could get it. I find solace in his long time mantra. "Hey, we all gotta go sometime."

I gotta quit smoking.

[XXX-er]

Definatley quiting smoking would be a big help for anybody also control your weight and waist size, read the white label on the side of food products and eat the recommended portion size, eat a little bit of everything & cut out as much sugar as you can

I get monitored on a regualr basis because of predisposition to type2 diabetes, dropping my weight from "overweight" on the BMI to" normal" made the good cholestral go up and the bad cholestral go down and I pretty much eat whatever I want , I think those studies which say don't eat this or that are just studies ... eat a little bit of every thing

I quit booze & dope for 6 months to train for an event, it didn't really affect my weight which was already at normal in the BMI but it did drop my sugar levels half a point

yes I know the bmi doesn't affect the random tgr'er because they are so core/muscle bound but shut the fuck up anyhow eh

relax eh

[DasBlunt]

I gotta quit smoking.

fucking quit now Wooley!!!!

[spook]

fucking quit now Wooley!!!!

no shit. i had my bitcoin on you against the asshole but now that i know you're a hacker hacker, i'll have to rethink.

[CantDog]

Thats a lot of loss in a short amount of time, Im sorry.

Do you know anything about the specifics on your brother an Dad?

You've identified the big things, less alcohol, less red meat, more exercise. You've also demonstrated how difficult it is to do these things.


Worth noting is there is still not total agreement on alcohol being beneficial. The American heart association says to consult your physician, and that studies show it may be beneficial, but stops short of outright recommending 1-2glasses a day for men (who aren't predisposed to alcoholism).

Also important...learn CPR, especially your family, and have open discussions on end of life planning, medical power of attorney, what you would like done/not done.

[Buster Highmen]

First off, condolences Hev. That's a rough wad of happenstance and my heart goes out to you.

I got mis diagnosed with high cholesterol (amazing so many can spell it) a few years ago and went completely vegan - no meat, dairy, seafood, nada. Lots of veggies, tofu, salads, fruit. Then I found out that, contrary to what the doctor told me, one cannot drink espresso before the blood chol test.

Anyway, the reading I did at the time emphasized minimizing animal fat intake. I'd been vegetarian a few times earlier in life, but not really vegan. The articles also emphasized eating lots of fruit and extolled the heart healthy virtues of fish and of oatmeal. So now I'm back to eating small portions of meat, seafood and dairy but keeping in practice eating more fruit, salads, veggies and oatmeal. Exercise was also prominent in recommendations.

All in all, I'm not one much for extremes in diet I guess. I know lots of super groovers (rafting pun intended) who specify some rigorous xyz diet dogma, but I guess that's not my trip. I want to live, so I'm keeping it balanced and have repeatedly told the medical industry that the only drugs I take are recreational.

So, I'm focusing on crushing it in the gym a couple times a week and riding the bike a few times a week too. We do try to eat at least 1 vegetarian meal a week from beans or pasta, but I'm all about having the occasional prscuitto wrapped scallop or duck breast. And oh yeah, some nice red 96 burgundy.

I'll always remember that day @ Crustal with Girlski et al in the pow as well as the Silverton daze. Let's do it again.

[SB]

Sorry bout your brother and Dad.

Genetics is hard to avoid, I have a similar issue in my family. Gotta find out what works for you, listen to yourself. I too gave up maryjane a while ago. It was something I knew I had to do eventually. My worst addiction is coffee, probably have to loose that one too or go half caf. We limit cow milk products but still do cheese.

Luckly I quit cigs way back as well. The wife and I have for years been modifiying the diet. Smaller portions, more veggies, we still eat meat but try to get organic stuff as much as possible. We get good small farm grown stuff locally.

I grow my own hops and garlic as much for hobby/stress reduction as anything. Make time for others/family but also make some time for yourself. Moderation is always a smart plan.

[wooley12]

fucking quit now Wooley!!!!

Don't want to jack the thread but there is a connection. I had quit smoking for 2 weeks. I had just started reading the WSJ as I started my 6 a.m. shift at the hospice and my previously comatose dad sat up, reached out to me with a pained look, laid back and died a few minutes later. Bought a pack on the way home. I hear ya though.

[Mazderati]

That had to be surreal.

[iceman]

fucking quit now Wooley!!!!

In the words of my dear departed mother:

"Consider The Source"

[wooley12]

Or "Even a blind dog........." DasBlunt speaks the truth. There's an interesting upside. I get a taste of what being black in the 50's was like.

[spook]

Or "Even a blind dog........." DasBlunt speaks the truth. There's an interesting upside. I get a taste of what being black in the 50's was like.

you're getting your ass kicked and dragged behind trucks until your parts fall off?