Prevention and treatment of cardiovascular problems: the benefits of natural cardiovascular health supplements
Hypertension and hyperlipidaemia are among the major causes of cardiovascular problems (heart attacks, angina pectoris, heart failure…). Yet there are many natural products and cardiovascular dietary supplements that can help prevent or treat these silent risk factors. For hyperlipidaemia, there are fish oils (EPA) for lowering triglyceride levels, plant sterols and stanols for reducing cholesterol absorption, vitamin B3 (niacin) for increasing (good) HDL-cholesterol, and psyllium and artichoke extract, the constituents of which appear to have a statin-like action which reduces LDL-cholesterol. Some supplements and plant extracts may also be effective at decreasing hypertension. L-arginine, L-carnitine, coenzyme-Q10, cocoa and magnesium cardiovascular disease nutrition supplements may all significantly lower blood pressure.
Prevention is really important since the early signs of heart failure are often difficult to detect. By the time it is diagnosed, most patients have already lost almost 50% of their cardiac function. Moreover, survival time following diagnosis is often reduced (between 1 and 4 years on average).
