Heart disease affects more than 60 million Americans. It is the leading cause of death in this country. However, there are things you can do to help protect yourself from becoming a victim.

Risks for heart disease include smoking, obesity, high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Now more and more studies are suggest that periodontal disease may increase your risk for heart disease. Recent studies indicate that people with periodontal disease have almost twice as likely to have a fatal heart attack than those who do not.

Those of you, who are not familiar with the term periodontal disease, may recognize it as gum disease. It is a bacterial infection of the gums, bone and periodontal ligaments that support the teeth and hold them in the jaw.

Healthy gums and teeth are vital for a healthy body. Since periodontal disease is a bacterial infection, it can enter the blood stream and travel to major organs where it will begin new infections in the body. The heart is one of the most susceptible organs for this type of bacterial infection.

A healthy balanced diet, regular exercise and abstinence from smoking are all key factors to maintain or improve your heart’s health. Try to avoid refined sugar as it is a haven for growing bacteria. If you do eat something sweet, be sure to brush your teeth directly afterwards to remove the sugar before the bacteria has a chance to move in.

If you or members of your family have a history of heart problems, it is especially important for you to have good periodontal health. This means brushing after every meal, flossing at least once a day if not more, and seeing your dentist at least twice every year.

Good women’s health pertains to every part of your body. Your teeth are not only the bright ivories that give you your wonderful smile, they are the gateway to your body.

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Did you know that Vitamin D can keep you trim, uplift your mood, stifle your sniffles and drastically cut down your risk of cancer. We all know about its ability to build strong bones and teeth, that’s why vitamin D is so important to our health and everyday life.

Sadly, nearly a third of all women fail to get enough vitamin D for their bones and even a greater number of women are missing out on the disease fighting abilities of this miracle nutrient.

Drinking a glass of milk is a great way to get your body’s requirement of D but there are other sources of vitamin D as well. Oily fish such as salmon, sardines and tuna are naturally rich in D. Other foods are fortified with vitamin D, such as orange juice, soy milk, butter substitutes and some yogurts and cereals.

A wonderful source of vitamin D that is important not to ignore, is the sun. Aim for 10 to 15 minutes a day of sunshine without using sunscreen. If you have very fair skin, you may need to limit yourself to 5 minutes in the sun. The reason I stress getting in the sun without sunscreen is that for every minute you spend in the sunlight, your body can produce about 1000 IU of vitamin D, you would have to drink about ten 8-oz glasses of milk to achieve that same benefit. Spending time in the sun means not adding all those extra calories to your diet too.

Vitamin D really is a dynamic vitamin, adding health benefits for nearly every phase of our life. Some of these include:

• Lowers your risk of cancer
• Fights off winter weight gain
• Protects your heart
• Lifts your mood
• Provides a natural defense from colds and flu
• Prevents autoimmune disorders
• Builds stronger bones
• Helps protect teeth

Fitness4Her recommends drinking low fat milk and eating foods that are naturally dense in vitamin D. Get outside each day and lift your spirits with plenty of warm sunshine, a natural source of the dynamic D.

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Getting your beauty sleep is not just a phrase. When a woman doesn’t get enough rest, it shows in her face. Inadequate sleep wreaks havoc on the complexion, with fluid retention causing unsightly bags under bloodshot eyes.

But more importantly, women more so than men, who don’t get enough rest, are at a greater risk of getting heart disease and diabetes. Females need far more sleep than males, yet the average woman gets only six to seven hours of rest each night.

A woman’s body requires rest. Rest and sleep provide an opportunity for the body to cleanse, repair, and rejuvenate on a deep cellular level.

Women’s roles as caregivers cause them to sleep less than men. As a rule, women tend to worry about finances and family relationships before falling off to sleep.

But it may be surprising to know that women are actually grumpier than men when they don’t get enough sleep. Not only might you look scary, but you may act pretty scary too when you deprive yourself of much needed rest and rejuvination.

Doctors have revealed that a good night’s sleep plays a big part in weight control. According to experts, there is a critical link between sleep deprivation and obesity. Americans are sleeping less than ever and are getting bigger than ever.

Indulge yourself in a good night’s sleep for the physical and mental health of you and your family.

Make your sleeping environment as quiet and peaceful as possible. Stop eating for at least two hours before going to bed. This way your body’s energy can be used for healing and rejuvenation rather than digestion. Avoid caffeine or any stressful mental activity in the hours right before bedtime. Try to relax with a good book, some soothing music, enjoyable conversation or meditation instead.

Waking up in a pleasant way is just as important as getting a good night’s sleep. Instead of leaping out of bed prompted by the blaring sound of an alarm, awake to pleasant music or a soothing chime. Take a few minutes to stretch and breathe deeply. You’ve been blessed with another day to empower the beauty in you!

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After Lisa’s divorce, she needed some new zing in her life. It was time for a new car, and now without someone telling her what car she needed to buy, Lisa decided to get the car that she wanted to buy. She picked out a glossy, red convertible Mustang. Lisa could just see herself driving that handsome car. She needed something shiny and eye catching that was sure to turn heads.

With limited funds now, she didn’t always get the maintenance that was required for such a high powered car. Lisa worked long hours and getting it into the shop for even a basic oil change was simply neglected. The Mustang operated just fine, so she figured there was plenty of time for servicing the car as it got older.

One day, on her way to a friend’s lake house for a barbeque, Lisa’s prized car started sputtering and coughing. She had to pull over on the side of the road. It wouldn’t start back up either, so she called for a tow truck and had to ride back with the driver. Needless to say, she missed the barbeque and the fun day at the lake with friends.

When she got the prognosis from the mechanic, Lisa found that her negligence in simple maintenance had cost her big time. “Well, Mam, he said, if you had just kept the oil changed and took it in for regular check-ups they might have been able to detect this problem in the engine.” Her idea of postponing the maintenance had resulted in a big overhaul of the engine. Without regular oil changes and maintenance, even the best of cars will start to deteriorate.

Are you like Lisa? Do you ever postpone health checkups or your exercise regimen with the assumption that you will get to it in due time? Don’t keep putting it off until later, because one day, you may find yourself sputtering and coughing like Lisa’s neglected car.

The great thing about living a healthy lifestyle and not neglecting yourself is that not only are you preventing or delaying the onset of future health problems, but you are improving your outward appearance too. With healthy choices, you can always be sure that you look and feel shiny and brand new. Sleek, self confident, and beautiful, in a body that is sure to turn heads.

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Heart disease is the number one killer of American women. That’s it, that’s the truth. One in four American women will die of heart disease. Women, more often than men, die as a result of a heart attack. Older women are more likely to get heart disease, but women of all ages should be concerned. It’s what you do today that will help to protect you from this killer later in life.

The most common form of heart disease in women is in the coronary artery. Over time, plaque builds up on the walls of the arteries that carry blood to the heart. This buildup causes the arteries to narrow and harden keeping the heart from getting all the blood that it needs. If a blood clot develops it may completely block the blood flow to the heart, causing a heart attack.

So how do you prevent this from happening? By taking proactive steps now.

• Know your blood pressure. Years of unmonitored or untreated high blood pressure can lead to heart disease.

• If you smoke, quit.

• Get regular checkups, with blood pressure monitoring and testing for diabetes. People with diabetes have a greater chance of having heart disease than those who do not.

• Get your cholesterol tested and know your numbers. High blood cholesterol can clog your arteries and restrict blood flow. If your numbers are high, discuss with your doctor how you can lower them. You may be able to lower your cholesterol levels with diet and exercise or your doctor may prescribe a medication.

• Maintain a healthy weight. Eat a diet low in fat and high in vegetables and fruits. Get at least 30 minutes of exercise every day.

• Limit your alcoholic beverage intake. If you drink, control your consumption to one drink per day. Avoid drinking binges, which accounts to 4 drinks for women in a session.

• Learn to cope with stress. Positive affirmations, a healthy diet and a regular exercise program will work to your advantage to relieve stress.

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