Nurturing the Miraculous, Multitasking Heart
Jan 29, 2021 09:17PM ● By Kristy Harvell
We already know that
we can’t live without our heart, but let’s take a deeper look at this
incredible organ. The heart can paint the picture of the amazing design of the
body perhaps better than any other part of the body.
A better
understanding of heart health is necessary because heart disease is the leading
cause of death in the United States as well as worldwide. One person dies every
36 seconds in the United States from cardiovascular disease. About 655,000
Americans die from heart disease each year—that’s one in every four deaths.
Mechanical Heart
Our heart beats about
100,000 times in one day, pumping 2,000 gallons of blood. If one were to stretch out one’s capillaries, arteries and veins, they would reach 100,000 miles in length. All of these mechanics have a very important job—to pump
oxygen-rich blood and fluids to nourish the cells and organs of the body, and
pump carbon dioxide and other waste materials back through the lungs, kidneys
and digestive system along with the lymphatic system.
When circulation
slows down, we experience fatigue, swelling, and aches and pains. The signs and
symptoms of stress on the circulatory system can be subtle or can be expressed
by more serious conditions, such as hypertension, edema, varicose veins or even
cancer.
Therapies
that can improve the mechanical aspect of the heart include pulsed
electromagnetic field (PEMF) therapy, ionic footbaths, lymphatic brushing,
lymphatic massage, rebounder exercises, and various supplementation and herbs.
Some of the most common nutrients and herbs include hawthorn, horse chestnut,
whole-food vitamins E and C, bilberry, cayenne and cinnamon. Marjoram and
cypress essential oils are also useful.
Hormonal Heart
Many of us may not be aware that hormones are also carried
around through the bloodstream. Most of us, however, have experienced the
effect of the hormone adrenaline on heart function. We have probably felt the
rush or fight or flight when we had to stomp on the brakes to avoid an
accident, or even during times of excitement. Less obvious might be the effects
that estrogen and thyroid hormones have on heart rate, blood pressure and
cholesterol levels.
Hormonal health is important for heart health and can often
be handled by supporting natural liver detoxification and balance. Adrenal and
thyroid glandular products as well as adaptogenic herbs are helpful in
moderating the stress response. Stress is related to 95 percent of all disease
processes. While we can’t always avoid stressors and responsibility, we can
improve our body’s ability to adapt to stress and to build up our reserve
levels. The more we have in our gas tank, so to speak, the larger buffer we
have between health and disease.
Additional
stress-management techniques include exercise, meditation, journaling, daily
devotionals and positive affirmations.
Electrical Heart
It is quite miraculous that our heart beats approximately
once every second from an electrical impulse, even though we aren’t plugged
into an external source. While some electrical problems of the heart are
grounds for medical attention, there are some natural considerations. Our
body’s natural electrical impulses require hydration and ions. Ionic charges
are created by minerals, sea salt and electrolytes.
Emotional Heart
The experience of an emotion results from the brain, heart
and body acting in concert. In Eastern medicine, the heart is connected to our
vitality and consciousness. It has commonly been associated with the emotion of
joy, but the imbalance of joy is expressed as either too much (agitation or
restlessness) or too little (depression). In the Bible, it represents the seat
of the will, intellect and feelings.
There are
many great techniques for freeing up trapped emotions that can lead to physical
conditions, including neuro-emotional technique, emotional freedom technique (or tapping), NES, EVOX, hypnotherapy
or brain tap.
February is
American Heart Month. Let’s celebrate the incredible and miraculous design of
our heart by nurturing it through diet, exercise and activities that help with
stress management this month and throughout the year. Let’s also remember to
honor our emotional heart.
Dr. Kristy Harvell is the owner of Health by Design,
located at 2002 Southside Service Rd., in Jacksonville. Harvell graduated in
the Phi Chi Omega Honor Society, cum laude, with certification in Cox flexion
distraction technique. She has studied pediatrics and pregnancy care, clinical
applied nutrition, and thermographic and surface electromyography (EMG)
diagnostics. She is certified in Brimhall’s Six Steps to Wellness, has
completed 200 hours of applied kinesiology training, and has hundreds of hours
of study in the fields of functional medicine and clinical nutrition through
Metagenics and Standard Process as well as advanced clinical training with Ulan
Nutritional Systems. For more information or to make an appointment, call
904-363-3374 or visit HealthByDesignFL.com.