Is olive oil good for the heart?

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Previous studies have shown that consuming more olive oil is heart-healthy, associated with a lower risk of heart attack, especially when it replaces mayonnaise, margarine or butter. The following information will clarify the question “Is olive oil good for the heart?”

1. Causes and symptoms of cardiovascular disease

The heart is one of the most important organs for the body. The heart receives the task as a pump that supplies blood to all other tissues and organs through the vascular system. Any cause of inadequate blood flow can lead to cardiovascular diseases. These include a wide range of conditions such as valvular heart disease , congenital heart disease , arrhythmia , atherosclerosis , aortic aneurysm ...
Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease among people in the world . developed country. It occurs when cholesterol accumulates in the arterial system to form plaques that narrow the area of ​​​​the arteries, reducing blood circulation, causing atherosclerosis. When the blood flow is reduced to a certain extent, the patient may experience symptoms such as angina and shortness of breath, even the plaque can peel off, completely blocking the blood vessel causing pain. heart .
Another cause of heart disease is an arrhythmia that occurs when the heart beats too fast or too slow. Symptoms of this condition include: feeling of irregular heartbeat, chest pain or discomfort, shortness of breath, dizziness or even fainting.

Heart defects during fetal development during pregnancy are also among the causes of cardiovascular disease in adulthood. Symptoms of congenital heart defects may include: pale gray or purple skin, swelling in the legs or abdomen, difficulty breathing while breastfeeding leading to uneven weight gain in the baby.... Congenital heart defects. are less severe and are usually only diagnosed when the child reaches adulthood. These defects are not immediately life-threatening, and their effects are only shortness of breath or rapid fatigue during work or sports.
In addition, cardiovascular diseases can also stem from other causes such as weak heart muscles, heart infections or heart valve diseases.

2. Diagnosis and testing for cardiovascular disease

Five symptoms that can be used to diagnose a person having a heart attack in need of emergency include: Pain in the jaw, neck or back; arm or shoulder pain; chest pain; extreme dizziness or fatigue; shortness of breath.
Heart disease symptoms can be different in both sexes. Men are more likely to experience chest pain, while women are more likely to experience shortness of breath, nausea, or extreme fatigue.
Several factors may also be considered for a diagnosis of cardiovascular disease including:
Family history: People with a family history of heart disease have a higher risk of developing heart disease than others Age: Age increases proportionally to the risk of cardiovascular diseases Lifestyle habits: Smoking, inactivity, a diet rich in cholesterol and salt are all risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Cholesterol is the main cause of atherosclerosis in the arteries while cigarette smoke stimulates the blood vessels to constrict, combined with high blood pressure due to too much salt in the diet causing direct effects on health. Heart. Diabetes: Diabetes can increase the risk of cardiovascular disease by up to 100%. Blood glucose levels are too high, leading to the accumulation of fats in the blood vessels, causing blockages in blood vessels. This condition can lead to heart disease in the long run.

3. Prevention and treatment

In addition to lifestyle changes, a number of other ways can be applied to prevent and treat cardiovascular disease such as using drugs to regulate blood cholesterol. There are two main types of cholesterol: “bad” cholesterol (LDL) and “good” cholesterol (HDL). LDL can build up clogging blood vessels while HDL is responsible for transporting LDLs to the liver and removing them from the blood. The optimal amount of the two types of cholesterol in the blood is less than 100 milligrams of LDL and above 40 milligrams of HDL per deciliter of blood. The most commonly used cholesterol-modifying drugs are statins, which slow down the production of cholesterol in the liver and speed up the removal of LDL from the blood. Niacin and Fibrate are also drugs that help improve cholesterol levels, both of which increase HDL levels while niacin also works to reduce LDL levels in the blood.

4. Olive oil is good for the heart

Olive oil has long been proven to be a healthy oil. Olive oil is rich in unsaturated fatty acids (typically oleic acid) and polyphenol compounds. People in the Mediterranean region very rarely suffer from heart-related diseases partly due to the presence of extra virgin olive oil in their daily meals.
Olive oil can be provided in the diet in two forms:
Extra virgin olive oil: Must meet many parameters or most importantly, the free fatty acid content should not exceed 0, 08%. Extra virgin olive oil must be extracted from olives by mechanical means, without the use of other chemical solvents. Refined Olive Oil Blend: A blend of extra virgin olive oil and additives to eliminate odors and impart an appealing flavor and color. Olive oil can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease, some preliminary studies show that using olive oil instead of butter or mayonnaise brings very good effects. Using olive oil, especially extra virgin olive oil rich in phenolics, helps blood vessels dilate, improves blood circulation, thereby limiting the formation of plaques in the arteries due to cholesterol.
An American Heart Association study of 63,867 women and 35,512 men from 1990 to 2014 found that people who ate more than half a teaspoon of olive oil a day had a 15% lower risk of heart disease and The risk of vascular diseases was 21% lower than those who did not use olive oil. Replacing a teaspoon of butter, margarine or mayonnaise with an equal amount of olive oil also reduces the risk of cardiovascular diseases by 5%-7%. In addition, consuming a lot of olive oil did not increase the risk of stroke. However, olive oil is no better when compared to other vegetable oils such as corn, canola, safflower or soybean....

Cardiovascular diseases are considered silent killers because they appear silently but leave many serious and even fatal consequences. Cardiovascular diseases are increasing day by day, especially in developing countries. The best way to prevent it is to exercise regularly in addition to building a reasonable diet. Olive oil has long been proven to be an effective food to help control blood cholesterol levels. Using olive oil daily instead of butter, margarine or mayonnaise is one of the effective measures to help prevent heart-related diseases.
To protect cardiovascular health in general and detect early signs of cardiovascular disease, customers can sign up for Cardiovascular Screening Package - Basic Cardiovascular Examination of Vinmec International General Hospital. The examination package helps to detect cardiovascular problems at the earliest through tests and modern imaging methods. The package is for all ages, genders and is especially essential for people with risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
Why should you choose Cardiovascular Screening Package at Vinmec International General Hospital?
Simple and quick procedure. Enthusiastic advice and support, reasonable and convenient examination process. Comprehensive facilities, including a system of clinics and consultations, blood collection room, dining room, waiting area for customers... The medical staff has high professional qualifications, style. Professional, caring way of working. Customers can directly go to Vinmec health system nationwide to visit or contact the hotline here for support.

Please dial HOTLINE for more information or register for an appointment HERE. Download MyVinmec app to make appointments faster and to manage your bookings easily.

Reference source: livescience.com; healthandwellnessalerts.berkeley.edu; webmd.com