Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Where should I get my information from?

There are many websites with conflicting information about cardiovascular disease cures, so how do you know which to believe? This blog post should help you filter through unreliable information so you are able to take the necessary steps to becoming healthier and happier!

What captures my attention first on this website is the 30% off promo code; obviously, they want you to buy their product. When a website gains financially based on your beliefs, you should be extra cautious right off the bat. Attempting to sell a product can be a sign of unreliable information.

The second thing that catches my eye is Carol's testimony. This is an example of anecdotal evidence, evidence based on a story instead of experiments or facts. Unfortunately, most people believe this type of evidence even though it's usually not true. Carol says, "I eat anything I want to and the only exercise I get is walking for a few minutes between offices at work. At this time my heart remains 'un-blocked,' all my arteries are clean ... so simple." 
WHO contradicts this by declaring the key to protecting yourself against heart disease is "engaging in physical activity for at least 30 minutes every day of the week and eating at least five servings of fruit and vegetables a day"[1]. This graph shows the fruit and vegetable intake around the world. Higher fruit and vegetable intake is linked to lower risk of CVD and overall health benefits. Does it make sense that a miracle treatment can prevent cardiovascular disease without exercise or a healthy diet? If it's that simple, it's probably too good to be true. 



If "a simple, lifesaving, non-prescription, non-toxic cure" has been invented, then why hasn't CVD decreased? Why does WHO predict that CVD mortality will, in fact, increase form 17.3 million deaths in 2008 to 23.6 million deaths by 2030[1]? Again, if it seems unrealistic, it most likely is.



The product: Pauling Therapy Supplements. These have been "offered to the general public since 1996" so why haven't CVDs decreased since then? Why haven't they been used all around the world if they have received "hundreds of positive reports"? Also, notice it doesn't say "hundreds of patients cured". This product may slightly increase your wellness level when diagnosed with CVD, but it isn't the "lifesaving cure" they claim it is. 

Once you've scrolled to the bottom, all the way to the fine print, there's a statement that contradicts everything previously stated about their product: "products are not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any disease". Clearly, this website is not a reliable source of information about cardiovascular disease since their products cannot be trusted. I hope this post has shown you how to determine which websites are dependable and which are not. Remember: the most important thing you can do to keep your heart happy is to be physically active and eat a well-balanced and nutritious diet!

Monday, January 23, 2012

How do I keep my heart happy?

Did you know that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world? Did you know  that 17.3 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2008[1]? Did you know that 80% of those deaths were preventable[2]?




My name is Gabriella Bath and I'm a first year Health Sciences student at SFU. Through this blog, I hope to educate at-risk people about the impacts of cardiovascular disease and to discover specific interventions to prevent cardiovascular disease (CVD) that can be applied to everyday life. CVD is a disease of the blood vessels supplying blood to different parts of the body; such as the heart (coronary heart disease, also called ischaemic heart disease), brain (cerebrovascular disease), arms and legs, (peripheral arterial disease) stroke (the interruption of blood supply to the brain) and heart failure (failure of the heart to function properly).


Most of the risk factors for CVD are behavioural, therefore, they can be changed. These risk factors include:
  • elevated blood cholesterol
  • fatty foods
  • physical inactivity
  • tobacco usage
  • high blood pressure
  • excess weight


Behavioural risk factors are responsible for about 80% of CVD around the world. This means that you can change your likelihood of getting a cardiovascular disease by following these ABCs in the image above: avoiding tobacco, being more active and choosing good nutrition. It is possible to change your risk of cardiovascular disease and to keep your heart happy and healthy!