• You can stop a sneeze if you push your nose upward with your finger.
• If you smoke, you could lose an average of two teeth every 10 years.
• Listening to music—any type at all—can improve your mood in the workplace.
• Your liver performs over 500 functions.
• If your spouse snores, you lose an average of two hours of sleep a night.
• The average adult uses 88 pounds of oxygen every day.
• When you look at someone you love, your pupils dilate. Interestingly, they do the same thing when you look at someone you dislike.
• Your stomach acid is strong enough to dissolve razor blades.
• Avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable, botanically speaking. They contain more protein than any other fruit.
• According to scientists, the higher your IQ, the more you dream.
• Your right lung is larger than your left lung, thanks to the location of and space needed to accommodate your heart.
• A shark’s cornea is so similar to a human’s that it has been used in eye surgery.
• Worcestershire sauce is made from dissolved anchovies.
• People who hold their cell phones up to their ear to talk are 2.5 times more likely to develop cancer in areas of the brain that are adjacent to that side of their head.
• Have trouble sleeping? It could be because your brain is more active and you tend to think more at night than during the day.
• People in the U.S. spend more than $50 billion every year on diet plans, diet books, diet pills and special meals.
• Statistics show that people who consume one to two diet sodas per day are 57 percent more likely to become overweight.

Chances are, you’re aware of the obvious signs of a heart attack: chest pain, extreme weakness or fatigue, nausea, clamminess and pain in other parts of the body like the jaw or back (particularly in women). Experiencing these symptoms could mean that you’re having a heart attack, and you should seek medical treatment right away.

Unfortunately, these are all signs of an imminent heart attack. If only your body could give you some warning signs in advance that a heart attack or other heart issues was headed your way! Being given alert that problems could be on the horizon could at least buy you some time to try to avert the issue.

The good news is, there are. Research has uncovered some symptoms that, on the surface, seem unrelated to the heart—and often are blown off as insignificant or “not that big of a deal” by many patients. But, upon closer examination, they can be predictors of heart problems and should be taken seriously. Let’s take a look at five of these little-known warning signs of heart problems.

Sleep Apnea

Sleep apnea is a disorder in which a person’s breathing is interrupted while sleeping. This interruption is most often caused by an airway blockage—usually when tissue in the back of the throat collapses. People with this condition can stop breathing repeatedly throughout the night—sometimes up to hundreds of times—which causes oxygen deprivation to the brain and body.

If left untreated, sleep apnea can lead to a variety of heart conditions, like high blood pressure and heart attack, due to the fact that the reduced oxygen intake leads to less oxygen feeding the heart. Sleep apnea also increases inflammation in the body—another risk factor for heart conditions.

According to a recent study, a certain group of men with sleep apnea seem to be at higher risk for heart problems than women. Researchers followed 1,927 men and 2,495 women who were free of heart disease and heart failure at baseline. After almost nine years, they found that sleep apnea was a significant predictor of heart disease (including heart attack and death) in men ages 40 to 70, but not in women or older men.

Bleeding Gums

We often associate bleeding gums with not flossing enough or, more seriously, gingivitis—inflammation of the gums due to long-term buildup of plaque (a substance made of bacteria and food debris that is completely unrelated to the arterial plaque associated with heart disease). But if you have a consistent problem with bleeding gums, it’s time to talk to your dentist and your doctor about your heart health.

There are a couple reasons why the health of your gums is connected to the health of your heart. First, the poor circulation often seen in patients with heart disease could contribute to bleeding gums and gingivitis.

Second, research supports the idea that oral bacteria can spread into the bloodstream and contribute to arterial plaque.

In one study of 657 people, researchers analyzed 4,561 oral plaque samples (an average of seven samples per person) and assessed them for 11 different types of bacteria. They also conducted cardiovascular assessments and testing on the participants.

They found that, overall, higher levels of periodontal bacteria were related to greater carotid artery intima-media thickness (thickness of the innermost layers of the arterial walls). In addition, white blood cell values were higher in those who had more bacteria in their systems. They concluded that there is a “direct relationship between periodontal microbiology and subclinical atherosclerosis.”

One of the easiest and cheapest ways to keep your gums healthy and reduce your risk of gingivitis is to floss every day. Flossing removes plaque from teeth and prevents it from accumulating. Visiting your dentist for regular teeth cleanings is also an excellent idea.

Edema

Sometimes, our bodies retain water, which causes swelling—a condition known as edema. This can happen for a variety of reasons, including allergic reactions, low levels of certain proteins in the body, injuries or infections, a blockage in the lymph system, pregnancy and the use of certain medications.

On a more serious level, edema can also be an indicator of heart disease. When the heart weakens as a result of disease, it pumps blood less efficiently. This causes fluid to build up, especially in the legs and feet—the areas furthest from your heart, which take the most work to pump blood to.

Shortness of Breath

While shortness of breath, along with other symptoms, could indicate that a heart attack is currently happening, it could also be a sign of future heart troubles. This is because a weak heart pumps less oxygen through the body, which could result in shortness of breath.

The feeling of constantly feeling out of breath should not be ignored because of its sheer significance in predicting heart disease risk. In one study of almost 18,000 participants, researchers found that the rate of death from cardiac causes was significantly higher in people who reported shortness of breath than in those patients who did not. And among the participants who had no history of heart problems, those with shortness of breath had four times the risk of sudden death from cardiac causes, as compared to patients with no shortness of breath.

Erectile Dysfunction

Difficulty maintaining an erection can affect more than your sex life. It can be a sign of atherosclerosis—a buildup of plaque in the arteries, which reduces blood flow to organs.

In the earlier stages of atherosclerosis, smaller arteries (like those in the penis) often get blocked up before larger arteries (like those supplying blood to the heart). The plaque deposits reduce blood flow to the penis, making it difficult to get an erection.

One study published in January 2013 highlights just how much of a heart disease predictor erectile dysfunction can be. Researchers followed 95,038 men, 10,159 of whom were treated for or died of cardiovascular disease. They found that the risks of cardiovascular disease and death increased steadily with the severity of erectile dysfunction. They noted that their findings “give support for [cardiovascular disease] risk assessment in men with erectile dysfunction.”

What To Do

If you have any of these symptoms or conditions—especially two or more of them—visit your doctor as soon as possible. Consider these symptoms your body’s way of telling you something larger and more serious could be wrong…but with swift and proper medical treatment, serious consequences can be prevented.

And even if no underlying heart issues are found, there are treatments for these bothersome health issues that will allow you to live a more active and/or fulfilling life.

Genetically modified organisms.

Even if you didn’t know what this term meant, you’d probably still agree it sounds pretty scary…

Well, what’s even scarier is that many of our food staples now fall under the notorious category of genetically modified organisms—or GMO. Even scarier yet, new research is starting to show just how dangerous genetically modified foods can be, and why you should avoid them at all costs.

But before getting into the dangers of GMO, let’s explain how a food is genetically engineered, and why we would even consider modifying it in the first place.

What Are GMOs?

GMOs are a result of genetic engineering, during which certain “favorable” traits of one organism are inserted into another organism’s genes—permanently altering the second organism’s DNA, supposedly for the better. An example of this would be manipulating the DNA of a crop like corn so that it has a built-in pesticide or herbicide component.

This is just one example of how crops are genetically modified. And, in theory, it sounds like a great idea. Less crop loss due to pests equals more crop yields. More crops mean lower cost and fewer people going hungry. So where’s the harm?

Well, consider this: According to Greenpeace, once planted, GMOs are uncontrollable and cannot be “taken back.” This means they can spread and easily contaminate non-GMO populations.

Furthermore, GMOs are threatening small organic farmers’ livelihoods. Since GMOs are patented by giant agricultural corporations, these conglomerates are known to sue family farmers for alleged patent violations, should they come to “possess” GMO technology as a result of completely uncontrollable contamination.

So what’s a small farmer to do if sued by a multi-billion dollar agricultural bully? Many just quit farming altogether, leaving us with fewer and fewer organic/family-owned farms.

The most disturbing point to make about GMOs is that very little research has been conducted on their long-term safety in animals, much less humans. That is, until recently.

A recent study published in the International Journal of Biological Sciences showed just how harmful the consumption of GM food is to rats, with the implication that human health could be put in great danger as well by the intake of GM foods.

In this study, three different rat feedings using genetically modified maize (corn) were conducted at two different labs, on two different occasions.

The rats were randomly divided by body weight and fed three different commercially available, genetically modified corn varieties. One type (NK 603) was modified to be tolerant to the herbicide Roundup (and therefore contained trace levels of this chemical). The other two types (MON 810 and MON 863) were altered to synthesize two different Bacillus thuringiensis toxins used as insecticides. There were also two comparative control groups fed similar quantity diets of non-GM corn.

Researchers measured 60 different measures of toxicity in the rats’ blood and urine after weeks five and 14.

After evaluating results, they found that the most damage appeared to be in the kidneys and livers of the rats, often in the form of tumors. The rats fed the NK 603 maize showed significant damage to their kidneys and livers, particularly in the males. Those fed the MON 810 also experienced significant harm to their kidneys and livers, but this time mainly in the females. These effects were generally detected after 14 weeks of consumption.

As for the MON 863 maize, researchers witnessed an incredible 34 significant GM-related effects in the kidneys and liver, this time equally among the males and females. Other statistically significant effects included increases in glucose and triglyceride levels (up to 40 percent) in females versus controls, and higher overall body weight (3.7 percent).

In addition to liver and kidney damage, all three GM feed groups where found to have problems with the heart, adrenal glands, spleen and haematopoietic system (which is involved in the production of blood). Most shockingly, 50 percent of males and 70 percent of females died prematurely, compared to 30 percent and 20 percent, respectively, in the controls.

The researchers’ written conclusion says it all: “Our data strongly suggests that these GM maize varieties induce a state of hepatorenal [kidney/liver] toxicity. This can be due to the new pesticides (herbicide or insecticide) present specifically in each type of GM maize, although unintended metabolic effects due to the mutagenic properties of the GM transformation process cannot be excluded.”

NO to GMO

This study highlights exactly why altering the genetic composition of food in any way can lead to catastrophic consequences. In 20 or 30 years, we may start to see just how much of an impact GM foods have on human health. But, for now, most people remain completely unaware of the potential dangers lurking in their food.

The easy answer is to avoid GM food. But when you think about exactly how many food products contain the GM ingredient—the top GM foods being corn, soybeans, rice, papaya and sugar beets—you start to realize just how daunting of a task this can be.

First and foremost, you can choose organic produce over conventionally grown varieties. Next, reduce or eliminate the processed foods you buy.

When you do buy processed items, you have to read the labels. If any of the ingredients are not listed as organic, than you can assume they are GM.

Of course, reading labels does not guarantee that you’ll know for sure that every single ingredient in the food item is non-GM, mainly because manufacturers are not required to list every single ingredient used during manufacture. The whole process really is an uphill battle, but taking these steps can at least ensure that most of what you eat is relatively safe.

Genetically modified foods seem to be here to stay—and will likely only get more plentiful. Now more than ever, you have to take total control of your food choices to protect yourself and your family.

References:

1. Greenpeace. www.greenpeace.org/seasia/ph/What-we-do/Genetic-Engineering/What-are-GMOs.
2. De Vendomois JS, et al. Int J Biol Sci. 2009 Dec 10;5(7):706-26.

• The largest cell in the human body is the female egg. The smallest? Sperm.
• You use nearly 200 muscles to take a single step.
• Yawning can raise your heart rate by 30 percent.
• People with gum disease are twice as likely to suffer from a heart attack or stroke.
• One-fourth of all the bones in your body are located in your feet.
• Ulcers are caused by the bacteria H. pylori—not stress. Stress simply increases your susceptibility.
• Seventy-five to 90 percent of all visits to a primary physician are due to stress.
• You can ease both inflammation and a headache by eating 20 tart cherries.
• Kissing for 60 seconds can burn 26 calories.
• Both Julius Caesar and Alexander the Great were epileptic.
• A fever higher than 42°C can result in brain damage.
• Your stomach produces two liters of hydrochloric acid every day.
• It takes an average of three hours for your food to be broken down in your stomach.
• Research has shown that feeling guilty can impair your immune system.
• Listening to Mozart’s Piano Sonata can dramatically decrease the chance of a seizure in people with epilepsy.

Men who drink one normal-sized soft drink per day are at greater risk of getting more aggressive forms of prostate cancer, according to a Swedish study.

“Among the men who drank a lot of soft drinks or other drinks with added sugar, we saw an increased risk of prostate cancer of around 40 percent,” said Isabel Drake, a PhD student at Lund University.

The study, to be published in the upcoming edition of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, followed over 8,000 men aged 45 to 73 for an average of 15 years.

Those who drank one 330-millilitre soft drink a day were 40 percent more likely to develop more serious forms of prostate cancer that required treatment.

The cancer was discovered after the men showed symptoms of the disease, and not through the screening process known as Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA).

Those who ate a diet heavy on rice and pasta increased their risk of getting milder forms of prostate cancer, which often required no treatment, by 31 percent, while a high intake of sugary breakfast cereals raised the incidence of milder forms of the cancer to 38 percent.

The men in the study had to undergo regular medical examinations and kept a journal of their food and drink intake.

Previous studies have shown that Chinese and Japanese immigrants in the US develop prostate cancer more often than peers in their home countries.