Heart Disease-Know The Facts Save Your Life
Heart disease is a primary killer of adults in the United States. Heart disease is a commonly misunderstood condition that left untreated can kill within a short time or be left undetected for years. Let's look at some of the basic facts about this silent killer.
Causes
Many factors can contribute to the development of heart disease. These factors can include Diabetes, heredity, high blood pressure and chronic kidney disease. Many of these factors can be regulated with simple lifestyle changes. In more severe cases the factors themselves can be controlled with medications and thus reduce the possibility of them leading to heart disease.
Symptoms
Subtle chest pain that comes and goes is the primary indicator of initial stages of heart disease. Stabbing pain or intense discomfort known as angina is the most common symptom that brings a person to their doctor. This pain is caused when the heart is not getting adequate blood or oxygen for its needs Tis pain often feels like a heart attack and most people believe that they are having one. The sensation is akin to the feeling heavy of someone squeezing your heart with their fist. You feel it under your sternum, but it also radiates into your neck, arms, stomach, groin, and upper back. The pain usually occurs when heavy activity or intense emotion are being experienced, and goes away with rest. A medication called nitroglycerin can be prescribed for people who suffer from angina on a regular basis.
Diagnosis
There are many tools that your doctor may use to diagnose you as having heart disease the common of which are tests such as Electrocardiogram (ECG), Exercise stress test, and Echocardiogram. , as well as more experimental procedures which include test like nuclear scanning; Electron-beam computed tomography (EBCT).
Treatment
There are a great many option for treating heart disease, medications such as ACE inhibitors to lower blood pressure and protect your heart, Beta-blockers to lower heart rate, blood pressure, and oxygen use by the heart, Calcium channel blockers to relax arteries, lowering blood pressure and reducing strain on the heart. Other medications which can be helpful to the treatment of heart disease and to help prevent further complications include Diuretics to lower blood pressure and treat congestive heart failure, nitrates (such as nitroglycerin) to stop chest pain and improve blood supply to the heart, and statins to bring down overall cholesterol levels other methods include surgery which can be performed in a wide variety of ways including Angioplasty and stent placement, called percutaneous coronary interventions (PCIs), Coronary artery bypass surgery and Minimally invasive heart surgery. but the simplest method of treating and reversing some of the damage of heart disease are lifestyle changes which involve things such as Avoid or reduce the amount of salt (sodium) you eat Eating a heart healthy diet One of the best eating programs for those who are afflicted with heart disease is the Healthy Heart Diet, developed by the mayo clinic. Getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight are a vital part of the recovery for heart disease and will help in prevention of other factors. If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under precise control. Stop smoking if you are, this will help to reduce the amount of strain ion your system by keeping the blood pressure low and reducing artery congestion.
A cause of heart attacks
Heart disease is a leading cause of heart attacks, primarily among men over 40 years of age. This is because heart disease and related condition can over time weaken heart tissue. The incidences of sudden death heart attacks are known to be higher among those who have a history of heart disease as compared to those who have never been diagnosed with it nor have a family history.
Leading to Other Conditions
Heart disease can be an introducer to other cardiovascular disorders besides heart attack. Heart disease has been linked to stroke, peripheral artery disease and heart failure over a long term.
Prevention
Heart disease can be easily prevented. Reducing the stress in your life and avoiding causes of stress are a good way to help reduce the risk of heart disease. This is due to the fact that heart disease can be caused by high blood pressure. You should also make sure that you watch what you eat, get plenty of exercise and keep your blood pressure as low as possible. All of these are factor which can tribute to heart disease.
Heart disease is a killer that can be stopped and effectively treated. A little information, some simple lifestyle changes and proper action on your part can go a long way to the prevention of a condition that kills thousands of Americans each year.
Brent McNutt really enjoys socializing and networking with healthcare professionals online and also likes talking about baby phat scrubs and urbane scrubs and also likes writing articles about various topics.
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