HEALTH - HEART DISEASE
The heart is the organ that pumps blood, with its life-giving oxygen and nutrients, to all tissues of the body. If the pumping action of the heart becomes inefficient, vital organs like the brain and kidneys suffer. And if the heart stops working altogether, death occurs within minutes. Life itself is completely dependent on the efficient operation of the heart. There are many kinds of heart disease, and they can affect the heart in several ways. But the ultimate problem with all varieties of heart disease is that, in one way or another, they can disrupt the vital pumping action of the heart.
Heart disease, or cardiovascular disease, affects the muscles and blood vessels inside your heart. Symptoms of heart disease include: heart attack, stroke, arrhythmia, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol. The causes of heart disease are often unknown, though there are a variety of predisposing factors that may contribute to you developing the illness. If your family has a history of heart disease, there is a high risk that you too may develop the disease. This is known as congenital heart disease. Your risk can also increase if you are more than 20% overweight, inactive, or have high blood pressure or cholesterol. Additionally, diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol intake, or taking oral contraceptives have all been linked to heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is actually an umbrella term for a variety of ailments. In fact, there are many different types of heart disease that you need to be aware of. Some are more dangerous than others, but many can be precursors to serious heart attacks and strokes.
These are the most common diseases of the heart:
High Blood Pressure: High blood pressure is often one of the first indicators of heart disease. Blood pressure is a measure of the force at which your blood flows through your veins. A normal blood pressure reading is usually around 120/80. A reading that is consistently greater than 140/90 should be treated by a doctor.
Angina: Angina is a type of heart disease that is characterized by intermittent chest pains. With angina, your heart isn't getting enough blood, resulting in a squeezing pain. This pain can also occur in your arms, back, neck, or jaw. Angina attacks are usually triggered by physical exertion. However, alcohol, smoking, and extreme hot or cold can also cause attacks.
Stroke: Strokes are caused by broken blood vessels, blood clots, or a lack of blood flow to the brain. They can cause paralysis, loss of motion, and even death.
Heart Failure: When the heart fails, it is unable to pump blood efficiently to all parts of the body. A weakened heart has to pump too hard to circulate your blood, causing it severe strain. Heart failure generally manifests as a heart attack.
Treatment
If caught early, there are many effective treatments for the different types of heart disease. Although there is no cure for heart disease, many women can reduce their risks significantly through appropriate treatment. Depending upon your symptoms, different heart disease treatments are available. High cholesterol can be safely lowered with cholesterol-lowering medications. Similarly, high blood pressure can also be lowered with medication. For more advanced heart disease, nitrates can be prescribed. Nitrates work to reduce your heart's workload by increasing the amount of oxygen and blood that flows to your heart. Beta blockers also ease the stress on your heart.
They slow your heart rate down, decreasing the amount of energy needed to pump your blood. For arteriosclerosis, calcium channel blockers may be an effective medication. These blockers help to open up your coronary arteries, which allows your heart to work with less blood and oxygen.
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