Bring
up heart disease, and most people think of a heart attack. But there
are many conditions that can undermine the heart’s ability to do its
job. These include coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia,
and heart failure.
Every year, more than six million people
have a heart attack — a sudden interruption in the heart’s blood supply.
This happens when there is a blockage in the coronary arteries, the
vessels that carry blood to the heart muscle. When blood flow is
blocked, heart muscle can be damaged very quickly and die. Prompt
emergency treatments have reduced the number of deaths from heart
attacks in recent years.
Men have a higher risk of having a heart
attack than women, and at an earlier age. But it’s important to note
that heart disease is the No. 1 killer of women, too. People with a
family history of heart ailments also have a higher risk of heart
trouble.
Continue reading after the cut....
Continue reading after the cut....
High cholesterol and high blood pressure
are major risk factors for heart disease. Being overweight, obese, or
physically inactive all increase your risk. So does diabetes, especially
if your glucose levels are not well controlled. Discuss your risks with
your doctor and develop a strategy for managing them.
A heart attack is an emergency even when
symptoms are mild. Warning signs include:Pain or pressure in the chest,
discomfort spreading to the back, jaw, throat, or arm.
Also constant nausea, indigestion, or heartburn or weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath, rapid or irregular heartbeats
However, women don’t always feel chest
pain with a heart attack. Women are more likely than men to have
heartburn, loss of appetite, tiredness or weakness, coughing, and heart
flutters. These symptoms should not be ignored. The longer you postpone
treatment, the more damage the heart may sustain.
Coronary artery disease
A precursor to a heart attack, coronary
artery disease or CAD occurs when sticky plaque builds up inside the
coronary arteries. This narrows the arteries, making it more difficult
for blood to flow through. Many people don’t know they have CAD until a
heart attack strikes. But there are warning signs, such as recurring
chest pain caused by the restricted blood flow. This pain is known as
angina.
The plaque deposited in your arteries is
hard on the outside and soft and mushy on the inside. Sometimes the hard
outer shell cracks. When this happens, a blood clot forms around the
plaque. If the clot completely blocks the artery, it cuts off the blood
supply to a portion of the heart. Without immediate treatment, that part
of the heart muscle could be damaged or destroyed.
Don’t wait to be sure
The best time to treat a heart attack is
as soon as symptoms begin. Waiting to be sure can result in permanent
heart damage or even death. If you think you may be having a heart
attack go the hospital. And don’t try driving yourself to the hospital.
Causes of heart attacks
Sudden cardiac death accounts for half
of all heart disease deaths in the U.S., but it’s not the same as a
heart attack. SCD occurs when the heart’s electrical system goes
haywire, causing it to beat irregularly and dangerously fast. The
heart’s pumping chambers may quiver instead of pumping blood out to the
body. Without CPR and restoration of a regular heart rhythm, death can
occur in minutes.
Erratic heart beat
Regular electrical impulses cause your
heart to beat. But sometimes those impulses become erratic. The heart
may race, slow down, or quiver. Arrhythmias are often harmless
variations in rhythm that pass quickly. But some types make your heart
less effective at pumping blood, and that can take a serious toll on the
body. Let your doctor know if you’ve noticed your heart beating
abnormally.
Heart failure
Heart failure doesn’t mean your heart
stops working. It means the heart can’t pump enough blood to meet the
body’s needs. Over time, the heart gets bigger to hold more blood, it
pumps faster to increase the amount of blood moving out of it, and the
blood vessels narrow. The heart muscle may also weaken, reducing the
blood supply even more. Most cases of heart failure are the result of
coronary artery disease and heart attacks.
Cardiomyopathy
Cardiomyopathy is a disease involving
changes in the heart muscle. These changes may interfere with the
heart’s ability to pump effectively, which can lead to a chronic
condition called heart failure. Cardiomyopathy is sometimes associated
with other chronic conditions, such as high blood pressure or heart
valve disease.
Congenital heart defect
A congenital heart defect is one that’s
present at birth. The problem could be a leaky heart valve,
malformations in the walls that separate the heart chambers, or other
heart problems. Some defects are not found until a person becomes an
adult. Some need no treatment. Others require medicine or surgery.
People with congenital heart defects may have a higher risk of
developing complications such as arrhythmias, heart failure, and heart
valve infection, but there are ways to reduce this risk.
There are many things that damage the heart, they include:
Smoking
If you smoke, your risk of heart disease
is two to three times greater than a nonsmoker’s. And if you smoke
around loved ones, you’re increasing their risk with secondhand smoke.
Each year in more than one million people die from smoking-related heart
disease. But it’s never too late to quit. Within 24 hours of quitting,
your heart attack risk begins to fall.
The key to preventing heart disease is a
healthy lifestyle. This includes a nutritious diet, at least 30 minutes
of exercise most days of the week, not smoking, and controlling high
blood pressure, cholesterol, and diabetes. If you drink alcohol, do so
in moderation – no more than one drink a day for women, two drinks a day
for men. Ask your friends and family for help in making these changes.
They will benefit too.
Source: webmd.com
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