Heart disease refers to a number of conditions that affect your heart. There are many different types of heart disease, and each has its own symptoms and treatments. Some people can improve their health by making lifestyle changes and taking medications. For others, you may need surgery to get your ticker working well again. Learn about heart disease here and how to prevent and treat them.
Types
There are several types of heart disease, and each affects the heart and blood vessels differently. We will examine some of the different types of heart disease in the sections below.
- Heart Attack
- Congestive heart failure
- Angina is a form of chest pain.
- Coronary artery disease
- Arrhythmia/Irregular heartbeat
- Atherosclerosis is a heart valve disease.
- Hole in the heart (congenital heart disease)
- Rheumatic Heart Disease
- Peripheral artery disease
- Cardiomyopathy
Symptoms
Worldwide, heart-related diseases are the leading cause of death. Heart disease is more common in older people. A higher prevalence of this problem occurs after 50 years, but heart disease is also prevalent among youth today. The symptoms of heart disease are important to know.
- High blood pressure
- High blood sugar
- high cholesterol
- Chest pain
- Excessive sweating
- Dizzy
- Vomiting, nausea, and gas problems
- Swollen feet
- Breathlessness
- Rapid heartbeat
If you are seeing these symptoms of heart disease, then you should take nitroglycerin under the tongue and consult a doctor immediately.
Causes and risk factors
Plaque builds up in the arteries and blood vessels leading to the heart, causing heart disease. A lack of nutrients and oxygen prevents your heart from functioning properly.
Plaque contains cholesterol, fatty molecules, and minerals. When high blood pressure, smoking, or elevated cholesterol or triglycerides damage the inner lining of an artery, plaque builds up over time.
The following are the causes of heart disease:
- Unhealthy food : According to most heart care doctors, premature heart disease is associated with the consumption of junk food.
- Lack of exercise: The heart, like any other muscle, needs exercise. Muscles that are used regularly become stronger and healthier, while muscles that are not used tend to weaken and atrophy. Before starting an exercise program, you should consult with a good doctor near you. They can help you find activities that enhance your cardiovascular health without putting you at risk of injury.
- Being overweight: Obesity occurs when you have excess body fat that can lead to health problems, including heart disease.
- Smoking causes plaque to build up in the arteries over time, which narrows the arteries and reduces blood flow to the heart.
- congenital heart defect
- Diabetes: Diabetes can cause CHD because it can cause the lining of blood vessels to thicken, which can restrict blood flow.
- Thrombosis: Blood clots in veins and arteries are called thromboses. If thrombosis develops in a coronary artery, it blocks the supply of blood to the heart muscle. This usually leads to a heart attack.
- High cholesterol: Your liver produces cholesterol from saturated fats in your diet. It is essential for healthy cells, but excessive amounts in the blood can lead to CHD.
Risk factors play an important role in determining whether you are likely to develop heart disease. You cannot control two of these factors: age and heredity.
The risk of heart disease increases in women around the age of 55 and in men around the age of 45. If you have a close relative with a history of heart disease, your risk may be higher.
Other risk factors for heart disease also include:
- Obesity
- Insulin resistance or diabetes
- High cholesterol and blood pressure
- Family history of heart disease
- Being physically inactive
- Smoking
- Eating an unhealthy diet.
- Clinical depression
Prevention
There are several things you can do if you want to reduce your chances of getting heart disease.
- A healthy, balanced diet should be followed.
- Should be more physically active.
- Keeping a healthy weight will also benefit.
- Quit smoking as soon as possible.
- It is better not to drink alcohol.
- Maintain healthy blood pressure.
- Keeping your diabetes under control is essential.
- Try to stay away from stress.
- One should get enough sleep every day.
Testing and Diagnosis
Your cardiologist will examine you and ask about your personal and family medical history. There are many different tests that can be used to diagnose heart disease. For example, in addition to blood tests and chest X-rays, tests to diagnose heart disease may include:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG) or EKG
The most common test used to diagnose heart disease is an electrocardiogram (ECG). This test measures the electrical activity of your heart and can help identify any abnormalities. Other tests that may be used to diagnose heart disease include echocardiography, stress tests, and cardiac catheterization.
- Holter monitoring
Holter monitoring is a method of diagnosing heart disease. This is a continuous recording of heart activity. It is normally recommended to wear Holter monitor for 24 to 48 hours.
- Echocardiogram
During this non-invasive test, sound waves are used to create detailed images of the heart in motion. Heart valves and blood flow through the heart are shown. An echocardiogram can help determine whether the valve is narrowed or leaking.
- Exercise tests or stress tests
During these tests, patients usually walk on a treadmill or ride a stationary bike while their heart rate is monitored. Exercise tests help reveal how the heart responds to physical activity and whether or not symptoms of heart disease occur during exercise. If you are unable to exercise, you may be prescribed medications.
- Cardiac catheterization
Also called a coronary angiogram, this procedure involves running a catheter into your heart. This is done to help doctors see what is going on and whether they need to operate.
- Tilt Table Test
The head-up tilt table test is used to help determine the cause of fainting.
- CT scan of the heart
A computed tomography (CT) scan of the heart can visualise the anatomy of your heart. Calcium-score heart scans and coronary CT angiography are just a few types used to diagnose heart disease.
- Heart MRI
An MRI of the heart is a great way for doctors to see how your heart is working from the outside.
- Cardiac Perfusion Scan
This is done to show how well blood flows through the heart muscle. It also shows how well the heart muscle is pumping. For example, after a heart attack, this may be done to find areas of the damaged heart muscle.
Treatment
There are many different treatments for heart disease, depending on the severity of the condition. In some cases, lifestyle changes may be needed to improve heart health.
Among these changes are quitting smoking and eating a healthy diet as well as exercising regularly. Medicines may also be prescribed to help lower cholesterol or blood pressure.
In more severe cases, surgery may be necessary to repair or replace damaged heart valves or arteries. With proper treatment, many people with heart disease can lead normal, healthy lives.
Lower your risk of heart disease with healthy food
There are many things you can do to help treat your heart disease. One important thing is to have a healthy diet. This means eating lots of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. The diet must also eliminate processed foods, sugary drinks, and saturated fats.
Exercise is also important for treating heart disease. Getting at least 30 minutes of exercise every day helps improve your heart health and reduce your risk of complications.
There is no single food known to reduce the risk of developing heart disease, but there is some evidence that certain foods are important for heart health. This includes:
- Several servings of vegetables, fruits, and whole grains
- Fish: Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids and other nutrients that may benefit heart health and reduce the risk of dying from heart disease.
- Vitamin E-rich foods: Consuming foods rich in vitamin E may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease in middle-aged men and women. (Wheat Germ Oil, Sunflower Seed, Almond, Hazelnut Oil, Mamey Sapote, Sunflower Oil, Almond Oil, Hazelnuts, Pine Nuts, Peanuts, Avocado, Mango, and Kiwifruit.)
- Garlic: Some studies have shown that garlic and garlic supplements may have a positive effect on heart health by preventing cell damage, controlling cholesterol, and lowering blood pressure.
- Plant sterol-rich foods: Plant sterol-rich foods contain up to 15% total cholesterol in serum and are an effective dietary aid in reducing cardiovascular risk by lowering low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C). Huh.
Foods that are harmful to your heart
- Sugar, salt, and fat
- Bacon
- Red meat
- Soda
- Baked goods
- Processed meats
- White rice, bread, and pasta
- Pizza
- Liquor
- Butter
- Flavored, full-fat yogurt
- Potato chips
- Canned soup
Frequently asked questions
There are many different heart conditions and problems that are collectively referred to as “heart disease.” Coronary artery disease (CAD), cardiac arrhythmias, heart failure, heart valve disease, pericardial disease, cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle), congenital heart disease
For heart disease, the patient should always be shown to his nearest cardiologist. Cardiologists treat heart conditions and diseases as well as help patients manage their conditions as best as possible.
An ECG helps to read the electrical impulses of your heart. The ECG shows how well your heart is beating. Small sticky dots and strings of wire are placed on your chest, arms, and legs. The leads are connected to an ECG machine that records the electrical impulses and prints them on paper.