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Month: June 2021

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Prevention Share

Strategies to prevent heart disease

Strategies to prevent heart disease

Heart disease—and the conditions contributing to it—can affect you at any age. But how you manage these conditions now affects your heart health throughout your life. While certain risk factors can’t be controlled, there are plenty of things we can do to manage our controllable risk factors for heart disease. In this article, we’ll discuss about heart disease risk factors, reveal exactly what causes it and list strategies for heart disease prevention–

What causes heart disease?

The primary cause of heart disease is building up of plaque, a waxy substance, in the coronary arteries supplying blood to the heart and throughout the body. This substance accumulates over time, particularly when the inner lining of an artery is damaged by smoking, high blood pressure, or elevated cholesterol or triglycerides. The buildup results in narrowing of the arteries, which in turn makes it harder for blood to flow through. This can cause heart problems like heart attack and stroke. So, heart disease prevention and treatment is necessary.

What are the conditions that lead to heart disease?

Several uncontrollable health conditions, such as your family history of heart diseases may contribute to the risk. However, certain traits, conditions or habits are controllable and may also raise your risk. If you don’t know how to avoid heart disease, learn to manage the controllable risk factors including –

  • Blood cholesterol levels.
  • Diabetes.
  • Being overweight
  • Cigarette Smoking.
  • Unhealthy eating.

 What are the strategies for improving your heart health?

For most of us, prevention of heart disease largely depends on our daily habits and lifestyle, which means there’s a lot that’s in our power to manage our condition and improve our odds of living long and healthy –

  • Know your health history-Know your risks. If you’re a healthy adult with low risk, getting yourself screened once a year is sufficient. However, if you have past heart conditions, high blood pressure, or bad cholesterol levels, you may need to get yourself checked more often.
  • Take your medicines as directed– Medicines may be prescribed for controlling high cholesterol, or diabetes. It’s important to understand and follow the doctor’s directions closely. Caregivers can help their loved ones in taking their medications regularly as directed and on time.
  • Change your eating habits-

It’s important to fine tune your diet. To eat the best heart disease prevention diet –

  • Control your portion size and keep track of number of servings.
  • Eat more fruits and vegetables.
  • Avoid refined grain products. Instead, try a new whole grain, such as barley.
  • Cut back on saturated and trans fats- Trim fat off your meat, use less butter and low-fat substitutions.
  • Choose low-protein sources such as legumes and salmon and other types of fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids.
  • Reduce intake of salt
  • Eliminate soda and supermarket smoothies and energy drinks.
  • Pursue an active lifestyle- Adults should do 2 hours and 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise, like brisk walking, every week.
  • Don’t smoke- By quitting smoking you can lower your risk.

Even if you’ve been diagnosed with heart disease, adjusting your lifestyle and taking medications benefits your heart and prevents further damage to it.

Heart disease affects people of all ages – It can begin early on in life and continues to progress with time. Even if you’re healthy, consult a doctor to detect potential problems early on. Whether you need general information on heart disease prevention and treatment, or support for heart disease risk assessment, you can count on MakingIndia Heartstrong website.

FAQs

Q. How to start taking care of your heart health in your 20s?

Bringing some good habits into your daily regimen helps you take care of your heart health in your 20s. –

  • Be mindful of what you have on your plate.
  • Your heart disease prevention dietshould include lean proteins, fresh fruits and veggies, whole grains, and only healthy fats.
  • Reduce the intake of saturated fats, excess salt, and sugary snacks.
  • Slash your cholesterol level by consuming walnut, fish and and other Omega-3-rich foods.
  • If you drink sugary drinks, substitute them with water.
  • Take medications as directed in recommended dosage.
  • Adding cardio activities such as running, cycling, and swimming to your workout plan is a wonderful way to improve your cardiac health.
  • Establish a positive relationshipwith your doctor around your family’s health. Plan the future of your heart health accordingly.

Q. How can women prevent heart disease?

Many things put women at an increased risk of heart health problems – some are controllable while others you can’t control. The key takeaway is that by managing your controllable risk factors and changing your lifestyle, heart disease can be prevented and even ended in women. Healthy choices result in fewer women dying from heart health issues. Check out these strategies for heart disease prevention in women-

Q. What is the role of taking medications regularly in prevention of heart diseases?

Taking medicines as prescribed lowers LDL cholesterol levels, leading to prevention and treatment of heart disease. If your levels of LDL cholesterol are high, your doctor may prescribe medicines along with lifestyle changes. It’s important to take medication regularly even if your cholesterol levels stay in a healthy range. Use of medicines shouldn’t be stopped without doctor’s advice.

Q. What are the heart disease symptoms?

The symptoms depend on the type of heart disease a person has. Also, some heart problems cause no symptoms at all. The symptoms which may indicate a heart problem include:

  • angina, or chest pain
  • difficulty in breathing
  • swelling due to fluid retention
  • fatigue
  • lightheadedness

The symptoms of heart attack include chest pain, nausea, stomach pain, swollen ankles, fatigue, an irregular heartbeat, chocking sensations and more.

References-
  1. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353118
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm
  3. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-healthy-diet/art-20047702
  4. https://www.cdc.gov/chronicdisease/resources/infographic/hearthealth.htm
  5. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/237191#symptoms

 

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Simple and effective strategies to prevent obesity

Simple and effective strategies to prevent obesity

A few kilograms of extra fat do not matter much to one’s health, initially. But, once this surplus fat starts piling on, it changes your personality into being overweight or obese. Obesity, then, brings with it many distress, which may not be apparent at first, – such as a rise in blood pressure, increased cholesterol, high blood sugar or diabetes – but it can make the malady more dangerous. Fortunately, there are many simple and effective strategies that can help to prevent overweight and obesity.

This article will help you identify the causes of obesity, its classification, treatment, as well as some simple steps for obesity prevention.

What are the key causes of obesity?

Identify below some key causes of obesity:

  • Poor food choicesand habit such as:
    • Eating high energy density processed foodssuch as breads, pastas, chips and fast food items that are made of refined ingredients and saturated fats
    • Overeating due to emotions such as stress, boredom, anger or frustration
    • Addiction for sugary foodssuch as desserts, sweets, pastries, processed cookies and chocolates.
    • Avoiding healthy foodssuch as fibre-rich fruits, whole grains, and green leafy vegetables
    • Infrequent eating patternlike consuming only two to three meals per day instead having four to five smaller meals a day.
  • Genetics influence factors such as food cravings, high appetite, low metabolism, and uneven body fat distribution.
  • Lack of physical activity and over involvement in TV, Internet and video games make us inactive for long hours and thus leads to obesity
  • Sleep deprivationover a long period can cause hormonal changes in the body and subsequently affect your metabolism, thus leading to weight gain
  • Underlying health conditionssuch as polycystic ovarian syndrome, hypothyroidism and osteoarthritis may also cause obesity.

How to evaluate weight and assess obesity?

Body Mass Index or BMI is the most widely used method for evaluating obesity. To calculate an individual’s body fat using the BMI method, individual’s weight (in kgs) is divided by the height (in meters) squared.

  1. Waist circumference measurement is anotherway to assess obesity. A waist circumference of more than 40 inches in men, while a circumference of more than 35 inches in women are considered obese.

Classification of overweight and obesity in adults and children

Obesity in adults can be classified as:

  • Stage I or mild obesity: BMI of 30.0 to 34.9 kg/m2
  • Stage II or moderate obesity: BMI of 35.0 to 39.9 kg/m2
  • Stage III or severe: BMI of ≥40.0 kg/m2

In children, aged 2 to 19 years, a BMI between the 85th and 95th percentiles are considered as overweight. While a BMI ≥95th percentile is defined as obesity in children.

What are the best ways to prevent and treat obesity?

Practice these 8 easy strategies to prevent obesity and keeping it at bay, forever:

  1. Eat a calorie-curated, moderate diet, which includes a low-fat, high-fibre and low-calorie food such as whole grains, dried beans, green vegetables, nuts and seeds, etc.
  2. Burn the calories, you ate in a dayso as to maintain a healthy balance between regular exercise and a healthy diet.
  3. Maintain a food diary to keep a track of the intake of food and calories consumed.
  4. Track your BMI to keep a check on your weight and maintain it accordingly as per your height.
  5. Read food labels before purchasing to select low-fat, high-fibre and low-cal food. A food product termed as less than 40 calories per 100g of the food is termed low-calorie food.
  6. Limit intake of refined foodslike maida, refined white sugar, and refined white salt because these are rich in simple carbohydrates that can be easily absorbed by the body and stored as fat.
  7. Get a good night sleepof 6 to 7 hours to keep hormones and metabolism in control.
  8. Go for a routine health screening to stay informed about your health and get comorbid conditions evaluated, well on time.

If lifestyle modification alone doesn’t help you to lose weight, then your healthcare provider might suggest some medication for the treatment of obesity.

However, only in rare cases weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery may be recommended to treat obesity.

Conclusion

Remember, keeping obesity at bay completely depends on an individual’s commitment. So practice good lifestyle to stay fit and healthy!

To know more about obesity treatment and prevention strategies as well as to deal with obesity-related health issues, visit MakingIndiaHeartStrong webpage, today!

FAQs

Q. What are the common symptoms of obesity?

If your knees, hips, and back have started hurting all the time and your usual flight of steps also feel tiring off late, plus your clothes fitting has also increased, then these are the signs of excess weight gain, which can slowly lead to obesity. Some other symptoms of obesity are:

  • Breathlessness and excessive sweating
  • Unable to do physical activity
  • Exhaustion or tiredness
  • Hormonal imbalance like irregular periods, mood swings
  • Skin and hair issues
  • Snoring or sleep apnea
  • Lack of confidence, low self-esteem and feeling isolated

Better consult a specialist for timely prevention of obesity.

Q. What are obesity-related health complications?

Some of the major health complications associated with obesity include the following:

  • Heart Diseases like arrhythmia (an irregular heart beat), atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries), coronary artery disease (caused by build-up of plaque of heart’s arteries), etc.
  • High Blood Pressure, also known as hypertension
  • High cholesterol
  • Type2 diabetes
  • Sleep apnea
  • Certain type of cancers including:
  • Thyroid
  • Liver
  • Gallbladder
  • Upper Stomach, Pancreas, Ovary
  • Kidney
  • Breast cancer
  • Colon cancer and endometrial cancer
  • Meningioma (cancer in the tissue covering brain and spinal cord)
  • Fatty Liver Disease, a condition in which too much fat gets accumulated in the liver and gradually leads to liver inflammation and scarring (liver fibrosis)

Q. What happens if obesity is left unattended?

Obesity occurs when one’s body carries surplus weight or body fat and it is not just a cosmetic concern but a chronic medical condition. If left unaddressed for long, obesity can lead to prolonged health complications and can also reduce your life expectancy by an average of 3 to 10 years, depending on how severe it is.

Regular exercise accompanied with healthy diet, and healthy BMI ratio can help prevent obesity.

Q. Who is most likely to develop obesity?

Mostly, males with a waist circumference of 94cm (37in) or more and females with a waist circumference of 80cm (about 31.5in) or more are more likely to develop obesity-related health problems.

Q. What are the commonly recommended treatments for obesity and how are they done?

Only in rare cases, weight loss surgery or bariatric surgery may be recommended to treat obesity.

Broadly, bariatric surgery procedure can be categorized as gastric banding, gastric bypass, sleeve gastrectomy, and restrictive combined with malabsorption i.e. intestinal bypass or the combination of the two procedures.

All these form surgeries are done laparoscopically.

Q. How to prevent obesity in children?

For preventing obesity in kids and children between 2 years to 18 years, as a parent you should:

  • Practice breast-feeding infant
  • Control potion size during mealtimes
  • Ensure children eat only when they are hungry
  • Inculcate eating healthy foods as a family
  • Make them drink more water instead of sweetened drinks, juices and shakes
  • Say no to eating-out packed chips and cookies too frequently
  • Help them choose the healthy plater (less in fat and spices) when eating out at a restaurant.
  • Ensure they get adequate sleep of 7 to 8 hours
  • Control their time spent on TV, Internet, and video games
  • Make sure they get plenty of outdoor exercise

Also, make sure you set a self-example as a parent to encourage your children to eat healthy and live a balanced lifestyle.

 

Reference:
  1. Body mass index. Centers for Disease Control Web site. https://www.cdc.gov/healthyweight/assessing/bmi/index.html. Accessed May 26, 2010.Google Scholar
  2. Barlow SE. Expert committee recommendations regarding the prevention, assessment, and treatment of child and adolescent overweight and obesity: summary report. Pediatrics. 2007; 120(suppl 4):S164–S192.CrossrefMedli n
Source
  1. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/circulationaha.110.968461
  2. https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses-and-conditions/nutritional/obesity
  3. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220174/
  4. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/obesity/symptoms-causes/syc-20375742
  5. https://www.narayanahealth.org/blog/rational-approach-to-obesity-no-more-weight-ing/
  6. https://www.healthline.com/health/how-to-prevent-obesity#progress
  7. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK220174/
Categories
Share Sign Symptoms

Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women

Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women

Heart disease has always been considered as a health problem affecting only men. However, this is just one of many misconceptions surrounding women and their heart health— and it turns out that heart disease symptoms in women can differ from those in men.

The good news is, women can spot the early signs and begin to reduce their risk by learning about them. The more they know about heart disease and related symptoms, the better chance they will have of beating it.

What Are the Symptoms of Heart Disease in Women?

Although, some women don’t have any symptoms until a serious problem such as a heart attack occurs, others may have some early signs of heart disease such as-

  • Angina –In women, angina symptomsinclude discomfort, or painful feeling in chest
  • Pain in the neck, jaw, or throat
  • Nausea, vomiting and fatigue

Sometimes heart disease may be “silent”. In this condition, the disease is not diagnosed until women have other symptoms –

  • Heart attack-Heart attack symptoms in women include upper body discomfort, shortness of breath, extreme fatigue, and back or jaw pain. They are more likely than men to have heart attack symptoms unrelated to chest pain.
  • Heart failure-Signs of heart failure in womeninclude fatigue, shortness of breath, swelling of the feet, ankles, or legs.
  • Arrhythmia-Palpitations or fluttering feelings in the chest

What are the causes of heart diseases in women?

The key risk factors in women include high blood pressure, elevated levels of LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, and smoking. Smoking increases heart attack risk in women. Several other medical conditions and lifestyle choices that increase risk of heart attacks and other heart related problems include diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity and eating an unhealthy diet.

Is it possible to recover from heart disease?

It’s possible for every woman to fully recover from a heart disease and lead a normal life. Even if you’ve had a heart surgery or experienced heart disease symptoms like heart attack, you can lower your chances of having future heart problems. Doing physical activity, eating healthy diet, managing stress and taking prescribed medicines can help improve your heart health and quality of life.

How to prevent heart diseases in women?

These preventive steps help you lower your chances of getting heart disease-

  • Know yourrisk factors – High blood pressure has no symptoms. So, it needs to be checked regularly. Also, check your blood sugar, cholesterol and triglycerides levels to reduce your risk of heart attack.
  • Eat healthy- Be sure to eatplenty of fresh fruits and vegetables and reduce intake of processed foods. Eat foods high in fiber and low in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol.
  • Take your medicines- Take your medications as prescribed and follow your doctor’s instructions carefully. If possible, seek help from care caregiver for medicine adherence.
  • Stay physically fit- Do a minimum of 150 min moderate-intensity, or 75 min vigorous-intensity aerobic activityevery week.
  • Quit smoking and limit your alcohol consumption.
  • Manage stress levels.

Women of all ages should take their heart health seriously. It’s important to watch out for the early signs of heart problems in women and speak with doctor promptly. Pay close attention to your risk factors and calculate your risk of heart disease on Making India Heartstrong website. You are can also make an appointment with a specialised doctor under Making India Heartstrong initiative to know what you need to know for good heart health.

FAQs

Q. What are the most common heart attack symptoms and warning signs in females?

Like men, women can also experience uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, or pain in the center of their chest. These symptoms last more than a few minutes, or go away and come back. However, the most common symptoms of heart attack in them include shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain. Women can also have pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Other signs include breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.

Q. What are the symptoms of heart failure in elderly women and how is heart failure treated?

The common symptoms of heart failure in elderly women include shortness of breath while doing daily activities, having trouble breathing when lying down and weight gain with swelling in the feet, ankles, legs or stomach. It is important for them to track their symptoms each day. Treatment usually involves taking medicines, eating a healthy diet, reducing sodium intake, getting daily physical activity and more.

Q. What should women do when they experience a heart attack?

Heart attack is a life-and-death emergency and every second counts. If you notice early signs of heart disease or think you might be having a heart attack, you should call your local emergency number for help immediately. It is extremely important to get treatment in time to reduce the amount of damage to the heart muscle. At hospital, a doctor runs tests to find out if a heart attack is happening. Depending on your condition, the doctor decides the best treatment for your condition.

Q. What should you eat to help you get to a healthy weight and stay heart-healthy?

These tips will help you maintain a healthy weight and prevent heart disease

  • Eat fiber rich food- Some good sources of fiber include fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and legumes (beans and peas).
  • Eat dark, leafy greens, oranges, tomatoes and fresh herbs- They are loaded with vitamins, fiber, and minerals which benefit your heart.
  • Eat healthy fats- Foods with monounsaturated such as avocados and nuts should be consumed. Intake of foods rich in polyunsaturated fats such as walnuts,salmon and mackerel is beneficial.
  • Limit salt intake and trans fatsand avoid processed and prepackaged foods.

Q. How can working women manage stress and prevent heart diseases?

Women can take these steps to manage stress and prevent risk of heart attack-

  1. Indulge in physical activity. Physical activities such as walking, jogging and swimming are a great way to reduces anxiety and depression, and improve sleep.
  2. Practice relaxation techniques. Meditation, deep breathing, and yoga help you manage your stress and protect your heart health.
  3. Limit alcohol consumption and avoid tobacco, and substance use.
  4. Try to eat healthy, well-balanced meals.
  5. Talk to peopleyou trust, share your problems with them and tell them how you are feeling.
  6. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, speak to a mental health professional.
References-
  1. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/women.htm
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_attack.htm#:~:text=Lifestylechanges%E2%80%94Eatinga%20healthier,healthandqualityoflife
  3. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/heart_failure.htm
  4. https://www.cdc.gov/nccdphp/dnpao/features/healthy-eating-tips/index.html
Categories
Care Sign Symptoms

How Diabetes Increases Heart Attack Risk

How Diabetes Increases Heart Attack Risk

A chronic disease caused either due to pancreas’ inability to produce enough insulin or when the body is unable to use the insulin (a hormone that works to regulate blood sugar) produced in the body, diabetes contributed to around 1.5 million global deaths in 2019.

While diabetes, commonly known as high blood sugar, is a deadly medical problem in itself, it is also associated with increased risk of other serious complications, including heart diseases. It means diabetes and heart disease are connected as diabetes affects heart in multiple ways. Heart failure, coronary heart disease (CHD), and diabetic cardiomyopathy are a few to name.

Apart from diabetes, some other factors alone or in combination with diabetes can put your heart at risk, including:

  • Having a family history of heart disease
  • Being obese or over weight, especially around the waist
  • Being a smoker
  • Having high blood pressure
  • Having abnormal cholesterol levels

The Interrelationship between Diabetes and Heart Disease

Diabetes and heart disease are interrelated, in the sense that diabetes increases heart attack risk. Researchers suggest that people with diabetes have two-times higher risk of developing heart disease than those without diabetes.

Talking about the role of diabetes in causing heart ailments, high blood sugar increases the force of blood through arteries damaging artery walls. Over time, it impairs the functioning of blood vessels and the nerves associated with regulating heart functioning. And the biggest challenge is no symptoms appeared while this high blood sugar was weakening your heart.

Heart failure is one of the major problems that are associated with diabetes or high blood sugar. A serious condition, heart failure is characterized by heart’s inability to pump enough blood. It in turn may lead to swelling in legs and retention of fluid in lungs, causing difficulty in breathing.

High blood sugar may also lead to hardening of the coronary arteries, which is characterized by build-up of cholesterol plaques in the blood vessels involved in supplying oxygen and nutrition to the heart. The blockage of arteries stops the flow of blood, thereby terminating oxygen supply, which may result in a heart attack.

Diabetes Symptoms

  • Frequent urination, often during night
  • Unexpected weight loss
  • Persistent thirst
  • Feeling hungry after short intervals
  • Having blurry vision
  • Feeling numbness or tingling in hands or feet
  • Persistent tiredness
  • Slow healing of sores or wounds
  • Experiencing higher incidence of infections than usual

Heart Attack Symptoms

  • Breathlessness or shortness of breath
  • Chest pain or pressure, especially during an activity of physical exertion
  • Unexplained, excessive sweating
  • Feeling of dizziness
  • Experiencing pain in the jaws, shoulders and left arm
  • Nausea

It is important to note here is these classic symptoms of heart attack may not appear in everybody, so it is advisable to go for physical examination at regular intervals, especially if you are overweight, are under consistent stress, have a family history of heart attack, and/or is diabetic.

You can visit Making India Heart Strong website, anytime, for any heart-related testing or treatment for high heart rate or heart stroke treatment.

 

References:

https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/diabetes

FAQ

Q. Why do diabetics have silent heart attacks?

Having diabetes increases the risk of heart attack and the bigger problem is diabetes is associated with silent heart attacks owing to reasons, including:

Increased Risk of Heart Disease – People with diabetes are more vulnerable to the risk of silent heart attack as higher levels of blood glucose tend to increase cholesterol levels and promote obesity, which in turn puts more stress on the heart.

Autonomic Neuropathy – Another serious side effect of diabetes include nerve damage. In the view that nerves are responsible for controlling different functions of the body including breathing, heart rate and digestion, nerve damage impairs a patient’s ability to experience the painful symptoms associated with heart attack, which may makes heart diseases largely asymptomatic.

Q. How can diabetes cause a heart attack?

People with diabetes are more vulnerable to hardening of the coronary arteries or atherosclerosis, a condition characterized by a cholesterol plaque buildup in the blood vessels, engaged in supplying oxygen and nutrition to the heart.

As the cholesterol plaques rupture of break apart, the body sends platelets to seal it up in an attempt to repair the plaque rupture. But due to small size of artery the platelets end up blocking the flow of blood, thereby restricting the oxygen delivery and cause heart attack.

Q. How to control heart attack in Diabetics?

People with diabetes are more vulnerable to suffer heart attacks than those without diabetes. Here are some effective measures to control heart attack in diabetics.

  • Exercise or stay physically active every day by way of a daily 30-minute walk or a similar activity to lower your risk.
  • Follow your meal plan. Eat small meals that should contain more fruits and vegetables.
  • Being obese raises the risk of heart attack. So, try to lose weight if you fall in overweight or obesity category.
  • Smoking is a single largest risk factor to cause heart attack. So, talk with your doctor to quit smoking if you are not able to do it by yourself. Also, it is important to avoid second hand exposure to cigarette smoke.
  • Take your medicines the way your providers recommend.
  • Go for regular physical examination, which may include gauzing blood sugar and cholesterol levels.

Q. Why Diabetic Patients can’t feel pain in heart attack?

Diabetic patients have higher risk of several complications, with heart disease being a major one. High blood glucose levels in a diabetic can cause damage to blood vessels, leading to poor blood circulation.

It in turn may lead to nerve damage, a condition referred to as neuropathy, which can cause tingling and pain as well as loss of sensation especially feet and toes. In addition, it can also damage nerves even inside the body, affecting autonomic nerves (called as autonomic neuropathy) that serve respiratory, circulatory, and digestive among other systems without the patient realizing it.

The blood vessels in and around the heart affects patient’s ability to feel the pain, due to which they may not feel the most classic symptom of a heart attack i.e. chest pain.

Categories
Causes

Heart Attack Causes and Risk Factors

Heart Attack Causes and Risk Factors

A heart attack, also known as a myocardial infarction, is an outcome of blocked blood supply to the heart. The blockage may result from build-up of cholesterol, fat and other substances, which leads to the development of plaque in coronaries arteries (blood vessels that transport oxygenated blood to the heart muscle). It occurs when plaque ruptures and forms a clot that terminates blood supply to the heart, thereby damaging or destroying part of the heart muscle.

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), particularly heart attacks and strokes, kill around 17 million people worldwide every year, suggests the World Health Organization (WHO). CVDs refer to a group of medical conditions associated with the heart and blood vessels. It is estimated that four out of five CVD deaths are attributed to heart attacks and strokes.

Despite hearing the word “heart attack” many times a day, most of us still know very little about it. So, let’s learn about heart attack causes and risk factors, and treatment measures for a speedy recovery from heart attack.

Heart Attack Symptoms

The major heart attack symptoms include:

  • Pain or discomfort (in the form of fullness, pain, squeezing, or uncomfortable pressure) in the center or left side of the chest that may last for over a few minutes.
  • Shortness of breath, usually after pain or discomfort in chest
  • Experiencing pain or discomfort in the neck, neck, or back.
  • Experiencing pain or discomfort in one or both shoulders or arms
  • Feeling light-headed, faint or weak
  • Cold sweat may also be seen in many cases of possible heart attack.

In addition, unusual or unexplained, nausea, vomiting, and tiredness in combination with above symptoms may indicate a heart attack threat. It is important to note that women are more likely to experience these symptoms. The significance of identifying signs of heart attack lies in the fact that chances of surviving a heart attack depend on how quickly the patient is able to get the emergency treatment.

Heart Attack Risk Factors

There are a number of heart attack risk factors including age, lifestyle, and family history. A majority of population across the world shows one of the three heart attack causes and risk factors:

  • High blood pressure
  • Smoking
  • High blood cholesterol

Mitigate the Risk of Heart Attack

Healthy eating habits

  • Avoid saturated and trans fat completely
  • Consume more foods rich in fiber
  • Limit salt (sodium) and sugar in your diet

Maintain a Healthy weight

Overweight or obesity tends to increase the risk of heart attack as it puts extra stress on the heart and blood vessels. Moderate intensity exercise like walking, bicycling, brisk walking for 30 minutes, 5 days a week can be helpful.

Smoking and heart attack risk

Smoking is known as the biggest risk factor for heart attack. If you are a non-smoker, you are doing GREAT. Else, quit it with immediate effect to lower your risk for heart disease significantly.

Regular Health Check-ups

A heart attack can be fatal; therefore it is importance to recognize early signs of a heart attack as well as take precautionary measures to ward off this deadly disease. Also, go for health screening every six months, which may include tests like ECG, ECHO etc. You should also speak to your physician about minimizing the risk or making recovery from heart attack.

Visit Making India Heart Strong website, anytime, for any heart-related testing or treatment for high heart rate or heart stroke treatment. Take care of your heart and enjoy a healthy life!

 

References

https://www.who.int/health-topics/cardiovascular-diseases/#tab=tab_1

 

FAQs

Q. How is smoking and heart attack riskrelated?

Smoking is the major preventable cause of heart diseases across the world. Nicotine and other harmful components of cigarette smoke may contribute to the following adverse affects on the heart:

  • Higher heart rate and blood pressure
  • More blood clotting
  • Less oxygen to the heart
  • Damaging the cells that line coronary arteries

Quitting smoking can lower significantly lower the risk of heart disease, even more than the use of medicines (aspirin, statins, ACE inhibitors and beta blockers) used to lower heart attack risk.

Q. What are the causes of heart attack at young age?

Heart attack at young age is not that common but still a fraction of young generation may get affected. Here are some risk factors of heart attack at young age.

  • Smoking
  • High blood pressure
  • Excessive alcohol use or substance abuse
  • Lack of physical activity
  • Poor diet
  • High cholesterol levels
  • Diabetes

 

Q. Do women exhibit different symptoms of heart attack?

It has been found that women experience heart attacks differently than men. In fact, classic symptoms of heart attack like chest or arm pain may be absent in women. Still, here are the symptoms that women may show:

  • Anxiety
  • Lightheadedness
  • Pressure or pain in the center of chest, spreading to the arm
  • Shortness of breath
  • Indigestion
  • Sleep disturbances
  • Unusual fatigue lasting for several days
  • Upper back, shoulder or throat pain
  • Jaw pain

Q. Does your body warn you before a heart attack?

Although heart diseases may or may not produce its classic symptoms, it is important to keep an eye some of the common symptoms of heart attack, including squeezing, pressure, fullness, and pain in the center of the chest, which spreads to the shoulder, neck, or jaw. In addition, symptoms like upper abdominal pressure or discomfort, nausea, fainting, sweating, or shortness of breath (with or without chest discomfort) also warrant attention.

Q. How to keep heart healthy after heart attack?

Here are some effective that you can take to recover from a heart attack as well as preventing another one in the future:

  • Stop smoking with immediate effect
  • Keep your blood pressure in check as it puts pressure on your heart and blood pressure
  • Control your bad cholesterol (LDL) as it increases the risk of heart disease
  • Watch out for diabetes
  • Regular cardio exercise including running, walking, jogging, bicycling, and swimming can help make your heart stronger
  • Consume a heart-healthy diet including more fruits, vegetables and nuts.
  • Don’t take stress

Go for regular health check-up and keep an eye on vital statistics.

Categories
Food Diet

Foods to Eat and Avoid After a Heart Attack

Foods to Eat and Avoid After a Heart Attack

A combination of healthy diet and lifestyle can work wonders when it comes to prevention and recovery from heart attack. And believe us it’s not that difficult to make these changes.

Being healthy is all about the choices you make, in terms of what you eat and how you choose to live your life. As research studies suggest, people who follow a healthy lifestyle, which includes a healthy dietary pattern, regular physical activity, normal body mass index (BMI), not smoking, and no or moderate alcohol intake have 45–81 percent lower risk of heart failure.

Here is effective advice on heart healthy foods that you should prefer and unhealthy foods that you need to avoid while recovering from a heart attack:

Don’t Consume Excess Calories

It is important to know how many calories your body needs to maintain your weight. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) recommends 2400 kcal per day per person for rural areas and 2100 kcal for urban areas. However, an individual’s actual need depends on several factors including gender, age, and level of physical activity.

To avoid weight gain (being overweight increases the risk of heart diseases), make sure you consume calories not more than what you are able to burn up every day.

Add Variety to Your Food Plate, & Cook them Traditionally

For people making recovery from heart attack, it is important to pick and choose nutritious foods from all the food groups. According to researchers, plant-based diets rich in micronutrients, antioxidants, dietary nitrate and fiber, but low in sodium, saturated and trans fats may be effective in minimizing risk of heart diseases. A diet rich in whole grains, minerals, and protein, but lower in calories is considered beneficial for those who have survived a heart attack.

If you are a non-vegetarian, you can choose poultry and fish without skin. In addition to choosing a right food, how you cook it holds equal significance. Remember the golden rule, cook your own meals and eat them fresh, and prepare them using healthy ways. Fermentation, pickling and baking are healthier, provided you don’t use saturated and trans fat, and processed flour.

After basic advice on healthy eating ways, let’s zero in on foods recommended for people recovering from heart attack:

Heart Healthy Foods

  • Lean meats
  • Nuts, beans, and legumes
  • Low-fat dairy products
  • Eggs (you can eat up to six per week)
  • Whole grains
  • Plant-based oils, such as olive oil
  • Skinless poultry and fish such as salmon, herring, sardines, trout and mackerel
  • Lots of fruits and vegetables (all seasonal as nature knows what is good for us)

Fish is loaded with omega-3 fatty acid that is known to be a heart healthy for its ability to help reduce cholesterol and promote vascular health.

And, when it comes to healthy drinks, nothing can beat the goodness of water. Be generous when it comes to water intake. Try to avoid carbonated and packaged drinks completely.

Foods to Avoid After a Heart Attack

As a rule of thumb, stay away from salt, excess sugar, and unhealthy fats (saturated and trans fat). Here are the foods completely prohibited for heart attack survivors.

  • Fast and fried foods
  • Packaged and canned foods
  • Candies and chips
  • Processed frozen meals (as they contain enormous amount of harmful food preservatives and trans fat)
  • Cookies, cakes, biscuits, and ice cream (due to artificial colours and preservatives)
  • Condiments including ketchup, mayonnaise, and packaged dressing
  • Red meat (fatal for those with heart-related ailments)
  • Alcohol
  • Hydrogenated vegetable oils (these contain trans fats)
  • Pizza, burgers, and hot dogs
  • Caffeinated beverages may cause harm too. Better avoid or limit coffee and tea.

You can visit Making India Heart Strong website, anytime, for more information on heart health including heart-related testing or treatment for high heart rate or heart stroke treatment.

 

References:
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5971679/
  • https://www.fao.org/3/x0172e/x0172e02.htm
  • https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5971679/

FAQ

Q. What is the biggest myth about heart-healthy foods?

That they don’t taste good. Healthy eating doesn’t necessarily mean those complicated diet charts and a strict eating schedule. In fact, there are so many foods that can be made into a delicious heart healthy recipe. If you are a non-vegetarian, you can prepare so many tasty dishes from fish. Just avoid frying.

Similarly, nuts, beans and legumes can be used to make many heart healthy dishes. You can take cue from South Indian foods like sambhar and idli and of course those mouth-watering chutneys. Don’t complain. Just be a bit creative and enjoy actually healthy and flavorful foods. The best thing about these preparations is that they make you feel light and energetic at the same time.

Q. We have been hearing a lot about antioxidants. What are they and how do they help promote good heart health? And of course, what are the sources?

Plants contain certain phytochemicals that act as antioxidants. They are called antioxidants because they mitigate the damaging effects of oxidants or free radicals, produced as a byeproduct of breakdown of food molecules or enter the body through external sources such as pollution, tobacco smoke, and exposure to the sun.

It is known that foods rich in antioxidants, especially darkly colored vegetables and fruits are heart healthy in the view that they help maintain a healthy weight, which is one of the most effective strategies for prevention of heart disease.

Foods rich in antioxidants

Vitamin C: Dark green vegetables, tomatoes, pineapple, mangos, papaya and guava etc.

Vitamin E: Soybean, nuts, seeds, whole grains, corn, soybeans, sweet potatoes, and legumes (beans, lentils, split peas) etc.

Beta Carotene: Green vegetables and fruits such as spinach, broccoli, sweet potatoes, carrots, red and yellow peppers, apricots, and mangos etc.

Q. How can we minimize the amount of cholesterol in my diet?

The best way to minimize dietary consumption of cholesterol is to limit animal products. Plants don’t produce or supply cholesterol. Only animals including humans do that. Therefore, consumption of any food that comes from an animal source, including dairy products, meat and eggs supply cholesterol. Some foods, such as egg yolks, liver and other organ meats contain even high amount of cholesterol.

So, it is advised to avoid or limit these foods, especially if you are battling high blood cholesterol. You can prefer plant foods such as spinach over cheese or beans over beef to control your blood cholesterol levels.

Q. Are vitamin supplements really required? If yes when?

Vitamin intake is definitely good for heart. But, it is better you try to get it from natural foods like fruits and dark coloured vegetables. However, certain populations, including elders, pregnant women or people struggling with nutritional deficiencies can consider taking supplements.

In addition, the people whose busy and stressful schedules don’t allow them to eat a balanced diet can ask their doctor about the good vitamin supplements. Since supplements are not well regulated, it is important to take care of things like the brand and the possible side effects.

Categories
Prevention Share

Types of Heart Disease and How to Help Prevent Them

Types of Heart Disease and How to Help Prevent Them

What is heart disease?

Heart disease is a catch-all phrase for a range of conditions affecting heart structure and function.

Take care of your heart by understanding the types of heart diseases and adopting heart-healthy lifestyle strategies to reduce the risk.

These are four different types-

Coronary heart disease

It develops when the arteries of the heart are unable to deliver enough oxygen-rich blood to the heart. It is caused by the buildup of plaque inside the lining of coronary arteries. Symptoms of this disease may vary from person to person even if they have the same type of coronary heart disease.

Arrhythmia

An arrhythmia is an uneven or irregular heartbeat. The heart beats either too fast or too slow, resulting in a broad range of symptoms. It may show up as a pounding in your chest or feeling as though your heart is skipping a beat.

Heart valve disease

This type of heart disease occurs when one or more of the valves in your heart don’t work properly. The causes include leakage of a valve, or the congenital absence of a valve opening (atresia).

Heart failure

It occurs when your heart muscle does not pump enough blood to meet the demands for blood and oxygen required by the body.

Identifying the symptoms of heart disease

Sometimes heart disease may occur with no recognized symptoms (silent) and not diagnosed until a person experiences a cardiac event such as heart attack. Some of the alarming symptoms of heart disease are:

  • Crushing chest pain (angina), radiating to your arm, neck, or back.
  • Pressure, or squeezing sensation in your chest
  • Shortness of breath or dizziness
  • Fluttering feelings in the chest

What are the main causes of heart disease?

Certain traits, conditions, or habits may increase your risk for heart attack and other heart related problems. Addressing controllable causative factors puts you on a path toward better heart health.

The key factors that cause heart diseases include

  • Diet rich in saturated or trans-fat, and cholesterol
  • Obesity
  • Uncontrolled diabetes and blood pressure
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Smoking

Taking preventive steps is crucial at an early age. The above mentioned key factors are also the major causes contributing to heart attack at young age.

How I can lower my risk for heart diseases?

Making changes in the lifestyle proactively is the key to a healthy heart. These simple steps may prevent the risk of heart attack and delay heart diseases.

  • Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish, and low in salt and saturated fat.
  • Monitor diabetes on a regular basis. High levels of blood sugar lead to heart attack.
  • Maintain your weight in a healthy range (BMI between18.5 to 24.9 kg/m² ).
  • Regular physical activity. Engage in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity.
  • Take your medicines as directed by a healthcare provider.
  • Quit smoking and limit your drink to prevent different types of heart diseases.
  • Having your blood pressure and cholesterol level checked –even if your risk of developing heart disease is low.
  • Manage stress and make sure that you get six to eight hours of sleep each day.

Getting tested to know your heart disease risk

Individuals should see their healthcare provider regularly to undergo screenings. Risk assessment is an important to know your risk of developing heart diseases. Making India Heartstrong website helps you calculate your risk. Know more about heart diseases and heart attack recovery by visiting the website.

FAQs

Q: How hypertension leads to heart disease?

High blood pressure may contribute to increasing risk of different types of coronary heart diseases. It causes your heart to work harder as it damages the arteries by making them less elastic, thus decreasing the flow of blood and oxygen to your heart. Over time, a higher workload leads to the thickening of heart muscles. Along with, cholesterol deposits in the blood vessels, it increases the risk of a heart attack. Also, with high blood pressure, the heart weakens over time which may lead to heart failure.

Q: How exercise helps to keep the heart healthy?

Exercise strengthens the heart and improves the function of the heart by making it more efficient and blood vessels more flexible. The increased flexibility of the blood vessels makes them resistant to the buildup of fatty deposits—a known contributor to heart disease. Regular work-up lowers your blood pressure and regulates your blood sugar level and prevent different types of heart diseases.

Q: Can heart attack happen at any age?

Heart attack can happen at any age. At present, many heart diseases are happening to people in their 20s and 30s more and more often. The main causes of heart attack at a younger age include high blood pressure, high cholesterol and smoking. Physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes and unhealthy eating patterns also contribute to increased risk of heart attack, stroke and other heart health problems.

Q: How to keep the heart healthy after a heart attack?

After a heart attack, it is important to manage risk factors (such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol level, and diabetes) by taking regular medicines, quitting smoking, eating heart-healthy food, controlling stress levels, and getting active. This helps you reduce your risk of heart attacks in future.

Q: What is a heart-healthy diet plan?

A heart-healthy diet consists of lots of fruits and veggies, whole grains, lean poultry, and fish and low in saturated fats, trans fats, and excess sodium and sugar. As a rule of thumb, your plate should be half full and should contain a variety of vegetables at every meal.

 

References
  1. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/go-red-get-fit/sleep-women-and-heart-disease
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/adults/index.htm
  3. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/about.htm
  4. https://www.keckmedicine.org/4-types-of-heart-disease-and-how-to-help-prevent-them/
  5. https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/guide/heart-disease-symptoms-types
  6. https://www.cdc.gov/heartdisease/coronary_ad.htm
  7. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31553287/
  8. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5331469/
  9. https://ada.com/conditions/coronary-artery-disease/
  10. https://care.diabetesjournals.org/content/43/Supplement_1/S111
Categories
Aware Care Prepare Sign Symptoms

Early signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes and how to avoid

Early signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes and how to avoid

Heart disease is a leading cause of death, especially in people with type 2 diabetes. This is because uncontrolled type 2 diabetes increases your risk of heart attack and other serious heart health complications. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes is extremely important.

How do you know if you are type 2 diabetic?

Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong disease that causes blood sugar levels to be higher than normal. The onset of type 2 diabetes is gradual and early signs can be so mild at first that you don’t notice them. The signs and symptoms of type 2 diabetes include-

  • Peeing more, often at night
  • Being thirstier
  • Dry mouth and itchy skin
  • Constant hunger
  • Lack of energy
  • Unintended weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Blurred vision
  • Increased susceptibility to infections
  • Numbness, or burning sensation in the hands or feet
  • Slow-healing wounds

Sometimes, diabetes affects your heart health. This is because the symptoms become more severe and potentially dangerous as the disease progresses.

What increases my risk of diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes stems from a combination of family history and lifestyle. Some of the causes such as aging or family history you can’t control, others you can. Addressing controllable causative factors puts you on a path toward better health.

Factors that put you at increased risk for diabetes include

  • Diet rich in saturated or trans-fat, and cholesterol
  • Being overweight (BMI more than 25)
  • Hypertension
  • Sedentary lifestyle
  • Drinking too much alcohol
  • Low HDL (“good”) cholesterol

What can I do to avoid or control type 2 diabetes?

Healthy lifestyle choices may help in slowing or preventing type 2 diabetes even if you have biological relatives living with diabetes. Making changes in the lifestyle proactively is the key to a healthy body. Small simple steps play a significant role in diabetes and heart disease prevention and treatment-

  • Tune-up your diet. Pay attention to the food labels you eat. Eat a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and fish, and low in salt and saturated fat. Eat smaller portions at regular intervals.
  • Move more. Diabetes treatmentincludes engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity or doing 1 hour 15 minutes (75 minutes) of vigorous activity each week.
  • Limit your drink. Drink in moderate, one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women.
  • Regular medicines. Take your medicines as directed by a healthcare provider. Diabetes medication for heart diseaseprevention may include cholesterol-lowering drugs.
  • Quit smoking.Chances of developing type 2 diabetes increases by 30 to 40 percent in smokers.
  • Make sure that you get six to eight hours of sleep each day.
  • Manage stress. Relax yourself by pursuing your hobbies, listening to music, or practicing meditation.

If lifestyle changes aren’t enough, your doctor may prescribe medicines. Type 2 diabetes may lead to serious health concerns and long-term damage to your body if left untreated. Also, diabetes increases your heart attack risk. Monitoring blood sugar levels regularly is important. The goal is to remain within a specific range.

Getting tested to know your risk of type 2 diabetes

The only way to be sure your blood sugar level stays within the normal range is to monitor it regularly, especially if you are in a high-risk category or experience symptoms as above. Recognize symptoms of diabetes for better prognosis. Know how to avoid diabetes or keep it under control by visiting the Making India Heartstrong website.

FAQs

Q. What are the three P’s of diabetes?

Polydipsia (increased thirst), polyuria (frequent urination), and polyphagia (increased hunger) are three P’s of diabetes

Q. How diabetes affects your heart health?

High levels of blood sugar from diabetes damage your blood vessels and nerves controlling them. The longer your diabetes remains uncontrolled, the higher the chances that you will suffer from heart disease. If you’re a diabetic, you may develop heart disease at a younger age than those without diabetes.

Q. How is obesity related to diabetes?

Obesity increases levels of fatty acids and inflammation, leading to insulin resistance, which in turn causes the building up of high blood sugar and the development of type 2 diabetes. In short, the more extra weight you carry, the more resistant your muscle and tissue cells will become to your insulin hormone. So, weight management is important for diabetes prevention and control.

Q. How can you monitor your blood glucose levels?

Type 2 diabetes diagnosis usually involves a blood test, hemoglobin A1c which indicates the average blood sugar level of the past three months. You can also test your blood sugar at home with a portable electronic device called a blood sugar meter using a small drop of your blood.

Q. Can type 2 diabetes be cured?

Type 2 diabetes is an ongoing disease. It cannot be cured but can be controlled. In some cases, it may go into the remission phase. It is important to watch out for sign and symptoms of diabetes. Through diet changes and weight loss, you may be able to reach and maintain normal blood sugar levels without medication.

Q. What triggers Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is primarily the result of two interrelated problems either cells in the muscle, fat, and the liver become resistant to insulin or are unable to use it efficiently. This leads to glucose builds up in your bloodstream.. Being overweight and an inactive lifestyle are the most common factors to trigger type 2 diabetes. You must know how to avoid diabetes by making lifestyle changes.

Q. What should my blood sugar levels before and after meals?

The American Diabetes Association recommends a blood glucose range of 80-130 mg/dL before meals and less than 180 mg/dL about 2 hours after a meal. This range should place your HbA1c under 7.

 

  1. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes/type-2-diabetes
  2. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/symptoms.html
  3. https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/type-2-diabetes-symptoms
  4. https://www.diabetes.org/diabetes-risk
  5. https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/tests-diagnosis
  6. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/type-2-diabetes/going-regular-check-ups/
  7. https://www.cdc.gov/diabetes/basics/type2.html
  8. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/health-information/cigarette-smoking-risk-factor-type-2-diabetes
  9. https://www.diabetes.org/a1c/diagnosis
  10. https://www.endocrineweb.com/conditions/type-2-diabetes/type-2-diabetes-causes

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