Heart disease is the number one killer in the United States, according to the American Heart Association. Heart disease can include atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease, angina, heart attack, cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. The risk factors for all forms of heart disease include: family history, gender, age, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, high fat and high sodium diet, diabetes, excessive alcohol consumption, high amounts of stress, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and obesity.
Atherosclerosis
Fatty material such as cholesterol or plaque collects on artery walls, causing them to harden and in certain cases pathways become narrower, which can completely occlude. Accumulation of atherosclerotic vessels leads to coronary artery disease (CAD). If a piece of the hardened plaque breaks off suddenly, it can lead to heart attack, stroke, TIA (transient ischemic attack) and pulmonary embolism.
Studies performed by the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) show that regular physical activity helps lower the risk or severity of cardiovascular disease. Healthy lifestyle adjustments help as well and include incorporating a low fat and low sodium diet, avoiding excessive alcohol consumption and quitting smoking.
Making smart lifestyle modifications greatly diminish the risk for the development and severity of atherosclerosis. Some medications can help control the severity of the disease. Talk to your doctor if you have questions about what can help.
Chest Pain
The feeling of constricting pressure, tightness and/or pain in the chest are symptoms of angina, or chest pain. Other feelings can include dizziness, shortness of breath and nausea. These sensations are due to restricted blood flow to the heart and the muscle cells aren't getting enough oxygen to function properly.
These sensations can also be felt down the left arm, in the jaw or on the back, or feels like bad heartburn. If these sensations come during periods of exertion and go away with rest, this is most likely stable angina.
Unstable angina is characterized by pain or pressure that comes with or without exertion. Talk to your doctor if you feel these symptoms and suspect you may be experiencing angina.
Heart Attack
When the arteries of the heart are completely blocked, muscle cells die due to the lack of oxygen and a heart attack occurs. This is also called a myocardial infarction (MI). One of the major symptoms of an MI occurring is chest pain (angina), but that is not always the case.
There are people, including women and those who are diabetic who have "silent symptoms" or symptoms other than chest pain, including pain or discomfort in the arm, jaw or back.
Good practices to help prevent or reduce the severity of a heart attack are to maintain low blood pressure at 120/80 or lower, consume a low-fat diet and participate in regular exercise. There are also medications that help control risk factors. Talk to your doctor if you feel you may need help.
Cardiomyopathy
This condition is the result of a variety of reasons, including genetics, infection, pregnancy, chronic high blood pressure, alcoholism and drug abuse. The biggest symptom of cardiomyopathy is heart failure. Treating cardiomyopathy is the same as treating congestive heart failure.
Congestive Heart Failure
Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition that can be controlled but never cured. The cause of CHF is due to complications of other diseases and ailments such as cardiomyopathy, CAD, emphysema, chronic arrhythmias and hypothyroidism.
With CHF, circulation is impaired. The heart has lost its elasticity and can have difficulty filling with blood and/or difficulty squeezing enough to pump sufficient amounts of blood to the rest of the body. Also, it is difficult for blood to be brought back to the heart once it has circulated to the rest of the body.
This causes pooling in the arms and legs and can cause problems in critical organs such as the liver. The blood that is unable to circulate back to the heart does not have enough oxygen in it to supply the muscles and organs. With supervision from your doctor, this can be controlled through medication and a healthy lifestyle.
