Anxiety patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) will have worst prognosis as they are likely to get heart attack and death. Anxiety will worsen outcome by 70% according to a research study which was published in the July issue of Archives of General Psychiatry. According to previous research studies, depression and stress worsen prognosis for heart disease patients. Now, anxiety is the new psychological factor that can seriously impact coronary heart disease patients. Diagnosis of heart disease is enough to develop anxiety, stress and depression in the patients which will further wosen outcome. We should educate patients on this crucial aspect. Researchers conducted research in 1,015 CHD patients with similar risk profiles except in anxiety. But, researchers failed to provide mechanism of relationship between anxiety disorder and coronary heart disease. So, counselling plays vital role in the treatment of heart disease patients. Anxiety, stress and depression play vital role not only in prognosis but also in the way patient deals with the disease. … [Read more...]
Siblings of coronary artery patients are at high risk
The close family members of the people who have coronary artery disease are at risk for coronary artery disease. Brothers and sisters of coronary artery patients are 2.5 times at risk for heart diseases than normal ones. This research study was published in the European Heart Journal. Image courtesy: Siemens Medical division. The close family members of the people who carry abnormality in the left coronary artery are at risk for coronary artery disease. Brothers and sisters of coronary artery patients are 2.5 times at risk for heart diseases than normal ones. This research study was published in the European Heart Journal. 1. First cardiovascular study: Researchers analyzed 1,800 members of families in which two or more people developed coronary artery disease. The scientists found 50% or more narrowing in 12% of family members. 2. Second study: It was done on 1,400 brothers and sisters of people with coronary artery disease for 5 years. According to these German research studies, siblings of coronary disease patients are at 2.5 times more risk than normal siblings. Why left coronary artery is crucial? There are two main coronary arteries in the heart, left and right. It is main artery that supplies 60% heart blood flow. Left coronary artery supplies blood to ventricles and left atrium. Coronary artery disease is accumulation of fat deposits (Atherosclerosis) in the arteries. Around 14 million Americans are suffering from heart disease. How to prevent cardiac diseases in family members? Siblings of cardiac patients should check their heart health regularly as they are at high risk for heart diseases. It is better to undergo screening for heart diseases even though costs are high. According to previous research studies, heart attack also runs in families. We need more studies to give final verdict on the hereditary factor in causing heart diseases in siblings of coronary artery patients. Please share your experiences if any of sibling is suffering from heart disease. … [Read more...]
Coronary heart disease – Risk Factors, Symptoms and Prevention
Heart disease is a broad term that includes several more specific heart conditions. The most common condition is coronary heart disease (CHD), which occurs, when the coronary arteries, that supply blood to the heart muscle, become hardened and narrowed due to the plaque build- up. Plaques are a mixture of fatty substances including cholesterol and other lipids. Blood flow and oxygen supply to the heart can be reduced or even fully blocked with a growing plaque. What happens in CHD? In some people, the first sign of CHD is heart attack. A person is likely to experience one of the below or all symptoms or signs: 1. Chest discomfort in the form of pain, or uneasiness or tightness or fullness. 2. Shortness of breath. 3. Discomfort in the other areas of the upper body, which include pain in one or both the arms, the back, the neck, the jaw area or in the stomach. 4. Cold sweating 5. Feeling nausea 6. Light-headedness The risk factors for CHD are: 1. High blood pressure 2. Obesity 3. High blood cholesterol levels 4. Alcohol. 5. Tobacco smoking 6. High fat diet 7. Physical inactivity. 8. Stress and strain. Prevention of Coronary heart Disease: 1. Control of cholesterol levels. 2. be physically active 3. Keeping blood sugars under control 4. Diet control 5. Avoid-alcohol, smoking and tobacco use in any other form. 6. Meditation to avoid stress and strain. Bypass surgery: when should be done? It is reported that out of 5 deaths that are occurring daily one is due to heart attack( which is also known as Myocardial infarction). This heart disease is treated either by, Angioplasty or Coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG), and supply to heart is restored. Indications for bypass surgery: 1. When treatment with medicines is not possible, 2. When main coronary artery (which supply blood to heart) on the left side is closed 70% or more. 3. In chronic diabetic patients (for them Angioplasty is not suitable), 4. In those patients, where there is block in the three coronary arteries. Method: Now the latest procedure is “Minimally Invasive Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting”. In this method there is no necessity to open the heart and with the help of one or two openings operation will be done. It is possible only when there is one block only. But when there are two or more blocks in the arteries, surgeons will do operation in the conventional method by opening the heart. There is no guarantee that heart attack will not reoccur later on once the bypass operation is performed, hence the patient should take the following precautions. Patient should take the drugs regularly and should undergo periodical checkups. He should not carry heavy loads. He/she should avoid constipation and situations that cause stress and strain and also other factors that cause heart attacks. Walking is the best form of exercise. 30-45 minutes of walking is enough. Avoid non- vegetarian food like mutton etc also it is good to take less amount of fats in the diet, Yoga and meditation are good to do but no sexual activity at least for two months after the surgery. If the patient follows the above precautions scrupulously, life span will be prolonged minimum for 10-15 years. … [Read more...]
Heart diseases: Prevention and care
Coronary heart disease is getting epidemic proportions due to rapid rise in stress levels in the family and work life. Irregular timings (stress and strain), lack of control over diet habits and smoking are the major reasons behind increase in incidence of heart patients. How to prevent heart diseases: Courtesy: Sciencebob. 1. 1 hour of brisk walking at the speed of 5-6 km daily. 2. High fibre and low fat diet. Eat fruits and green leaf vegetables. 3. Stay away from fast food restaurants. Never eat junk food like pizza etc. 4. Family history of Diabetes, Obesity, Hypertension and lipid disorders are more prone to heart diseases at an early age.5. Men above the age of 35 years and women over 40 years who are either smokers or alcoholics are at greater risk than normal persons.6. Strictly follow diet and exercise schedule.7. Meditation and Yoga help in reducing stress levels. 8. Controlling Blood pressure and Diabetes are essential. 7. Avoid lifting anything that weighs more than 3 kg. 8. While getting up from a chair, try not to put your body weight on your hands. 9. While getting up from bed, roll over to the edge, swing your legs to the floor and push your upper body up with your elbow. Sit on the side of the bed for a couple of minutes before getting up. 10. Avoid pushing and pulling heavy things, mowing, vacuuming or any activity that might put strain on the breast bone. 11. For 7-8 weeks after the attack of surgery, let others drive. 12. 80% of the heart patients can resume normal life through proper rehabilitation programme. Prevention is better than cure. Balance your family and work life. Heart surgery patients – Proper Care 1. During the first 6-8 weeks after discharge, you may feel pain in the chest, shoulders and back. DON’T PANIC. These are healing pains. 2. Begin your walking programme 3-4 days after surgery. 3. Don’t over-exert yourself. 4. Never take a walk immediately after meals. 5. You can climb stairs from the day of discharge, but do so slowly. 6. Don’t begin household chores immediately. … [Read more...]
Coronary Heart Disease and Angina
Coronary heart disease leads to heart attack. The coronary arteries have to become reduced in size upto 70% before the signs and symptoms appear in the patient. This disease becomes more advanced in hypertensive and Diabetic patients. Even the obstruction to blood supply occurs up to 60% - 70% in coronary arteries, Heart gets blood supply through collateral routes. This collateral blood supply compensate to some extent. Stages: 1. Dyspnoea (Breathlessness): It is the first stage in heart patients.2. Orthopnoea: Second stage – breathlessness occurs while lying in bed. 3. Dyspnoea in nights: Patient suddenly sits on the bed from sleep due to sudden breathlessness in the middle of the nights. This stage subsides within minutes or continues for few hours. This is called Cardiac Asthma. Angina: There is compressed pain in the chest of the patient. The pain in angina is present in the centre of the chest and behind the bone closely to it. This pain radiates to neck, lower jaw, shoulder, arms, especially to fingers of left hand. Nature of pain:There is feeling of pulling some weight on the chest or sometimes, very light pain. Upper limbs develop numbness and the hand is heavy. Patient is in helpless condition. Angina pain develops while doing labor work and subsides after stopping the work (rest). Angina generally occurs: 1. Cold air 2. After taking meals. 3. after sexual act. 4. In emotions In the early morning – Body unable to start its work. Angina pain may subside in 1-2 minutes or continues for 30 minutes. In heart attack, The pain in chest continue for more than one hour. … [Read more...]
Recent Comments