Incidence of heart diseases which has been declining due to preventive measures is again rising especially among the young, according to several studies in Western countries. Obesity and Diabetes are also major culprits for this rise in heart diseases. Heart diseases are occurring at an alarm rate especially in 35-54 age group due to their lifestyle, smoking and junk food habits. But deaths due to heart diseases are declining in old age people due to better health care services and diagnostic methods. According to an article published in the medical journal “Archives of Internal medicine”, post-mortem reports of people who died due to other causes are showing high incidence of Coronary heart disease (unknown to them). How to prevent Heart disease epidemic: 1. Regular health checkups for everyone aged above 35 years. 2. Stay away from smoking and tobacco chewing. 3. Junk food restaurants are your route to hell. Don’t eat refined foods and fat rich diet. 4. Old age people should take preventive drugs like Statins and aspirin. 5. Control your blood pressure and blood sugar and cholesterol levels. 6. Obesity is the major cause for chronic lifestyle diseases. It also causes cancers. 7. Don’t neglect warning signs like chest pain and breathlessness. Consult your doctor immediately. Governments need to educate people on the harmful effects of smoking and junk food habits. They should ban advertisements on these products. … [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...]
World Heart Day: September 30, 2007
2007 “World Heart Day” slogan is “Team Up for Healthy Hearts”. Its aim is to encourage people to join together and create hearty-healthy communities. World Heart Federation, World Health Organization and other organizations are taking active part in propagating this message. Heart diseases statistics: Cardiovascular disease is the number one cause of death globally. An estimated 17.5 million people died from cardiovascular disease in 2005, representing 30 % of all global deaths. Of these deaths, 7.6 million were due to heart attacks and 5.7 million were due to stroke. Around 80% of these deaths occurred in developing countries. If appropriate action is not taken, by 2015, an estimated 20 million people will die from cardiovascular disease every year, mainly from heart attacks and strokes. Heart role in life: 1. Physically: It beats 70times/minute and in a day, it beats more than one lakh times in a day. Even though it is small in size (compared to liver), it plays vital role in the bodily functions. 2. Mentally and socially: we call a particular person as ‘’heart-less fellow”. Here heart means-kindness, sympathy, generosity, loving others, etc. in nature. 3. Spiritually: The golden quotation is “those who are pure at heart, they are blessed and shall see God one day”. That means God is residing in our heart in the form of “Soul”, and reminding us always to do good only. It clearly shows that the heart is not a simple, innocent, physical (muscular) organ but more than that, playing greater role in our day to day activities. Hence it is our duty to protect our heart in every aspect and respect. Heart diseases causes: Heart attacks and paralysis are the main causes of death among the population. 175 million people are dying due to these two diseases only, every year in the world. 1. Obesity: At present 155 million children are suffering from obesity, all over the world. It is a very dangerous situation. We have to be very careful about the food habits and physical exercise in them. Otherwise these habits become stabilized and remain in the later life also. If the children are obese, the chances of getting heart attacks before reaching the age of 65 years are 3-5 times more, than normal weight persons. Many of them are prone to diabetes. 2. Tobacco-smoking: The incidence of smoking is increasing year after year, especially among the youth, who constitute 50% of the population, in spite of the anti-smoking propaganda, undertaken by the governments and other private organizations. 3. Food habits: More intake of fatty, junk foods (high cholesterol diet), leads to heart troubles. 4. Stress and strain, lack of exercise, etc are other factors. 5. Heart diseases in Women: Previously the notion was that only men suffer from heart attacks. Now the trend is changed and 50% of deaths among women are due to heart attacks only. More over the signs and symptoms in females are a little different compared to males. The pain in chest during the heart attack is more felt in men, than the women. But women feel more “tiredness” and it is misunderstood for general weakness. So women are to be more enlightened on these matters. 6. Low intake of fruit and vegetables is estimated to cause about 31% of ischemic heart disease, 11% of stroke worldwide and 19% of gastrointestinal cancer. Overall, 2.7 million deaths are attributable to low fruit and vegetable intake. 7. Physical inactivity is estimated to cause, globally, about 10-16% of cases each of breast cancer, colon and rectal cancers and diabetes mellitus, and about 22% of ischemic heart disease. Overall, 1.9 million deaths are attributable to physical inactivity. How to prevent heart attacks? 1. Heart attacks and strokes are major killers in all parts of the world. But they can often be prevented. 2. You can protect yourself from heart attacks and strokes by investing a little time and effort. 3. Tobacco use, an unhealthy diet, and physical inactivity increase the risk of heart … [Read more...]
Relationship between Blood pressure and elements
The plants and elements that decrease high BP (proved in clinical trials) are: Potassium, Magnesium, Calcium, Co Enzyme Q10, Fish oil and Flock seed oil are important ones. Elements: 1. Potassium: Deficiency of potassium in food definitely shows its effect on BP. By taking foods that contain more potassium, the high BP can be controlled. It decreases systolic blood pressure by 3.11 mm hg and diastolic blood pressure by 1.97mm. 2. Sodium: It is present in more quantities in the salt (as sodium chloride), which we use for taste in the foods. By taking less salt, the heart diseases can be reduced by 25 %( 1/4th of total heart diseases). 3. Magnesium: Decreased intake of mg leads to rise in the BP level. 4. Co-Q10: Co enzyme was first of all found in the muscles of cow’s heart and later on found in the human beings. Human body can produce it by itself. Co-enzyme is also present in, meat, fish and soya bean oil etc. It acts like Vitamin E and neutralizes the free radicals (which are harmful). Co-Q10 helps the blood to flow freely in the blood vessels and controls the high BP. 5. Fish oil: Omega 3 fatty acids present in the oil, decreases the high BP to some extent. The dose is 3 grams per day. It contains EPA, which acts on the heart to control BP. 6. Flacks seed oil: It also contains Omega 3 fatty acid containing Alfa-lenolenic acid, which reduces the BP by 5 mm of Hg both systolic and diastolic. If one table spoon of flack seed oil is taken daily, it provides sufficient amount of fatty acids to control the high BP. … [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...]
Atherosclerosis – Pathology and prevention
Atherosclerosis Pathology: Atherosclerosis means there is an obstruction to the flow of blood in big and medium sized vessels walls in the human body due to accumulation of fat patches or plaques. Usually the inner layer of blood vessel is smooth and slippery in nature. If there are creaks in this layer, then fat accumulation beings to form. Blood vessels last their elasticity and become hardened. Body has got its own mechanism for repairing any damaged part in the body. Here the monocytes become active and begin to repair the damaged inner walls and removes the accumulated fat particles. Some times the fat particles have the upper hand over the monocytes. Then these hardened fat particles separate themselves from the wall of the blood vessels and travel in the blood circulation and forms round balls called embolus. It forms at the junction where the blood vessels divide into two branches and obstructs the blood flow. If the obstruction occurs in the coronary blood vessels, the heart-attack occurs. If it occurs in the brain –paralysis (stroke) occurs.Atherosclerosis statistics: The deaths due to Atherosclerosis are 2 times more than the cancer especially in western countries. Risk Factors: 1. Smoking 2. Rise in Blood Cholesterol Level 3. High blood pressure 4. Diabetes 5. Obesity 6. Sedentary life 7. High levels of Homo cysteine in the blood. How can we know this condition of Atherosclerosis? Usually these symptoms appear when the blood vessel is closed up to 70% only. If the blood vessels of heart (coronary vessels) - closes partially – the person gets heart attack. If the openings in the vessels closed completely, there is heart attack or heart failure or changing in the rhythm of heart beatings. If the vessels in the legs are totally closed-we get severe pain in the legs (called intermittent claudication). In the persons beyond 50 years of the age-if the blood flow does not go to kidneys, kidney failure occurs.If there is less oxygen supply to the muscles-we call it as “muscle cry”. How to prevent Atherosclerosis? 1. Avoid smoking, Alcohol and meat. 2. Control Blood cholesterol level and take fat free diet. Stay away from fast foods. 3. Avoid stress and strain. 4. Take soya beans, oatmeal, brawn, Garlic, fish and more vegetables. 5. Garlic: It is called as “old doctor”. It does more benefit of health to the humans. It prevents thickening of blood and blood clots and thus prevents heart diseases. It contains “Alison” a chemical which prevents cancer. Garlic decreases the high blood pressure. It is better to take it in raw form rather than cooked product. 6. Fish: It contains omega-3 fatty acids and also cad liver oil which prevents heart diseases, joint pains and it increases brain activity. The omega 3 fatty acids increase the good cholesterol (HDL), and decreases bad cholesterol (LDL) and thus prevent heart diseases. Most of the heart attacks are preventable with simple measures like diet control and regular exercise. Meditation and Yoga reduce the stress levels. Please share your preventive measures. … [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...]
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