Definition
of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Cardiovascular disease is a class of
diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. It includes the coronary
artery such as angina and myocardial infarction also known as heart attack. It
is usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries
known as atherosclerosis and an increased risk of blood clots.
diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. It includes the coronary
artery such as angina and myocardial infarction also known as heart attack. It
is usually associated with a build-up of fatty deposits inside the arteries
known as atherosclerosis and an increased risk of blood clots.
Causes
of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
Plaque
buildup thickens and stiffens artery walls, which can inhibit blood flow
through your arteries to your organs and tissues.
buildup thickens and stiffens artery walls, which can inhibit blood flow
through your arteries to your organs and tissues.
Atherosclerosis
is also the most common cause of CVD.
is also the most common cause of CVD.
It can also caused
by correctable problems such as:
by correctable problems such as:
1.
An unhealthy diet.
An unhealthy diet.
2.
Lack of exercise.
Lack of exercise.
3.
Being overweight.
Being overweight.
4.
Smoking.
Smoking.
Diagnosis
of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
The tests you will need to diagnose
your heart disease depend on what condition your doctor thinks you might have.
No matter the type of heart disease you have, your doctor will perform a
physical exam and ask about your personal and family medical history before
doing any tests. Besides that, other chest x-ray tests to diagnose heart
disease include:
your heart disease depend on what condition your doctor thinks you might have.
No matter the type of heart disease you have, your doctor will perform a
physical exam and ask about your personal and family medical history before
doing any tests. Besides that, other chest x-ray tests to diagnose heart
disease include:
Ø Electrocardiogram(ECG):
It records these electrical signals and can help your doctor detect
irregularities in your hearts rhythm and structure.
It records these electrical signals and can help your doctor detect
irregularities in your hearts rhythm and structure.
Ø Holter
Monitoring: This is a device used to detect heart rhythm irregularities that
aren’t found during a regular ECG exam.
Monitoring: This is a device used to detect heart rhythm irregularities that
aren’t found during a regular ECG exam.
Ø Echodiogram:
This noninvasive exam which includes an ultrasound of your chest, shows
detailed images of your hearts structure and function.
This noninvasive exam which includes an ultrasound of your chest, shows
detailed images of your hearts structure and function.
Other tests include: Cardiac
catherization, cardiac computerized tomography(CT) scan, cardiac magnetic
resonance imaging(MRI) etc.
catherization, cardiac computerized tomography(CT) scan, cardiac magnetic
resonance imaging(MRI) etc.
Signs
and symptoms of cardiovascular disease
and symptoms of cardiovascular disease
Symptoms
can include:
can include:
1.
Chest pain (angina).
Chest pain (angina).
2.
Shortness of breath.
Shortness of breath.
3.
Pain, numbness, weakness, or
coldness in your legs or arms if the blood vessels in those parts of your body
are narrowed.
Pain, numbness, weakness, or
coldness in your legs or arms if the blood vessels in those parts of your body
are narrowed.
4.
Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper
abdomen or back.
Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper
abdomen or back.
5.
Extreme fatique.
Extreme fatique.
6.
A respiratory infection or cough
that becomes worse.
A respiratory infection or cough
that becomes worse.
7.
Restlessness or confusion.
Restlessness or confusion.
8.
Loss of appetite or nausea.
Loss of appetite or nausea.
Note:
The
signs and symptoms vary in men and women.
The
signs and symptoms vary in men and women.
Available
treatment of cardiovascular disease
treatment of cardiovascular disease
Treatment for Heart disease usually is the
same for both men and women. Treatment may include lifestyle changes,
medicines, medical and surgical procedures, cardiac rehabilitation(rehab) and healthy
diet. The goals of treatment are to:
same for both men and women. Treatment may include lifestyle changes,
medicines, medical and surgical procedures, cardiac rehabilitation(rehab) and healthy
diet. The goals of treatment are to:
Relieve
symptoms.
symptoms.
Reduce
risk factors in an effort to slow, stop, or reverse the build up of plaque.
risk factors in an effort to slow, stop, or reverse the build up of plaque.
Lower
the risk of blood clots forming.
the risk of blood clots forming.
Widen
or bypass plaque-clogged coronary(heart) arteries.
or bypass plaque-clogged coronary(heart) arteries.
Prevent
CHD complications.
CHD complications.
Dietary
management of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
management of cardiovascular disease (CVD)
A healthy diet and
lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease.
lifestyle are your best weapons to fight cardiovascular disease.
Fat:
Avoid saturated fats which are found in animal products and trans fat which are
oils that have been hydrogenated to turn them into semi-hard fats because they
raise cholesterol levels in the blood, which in turn can lead to
atherosclerosis a heart disease.
Avoid saturated fats which are found in animal products and trans fat which are
oils that have been hydrogenated to turn them into semi-hard fats because they
raise cholesterol levels in the blood, which in turn can lead to
atherosclerosis a heart disease.
Unsaturated fats,
polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are beneficial for heart health and
they are present in fish, nuts, seeds, and vegetables.
polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats are beneficial for heart health and
they are present in fish, nuts, seeds, and vegetables.
The essential fatty
acids omega-3 and omega-6 are found in oily fish and in nuts and seeds. Our
bodies cannot make these acids so we have to eat them to gain their benefits,
which include improving cholesterol levels in the body.
acids omega-3 and omega-6 are found in oily fish and in nuts and seeds. Our
bodies cannot make these acids so we have to eat them to gain their benefits,
which include improving cholesterol levels in the body.
Sodium:
Reduce sodium(salt) intake because it is related to hypertension a risk factor
of cardiovascular disease.
Reduce sodium(salt) intake because it is related to hypertension a risk factor
of cardiovascular disease.
Fruits
and vegetables: Eating a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables protects your
heart. Low fruit and vegetables intakes accounts for about 20% of
cardiovascular disease worldwide. Fruit and vegetables contain components that
protect against heart disease and stroke.
and vegetables: Eating a diet high in fresh fruits and vegetables protects your
heart. Low fruit and vegetables intakes accounts for about 20% of
cardiovascular disease worldwide. Fruit and vegetables contain components that
protect against heart disease and stroke.
Whole
grain Cereals: Increase your intake of whole grains because they contain folic
acid, B-vitamins and finer, all of which are important protectors against heart
disease.
grain Cereals: Increase your intake of whole grains because they contain folic
acid, B-vitamins and finer, all of which are important protectors against heart
disease.
Increase
protein intake such as fish.
protein intake such as fish.
Increase
your intake of nuts and seeds. Eating nuts regularly is associated with
decreased risk of coronary heart disease.
your intake of nuts and seeds. Eating nuts regularly is associated with
decreased risk of coronary heart disease.
