Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for the majority of deaths from infectious diseases. These include all diseases involving the heart. In general, the incidence of these diseases is higher after the age of 40 years.
The blood flow of our body is like the water flowing in the fields and reaching all the parts through the beds. Just like a field withers without water, the parts of our body that suffer from blood flow are affected. If the affected area is the heart, it can end in disaster.
Types of heart diseases
l Coronary artery disease
l Irregular heart beats
l Congenital heart defects
l Heart muscle disease
l Heart valve disease
Cardiovascular disease: Stress or anxiety that occurs at or before the age of 40 can increase the secretion of negative hormones in our body. Due to this, insomnia, fear, tension, psychological crisis etc. will occur. These disrupt the stability of blood vessels. Their walls gradually deteriorate and begin to crack.
This can lead to the possibility of fatty deposits (plaques) in the arteries of the heart. The buildup of plaques is called atherosclerosis. This is similar to algae growth in stagnant water. Fatty deposits in the arteries of the heart reduce blood flow to the heart and other parts of the body. This can lead to heart attack, chest pain or stroke.
symptoms
l Chest pain, chest tightness.
l Chest pressure, chest discomfort.
l Shortness of breath.
l Breathing while walking.
l Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back, legs or arms.
l Numbness, weakness or coldness in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen, back, arms, legs.
Heart Attack: Fatty deposits from coronary artery disease can cause blood clots (clots) in the arteries of the heart or elsewhere. A heart attack occurs when these blood clots block or narrow the blood supply to the heart.
Three blood vessels go to the heart. A blockage in any of these three blood vessels is a very serious condition. If there is a blockage in only one blood vessel, it can be treated with an angiogram and stent placement.
Irregular heart beat (arrhythmias) – This is when the heart rate goes above 90 or below 60. Symptoms include chest pain or discomfort, dizziness, palpitations, light-headedness, fast heart rate (tachycardia), shortness of breath, slow heart rate (bradycardia).
Congenital Heart Defects: Congenital heart defects develop while the baby is growing in the womb. It affects the blood flow in the heart. Certain medical conditions, medications, genes, etc. can increase the risk of congenital heart defects.
Symptoms include pale gray or blue skin or lips (cyanosis), swelling of the legs, abdomen or areas around the eyes, gasping for breath during feeding, and low body weight.
Heart valve disease: This condition occurs when the valves of the heart do not work properly. Valves in the heart ensure that blood flows in one direction. When these are affected, blood travels in the opposite direction. It affects blood circulation in the body; Blood flow will also be blocked.
Gout is the main reason for this. It can also be caused by birth defects or bacterial infection. Generally, this effect is more common in children. Symptoms include chest pain, fainting, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, and swelling in the feet or ankles.
Heart muscle disease (cardiomyopathy) – in which the left ventricle becomes harder, larger or thicker than normal. Due to this, the patient’s heart weakens over time. The risk of heart failure increases as the heart loses its ability to pump blood properly and at the right volume.
It can happen through inheritance. It can also be caused by heart attacks, infections, cancer drugs, and poisons. This disease can be easily diagnosed through echo examination. Symptoms include fainting, dizziness, fatigue, shortness of breath, irregular heart beats, swelling of legs and feet.
What to do? – ‘Check your numbers’ in English. Checking our body weight, blood sugar level, fat level, blood pressure, blood cell count etc. at appropriate intervals and keeping them under control will help to avoid the risk to a large extent.
We should be very careful about our body weight. BMI Always keeping the size under 30 will reduce the risk. Mainly, our waistline needs extra attention. Waist should be within 90 cm for men and 95 cm for women. If this level is exceeded, fat will start accumulating in the abdomen. It is also the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. Apart from these, uncontrolled high blood pressure is also dangerous.
Not controlling blood pressure or not treating it properly can lead to blockage or bursting of blood vessels. Starting to pay extra attention to your health after the age of forty can protect your heart. Healthy lifestyle changes should become our norm.
Adequate sleep (7 to 9 hours) is essential. Going to bed at the same time every day and waking up at the same time will improve the quality of sleep. Eat whole foods instead of fried and fried foods.
Practicing joy and letting go of worries can reduce stress. Yoga, meditation etc can help with this. Immediate attention is important for psychological problems. If necessary, consult a psychiatrist or counselor to recover.
Importantly, if symptoms related to heart disease appear, an ECG or treadmill test should be done immediately. If the test results are normal but the symptoms persist, it is a good idea to get an angiogram without hesitation. With adequate awareness rather than negligence or ignorance, deaths from heart disease can be almost completely prevented.