Diagnosis and treatment

It is easy to ignore symptoms of CVD and think they are nothing or related to something else. If you are having signs of a heart attack such as chest pains, shortness of breath, dizziness, pain in the arms, neck or jaw you need to seek immediate help (Medline plus, 2009). The sooner you get help the better it is.

            If you are having symptoms of heart disease or have a family history of heart disease it is important to see your physician and talk about it. They can help you confirm a diagnosis and recommend treatment options.

            At the appointment you will need to fill out a medical history and symptoms. It is important to be honest about things even if you think it will make you look bad (AHA, 2017). Your blood pressure will be taken along with your height and weight, also the doctor will perform a physical exam. The doctor may also order some blood work to check levels of important substances such as electrolytes and cholesterol. A chest X-ray may also be done to determine if heart is enlarged or if there is congestion in the lungs (AHA, 2017).
Along with these tests the doctor may determine you need further testing.

·         EKG- records further electrical signals in heart

·          Holter monitor- continuous EKG usually 24hours

·         Echocardiogram- ultrasound of your heart

·         Stress test- checks your heart during exercise to see how it responds

·         Cardiac catheterization- is an invasive procedure where a tube is inserted into your arm or leg and goes to your heart- they then inject dye to see the blood flow through the heart

·         CT (cardiac computerized tomography) scan- scan that looks at head and chest for abnormalities.

·         Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)- takes pictures of heart

Once you have been diagnosed the treatment will vary depending on your condition. Treatment options usually include the following:

·         Lifestyle changes- develop a regular exercise routine, stop smoking, change diet to low fat and low sodium limit alcohol intake, maintaining healthy body weight

·         Medications- sometimes lifestyle changes aren’t enough to treat your heart condition. There are several different types and your physician will determine what’s best for you

·         Medical procedures or surgery- medications or lifestyle changes sometimes aren’t enough

Some of the medications used include an aspirin for its antiplatelet activity. Beta blockers are also used they block the action of adrenaline on the heart and help the heart beat more efficiently. Calcium channels are also used to help the heart muscles contract and pump more efficiently. Nitrates are used to increase the blood flow to the heart muscle by dilating the arteries.

Depending on the extent of the blockage an angioplasty may be performed with a stent placement. A coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) may be necessary people sometimes also call this an open heart surgery. 

American Heart Association (2017, May 27). Common Tests for Heart Failure. Retrieved from, http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartFailure/DiagnosingHeartFailure/Common-Tests-for-Heart-Failure_UCM_306334_Article.jsp#.WpyWZKinHIU

Mayo Clinic (2018, February 3). Heart Disease. Retrieved from, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353118

NHI MedlinePlus (2009). Heart Disease: Symptoms, Diagnosis, Treatment. Retrieved from, https://medlineplus.gov/magazine/issues/winter09/articles/winter09pg25-27.html

            

Risk Factors

Are you at risk for developing heart disease? No one is immune from heart disease, it effects all races and genders. There are many known risk factors for heart disease. A risk factor is considered a condition or habit that makes a person more likely to develop a disease it can also increase the chances an existing disease will get worse (NIH, 2017). The more risk factors you have the higher your chance of developing a disease is.

The American Heart Association classifies risk factors into three different groups. These include; major risk factors, modifiable risk factors, and contributing risk factors:

·        Major risk factors that you were born with and cannot be changed or controlled, these include:

o   Increasing age- the older you get the more your risk increases, most of the people who die of heart disease are older than 65 years of age 

o   Gender- older women are more likely to die within a couple weeks of having a heart attack than men are 

o   Men have a greater risk for heart attack than women

o   Hereditary- which includes race
o   Being post-menopausal 

·         Modifiable risk factors that can be changed or modified through medications or lifestyle change, these include:

o   Smoking

o   High blood cholesterol

o   High blood pressure

o   Physical inactivity

o   Diabetes

o   Obesity

·         Other contributing factors, which include:

o   Stress

o   Unhealthy diet

o   Alcohol

So, if you’re asking yourself what you can do to lower your risk, you can start by making lifestyle changes with your diet and exercise. Consult with you doctor to see what kind of exercise would be best for you. If you smoke, stop smoking. There are many different programs out there to help you stop smoking. Know what your body weight should be and weigh what you should and manage your stress. You can manage your stress by trying relaxation techniques such as yoga meditation, deep breathing or taking 15 a day to be just by yourself.

You can’t change your genetics but it is important to know the hereditary risk factors associated with your ethnicity. African Americans tend to have more problems with higher blood pressure which increases their risk of heart disease. Due to obesity and diabetes Mexican Americans, Native Americans, Hawaiians, and Asian Americans have a higher risk of heart disease.

If you think you are too young to have a heart attack you are wrong, you can have a heart attack at any age especially if you have multiple risk factors. You are never too young to start thinking about your heart health. Know your risk factors and start a plan. 

            

American Heart Association (2016, June). Understand Your Risk to Prevent a Heart Attack. Retrieved from, http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/HeartAttack/UnderstandYourRiskstoPreventaHeartAttack/Understand-Your-Risks-to-Prevent-a-Heart-Attack_UCM_002040_Article.jsp#.Wpyf-ainHIU

NIH (February, 2017). Lower Heart Disease Risk. Retrieved from, https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/hearttruth/lower-risk/index.htm

WebMD (2016, September 14). Risk Factors for Heart Disease. Retrieved from, https://www.webmd.com/heart-disease/risk-factors-heart-disease#1

Heart disease & Exercise

Exercise is very important to heart disease and many other diseases. Physical activity is anything that makes you move your body and burn calories (AHA, 2017). This includes swimming, walking, biking, running, and many other activities. The AHA suggests at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week or 75 minutes of vigorous exercise a week.

Benefits of exercise:

·         Strengthen heart and cardiovascular system

·         Improve circulation

·         Strengthen bones

·         Lower blood pressure

·         Help lose/maintain body weight

·         Helps control blood sugar/diabetes

·         Helps with mood/depression

·         Stress relief

Always consult with your doctor before starting an exercise program (Freeman, 2016). Here are some questions to ask your doctor:

·         How much exercise can I do

·         How often should I exercise

·         What type of exercise can I do

·         What if anything should I avoid

·         When should I take my medication around my exercise schedule

·         Do I have to monitor my pulse during exercises

When starting a new exercise program here are some things to keep in mind:

·         Start slowly- don’t overdo it

·         Remember to stretch before and after you exercise

·         Wear appropriate clothing for the exercise

·         During hot weather- exercise indoors or in morning or evening when weather is cooler

·         During cold weather make sure to keep nose and mouth covered or exercise indoors

·         Make sure and stay hydrated

·         Get advice from professional trainer or physical therapist on how to do exercises appropriately so you don’t hurt yourself

·         Think about joining an exercise group or class this can give you support

·         Always carry your nitro pills with you.

Physical exercise can be too much for your body and heart. Here are some of the warning signs that you need to watch out for:

·         Overly short of breath or fatigued

·         Nauseated

·         Irregular heart beat

·         Chest pain

·         Dizziness or lightheadedness

Stop exercise and notify your doctor to discuss the symptoms to see if changes in treatment need to be done.

Muscles that aren’t used become weak and atrophy the heart is a muscle and needs exercise just like any other muscle. To become stronger and healthier muscles need to be utilized regularly. Exercise helps the heart pump blood through the body more efficiently and also helps keep the arteries and other blood vessels flexible. Inactivity has been proven to be detrimental. Sedentary people tend to have a higher risk of developing heart disease and high blood pressure.

It can be hard to incorporate exercise into our lives. Everyone is busy and taking the time to exercise can seem impossible. There are ways to work exercise into our daily lives. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator at work. Going on a short walk at lunchtime and during breaks. Walk or ride bike to work if possible. Park far away from entrance at stores to get more steps in. Just remember the benefits of exercise is plentiful. Something is better than nothing.

American Heart Association (February 2014). Recommendations for Physical Activity in Adults. Retreived from, http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/PhysicalActivity/FitnessBasics/American-Heart-Association-Recommendations-for-Physical-Activity-in-Adults_UCM_307976_Article.jsp#.WpyZE6inHIU

MedlinePlus (2016, August 22). Being active when you have heart disease. Retrieved from, https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000094.htm

National Jewish Health (2016, January 1). Safe Exercise for Patients with Heart Disease. Retrieved from, https://www.nationaljewish.org/conditions/cardiac-conditions/exercise-and-heart-disease
Story, C. (April 10, 2012). Heartline. Can Exercise Reverse or Prevent Heart Disease. Retrieved from, https://www.healthline.com/health/heart-disease/exercise

Heart disease and diet

Have you ever heard the saying you are what you eat? It is true our diet is a very important part of our heart health along with our general health. What we consume affects our body in many different ways, and we need to choose our foods wisely. Changing your diet can be hard but it can be done. A healthy diet is one of the best ways to fight cardiovascular disease. You need to start by knowing how many calories you should be eating and drinking to maintain your weight. Nutrition and calorie information on food labels is typically based on a 2000 calorie diet. You may need fewer or more calories depending on several factors including age, gender, and level of activity (AHA, 2017). You need to control your portion sizes, overloading your plate, taking seconds and eating until your stuffed can lead to eating more calories than you need. One way to do this is to use a small plate or bowl to control the amount you eat. Keep track of the servings you eat. Serving sizes are different depending on the food. A serving size is a specific amount of food, defined by common measurements such as cups, ounces, or pieces. You may need to use measuring cups and or spoons or a scale to keep track of serving sizes (Mayo Clinic, 2018).

It can be hard to know what a healthy diet is with all the new diet trends out there. As you make your choices here are a few recommendations:

·         Eat more fruits and vegetables- they are a good source of vitamins and minerals, low in calories, and rich in dietary fiber

·         Select whole grains- they are a good source of fiber and other nutrients that can help regulate blood pressure and heart health

·         Limit unhealthy fats- decreasing how much saturated fats and trans fats you eat is important to decrease your risk of coronary artery disease

·         Choose poultry and fish without skin- prepare them without using saturated and trans fats

·         Select fat free and low-fat dairy products

·         Avoid beverages and food with added sugar

·         Choose food with less sodium and prepare foods with little or no salt. Eat no more than 2400 milligrams of sodium per day

·         Limit your alcohol intake

With all the diets out there, you need to make sure you choose one that meets the requirements. The American Heart Association recommends the DASH eating plan, dash stands for dietary approaches to stop hypertension. The DASH diet focuses on eating fruits, vegetables, grains and lean meats. It recommends 2300mg of sodium per day. It has a lower salt version that recommends no more than 1500mg of sodium per day. The DASH diet restricts red meat, salt, added sugars and fat. It has been known to lower blood pressure in people who have high blood pressure and in people who don’t.
 Another diet also recommended is the Mediterranean diet. The Mediterranean diet emphasizes eating a plant bases diet and limiting unhealthy fats. 

American Heart Association (2017, May 27). Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations. Retrieved from,  http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/HealthyLiving/HealthyEating/Nutrition/The-American-Heart-Associations-Diet-and-Lifestyle-Recommendations_UCM_305855_Article.jsp#.WptprqinHIU

Mayo Clinic (2018, February 13). Heart-Healthy diet: 8 steps to prevent heart disease. Retrieved from, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/in-depth/heart-healthy-diet/art-20047702

What is heart disease

      On average, someone dies of CVD every 40 seconds

                           

 Heart disease is something to take very seriously it is the leading cause of death for adult men in the United States (Dr. Axe, 2018). It is the leading cause of death for females over 65. It accounts for 800,000 deaths in the united states or one out of every three deaths.

Distribution of CVD deaths in males             

Distribution of CVD deaths in females             

Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. Diseases under the heart disease umbrella include blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects you’re born with (congenital heart defects), among others. The term “heart disease” is often used interchangeably with the term “cardiovascular disease.” Cardiovascular disease generally refers to conditions that involve narrowed or blocked blood vessels that can lead to a heart attack, chest pain (angina) or stroke. Other heart conditions, such as those that affect your heart’s muscle, valves or rhythm, also are considered forms of heart disease (Mayo Clinic, 2018). According to Covenant Health Care more than 62 million Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. There are many different types of heart disease. Many people are born with them which are congenital. Most of the heart diseases affect people later in life and develop overtime. Here is a list of the most common ones:

·         Coronary Artery Disease- blockage in the coronary arteries, the heart muscles don’t get enough oxygen.

·         Silent Ischemia- the blood flow to the heart is reduced but produces very little pain or symptoms, pain is usually experienced during physical exertion.

·         Angina- pain that happens when your heart is not getting enough oxygen and nutrients. It is usually caused by narrowing or muscle spasms in the coronary arteries.

·         Heart Attack- blood flow to part of the heart is blocked which can cause damage to the heart muscle.

·         Arrhythmia- when the hearts electrical system does not function correctly, it can cause the heart to race, become slow, irregular, or skip beats.

·         Peripheral Arterial Disease- is when fatty plaque builds up in the arteries and diminishes blood flow.

·         Heart valve problems 

    

Heart disease has many symptoms and they depend upon what type of heart disease you have. Symptoms can include chest pain, chest pressure, shortness of breath, pain, numbness or weakness in arms or legs, dizziness, weakness, shortness of breath, a racing heart, you may also have discoloration of your skin a pale or blue color, you may also tire easy, get short of breath during exercise, might experience swelling of your legs ankles or feet.

A heart attack happens when the blood flow to a certain part of the heart is blocked by a blood clot. The heart muscle that is supplied by the artery may begin to die or have permanent damage. While most people survive there first heart attack it means they need to make changes to their life.

 When a blood vessel that feeds the brain gets blocked it’s called an ischemic stroke. This causes the part of the brain cells to die when the blood supply is cut off. This can result in some permanent functioning disabilities such as walking and talking. 

Covenant Health Care (2015). Types of Heart Disease. Retrieved from, https://www.covenanthealthcare.com/main/typesofheartdisease.aspx

Mayo Clinic (2018, February 3). Heart Disease. Retrieved from, https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/heart-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20353118