The Silent Killer: Heart and Blood Vessel Disease
Heart and blood vessel disease affects millions of people in the United States, whether they are aware of it or not. In fact, heart and blood vessel diseases kill more Americans every year than all forms of cancer combined—the first leading cause of death in the country (1). Heart and blood vessel disease can sneak up on you slowly or develop suddenly, often without any warning signs. This makes it so important to understand what you can do to protect yourself from developing this type of disease or dying from it if you already have it.
What heart and blood vessel disease is
Heart disease is a general term that encompasses a wide range of problems with the heart. The heart is responsible for pumping blood throughout the body, so if it’s not working properly, your entire circulatory system can be affected. There are many different forms of heart disease, including coronary artery disease (hardened arteries) and cardiomyopathy (a degenerative condition). To learn more about the types of heart disease we see at our center, click here.
Blood vessel diseases refer to any problem with your vessels that carry blood to your organs or other parts of your body. They include peripheral vascular disease, which occurs when plaque builds up in your arteries leading away from your heart; abdominal aortic aneurysm, which is an enlarged artery in the abdomen; cerebral vascular accident, which is a stroke caused by an obstruction of one of the brain’s blood vessels; and Buerger’s Disease, which causes inflammation in leg veins due to tobacco use. In addition, there are also some cancers that may lead to circulation issues, such as leukemia and lymphoma. There are many signs and symptoms associated with these conditions, but they often don’t show up until the disease has progressed significantly. Signs you should watch out for include chest pain; shortness of breath; dizziness; loss of consciousness; sudden numbness or weakness on one side of the body; confusion and personality changes. If you notice any warning signs in yourself or someone you know, visit your doctor right away!
Stages of heart and blood vessel diseases
Heart disease is a condition where the heart's blood supply is blocked. This can be due to an infection, cholesterol buildup in the arteries, or narrowing of the artery due to atherosclerosis. Symptoms may include chest pain that feels like pressure or a tightness, shortness of breath, dizziness, and lightheadedness. Artery diseases are often asymptomatic until a blockage occurs. If a blockage occurs in an artery supplying blood to the brain, it can lead to a stroke. Symptoms of this type of disease include blurred vision, slurred speech, numbness on one side of the body (particularly on one side of the face), difficulty walking without assistance or tingling in hands and feet. There are many signs and symptoms of these types of diseases, so if you think you might have any, visit your doctor immediately. People with family members who have had heart attacks, strokes, or diabetes should go see their doctors regularly. Those who smoke should quit smoking because they are at risk for cardiovascular disease even if they do not meet other risk factors. Heart disease is the number one cause of death worldwide; people should take steps to protect themselves from becoming its next victim by watching what they eat and limiting their alcohol intake. It also includes being sure to exercise and get plenty of rest. Other risk factors for heart disease include high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, physical inactivity, stress, depression and sleep apnea.
Reducing your risk factors
You can reduce your risk of heart disease by making healthy lifestyle choices. These include eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight, minimizing alcohol intake and quitting smoking. Plus, you should also talk to your doctor about any medications you are taking or supplements you are using that might be increasing your risk for heart disease. Some drugs like erythropoietin which is used to treat anemia have been linked with increased rates of heart failure. One way to find out if this is the case for you is to have regular blood tests done that measure kidney function and red blood cells (reticulocytes). A low number of reticulocytes could indicate a drug-induced reduction in production of new red blood cells, which could lead to decreased oxygen levels in the body. While some patients may tolerate reduced oxygen levels, others may develop severe symptoms such as shortness of breath and headaches. Doctors recommend talking to their pharmacist before starting any new medication to ensure there will not be adverse effects on their health. Patients should be aware that they can sometimes take different forms of the same medication, so they can try a less potent one first to see how it affects them before moving on to more powerful ones. Patients should also check with their physician when beginning any supplement because there may be risks associated with those too. For example, research has shown that taking fish oil supplements (particularly krill oil) increases inflammation in high doses due to the presence of omega-6 fatty acids. Omega-6s are polyunsaturated fats found naturally in plant foods but not animal products; and high amounts can cause damage to arteries by causing inflammation and oxidizing cholesterol plaque within artery walls.
Treating heart and vascular diseases
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, claiming more lives than cancer. Heart disease is most commonly caused by hardening of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. This process occurs when cholesterol plaque builds up on arterial walls due to a high-fat diet, smoking, diabetes, or low levels of HDL (the good cholesterol). It can lead to narrowing of the arteries as it accumulates and eventually heart attack or stroke.
There are many treatments for heart disease including lifestyle changes such as reducing fat intake and exercising regularly. Pharmaceutical drugs may also be prescribed such as statins which lower cholesterol levels in blood vessels. Other treatments include blood pressure medicines, nitrates for chest pain, and aspirin for thinning the blood. However, all these medications come with side effects that vary from person to person but some include muscle aches, headache, dizziness or trouble sleeping. While it is important to follow your doctor's advice about taking your medications correctly and attending scheduled appointments with them frequently it's also important to take care of yourself physically by eating healthy foods and getting regular exercise if you want a longer healthier life!
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