You may have heard it again and again, eat right, stay healthy, do good for your heart and what not. We also know that our heart’s health is very important for a healthy living. But how do you care for your heart? These are the basics of Heart Care-
On Factors impacting our cardiac health.
Heart disease is a major cause of death in India. About 7 lakh Indians die of heart disease every year, and the numbers are increasing day by day. This is mostly due to the lifestyle changes in Indian population including food habits, sedentary lifestyle and stress.
The commonest form of heart disease in adult is coronary artery disease, which includes heart attack, acute coronary syndrome and angina. This is caused when the coronary arteries (the arteries that supply the heart muscle with oxygen-containing blood) become narrowed by a gradual build-up of fatty material within their walls. This condition is called atherosclerosis, and the fatty substance is called atheroma.
There are various risk factors, which are identified as the culprit for coronary artery disease. These include diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, smoking, stress and positive family history of premature heart disease in first or second-degree relatives. Identifying this risk factors and managing them at the earliest does protect individuals from developing coronary artery disease.
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DIABETES
Diabetes happens when the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly. In most patients with Type 2 diabetes, this tends to develop gradually after the age of 40. Both genetic and environmental factors contribute to the development of diabetes. People are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes if they have some or all of the following risk factors:
- not being physically active enough
- being overweight
- a family history of type 2 diabetes
- previous diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
High glucose levels in the blood affect the walls of the arteries, making them more likely to develop atheroma. Diabetes can affect the nerves to the heart, so that symptoms of angina (chest pain) may not be felt in the usual way. This leads to delay and difficulties in diagnosing coronary artery disease.
Hypertension
Hypertension affects 1 in 4 people above the age of 40 in India. In about 9 out of every 10 people, there is no definite cause of high blood pressure. This condition is known as ‘essential hypertension’. The following can all play a part:
- not doing enough physical activity
- being overweight
- having too much salt in your diet
- drinking too much alcohol, and
- not eating enough fruits and vegetables.
Genes are another factor. So, if one or both of your parents have (or had) hypertension, you have a greater chance of developing it too.
High Cholesterol
Cholesterol plays a vital role in how every cell works, throughout the body. It is also the material, which the body uses to make other vital chemicals. However, too much cholesterol in the blood can increase your risk of getting heart and circulatory disease.
Coronary artery atheroma develops when the level of the ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol is too high. On the other hand, HDL cholesterol is ‘good’ because it removes excess cholesterol from the circulation, and helps to protect against coronary heart disease.
Smoking
Smoking is one of the major causes of cardiovascular disease. People who smoke are almost twice as likely to have a heart attack as people who have never smoked. If you are a smoker, stopping smoking is the single most important step you can take to reduce the risk of having a heart attack and to live longer. Smoking damages the lining of the arteries, which can lead to the build-up of atheroma (fatty material) in the arteries. The carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke reduces the amount of oxygen that the blood can carry to the heart and around the body. The nicotine in cigarettes stimulates the body to produce adrenaline, which makes the heart beat faster and raises blood pressure, which makes the heart work harder. Smoking may also make the blood more likely to clot. All of these things increase the risk of developing coronary artery disease or a stroke.