Natural Health Alternatives Blog

The heart or our circulatory system is the hero that supplies our whole body with blood and consists of a vast and complicated system of veins, arteries, capillaries and the most important, the heart. Cardiovascular disease, also referred to a heart disease, is a term used to describe a number of conditions that involve blocked and narrowed blood vessels causing strokes, heart attacks, chest pain/angina, arrhythmia or heart failure. Heart diseases have many types, namely congenial heart defects heart rhythm problems called arrhythmia and coronary heart disease as well as blood vessel disease. All of these diseases affect the valve or rhythm of your heart and weaken the heart’s muscles.

Types of Cardiovascular Disease

There are numerous types of cardiovascular disease that can be demarcated into two categories. The types which affect the heart are:

•    Arrhythmia

•    Stroke

•    Congenial Heart Disease

•    Coronary Artery Disease

•    Heart Failure Dilated Cardiomyopathy

•    Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

•    Mitral Regurgitation

•    Mitral Valve Prolapse

•    Pulmonary Stenosis

•    Aortic Stenosis

•    Atrial Fibrillation

•    Rheumatic Heart Disease

•    Radiation Heart Disease

Vascular disease that effect veins, capillary and arteries include:

•    Peripheral Artery Disease

•    Aneurysms

•    Atherosclerosis

•    Renal Artery Disease

•    Ischemic Stroke

•    Peripheral Venous Disease

•    Raynaud’s Disease

•    Blood Clotting Disorders

•    Buerger’s Disease 

Symptoms

Symptoms of different heart diseases vary. Some conditions such as hypertension do not cause any initial symptoms at all. However, a typical cardiovascular disease may present symptoms such as:

•    Shortness of breath

•    Nausea

•    Fatigue

•    Cold sweats

•    Dizziness or light-headedness

•    Pain in the chest that may be an oncoming of angina

•    Discomfort or ain in the lest arm, shoulders, jaw, back or elbows

Treatment

The treatment for cardiovascular disease depends on the type of heart condition of the patient. Some options include:

i.    Medication (for reduction of the low density lipoprotein cholesterol, regulation of the heart rhythm and improvement of blood flow)

ii.    Surgery (valve repair, valve replacement surgery or coronary artery bypass grafting)

iii.    Cardiac rehabilitation (lifestyle changes and counselling, exercise prescriptions)

For a heart attack the patient can be treated with:

•    Coronary Angioplasty

•    Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery

•    Medications (Anticoagulants, Cholesterol Lowering Medication, Beta Blockers, Calcium Channel Blockers, Angiotensin II Receptor Blocker, Antiplatelet Agents, ACE Inhibitors, Dual Antiplatelet Therapy, Diuretics And Vasodilators)

After a stroke, the patient can be treated with:

•    Cartroid Endaterectomy

•    Mechanical Thrombectomy to remove clot

•    Medications (Alteplase IV r-tPA)

Heart valve problems can be treated with:

•    Heart valve surgery

•    Medications (ACE Inhibitors, Antibiotics, Beta Blockers, Anticoagulants, Diuretics And Vasodilators)

Arrhythmia can be treated and controlled with:

•    Pacemaker

•    Medications (Atrial Fibrillation, Anticoagulant, Antiplatelet, Calcium Channel Blockers, Beta Blockers)

In addition to medications and to avoid surgery, doctors advise their patients to adopt a healthier lifestyle by adding physical activity in their lives, reducing stress, eating less processed and oily food and replacing their unhealthy diets with fruits, vegetables, lean meats and whole grains. It is also important to lose weight and eat a diet that is low in not only saturated fats but also salt. Patients are also advised to quit smoking and limit their alcohol intake. It is important to take care of your heart’s health and take any precaution which can help you avoid heart disease or control the symptoms.