Each year, 5 million Americans will suffer from heart failure, a condition in which the heart can’t pump blood to other organs in the body. The root cause is not simply a matter of “blocked pipes” or genetics. Culprits behind this include narrowed arteries, scar tissue, high blood pressure, heart valve disease, cardiomyopathy (disease of the heart muscle itself), congenital heart defects, infection of the valves (endocarditis), infection of the heart (myocarditis), or a combination of factors.
How do you know if you are at risk for heart failure? Smoking, eating diets high in fatty foods or cholesterol-rich foods and not exercising enough are lifestyle causes that may contribute to heart disease. You have probably heard that genetics can play a part as well, but health experts stress the importance of minimizing risk through smart lifestyle choices. If you’re not sure what you should be eating, then a simple trip to the dietician or logging onto a website like sparkspeople.com can help get you on track, alerting you to problems in your existing diet. It helps to have a motivational exercise buddy too, so find one and get to the gym or take daily walks around the block just to keep yourself in tip-top shape. Staying healthy doesn’t have to be a hassle or a compromise.
To check if you may have heart health problems, your general practitioner can run several tests to be sure. Many people avoid getting tested in advance because they fear invasive pokes and prods, but most of these screening tests are very non-invasive. For instance, one test, which is a “stress test,” has you walking on a treadmill for a specific interval of time through several intensity levels, while an IV-injected tracer moves through the blood, indicating possible obstructions or strain. Another test, the EKG, simply monitors your heart rhythms through electrical wires with adhesive ends stuck to your chest, arms and legs. An “Echocardiogram” is simply an ultrasound image taken of your chest, which is as painless as a photograph. Most people are familiar with the usual hypertension/blood pressure test done with a cuff around your bicep. The most invasive test, which is recommended for people with a genetic predisposition, is the “Catheriterization,” which is a small tube inserted into the artery, which may open an obstruction or insert dye to see where the problem spots are.
If you’ve suffered heart failure, then chances are you’ll need medication to reverse some of the hits your body has taken. One class of drugs, ACE-Inhibitors, are often referred to as the first line of defense and include brand names like Capoten, Vasotec, Lotensin, Mavik, Monopril and Aceon. ACE-Inhibitors work by causing blood vessels to expand, thus lowering blood pressure and heart strain. If your circulation is generally poor, resulting in fluid buildups, then your doctor will likely prescribe a diuretic or water pill such as Lasix, Midamor or Diuril. Another category of drugs, Vasodilators, cause the blood vessel walls to widen. Beta-Blockers, like Lopressor and Tenormin reduce the heart’s tendency to beat too fast, which keeps the heart rate normal and lowers blood pressure. Health experts agree that ingesting potassium and calcium are also necessary supplements if you’re on any kind of heart medication.
As we start to get older there are important numbers that start to weigh to a great extent upon us. We have to concern ourselves about our weight, levels of cholesterol, as well as our blood pressure. Things we may have ignored our entire lives now all of a sudden they have significant importance. But these are things that should never have been pushed aside. A lifetime of misuse on the body renders just negative things when left unchecked.
Your cholesterol level is absolutely all-important if you want to stay healthy and your body functioning properly. High levels has the ability to lead lead to heart attacks and stroke, both things you do not want to have to deal with. Being mindful about your cholesterol level is not just for the aging. It is something both young as well as old have to worry and be aware of if they want to lead a healthy lifestyle. In this article we will go over the basics of cholesterol and hopefully you will understand just how important a healthy level is to your body as well as peace of mind.
What is bad cholesterol?
LDL cholesterol is bad. All cholesterol is carried by lipoproteins but the low-density lipoproteins moves in the blood stream and allows the cholesterol to begin to accumulate. If there is too much LDL then the cholesterol begins building up on the walls of the arteries. It begins to form plaque which makes the arteries hard and not as flexible. When clots form and block the artery a heart attack or stroke can occur.
What types of medicines are given for high cholesterol?
Obviously the first choice of physicians is exercise and a healthy diet low in trans fats. But when that does not work or there is a high level of LDL present then medications must be brought in to help. There are many different types of medicines currently being used to treat high cholesterol. The goal of each type of medicine is to lower the amount of LDL present in the blood stream and to help remove blockage and build up that has occurred. Some of these medicines are statins, bile acid resins, and nicotinic acid and fibric acid derivatives.
In what way is the blockage from the arteries withdrawn?
The first stage is through medicines but if there is a critical narrowing or blockage in the artery or blood vessel then a somewhat more invasive procedure is required. The actual processes may change but one common method is done through the use of a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is entered into the artery and then naviagted to the obstruction where the build up of plaque has taken place. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the procedure is minimally intrusive and the majority of patients are able to going home that day.
How do I know what my cholesterol is?
Well in order to know what your cholesterol is you should have a blood cholesterol testing performed at least every five years. The most recommended test is a fasting lipoprotein blood profile. This test measures not only your total cholesterol but it also specifies the LDL and the HDL levels. It is a great idea to be knowledgeable about where your numbers are and to ensure that they are in the proper healthy range.
To learn more click here Cholesterol Chart also Cholesterol Guidelines and at Normal Cholesterol Levels
