1-2informationalways asked:


Someone in my family has COPD and heart disease, which may include enlarged heart and definetely arrhythmia. I add no salt to food and make sure canned goods, such as sausages are rinsed. This goes for ham and many other salty foods.

Still, in last two years when she got very ill_having been diagnosed with COPD and some of the heart problems few years earlier_and having been in and out of hospital in at least five occassions, I still believe a lot of her crisis have to do with whatever additives (including salt) there are in packaged goods. By the way none of the doctors_and there have been plenty of them_have “strongly” cautioned against salt. Until unfortunately she has a crisis, which inludes a sort of inbalance, such as sodium being LOW instead of high, or normal for that matter. The potassium sometimes gets high, towards the end of her stay at hospital. And of course there’s the worse part which is the high concentration of carbon dioxide, occurring in patients w/COPD.

Carmen

Kunal Chittar asked:


My family has a history of Heart disease and diabetise. I am not married and have no girl friend.

Gilbert

Suesunflower asked:


I have been considering changing my diet to vegetarian because of my personal and family health history including heart disease, strokes and blood disorders. My boyfriend is overweight and has heart problems and diabetes. What diet would be best for us?

Diane

Jim J asked:


I’ve been monitoring my BP for the past few months. My overall average is 118/76, normal. I know there are other factors for having heart disease, but isn’t it normally indicative of a good strong normal heart? I do get daily papiltations, but have had those for years. They freak me out, last about 5 seconds, but never any pain.

Eileen

abby asked:


Hi,

My father has had two quadruple bypasses and two heart attacks so I know a little bit about heart conditions. I am 24 right now and I want to reduce the chances of ever getting coronary heart disease. I know that low doses of aspirin around 75-81mg are prescribed to people with heart conditions to “thin” the blood and today I read an article about how not enough people take aspirin as a precaution against heart attacks. I also know that aspirin even in mild doses can cause ulcers, especially if you drink, which I do quite frequently. I wanted to know if now is a good time to start taking aspirin because even though i exercise and eat healthy and do some cardio, I also smoke, and I probably am genetically more likely to develop heart disease….Does anyone know the answer to this? Also would aspirin make me more prone to getting dizzy and unable to perform more strenuous activity because it ‘thins’ my blood? Thanks a lot for reading this.

Howard

Cindy Heller asked:


Although women are less prone to heart disease as compared with men, it must be known that heart disease is the leading cause of death for women today. The risk is in fact higher for women for certain profile of the population. For example, women smokers are several times more prone to heart disease than male smokers.

Heart diseases are caused by many different factors. For example old age, obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetic and a sedentary lifestyle can cause heart disease to develop. In addition, menopause in women can also causes heart disease.

Understanding the causes of heart disease is the important first step toward prevention of the disease. Prevention of the disease after all is much better than cure. In this regard, people at risk of heart disease should have regular check-ups and also stick to the instructions by their doctors.

Knowing the causes of heart disease will help you in taking preventive measures such as reducing the level of cholesterol, keeping to a healthy body weight, eating healthy foods and exercise regularly. A change in lifestyle and diet will go a long way in removing many of the causes of heart disease. If you feel that you are at risk of develop heart disease, consult a doctor as soon as possible. Early and proper treatment will prevent more serious conditions from developing. Although heart disease is basically unavoidable, there are certain things that you can do to prevent it, for example, maintaining a healthy diet and exercising regularly. By keeping yourself healthy, you will not only prevent heart disease; you will also be better prepared to deal with many other ailments and health conditions.

It is important to understand that heart attack is triggered by two different factors. The first is the pathological buildup of abnormal plaque in the arteries, plaque that gradually hardens through calcification. The other factor involves the blood clotting that blocks blood flow to the heart. One of the latest theories on coronary artery disease is that it is an inflammatory process, which is characterized by repeated cycles of irritation, injury and healing of the blood vessels.

The Problem of Late Diagnosis

Doctors today are better equipped to diagnose and treat heart disease in women. However, in many cases, the diagnosis is made very late such that effective treatment is not possible. Often, a diagnosis of women coronary heart disease is made after a stroke or a heart attack. Often, the contributing factors to heart disease in women are due to cigarette smoking, high cholesterol level, high blood pressure, lack of exercise, obesity and even suffering from diabetes.

A woman who actively sough to eliminate these risk factors will have a better chance of survival as well as not being struck down by the many potential heart diseases. It may mean having to change one lifestyle for the better.

Heart disease in women can also be caused by age, effect of menopause and heredity. Thus, women need to know the risk factors that cause heart diseases, negate their effects and avoid aggravating any existing condition.

Women can take active measures such as taking vitamins and certain medications. Medications that can help prevent heart disease includes Sytrinol, Potassium and also M.S.M. Sytrinol has been found to be effective in keeping the cholesterol levels normal by reducing triglycerides as well as low low-density lipoprotein levels. M.S.M. also can develop protein and keep the connective tissues strong.

For more information regarding heart disease and heart disease in women, you should consult your doctor to discuss the possible treatment and preventive methods, especially if you have existing high risk factors. All is not lost if you have already developed a heart disease.

The range of treatment options available today, from pills to minimally invasive surgeries, means that prognosis is much better than in the past. The only thing to add to tip the balance in your favor would be a positive attitude and living as healthy a lifestyle as possible.

Stay fit with regular exercise and a proper diet. Seek the support of family and friends, or even specialized non-profit organizations, to steady and toughen your mental resilience. All these will help to combat the effects of heart disease.

Francisco

c.madden asked:


Working on a small project on coronary heart disease. It would be great if you helped me out. Even better if you helped me on symptons/signs, how do you prevent it and statistics

Erin

Wallace W asked:


I other words how are levels of hdl and ldl likded to heart disease?

Anne

Peter sams asked:


There is a wide range of effective drug treatments for people with heart disease. These drugs can help lower blood pressure or cholesterol, prevent or dissolve blood clots, relieve and prevent angina symptoms or improve the strength or rhythm of the heart’s contractions.

Medical procedures to diagnose and treat heart disease include coronary angiography, coronary artery bypass grafts, coronary angioplasty, coronary stenting, heart transplants, operations for congenital defects, surgery for heart valve defects, electrophysiological treatments and implanting of cardiac defibrillator.

In addition to drug treatments and surgery, there is a range of treatments for heart disease and procedures for diagnosing heart disease.

Surgery

In severe cases, surgery may be needed to open blocked blood vessels. Some evidence suggests that surgical procedures are better for patients with blockages above the knee, and that more conservative measures might be just as effective for blockage below the knee.

Replacement therapy for end-stage heart failure

Heart failure patients treated with a left ventricular assist device (LVAD) lived longer and better than patients who did not receive the device.

Surgeons implanted the pump, which is the size of a compact disc player, into the upper part of the abdominal wall or in the peritoneal lining. A tube on the device enters the left ventricle and drains blood from the ventricle into the device.

TREATMENTS FOR heart failure - implantable heart devices and cell-grown tissues - are among the top 10 research advances in heart disease and stroke for 2001, says David Faxon, president of the American Heart Association.

Other major milestones include drug-eluting stents and the use of stem cell transplants to repair stroke-damaged brains. Created in 1996, the `Top 10′ list highlights major gains in heart disease and stroke research.

Less Invasive Surgery for Heart Disease

It is not surprising that many people suffering from heart disease that requires surgery would rather opt for less invasive methods. Heart disease surgery is a major operation and the time needed for recuperation and rehabilitation is extensive. Less invasive techniques involve less pain and scarring as incisions are much smaller and recovery times are much quicker. This kind of heart disease surgery is becoming a routine alternative to the big heart operations.

Less invasive heart disease surgery does not require the entire chest cavity to be opened up since small incisions are used in this less complex form of operation. In addition, there is no need for vessel grafts from the arms or legs and no need for huge equipment like heart lung machines. This type of heart disease surgery also means a shorter stay in hospital and a lesser chance of complications for the patient.

Ischaemic Heart Disease

Surgical therapy is indicated when medical treatment has failed to relieve symptoms or when the Angiogram shows significant disease in the blood vessels. Coronary Angioplasty - dilating the blocked vessel by inflating a balloon inside the vessel and Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG) - replacing the blocked area of the vessel using a graft from the patient, may be done to relieve the blockage.

Prevention

Risk factors like a fatty diet, smoking, sedentary lifestyle and stress should be avoided, as they are the main areas of focus in prevention. Avoiding foods rich in saturated fats is vital to reduce lipid levels in the blood and to prevent arteriosclerosis. Adequate regular exercise is also essential. Diabetes Mellitus and hypertension should be kept under good control with proper treatment.

Alfred