Cardiovascular Diseases

Introduction

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) refer to a group of diseases that affect the heart.

Risk Factors

• Controllable Risk Factors:
• Unhealthy diet.
• Smoking.
• High cholesterol.
• High blood pressure.
• Diabetes.
• Sedentary lifestyle.
• Obesity.
• Constant stress.
• Uncontrollable Risk Factors:
  • Family history.
  • Age (getting older).

Causes and Consequences

• CVDs narrow or block blood vessels, preventing blood flow to the heart, brain, or other body parts.
• Blockages, often caused by fatty deposits in the inner walls of vessels, can lead to:
  • Heart attacks.
  • Strokes.

Types of Cardiovascular Diseases

• Coronary Heart Disease: Affects blood vessels supplying the heart muscle.
• Cerebrovascular Diseases: Affects blood vessels supplying the brain.
• Peripheral Arterial Disease: Affects blood vessels supplying the arms and legs.
• Rheumatic Heart Disease: Caused by streptococcus bacteria, leading to damage in heart valves and muscles.
• Congenital Heart Disease: Heart defects present at birth.
• Pulmonary Embolism: Blood clots in veins of the legs that travel to the heart and lungs.

Common Symptoms

Often, there are no symptoms that indicate cardiovascular disease. A heart attack or stroke may be the first warning sign.

Heart Attack Symptoms:

• Chest pain or discomfort.
• Pain in left shoulder, elbows, jaw, or back.
• Shortness of breath.
• Nausea, fainting, and sweating.

Stroke Symptoms:

• Numbness in the face, arm, or leg, often on one side of the body.
• Difficulty speaking or understanding speech.
• Vision issues in one or both eyes.
• Severe headache or dizziness.

Rheumatic Heart Disease Symptoms:

• Chest pain.
• Irregular heartbeat.
• Shortness of breath.
• Joint swelling and fever.

Prevention of Cardiovascular Diseases

• Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits.
• Quit smoking and avoid alcohol.
• Avoid high salt, fat, and sugar intake.
• Exercise regularly.
• Maintain healthy blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
• Manage stress.

Congenital Heart Defects

These are deformities that are discovered after birth, and may include the following symptoms:

• Pale or blue skin color.
• Shortness of breath while breastfeeding (in infants).
• Swelling in the legs, abdomen, or around the eyes.

Cardiomyopathy Symptoms

Cardiomyopathy is a spasm of the heart muscle in the early stages, which includes the following symptoms:

• Shortness of breath with exertion.
• Swelling in legs, ankles, and feet.
• Abdominal bloating due to fluid.
• Irregular heartbeat, dizziness, and fainting.

Heart Valve Diseases

The heart has four valves:

• Mitral Valve: Separates the left atrium and ventricle.
• Aortic Valve: Controls blood flow from the left ventricle to the aorta.
• Tricuspid Valve: Controls blood flow from the right atrium to the right ventricle.
• Pulmonary Valve: Controls blood flow from the right ventricle to the pulmonary artery.

Symptoms of heart valve disease:

• Fatigue, lethargy, and chest pain.
• Heart palpitations and coughing blood.
• Swelling of feet or ankles.

Complications:

• Stroke.
• Heart attack.
• Heart failure.
• Sudden cardiac arrest.
• Aneurysm.

Diagnosis:

Tests may include:

• Blood tests, X-rays, and electrocardiogram (ECG).
• Echocardiography or transesophageal ultrasound.
• Cardiac catheterization or heart biopsy.
• CT scans and MRI.

Treatment Options

• Lifestyle Changes: Adopt a healthy lifestyle.
• Medications: Use drug therapy as needed.
• Surgery: Surgical interventions where necessary.

Prevention

• Exercise regularly.
• Follow a healthy diet.
• Maintain normal blood pressure, cholesterol, and sugar levels.
• Quit smoking and manage stress.