What is cardiovascular disease?

Cardiovascular disease is a collection of diseases and conditions of the heart and all of the blood vessels throughout your body.  Diseases and conditions affecting the heart are called heart diseases.  These diseases and conditions may affect the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy); the arteries that supply the heart (coronary artery disease); or the valves that ensure that the blood is pumped in the right direction (valvular disease).  Diseases of the blood vessels may affect any one of four types of blood vessels: arteries, veins, capillaries and lymphatics.  Arteries carry blood away from your heart and to your body delivering oxygen and nutrients.  Veins carry the blood, after the oxygen has been removed, back to your heart.  Capillaries connect arteries and veins. Lymphatics are delicate vessels that carry fluid, that leaks out of the capillaries to bathe the cells, back into your body’s central circulation.  Some types of blood vessel disorders are atherosclerosis/ atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, stroke and aneurysm. 

http://www.mayoclinic.org/cardiovascular-rst/cardioheartclinic.html
 

What is a heart attack?

A heart attack occurs when the supply of blood and oxygen to an area of heart muscle is blocked, usually by a clot in a coronary artery.  Often, this blockage leads to (irregular heartbeat, or rhythm) that cause a severe decrease in the pumping function of the heart and may bring about sudden death.  If the blockage is not treated within a few hours, the affected heart muscle will die and be replaced by scar tissue. 

A heart attack is a life-threatening event! Everyone should know the warning signs and how to get emergency help.  Many people suffer permanent damage to their hearts or die because thy do not get help immediately.

A heart attack is an emergency!  Call 9-1-1 if you think you (or someone else) may be having a heart attack.  Prompt treatment of a heart attack can help prevent or limit lasting damage to the heart and can prevent sudden death. 

Signs and symptoms vary from person to person. In fact, if you have a second heart attack, your symptoms may not be the same as for the first heart attack.  Some people have no symptoms.  This is called a “silent” heart attack.  Signs and symptoms of a heart attack are:

• Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the chest that lasts for more than a few minutes.

• Pain, discomfort or numbness in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.

• Shortness of breath

• Nausea and/or vomiting

• Feeling light headed or dizzy

You can lower your risk for a heart attack by making healthy lifestyle choices:

• Eat a healthy diet to prevent or reduce high blood pressure and/or high blood cholesterol.

• Maintain a healthy weight

• If you smoke, quit.

• Exercise as directed by your doctor

• Lose weight if you are overweight or obese

What is high blood pressure?

High blood pressure is a blood pressure reading of 140/90 mmHg or higher.  The blood pressure level should be lower than 120/80.  When the level stays high, 140/90 or higher, you have high blood pressure.  With high blood pressure, the heart works harder, your arteries take a beating, and your chances of a stroke, heart attack and kidney problems are greater. Nearly one in three American adults has high blood pressure.  Once high blood pressure develops, it usually lasts a lifetime.  The good news is that it can be treated and controlled.  High blood pressure is called “the silent killer” because it usually has no symptoms.  Some people may not find out they have it until they have trouble with their heart, brain or kidneys.  If you have high blood pressure, follow your doctor’s advice about keeping your blood pressure under control.  Take blood pressure medicines as directed.  You can control your blood pressure by making lifestyle changes:

• Eat a healthy diet

• Maintain a healthy weight

• Exercise as directed by your doctor

• Lose weight if you are overweight or obese

• Choose and prepare foods with less salt

• Lose weight if you are overweight or obese

What are the common signs and symptoms of angina?

The pain or discomfort of angina is often described as pressure, squeezing, burning, or tightness in the chest.  It usually starts in the chest behind the breastbone.  It may also occur in the arms, shoulders, neck, jaw, throat, or back and  feel like indigestion.  

Some people say that angina discomfort is hard to describe or that they can't tell exactly where the pain is coming from. Symptoms such as nausea, fatigue, shortness of breath, sweating, light-headedness, or weakness may also occur.

Angina  is chest pain or discomfort that occurs when your heart is not getting enough blood. Blood flow to the heart is reduced as plaque (fatty deposits) narrow the coronary arteries.  This decreases the oxygen supply to the heart muscle.  You can prevent or lower your risk for angina by making lifestyle changes and getting treatment for related conditions.  Suggestions for lifestyle changes include the following: 

• Eat a healthy diet to prevent or reduce high blood pressure and/or high blood cholesterol

• If you smoke, QUIT

• Exercise as directed by your doctor

• Lose weight if your are overweight or obese

• If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar under control

What is cholesterol?

Cholesterol (ko-LES-ter-ol) is a waxy, fat-like substance that is found in all cells of the body.  Your body needs some cholesterol to work the right way and it makes all the cholesterol you need.  Cholesterol is also found in some of the foods you eat.  You use cholesterol to make hormones, Vitamin D, and substances that help you digest foods.

LDL (low density lipoprotein) cholesterol is sometimes called “bad” cholesterol. High LDL cholesterol leads to a buildup of cholesterol in arteries.  The higher the LDL level in your body, the greater chance you have for getting heart disease. 

HDL (high density lipoprotein) cholesterol is sometimes called “good” cholesterol  HDL carries cholesterol from other parts of your body back to your liver.  The liver removes the cholesterol from your body.  The higher your HDL cholesterol level, the lower your chance of getting heart disease.  The normal for total cholesterol  is below 200 mg/dL;  the normal LDL is below 100 Mg/dL and the normal HDL is 60 mg/dL or higher.

In order to maintain cholesterol levels that will help you to prevent heart disease:

• Avoid foods that are high in saturated fats
• Limit foods with trans fats
• Eat more fish and poultry and less beef and pork
• Exercise at least 5 days a week for at lease 20-30 minutes
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Don't overindulge in alcohol