Coronary heart diseases (CHD) also called ischemic heart diseases (IHD) is a leading cause of death worldwide. The heart attacks in addition to considerable fatality rate have also related social, financial and psychological time lasting burden.
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SURPRISING FACTS
Heart disease is one of the deadliest killers taking the lives of almost one million Americans each year. Unfortunately, almost half of patients die before hospital arrival. Each of us has a different susceptibility to cardiac disease. This susceptibility is called risk factors. Your fitness level and what you eat plays a major role. Approximately 64 million Americans have cardiovascular disease. Surprisingly; Forty % of those who suffer a heart attack have no clinical complains A silent heart attack is common in diabetics or during an operation under general anesthesia due to impairment of sensation.
A heart attack may occur due to heart disease but not always. Disturbance in cardiac rhythms can also called heart attacks and sudden death.
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Although it is the leading cause of death it can be prevented. Women usually have fewer heart attacks than men due to the cardio-protective action of female hormones but after menopause women catch up to men in the number of heart attacks experienced.
How you can be prone to heart attacks
The most commonly recognized risk factors are:
1-Stress.
A stressful life leads to increase in stress hormones adrenaline and thyroxine causing increase in heart rate and contraction force. In addition to cortisol which cause increase in platelets and red blood cells resulting in increase blood clotting risk. Additionally; Stress hormones also increase blood pressure and blood sugar levels making hypertension and diabetes mellitus out of control.
2-Smoking.
The risk of heart diseases correlates with the number of cigarettes per day and the duration of smoking. If you can’t quit at least decrease the numbers of cigarettes smoked per day. Both active and passive smoking are at risk of heart diseases.
3-High levels of Low density cholesterol LDL cholesterol (bad cholesterol).
Disturbed cholesterol profile particularly High levels of LDL is an important risk factor of heart attacks. LDL levels can be lowered by diet, healthy life style exercise and drugs as statins.
4- Low levels of high density cholesterol HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol)
Cholesterol lowering drugs (Statins) lower LDL and increase HDL levels helps plaque stabilization and reduces clotting susceptibility. Statins are now recommended by guidelines of the American college and European society of cardiology. Worth to be mentioned; Statins are taken by night for better action on lipid metabolism. 1
5-High Blood-pressure.
Blood pressure should be measured at regular intervals.
6- Obesity.
One of the greatest public health problems or emerging pandemics.
In fact; Obesity is an independent risk factor for heart diseases. Excess fat can also affect an individual’s blood pressure and blood lipid levels and interferes with their ability to use insulin effectively. 2
7- Diabetes
You should follow-up Blood sugar levels and keep in control. High Blood sugars levels in patients with heart attacks at Coronary care unit admission are associated with adverse outcomes. In fact; Diabetic ketoacidosis can predispose to heart attacks and the opposite is true as well.
Take Care; If your blood sugar is not controlled consult your physician. Your physician may add another oral hypoglycemic drugs or insulin injection as better blood sugar control have better long term outcome.
8-Hyperhomocystenemia
Increase blood levels of amino acid called homocysteine is termed hyperhpmocystenemia. hyperhomocysteinemia was associated with increase risk of heart attacks and strokes. Increase blood homocysteine levels may lead to endothelial cell damage, reduction in the flexibility of vessels, and alters the process of blood clot formation. Additionally; High homocysteine levels may lead to an augmentation of the adverse effects of other risk factors like hypertension, smoking, lipid and lipoprotein metabolism. In fact; hyperhomocystenemia may promote of the development of inflammation which is currently considered the main inciting event for heart attack [3
9-Heredity
A family history is risk factor for coronary heart diseases mostly due to sharing the same unhealthy luxurious life style habits in addition to genetic susceptibility.
The simplest Mantra for prevention of heart disease is; eat well, exercise and adopt a healthy lifestyle. Traditionally; and for countless times before and after: the simple truth is that those who do follow through with the advice enjoy a much healthier and longer life.
NOTE: Always check with your physician first before changing or implementing any sort of a diet or exercise program especially if you’re taking prescription or over the counter medicines.