Everything You Need to Know About Heart Disease

ABOUT DOCTOR

Interventional Cardiologist

Apollo Hospitals, Indore

Dr. Sarita Rao is a Sr. Interventional Cardiologist at Apollo Hospitals, Indore. She is the first female Interventional Cardiologist in Central India. She is Fellow of American College of Cardiology(FACC) and Fellow of European Society of Cardiology(FESC)

For OPD Appointments Contact : +91 9893925000

OPD Timing at Apollo Hospitals, Indore: 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Location: Apollo Hospitals, Indore Sector D Rd, Scheme No 74C, Vijay Nagar, Indore.

OPD Timing at Clinic: 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM

Location: 303, Third Floor, Vishal Astra, Opp. Satya Sai School, A.B Road, Indore, MP.

Everything You Need to Know About Heart Disease

Several cardiac disorders can be included under the umbrella term "heart disease." Coronary artery disease (CAD), which hinders blood supply to the heart, is the most common heart disease in the United States. A heart attack may result from the inadequate blood supply.

How many distinct forms of heart disease are there?

When we talk about a wide spectrum of cardiovascular issues, we talk about heart disease. Heart disease is an umbrella term for a variety of illnesses. A variety of heart conditions include:-

• Arrhythmia— To put it simply, arrhythmia is an irregular cardiac beat.

• Atherosclerosis—The condition known as atherosclerosis causes arterial stiffening.

• Cardiomyopathy—- Because of this disorder, cardiac muscle thickens or weakens.

• Birth problems involving the heart — Birth abnormalities affecting the heart's congenital disabilities of nature are medically known as congenital heart defects.

• The disease of the coronary arteries (CAD)— Plaque formation within coronary arteries is the root cause of coronary artery disease. It's also known as "ischemic heart disease" in some circles.

• Infections of the heart — Bacteria, viruses, or parasites can bring on heart diseases.

Moreover, Heart disorders that damage the blood arteries are sometimes referred to collectively as cardiovascular disease.

To what extent does heart illness manifest

itself?

Heart illness is sometimes "silent," meaning that it is not detected until the patient develops symptoms such as a heart attack.

Symptoms of such occurrences may include

Heart Attack— Pain or discomfort in the chest, upper back, or neck; gastrointestinal distress; experience of nausea or vomiting; excessive weariness; discomfort in the upper body; dizziness; and shortness of breath.

Arrhythmia— Anxious fluttering in the chest (palpitations).

Insufficiency of the heart muscle— Symptoms include difficulty breathing, weakness, and bloating/swelling in the feet/ankles/legs/belly/neck veins.

Risk factors for heart disease?

Heart disease risk factors include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and smoking. There is a roughly 50% chance that you have one of these three risk factors. Heart disease risk factors include not only diabetes but also several other illnesses and behaviours.

• Extra weight and obesity

• A poor diet can lead to serious health problems.

• Insufficient exercise

• Abuse of alcohol to a harmful degree

Treatments

Changing one's lifestyle, using medications, or even having heart surgery are all frequent treatments for cardiovascular disease; however, the specifics depend on the patient's condition.

Surgery to bypass the coronary arteries

This unblocks the artery and permits blood to flow to the heart's affected area. The most common operation is a CABG or coronary artery bypass graft. A surgeon can bypass the blockage by transplanting a healthy blood artery from another body section.

A coronary angiogram

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This medical treatment is used to open up blocked or narrowed coronary arteries. It is frequently performed with the implantation of a stent, a tube made of wire mesh that opens blood vessels.

To fix or replace a faulty valve: When a valve stops working properly, a surgeon can replace or repair it.

Repair surgery: Heart aneurysms, aneurysms, and other congenital heart abnormalities are all treatable by surgery.

Implantable medical devices

Devices such as pacemakers and balloon catheters can assist in controlling heart rate and maintaining blood circulation.

Injection of a Laser

Angina can be treated using transmyocardial laser revascularisation.

Surgical procedures involving mazes

A surgeon can reroute electrical impulses by cutting new holes in tissue. It's a useful tool for treating atrial fibrillation.

Prevention

Modifying one's way of life can help lessen one's likelihood of developing heart problems. Some of these are–

Maintaining nutritional equilibrium

Choose a high-fibre diet high in whole grains and fresh fruits and vegetables to reduce your risk of heart disease. Moreover, avoiding processed foods and those high in fat, salt, and sugar may assist.

Regular exercise routine

This can improve cardiovascular health, lower cholesterol, and keep blood pressure steady. The average individual could benefit from exercising 150 minutes each week.

Controlling your weight so that you stay at a healthy BMI

One's BMI should be between 20 and 25 for optimal health. One's body mass index can be determined.

Reducing or eliminating tobacco use:

Tobacco use is a leading cause of heart disease and other cardiovascular complications. The recommended daily alcohol consumption for women is one standard drink, whereas, for men, it is two.

Problems with the foundation must be addressed.

Seek help if you suffer from excessive blood pressure, obesity, or diabetes; all three can negatively impact your heart health.

Taking these measures can improve health in general and lessen the likelihood of developing heart disease and its complications.