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Types of cardiovascular diseases
Cardiovascular diseases affect the heart and blood vesselsare numerous and can be grouped as follows:
Coronary artery disease – refers to diseases of the coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood, such as atherosclerosis or acute myocardial infarction
Arterial hypertension – the increase in blood pressure above normal values can lead over time to the damage of blood vessels and the heart. Hypertension is a significant risk factor for the occurrence of serious pathologies such as heart attack and stroke.
Heart failure – the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs.
Valvular heart disease – valvular diseases involve damage or dysfunction of the heart valves, which can lead to problems with blood flow.
Cardiac arrhythmias – these constitute heart rhythm disorders and include conditions such as atrial fibrillation or ventricular tachycardia.
Congenital heart diseases – there are cardiac abnormalities present since birth, for example defects of the atrial or ventricular septum.
Peripheral artery diseases – affects the vessels that carry blood to the lower limbs, such as peripheral arterial disease.
cardiomyopathy – diseases of the heart muscle that impact the ability of the heart to pump blood in the body.
Endocarditis – inflammation of the endocardium, the mucosa lining the inside of the heart and heart valves, often caused by bacterial infections.
Despite the large number and complexity of these diseases, cardiovascular diseases can be largely prevented because the risk factors that contribute to their occurrence are under our control.
Risky behavior in terms of health makes us more vulnerable to cardiovascular diseases. Poor nutrition, smoking and alcohol consumption are just three of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, which we can manage.
Prevention of cardiovascular diseases
Genetics, family history or age are risk factors in the occurrence and development of cardiovascular diseases that we CANNOT control. On the other hand, the choices we make regarding food, daily routines, the adopted lifestyle, are entirely ours and can protect our cardiovascular health and well-being in general.
Quitting smoking
Quitting smoking – conventional smoking exposes the smoker to a mixture of over 7,000 toxic substances. Of these, at least 70 are carcinogenic agents with the potential to damage almost every organ system in the body.
Electronic cigarettes were developed as a less harmful alternative to classic smoking. The use of electronic cigarettes involves the inhalation of aerosols generated by heating the liquid (vapor).
Being new products, the long-term effects of using electronic cigarettes are not knownbut a study – review published in 2020, regarding the impact of electronic cigarettes on health, revealed the fact that among the consequences of vaping also counts:
Tachycardia Increased blood pressure.
Regarding the products with heated tobacco, they produce emissions of toxic substances such as nicotine, benzene, acrolein and nitrosamines. Until now, I know the following about the use of heated tobacco products:
Alters mitochondrial function Increases oxidative stress and susceptibility to respiratory tract infections Have potential harmful to cardiovascular health, similar to conventional smoking.
Maintaining a normal body weight and a balanced diet
Overweight and obesity contribute to heart disease, among other health problems. A series of studies and researches have carefully examined the link between cholesterol, high-fat diets and the development of cardiovascular pathologies – coronary disease, stroke and heart attack, etc.
Consuming saturated fats and trans fats can increase the level of LDL cholesterol (learn more about LDL and HDL cholesterol | Risks and treatment of high cholesterol). Saturated fats are found in animal products (red meat), dairy products and palm and coconut oils. Trans fats are found in processed foods such as biscuits, pastries and fast food.
How much saturated fat should we eat to keep our hearts healthy?
According to the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO), the intake of saturated fats should be less than 10% of the total energy intake (the number of calories consumed in a day). Regarding the intake of trans fats, the WHO recommends that it should amount to less than 1% of the total daily energy intake.
Why is it so hard to eat healthy?
The principles of a healthy diet are known to most people, to eat more vegetables and fruits, to limit sugar, alcohol, fats and, in general, ultra-processed products. However, why is it so difficult to eat healthy, balanced? Although we mentally assimilate what would be good to do, we cannot put it into practice.
Access to non-satiating products is extremely easy, especially in big cities there are numerous locations that sell fast food, products rich in sugars and fats. Shops, supermarkets, pastry shops can be found at every step, on the way to school, office, at the bus stations. Advertisements, price reductions, all mean consumption, without distinguishing between the need to consume (hunger) and the desire, appetite to eat. Often, such products have a lower cost, being accessible to people with low incomes. Insatiable eating habits are difficult to change because the preference for certain tastes is formed over time, therefore, the re-education of tastes involves a longer period, patience and perseverance, and many people abandon this process. “Healthy food” is not tasty is one of the favorite excuses when it comes to food choices. In reality, the craving for some types of food rich in fat, sugar or salt creates an addiction, which makes it difficult to switch to a healthier diet. There is an abundance of information, sometimes contradictory, this leads to confusion and disorientation – are organic products better? Is it okay to eat a lot of fruit or will fructose harm us? Do we use artificial sweeteners or do we choose sugar? And the list can go on. Eating healthy also requires discipline, meal planning and time allocated for their preparation, and unfortunately time is an increasingly limited resource.
Physical activity
Sport is not only an investment in the health of the brain, but also in the health of the heart because it increases its ability to pump blood. Regular physical exercises make the heart muscle stronger and more elastic, which leads to improved cardiac function.
At the same time, sports help reduce stress and improve mood, which can also have a positive impact on heart health. An active lifestyle:
Reduces the risk of high blood pressure Contributes to increasing the level of “good” cholesterol (HDL) Contributes to the decrease of the level of “bad” cholesterol (HDL) Improves the quality of sleep – restful sleep helps maintain a regular heart rate and reduces stress on the heart Supports a body weight within normal limits, extra pounds being a major risk factor in cardiovascular diseases.
sleep
Insufficient or excessive sleep is associated with an increased risk of heart disease and has a negative effect on other cardiovascular risk factors such as diet, physical activity, weight, blood pressure and inflammation.
For example, a person who sleeps less than he needs is more prone to the consumption of sweets and products rich in sugars. Through such a diet, the body tries to regulate its low energy level. Also, in conditions of fatigue, the chances of being sedentary increase, thus creating a vicious circle: fatigue – exhaustion – unhealthy diet – sedentary lifestyle.
Insufficient or poor quality sleep leads to increased inflammation in the body, which can affect blood vessels and arteries. Chronic inflammation is a risk factor for atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular diseases.
Lack of sleep can disrupt the regulation of appetite and metabolism, leading to weight gain and obesity.
Blood pressure monitoring and routine checks
Hypertension is considered a “silent killer” because the disease is most often silent, showing no visible symptoms in the early stages. Undiagnosed and untreated hypertension is associated with an increased long-term risk of several severe diseases and complications such as stroke and myocardial infarction.
In these conditions, measuring blood pressure (learn more about normal blood pressure and pulse values) is essential for detecting hypertension at an early stage, when it is easier to treat.
Routine checks and performing the usual blood tests represents an important part of the primary prevention of heart diseases. During the specialty consultation, the doctor can identify the risk factors that contribute to the development of heart diseases. The early detection of these conditions means for the patient the establishment of appropriate treatment in a timely manner, the prevention of complications, the avoidance of costs associated with acute forms of the disease and complications, as well as maintaining the quality of life.
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2023-11-02 23:08:30
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