Heart Health
Do you know that the heart generates enough energy to drive a truck 20 miles every day? That is the equivalent of driving to the moon and back in a lifetime. Isn’t it incredible? Heart disease has become a major concern in recent years, affecting people of all ages, and thankfully, everyone is taking steps to protect their heart health.
We have some unnecessary habits, such as smoking, drinking too much alcohol, and eating poorly. If you are guilty of any of the above, make an oath this year to change your bad habits. Let us take a step forward in becoming healthier and continue to share some good practices with our family and friends.
Before we get into the serious discussion about heart health and heart attacks, let’s take a look at what our hearts are capable of. The heart beats, sending millions of gallons of blood throughout the body. This constant flow transports oxygen, fuel, hormones, other compounds, and a slew of vital cells. It also transports metabolic waste products. When the heart stops beating, vital functions cease to function, some almost immediately.
What about your heart?
The heart is both the best and the most dangerous organ in your body, working around the clock. Our daily habits can cause our heart’s function to deteriorate. So, your heart health is the most important thing you must prioritise.
Understanding your risk, making healthy choices, and taking steps to reduce your chances of getting heart disease, including coronary heart disease, the most common type, are all part of living a heart-healthy lifestyle. You can reduce your risk of developing heart disease, which could lead to a heart attack, by taking preventive measures.
What exactly are heart problems?
We should be concerned about a few heart problems:
A key issue is atherosclerosis:
This is the build-up of cholesterol-rich gunk inside the arteries. These plaque pockets can restrict blood flow through the coronary arteries, which nourish the heart, and other arteries throughout the body. When a plaque ruptures, it can result in a heart attack or stroke.
Coronary artery disease (CAD):
Coronary artery disease, also known as CAD, is a heart condition. CAD occurs when the coronary arteries are unable to supply enough blood, oxygen, and nutrients to the heart. Plaques of cholesterol are almost always to blame. These accumulations narrow your arteries, reducing blood flow to your heart. CAD development typically takes a long time. Patients frequently do not realise they have it until there is a problem.
- Arrhythmias, in which the heart beats too quickly, too slowly, or irregularly.
- Congenital heart defects (CHDs) are present at birth and can affect the structure and function of a baby’s heart. They have the potential to influence how blood flows through the heart and out to the rest of the body. CHDs range in severity from mild (a small hole in the heart) to severe (such as missing or poorly formed parts of the heart).
- Cardiomyopathy is a heart muscle disease. a heart muscle disease that makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body. Cardiomyopathy may result in heart failure.
- Heart valve disease occurs when one or more of your heart’s valves fails to function properly. The four valves in your heart keep blood flowing in the right direction. One or more of the valves may not open or close properly in some cases. This can disrupt the flow of blood from your heart to your body.
Observed symptoms
Chest pain, chest tightness, shortness of breath, fainting, light-headedness, dizziness, and irregular heartbeat are all common symptoms.
For each disease, different symptoms are observed. Let’s take it one at a time.
Symptoms of atherosclerosis: Chest discomfort and pressure (angina)
Coronary artery disease (CAD) Symptoms: Neck, jaw, throat, upper belly, or back pain. If the blood vessels in your legs or arms are narrowed, you may experience pain, numbness, weakness, or coldness.
Arrhythmias Symptoms include dizziness, fluttering in the chest, a racing heartbeat (tachycardia), shortness of breath, and a slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
Cardiomyopathy Symptoms: Breathlessness during activity or even at rest, swelling of the legs, ankles, and feet, bloating of the abdomen due to fluid build-up, coughing while lying down, difficulty lying flat to sleep, fatigue, rapid, pounding, or fluttering heartbeats, chest discomfort or pressure.
Symptoms of congenital heart defects: Blue-tinged nails or lips, rapid or laboured breathing, and fatigue while feeding are all symptoms.
Symptoms of Heart Valve Disease: When a doctor listens to the heart with a stethoscope, there is a whooshing sound (heart murmur). Swelling in the abdomen (more common with advanced tricuspid regurgitation), Fatigue, Swelling of the ankles and feet Dizziness.
Exercises to be done for better heart health
- Aerobic exercise
- Resistance training (Strength work)
- Stretching, flexibility and Balance.
- Walking
Some daily precautions to be taken for Hearth health are
- Include an extra vegetable or fruit in each meal. The supplements can help lower blood pressure and cholesterol, and the crunch, sweetness, and fibre can help you feel full.
- Substitute chicken, fish, or beans for red meat in most meals.
- Opt for salads or slow-cooked meals over fried foods.
- Oatmeal is a whole grain that can help lower cholesterol. It’s also high in fibre, which can keep you fuller for longer than refined grains, which are common in many cereals.
- Figure out how to multitask while cooking, cleaning, or brushing your teeth. For example, some stretches while cooking or cleaning. When you bend down to pick something up off the floor, go all the way down and do a few push-ups.
- Walk instead of biking to a nearby store.
- Instead of sitting all day, take your dog for a walk or play some outdoor games with your friends.
- In most cases, avoid smoking and drinking. Also, avoid being near smokers because it may be equivalent to you smoking.
- Practice meditation and never, ever let yourself be stressed.
Please visit our other blogs for more information on a wide range of fascinating topics. Call us for the best doctor to home services, and we will be there right away to provide individualised care and put you at ease. Jana Vaidya has treated patients of all ages. We are excited to be able to treat a growing number of people at reasonable prices.