HEART-DISEASE-FAQ

HEART DISEASE FAQs

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In India, nearly 25% of total deaths are caused by cardiovascular or heart diseases. It has emerged as the top killer in both urban and rural sector. One of the primary reasons for these deaths is that people are less aware of their heart health. They neglect the symptoms often which ultimately leads to serious problems or even death.

In this article we have mentioned some frequently asked questions about the heart diseases:

  1. What are the common risk factors that can be controlled by coronary artery disease?

Ans: The risk controllable risk factors of coronary artery disease are:

Heart Risk Factors

  • Smoking
  • High BP
  • High Cholesterol
  • Obesity & lethargic lifestyle
  • Diabetes

  1. Is it possible to reduce the heart diseases risk by changes in diet?

Ans: Yes, you can reduce the heart disease risk by including certain food items in your diet such as:

Control the Heart Risk

  • Green vegetables, fruits, grains, and legumes
  • Avoid saturated fats
  • Eat complex carbohydrates and avoid simple carbohydrates
  • Reduce the consumption of salt

  1. What does a sudden cardiac arrest mean?

Ans: When the heart stops beating suddenly, it is considered as a cardiac arrest. Cardiac arrest stops the flow of blood in many organs including the brain.

  1. What are the common symptoms of a heart attack one can experience?

Ans: The common symptoms are:

Symptoms of Heart Disease

  • Weakness and fatigue
  • Breath shortness & dizziness
  • Nausea & Vomiting
  • Heaviness in Chest

  1. A clogged artery causes a heart attack. What does a clogged artery mean?

Ans: Arteries carries oxygen-rich blood in the body. Clogged arteries are the result of the formation of plaque on the inner walls of arteries. This reduces blood flow, ultimately lead to heart diseases.

  1. “Heart failure” means the heart has completely stopped working?

Ans: No, when the heart doesn’t pump blood enough to circulate blood throughout the body, this condition is heart failure. It can be due to weakness of heart muscles or inadequate filling of blood in the heart chambers.

  1. Most of the Indians suffer from which heart disease?

Ans: Coronary artery disease, is the most common form of heart disease. It causes a heart attack because of an insufficient supply of blood and oxygen to the heart muscle.

  1. Cholesterol is primarily responsible for heart diseases. What is it and how to reduce it?

Ans: Cholesterol is a waxy and soft natured material made in the liver. It is present in oily foods including egg yolks, milk fat, organ meats, and shellfish. To lower the high cholesterol level consume foods such as unsaturated fats, vegetables, and low-calorie foods.

Heart Attack Causes

Heart Attack Causes

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These are the factors associated with the increasing risks of a heart attack:

1. Age: A man who is older than 45 years and a woman who is more than 55 years, are more chances of getting a heart attack.
2. Angina: Chest pain is caused by Angina. In Angina, there is a lack of blood supply or oxygen to the heart.
3. High cholesterol levels: High level of cholesterol cause the formation of blood clots in the arteries, which in turn, leads to the heart attack.
4. Diabetes: Diseases such as diabetes increases the chances of a heart attack.
5. Diet: High amount of fatty, junk food increases cholesterol levels.
6. Genetics: A person is more likely to suffer from a heart attack if his parents have suffered from it.
7. Heart surgery: Heart surgery is past can greatly contribute to the heart attack in the future.
8. Hypertension: Hypertension by high blood pressure puts unnecessary strain on the heart and in fact, can lead to a heart attack.
9. Obesity: Obesity increases the chances of a heart attack.
10. Smoking: Smokers are having more chances of a heart attack in comparison to the persons who don’t smoke.

Heart Attack Causes

When one or coronary arteries become blocked, it results in a heart attack. After a certain period, a coronary artery becomes narrow from the buildup of various substances, including cholesterol (atherosclerosis). This condition, known as coronary artery disease, which is the main  Heart Attack Causes.

While heart attack, one of the plaques gets rupture by which fatty substances get accumulate in the bloodstream. Therefore, a blood clot forms at this site. This blood clot can block the blood flow by the coronary artery. Hence, the heart muscles start starving for oxygen and nutrients (ischemia).

You might have a complete or partial blockage. A complete blockage means ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and partial means a non-ST elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI). Diagnostic steps and treatment might be different depending on which you’ve had.