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Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular disease is a universal term for various types of heart conditions. These conditions may develop concurrently or lead to other diseases or conditions under this group. Cardiovascular diseases include conditions that affect the heart and vascular. Conditions that affect the heart included but are not limited to:

Angina is a pain felt in the chest as a result of reduced blood flow into the heart.

Arrhythmia is the disorganized beating of the heart or an irregular heartbeat.

Congenital heart disease is a problematic heart function developed from birth.

Coronary artery disease is a disorder that upsets the arteries that transport blood and feed oxygen to the heart muscles.

A heart attack is an abrupt obstruction of blood flowing to the heart.

Heart failure is a disorder where the heart is unable to contract or relax routinely.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is a type of heart failure caused by the thickening of heart muscles leading to electrical instability

Dilated cardiomyopathy is a situation where the heart gets larger undermining its ability to pump blood properly.

Vascular illnesses are those that affect vessels around the heart and all body parts. They include:

Peripheral artery disease is the thinning of arteries decreasing the flow of blood to the limbs.

Renal artery disease

An aneurysm is the formation of plaques on the walls of vessels, making them narrow and limiting the flow of blood.

peripheral venous disease

ischemic stroke, which happens when vessels carry a clot to the head resulting in brain damage.

venous blood clots

blood clotting disorders

Buerger’s disease

Raynaud’s disease

Causes

Atherosclerosis is the most common reason for cardiovascular diseases (Felman, 2019). It is the accumulation of fatty plaques in arteries, which makes the artery thick and stiff around the walls inhibiting blood flow to tissues and organs in general. Diabetes, health conditions caused by viruses, myocarditis, or congenital heart problems can cause damage to the circulatory system. Congenital heart disease develops before birth in most cases and results from genes, medication, and medical conditions. The structure of the heart can also change as an individual grows old causing heart defects. The causes of cardiomyopathy are not well known. The various types of cardiomyopathy may result from damage to the heart, infections, medication, and toxins.

Risk factors

Risk factors for developing cardiovascular disease include:

Age. The risk of damage to the heart, thick or weakened heart muscles, and narrowed vessels increase with age.

Sex. Men are more susceptible to heart diseases, with women facing more risk after menopause.

Family history. Several heart conditions are hereditary. If a parent or a sibling develops a coronary artery disease at an early age, 55 and 65 years for males and females, respectively, there is a higher risk of developing it as an offspring or a sibling (American Diabetes Association, 2016).

Obesity

Smoking. Nicotine tar contracts blood vessels, and the carbon monoxide in the smoke damages the inner lining making as a smoker more vulnerable to atherosclerosis. Smokers experience more heart attacks than non-smokers.

Some chemotherapy medication and radiation therapy increase the risk of heart problems.

Physical inactivity

Unchecked diet. A diet with too much salt, fat, cholesterol, and sugar can increase the chances of developing heart disease.

Stress

Poor hygiene. Poor hygiene increases the chances of heart infections. Poor dental hygiene is another risk factor.

Diabetes

Prevention

Most cardiovascular diseases are preventable through various practices as listed below:

Avoiding tobacco and alcohol

Eating fresh produce

Eating meals with less salt, sugar, and saturated fat.

Leading a non-sedentary lifestyle

Symptoms

The symptoms are dependent on the condition and vary accordingly. Common symptoms may include:

Pressure on the chest or chest pains.

Pain or uneasiness on the back, arms, jaw, left shoulder, or elbows.

Fatigue

Nausea

Shortness of breath

Dizziness

Cold sweats

Diet Recommendations

Eat the various nutritious foods from every food group. Eating plenty of foods does not mean the body is getting the nutrients it needs for normal functions and keep healthy. Nutrient-rich foods have fewer calories, which helps with weight control, blood pressure, and cholesterol.

An overall healthy diet emphasizes:

An assortment of fresh produce, fruit, and vegetables

Dairy products with low-fat content

Non-tropical vegetable oils

Whole grains

Skinless white meat (poultry and fish)

Nuts and legumes

Meals should have limited sweetened beverages, trans fats, sodium, fats, and red meat. When eating red meat on occasion, make sure to choose the leanest cut offered. One can also adopt the DASH eating plan (The American Heart Association, 2017). It is also essential to mind food with fewer nutrients.

Do not add sauces, salts, or sugars to fresh, canned or frozen produce. These fruits and vegetables should replace high-calorie foods. Grain servings should contain whole grains rich in fiber. Eat a variety of fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids at least two times each week (Manson et al. 2019). Reduce sweet and sweetened beverages intake and drink alcohol moderately. Avoid tobacco.

References

American Diabetes Association. (2016). 8. Cardiovascular disease and risk management. Diabetes care, 39(Supplement 1), S60-S71.

Manson, J. E., Cook, N. R., Lee, I. M., Christen, W., Bassuk, S. S., Mora, S., … & D’Agostino, D. (2019). Marine n− 3 fatty acids and prevention of cardiovascular disease and cancer. New England Journal of Medicine, 380(1), 23-32.

The American Heart Association. (2017, August 15). The American Heart Association Diet and Lifestyle Recommendations. Www.heart.org. https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-eating/eat-smart/nutrition-basics/aha-diet-and-lifestyle-recommendationsFelman, A. (2019, July 9). Cardiovascular Disease: Types, Symptoms, Prevention, and Causes. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/257484.php#statistics