Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women? This makes it a top thing to understand what heart disease is, how to prevent it, and how to manage it if you are already living with it. Plano heart disease refers to a range of conditions that affect your heart’s ability to work effectively.
There are different causes of heart disease, namely:
- High cholesterol: Cholesterol is a fatty substance in your liver. When too high, it can build up in the walls of your arteries and cause them to narrow, increasing your risk of heart attack and stroke.
- High blood pressure is when the force of the blood moving through your veins is higher than normal. Over time, high blood pressure can damage your heart and other organs.
- Smoking damages the lining of your arteries, leading to plaque buildup (a fatty substance). This can cause your arteries to narrow over time, increasing your risk of heart attack or stroke.
- Diabetes: People with diabetes are at higher risk of developing heart disease, as high blood sugar levels can damage your arteries and strain your heart.
Heart disease diagnosis
The diagnosis of heart disease involves a physical examination and history, as well as blood tests to check your cholesterol level and other markers. If necessary, your doctor may also order the following:
- Electrocardiogram (ECG): An ECG is a test that records the electrical activity of your heart to detect any irregularities.
- Echocardiogram (ECHO): This is an ultrasound of your heart that can help detect abnormalities in its structure and function.
- Stress test: This measures how your heart responds to physical stress, such as exercise, to check for abnormalities in its functioning.
- Coronary angiography: This is an X-ray of your heart that can help identify whether there are blockages in your coronary arteries.
Treatment options for heart disease
These are some of the options to know:
Medication
When you visit your doctor, they may prescribe medications to help manage your condition. This could include cholesterol-lowering statins, blood pressure medication, and anticoagulants (to reduce the risk of clotting).
Lifestyle changes
Making lifestyle changes is recommended when managing heart disease. Eating a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and quitting smoking can make a big difference.
Surgery
In some cases, doctors may recommend surgery to improve the functioning of your heart. This could involve bypass surgery or angioplasty (an operation to open up blocked arteries).
Other treatments
Other options may include the following;
- Cognitive-behavioral therapy helps identify and modify unhealthy thought patterns that may contribute to your condition.
- Stem cell therapy: This is a relatively new type of treatment that involves injecting stem cells into damaged areas of the heart, which can help improve its function.
- Gene therapy: This involves replacing defective genes with healthy ones to improve the functioning of your heart.
- Pacemaker: This is a device that is placed in the chest to keep your heart beating at a regular rate.
- Stress management: This involves learning how to relax and manage stress to reduce the strain on your heart.
- Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) uses tiny balloons to open up blocked arteries.
If you think you might be at risk of heart disease, talk to your doctor at Prime Heart and Vascular about the best way to manage it.
