By M H Ahssan
What causes Heart attacks?A sudden block usually due to a blood clot that affects the normal blood flow to the heart is the usual cause of a heart attack.
Atherosclerosis
Deposition of fat in the walls of blood vessels is known as atherosclerosis.
Deposition of fat in the walls of blood vessels is known as atherosclerosis.
Warning signals for heart attack
ANGINA PECTORIS
This term means chest pain but it could also be a discomfort behind the stanum or breastbone – produced by exertion and relieved by rest.
ANGINA EQUIVALENT
Breathlessness, pain in the arms and jaw, especially on the exertion which is also relieved by rest.
ANGINA PECTORIS
This term means chest pain but it could also be a discomfort behind the stanum or breastbone – produced by exertion and relieved by rest.
ANGINA EQUIVALENT
Breathlessness, pain in the arms and jaw, especially on the exertion which is also relieved by rest.
Symptoms of Heart Attack
1. Prolonged chest discomfort, lasting more than a few minutes, usually behind the breastbone heaviness; choking or a feeling of pressure of tightness.
2. Difficulty in breathing
3. Sweating
4. Weakness and Palpitation
1. Prolonged chest discomfort, lasting more than a few minutes, usually behind the breastbone heaviness; choking or a feeling of pressure of tightness.
2. Difficulty in breathing
3. Sweating
4. Weakness and Palpitation
REMEMBER HOWEVER THAT IF YOU HAVE DIABETES, YOU MAY NOT FEEL ANY PAIN AT ALL DURING A HEART ATTACK
RISK FACTORS FOR HEART ATTACK
* Diabetes mellitus
* High cholesterol levels in the blood
* High blood pressure
* Obesity
* Stress
* Smoking
* Positive family history of heart attacks
* Low levels of HDL
* Sedentary life style / Lack of exercise
* High cholesterol levels in the blood
* High blood pressure
* Obesity
* Stress
* Smoking
* Positive family history of heart attacks
* Low levels of HDL
* Sedentary life style / Lack of exercise
Types of Lipids:
Three kinds of lipids are present in the blood
* HDL (high density lipoproteins)
* LDL (low density lipoproteins); and
* Triglycerides
Total cholesterol level in the blood is used as a screening tool. One should aim for a total cholesterol level less than 200 mg/dl and LDL less than 100 mg/dl to decrease the risk for heart attacks.
Three kinds of lipids are present in the blood
* HDL (high density lipoproteins)
* LDL (low density lipoproteins); and
* Triglycerides
Total cholesterol level in the blood is used as a screening tool. One should aim for a total cholesterol level less than 200 mg/dl and LDL less than 100 mg/dl to decrease the risk for heart attacks.
For diabetic patients the level for LDL (bad) cholesterol should be less than 100 mg/dl. Triglycerides in the blood tend to be high when blood glucose is high. High triglycerides also tend to lower the HDL or the good cholesterol.
How to prevent heart attacks?
* Lower the fat intake and increase the fibre intake in the diet.
* Regular exercise for at least 30-45 mins at least 5 times/week.
* Maintaining ideal body weight.
* Control your blood pressure.
* Check your cholesterol once in six months and keep LDL (bad) cholesterol within the normal limits if neccessary with drugs like Statins.
* Increase HDL (good cholesterol) by exercise.
* Control diabetes well.
* Stop smoking.
* Reduce stress.
* Asprin if recommended by your doctor.
What causes Coronary Heart Disease?
Coronary heart disease occurs when the vessels (coronary arteries) that supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked. The arteries become narrowed due to the build up of fatty plaques on the inner lining (atherosclerosis). If the fatty plaques become damaged, a blood clot will form causing a blockage of the artery.
People with diabetes (especially type 2 diabetes) have a much higher chance of developing heart disease (angina and heart attacks) than people without diabetes. People with diabetes often have other ‘risk factors’ that cause heart problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, being overweight and not exercising enough.
Even though high blood sugars are known to increase the chance of developing heart disease, there seems to be some other reason why people with type 2 diabetes in particular, have more angina and heart attacks.
What are the symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease?
‘Angina’ simply means pain due to heart disease. This may be brought on by exercise, emotion or even a large meal. Angina pain is usually relieved by rest or people may need to use a spray or tablet (GTN) under their tongue.
A heart attack (myocardial infarction) happens when a coronary artery blocks and the heart muscle becomes damaged.
The pain from angina and a heart attack may be the same. People often describe heart pain as ‘heaviness or tightness in the centre of the chest’. This pain may spread to the left or right arm, neck or jaw. People may also complain of breathlessness, nausea or sweating.
If you have chest pain lasting longer than 15 minutes or if you are not sure, contact your doctor or dial 999 immediately.
How can Coronary Heart Disease be prevented?
Good blood sugar control helps to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. It is also important to treat the other risk factors that people may have. People with diabetes should try to exercise regularly and eat a healthy well balanced diet which is low in salt and saturated fat, but contains plenty of fruit and vegetables. For those who also have high blood pressure, tablet treatment aimed at getting good control of blood pressure should be started and blood pressure regularly checked. Cholesterol tablets known as ‘statins’ have been proven to reduce the risk of developing heart disease in people who have diabetes over the age of 40. This is regardless of the level of cholesterol in the blood. People who smoke and manage to give up will also drastically reduce the chance of getting heart disease.
Treatments for Coronary Heart Disease
Any person with diabetes that develops angina or a heart attack should start aspirin and a cholesterol tablet. People may also be given a tablet called a beta blocker to control angina but also to prevent heart attacks. People who also have high blood pressure may be given a tablet called an ACE inhibitor to control the blood pressure. All of these tablets have been shown to reduce the risk of further heart attacks and death from heart disease.
In some cases people with heart disease may need a procedure called an angioplasty (Heart Disease section) or even a coronary bypass operation. Both of these procedures have shown to be effective at preventing heart attacks in people with diabetes.
Patients with diabetes who have a heart attack will usually be given intravenous insulin (usually through a drip into a vein in the arm) for a short period when admitted to hospital. It is then important to get control of blood sugars with either tablets or insulin.
* Regular exercise for at least 30-45 mins at least 5 times/week.
* Maintaining ideal body weight.
* Control your blood pressure.
* Check your cholesterol once in six months and keep LDL (bad) cholesterol within the normal limits if neccessary with drugs like Statins.
* Increase HDL (good cholesterol) by exercise.
* Control diabetes well.
* Stop smoking.
* Reduce stress.
* Asprin if recommended by your doctor.
What causes Coronary Heart Disease?
Coronary heart disease occurs when the vessels (coronary arteries) that supply blood and oxygen to the heart muscle become narrowed or blocked. The arteries become narrowed due to the build up of fatty plaques on the inner lining (atherosclerosis). If the fatty plaques become damaged, a blood clot will form causing a blockage of the artery.
People with diabetes (especially type 2 diabetes) have a much higher chance of developing heart disease (angina and heart attacks) than people without diabetes. People with diabetes often have other ‘risk factors’ that cause heart problems, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking, being overweight and not exercising enough.
Even though high blood sugars are known to increase the chance of developing heart disease, there seems to be some other reason why people with type 2 diabetes in particular, have more angina and heart attacks.
What are the symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease?
‘Angina’ simply means pain due to heart disease. This may be brought on by exercise, emotion or even a large meal. Angina pain is usually relieved by rest or people may need to use a spray or tablet (GTN) under their tongue.
A heart attack (myocardial infarction) happens when a coronary artery blocks and the heart muscle becomes damaged.
The pain from angina and a heart attack may be the same. People often describe heart pain as ‘heaviness or tightness in the centre of the chest’. This pain may spread to the left or right arm, neck or jaw. People may also complain of breathlessness, nausea or sweating.
If you have chest pain lasting longer than 15 minutes or if you are not sure, contact your doctor or dial 999 immediately.
How can Coronary Heart Disease be prevented?
Good blood sugar control helps to reduce the risk of developing heart disease. It is also important to treat the other risk factors that people may have. People with diabetes should try to exercise regularly and eat a healthy well balanced diet which is low in salt and saturated fat, but contains plenty of fruit and vegetables. For those who also have high blood pressure, tablet treatment aimed at getting good control of blood pressure should be started and blood pressure regularly checked. Cholesterol tablets known as ‘statins’ have been proven to reduce the risk of developing heart disease in people who have diabetes over the age of 40. This is regardless of the level of cholesterol in the blood. People who smoke and manage to give up will also drastically reduce the chance of getting heart disease.
Treatments for Coronary Heart Disease
Any person with diabetes that develops angina or a heart attack should start aspirin and a cholesterol tablet. People may also be given a tablet called a beta blocker to control angina but also to prevent heart attacks. People who also have high blood pressure may be given a tablet called an ACE inhibitor to control the blood pressure. All of these tablets have been shown to reduce the risk of further heart attacks and death from heart disease.
In some cases people with heart disease may need a procedure called an angioplasty (Heart Disease section) or even a coronary bypass operation. Both of these procedures have shown to be effective at preventing heart attacks in people with diabetes.
Patients with diabetes who have a heart attack will usually be given intravenous insulin (usually through a drip into a vein in the arm) for a short period when admitted to hospital. It is then important to get control of blood sugars with either tablets or insulin.
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