Optimum Health

The leading health problem in the world today is cardiovascular disease or heart disease. It claims more than one million lives  every year. Because of the narrowing of blood vessels the heart is unable to maintain an adequate  amount of blood circulation through the body. This inadequacy of the heart and blood vessels is called heart disease  or cardiovascular disease. Heart Health  is making sure that the heart and blood vessels have the necessary nutrients to keep them strong and working properly. The blood vessels have to be soft and plaque free. 

There are different types of heart disease.

 Coronary Heart Disease, is caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits  along the innermost layer of coronary arteries. This thickening narrows the arteries and can lesson or eventually block the flow of blood to the heart..

Symptoms may include

pain in the chest and /or heaviness,

tightness and pressure. 

 A Heart Attack happens when the heart muscle lacks oxygen. this occurs when there is a blockage of blood flow to the heart, robbing it of oxygen, and  therefore robbing the rest of the body as well. most times this is  caused by a build up of cholesterol and other fatty substances in the arteries.. If this lack of oxygen happens for a prolonged time , it damages or kills off the heart muscle cells in the area that was cut off , and this causes that area to malfunction. 

Symptoms may include

Severe chest pains, that may not recede even with rest, Severe pressure and squeezing in the centre of the chest, Pain in the shoulders ,neck, arms or the jaw, sweating, dizziness, nausea, and vomiting, and indigestion. 

Heart health contributes to health longevity because it affects not only the body but also the mind, and therefore has a long-term role in anti-aging.   

Congestive Heart Failure is a condition in which your heart cannot pump enough oxygenated blood to meet the needs of other organs. It may result from high blood pressure, excessive sodium intake, heart valve disease, previous heart attack(s), and coronary artery disease, among others.  

Symptoms may include: 

1. Weight gain 

2. Visible swelling of the legs and ankles . 

3. Shortness of breath during rest or exercise

 4. Fatigue

 5. Loss of appetite and nausea

 6 Persistent cough - often producing mucus or blood-tinged sputum. 

Yet  another  type of cardiovascular disease can be the result of malfunctioning heart valve.When the heart valves malfunction, it prevents the flow of blood in and out of the heart. This is called Heart Valve Disease. This can be due to damage from a previous heart attack. 

Symptoms include 

1.c

1.Chest pain,

2.Palpitations,

3. Shortness of breath

4.Fatigue

5.  migraines and dizziness.  

Angina is when a part of the heart is not receiving enough blood. It is identified by recurring chest pain. It is a symptom of coronary heart disease.

Symptoms include

1.Squeezing or crushing pain in the chest

2. Pain in the arms, shoulders, jaw, neck and back  

Doctors must diagnose correctly if one is to receive proper and beneficial treatment for heart disease. Some common methods for diagnosing heart disease are, electrocardiogram(EKG), where a set of sensory pads are placed on strategic areas of your chest and a record of the heart’s beating patterns are recorded.  Stress Electrocardiogram(Stress EKG), where one is put under physical stress , like running on a treadmill, where abnormalities in the beat of the heart are recorded. Angiocardiography is another method which is used to diagnose the condition of the arteries. A catheter is inserted into the artery and dye is released into the blood stream. Blockages and other abnormalities are discovered  on a monitor, by observing the dye flowing through the arteries. It is always best to have a heart check up every year as part of the normal annual check up regardless of age, as heart disease can strike at any time.