Health & Well-Being • January 2010 3
A Guide to Heart Disease
"Heart disease" is a broad term used to at the doctor are all ways to head
describe a number of ailments affecting off atherosclerosis at the pass.
the heart. When most people think
Heart attack: Also known
of heart disease, they typically call to
as cardiac arrest, this is
mind heart attacks. However, there are
the culmination of many
a number of conditions that can affect
heart conditions, such as
the heart. Understanding them is key to
angina, arteriosclerosis, and
preventing further complications down
atherosclerosis. It occurs when
the line.
blood and oxygen are not able to
Here is a listing of common heart reach the heart. According to the
conditions, symptoms and treatment. American Heart Association, signs
Angina: Chest pain or discomfort that
of cardiac arrest can include:
occurs in and around the heart when the 1. Chest discomfort. Most heart
muscle doesn't get enough oxygen-rich attacks involve discomfort in
blood. It can be brought on by stress, the center of the chest that lasts
exertion, emotion, extreme cold, or be more than a few minutes, or
a symptom of a deeper problem such as that goes away and comes back.
clogged arteries. There are three types It can feel like uncomfortable
of angina: stable, unstable, and variant. pressure, squeezing, fullness,
Stable angina follows a pattern and is or pain.
generally the most common. Unstable
2. D iscomfort in other areas of
angina doesn't follow a pattern. Variant
the upper body. Symptoms
angina occurs while you're at rest and
can include pain or discomfort
is rare. Angina may be treated with rest
in one or both arms, the back,
and medicine. All heart pain should be
neck, jaw or stomach.
checked by a doctor to see if it's a sign of
something deeper.
3. S hortness of breath with or without
in diet or medication may be needed to
chest discomfort.
control blood pressure.
Aneurysm: An aneurysm is an abnormal
widening or ballooning of a portion of
4. O ther signs include breaking
Peripheral arterial disease (PAD): PAD
an artery due to weakness in the wall of
out in a cold sweat, nausea or
is when insufficient blood flow reaches
the blood vessel. Depending on where
lightheadedness.
the arteries that supply the limbs. Pain
or immobility may occur due to lack of
the aneurysm occurs (brain, aorta or
High cholesterol: High cholesterol
blood to meet demand. Generally PAD
abdomen, for example) there may be no
can be a factor in a number of heart
is a sign that atherosclerosis is taking
pain or bulging. Aneurysms are serious,
conditions. Therefore it is desirable to
place and medical intervention should
and if not caught early and treated, can
keep cholesterol levels low. Cholesterol
be taken.
lead to death.
is measured as Total cholesterol, HDL
Arteriosclerosis: This is any hardening
(the good cholesterol) and LDL (the bad
Stroke: This is an interruption of
or loss of elasticity of medium and
cholesterol). Total cholesterol under 200
blood supply to any part of the brain.
large arteries, generally as a result of
mg/DL is optimal. Less than 100 mg/DL
It can come on suddenly or display
hypertension. The most common sites
of LDL and HDL levels of 60 mg/DL or
symptoms over time. Changes in
for arteriosclerosis are arteries in the
more are desirable.
alertness, sleepiness, trouble speaking,
loss of coordination, trouble moving
brain, kidneys, heart, abdominal aorta,
Hypertension: This is a term used to
limbs, and many other symptoms can
or legs. Symptoms of arteriosclerosis
describe high blood pressure. Blood
be indicative of stroke. A stroke may be
vary according to which arteries are
pressure is measured in two readings,
mild and cause temporary conditions.
affected. Risk factors for arteriosclerosis
the systolic pressure, or the pressure
A massive stroke may lead to paralysis,
include smoking, obesity, high blood
created when the heart beats, and the
brain damage or even coma. A stroke is
pressure and/or cholesterol, stress, and
diastolic pressure, or the pressure in the
a medical emergency. It is important to
diabetes.
heart when it is at rest. Blood pressure
get the person to the emergency room
Atherosclerosis: This is a condition
higher than 120 over 80 is considered
immediately to determine if the stroke
when fatty material collects in the
high and should be monitored. How
is due to bleeding or a blood clot so
arterial walls. It can harden over
much water and salt you have in your
appropriate treatment can be started
time, causing calcium deposits and
body; the condition of your kidneys,
within 3 hours of when the stroke
restriction of blood flow. Avoiding
nervous system, or blood vessels; and
began. Clot busters may be given if it is
fatty, high cholesterol foods, exercising
the levels of different body hormones
a clotting condition.
regularly, and getting routine checkups
can all cause hypertension. A change
Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41