Cardiovascular Ailments: Causes, Preventive Measures, and Additional Insights
In the United States, heart disease remains the leading cause of death, accounting for approximately 695,000 deaths in 2021. This wide-ranging cardiovascular condition encompasses a variety of problems, including arrhythmia, atherosclerosis, cardiomyopathy, congenital heart defects, coronary artery disease (CAD), and heart infections.
Maintaining healthy blood pressure and cholesterol levels is a crucial step in preventing heart disease. However, the causes of heart disease are unique to each condition, with factors such as diabetes, high blood pressure, heart defects, certain medications, family history, ethnicity, sex, age, and uncontrolled infections in the body contributing to different types of heart disease.
For instance, people with diabetes may have a higher risk of heart disease due to high blood glucose levels increasing the chance of angina, heart attack, stroke, and CAD. A physical exam is the first step in diagnosing heart disease, followed by noninvasive tests such as electrocardiogram (EKG), echocardiogram, stress test, carotid ultrasound, Holter monitor, tilt-table test, CT scan, and heart MRI. Invasive tests like cardiac catheterization, coronary angiography, and electrophysiology may also be necessary.
Symptoms of heart disease can vary depending on the specific condition but may include chest pain, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle weakness, anxiety, indigestion, and fatigue. Women often experience different signs and symptoms of heart disease than men, and symptoms can be confused with other conditions such as depression, menopause, and anxiety.
Treatment for heart disease depends on the type and severity of the disease. Lifestyle strategies for treating heart disease include adopting a heart-healthy diet, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption. Medications may be prescribed to treat certain types of heart disease, such as beta-blockers, blood thinners, calcium channel blockers, and ACE inhibitors. Surgery or invasive procedures may be necessary to treat heart disease, such as stent insertion for blocked arteries.
It's not possible to cure or reverse heart disease, but medications, procedures, and lifestyle strategies can relieve symptoms and prevent worsening symptoms. If you have a family history of CAD, it is especially concerning if a male relative is under 55 years old or a female relative is under 65 years old.
Regular exercise, quitting smoking, and managing stress can help lower the risk of heart disease. The population group in the USA with the highest incidence of heart diseases in relation to age is older adults, especially those over 65 years, with incidence increasing significantly with advancing age. Older adults, particularly those with chronic conditions like diabetes and chronic kidney disease, have a higher incidence of cardiovascular diseases.
Non-Hispanic Black people, non-Hispanic white people, and people of Asian or Pacific Islander heritage have a higher risk of heart disease compared to Native Alaskan or Native American people. Males have a greater risk of heart disease than females.
Adopting heart-healthy lifestyle strategies can help reduce the risk of developing heart disease. By understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatments of heart disease, individuals can take proactive steps towards maintaining a healthy heart.
