Important Things to Know About Heart Health
Some of the most common cardiovascular conditions include high blood pressure, heart disease, heart attack, atrial fibrillation (often called a-fib or AF), and peripheral arterial disease, or P.A.D.
High Blood Pressure
The symptoms of high blood pressure can often be nonspecific. High blood pressure can lead to increased risk of stroke, heart attack, and kidney failure.
To help avoid high blood pressure, eat a diet rich in vegetables, avoid salt and tobacco, and be sure to drink alcohol only in moderation. Also, exercise regularly and maintain a healthy weight. Talk with your doctor to about a treatment plan for high blood pressure that’s right for you.
Heart Disease Risk Factors for Women
Do you know the risk factors for heart disease in women? These factors include:
- Family history, including parents or siblings who had heart attack or stroke in their 50s or 60s
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Smoking
- High Cholesterol
- Post-menopausal
To learn more about your individual risk for heart disease, talk to your doctor.
Signs of a Heart Attack
Symptoms of a heart attack include pain in the chest, which may radiate to the neck, jaw, shoulders and arms. Pain can also begin in the upper part of the stomach and mimic heartburn. Occasionally people will have a heart attack with no pain at all and just have the associated symptoms of shortness of breath, nausea, and sweating.
If you think you’re having a heart attack, time is critical. Call 911 immediately. Don’t drive yourself to the hospital.
Atrial Fibrillation (A-Fib)
Arrhythmia is a “short circuit” of the heart and the most common type of arrhythmia is atrial fibrillation or “a-fib.” Symptoms of a-fib include:
- Fatigue
- Irregular heart beats
- Fainting
- Shortness of breath
- Feeling light headed
If you have symptoms of a-fib, contact your doctor to find out what treatment is best for you.
Do you get leg cramps when you walk? If so, you may have a condition known as peripheral arterial disease (PAD). Also known as peripheral vascular disease (PVD), PAD is a narrowing or blockage of the arteries that causes poor blood flow to your arms and legs. Someone with PAD may experience painful leg cramps after walking just a few blocks.
One in 20 Americans over age 50 will experience symptoms of PAD. Fortunately, it is treatable through lifestyle changes, medications, or, in more serious cases, surgery.
What else should you know about PAD? Plenty. Here are seven things to keep in mind about this common, but preventable, condition.
1. Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup) is the most common cause of PAD. High blood pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar due to insulin resistance or diabetes, and smoking all contribute to PAD. Older adults face a higher risk of PAD, as do individuals with heart disease or metabolic syndrome.
To lessen your risk of PAD, take the same precautions as a person at risk of heart disease. If you smoke, quit. Follow a heart-healthy diet filled with fresh vegetables, fruits, lean meats, and “good” fats such as olive oil. Cut out processed and fried foods and soft drinks. Exercise daily. These steps will also help reduce cholesterol and high blood pressure, which can lead to heart attack, kidney failure, and stroke.
2. Plaque is made of extra cholesterol, calcium, and other material in your blood.If it sounds unpleasant, it is. Over time, a section of plaque can rupture, which causes a blood clot to form. The buildup of plaque or blood clots narrows the arteries, depriving your body, especially the limbs, of the oxygen-rich blood it needs to survive. Hence, the leg pain.
3. Your doctor can check your blood pressure in multiple spots to help diagnose PAD. She will check blood pressure at the groin, behind the knee, on the inner ankle, and on the top of your foot. An absent or weak pulse in any of these spots is a sign of PAD. To diagnose PAD, your doctor may also perform a Doppler ultrasound to check the blood flow in the arteries, or an ankle-brachial index test that compares the blood pressure of your arms and legs. Blood tests can determine whether you have high cholesterol or diabetes, both PAD risk factors.
4. The easiest way to treat PAD is through lifestyle changes such as quitting smoking, eating a healthy diet, and following an exercise program. Diabetics should keep their blood sugar in their target range. These lifestyle enhancers will also help lower blood pressure and cholesterol. However, lifestyle changes alone don’t always do the trick. Your doctor may also prescribe medications to control these conditions.
5. If lifestyle changes and medication don’t work, your doctor may recommend surgery. Options include angioplasty, where surgeons insert a catheter (thin tube) into a blocked artery to restore blood flow, along with a stent, which is another small tube that keeps the artery open after angioplasty. For bypass grafting surgery, surgeons use a blood vessel from another part of your body to bypass the blocked artery. Atherectomy removes plaque buildup from the artery using either a catheter or laser.
6. In rare cases, if PAD goes untreated and gets worse, doctors may have to amputate a foot or lower limb. Advanced PAD can cause tissue to die due to poor blood flow and lack of oxygen.
7. Maine has world-class doctors, researchers, and technicians available to help you treat PAD. The providers at Maine Medical Center (MMC) Cardiovascular Institute have years of experience in treating this and other heart and vascular conditions. MMC Cardiovascular Institute treats more heart patients than any other hospital in Maine and more than most hospitals in New England.
Talk with your doctor if you think you may be suffering from any of these heart or vascular conditions.