Heart Failure - Dealing With the Difficulities Of Heart Failure
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According to the American Medical Association journals, heart failure affects nearly 5 million Americans each year, with more than 300,000 people dying of this fatal disease. While the statistics may sound grim, there are many ways to educate yourself and simple lifestyle modifications can be made that will prevent you from becoming one of them.
Many people aren’t aware that they have a chronic heart health problem until it’s too late. Heart failure, in the form of a heart attack, sends surprised patients to the emergency room because they were not keeping up with routine checkups. Just as you take your car in for an oil change every 3,000 miles, so should you visit your doctor every year to test for abnormalities and treat entirely preventable diseases. While there may not be a 100% guarantee that you can avoid normal degeneration of the body, there are many things that you can do to add ten to twenty years onto your life and remain healthy and happy for the vast majority of your days.
To check if you may have heart health problems, your general practitioner can run several tests to be sure. Many people avoid getting tested in advance because they fear invasive pokes and prods, but most of these screening tests are very non-invasive. For instance, one test, which is a “stress test,” has you walking on a treadmill for a specific interval of time through several intensity levels, while an IV-injected tracer moves through the blood, indicating possible obstructions or strain. Another test, the EKG, simply monitors your heart rhythms through electrical wires with adhesive ends stuck to your chest, arms and legs. An “Echocardiogram” is simply an ultrasound image taken of your chest, which is as painless as a photograph. Most people are familiar with the usual hypertension/blood pressure test done with a cuff around your bicep. The most invasive test, which is recommended for people with a genetic predisposition, is the “Catheriterization,” which is a small tube inserted into the artery, which may open an obstruction or insert dye to see where the problem spots are.
You may have heard of something called “Statins.” It is a medication prescribed for cancer patients and heart failure patients alike. Statins help cut cholesterol and regulate heart rhythms, but should never be used as a “cure-all.” Health experts warn that a careful diet must still be adhered to for the positive results to be enjoyed. However, some patients report irritating side effects, like mental dullness and aching tendons. Nevertheless, the American Heart Association recommends Statins as a “first-line defense” against heart disease.
As we start to get older there are all-important numbers that begin to weigh to a great extent upon us. We have to worry about our weight, levels of cholesterol, as well as our blood pressure. Things we may have ignored our entire lives now all of a sudden have great importance. However these are things that should not have been neglected. A lifetime of mistreatment on the body establishes merely unfavorable things when left unchecked.
Your cholesterol level is without question critical if you want to remain healthy and your body operating the right way. High levels has the ability to lead lead to heart attacks and stroke, both things you do not want to have to contend with. Being concerned in regards to your cholesterol level is not merely for the aging. It is something both young and old have to be concerned with and be aware of if they want to lead a healthy lifestyle. In this article we will go over the fundamentals of cholesterol and hopefully you will realize how significant a healthy level is to your body as well as peace of mind.
What is cholesterol?
Cholesterol is a lipid that is found in the bloodstream of humans and all animals. It can be there from two different sources. The first source is your body itself. The body naturally produces cholesterol. The second source of cholesterol is the food that we eat. It may surprise you to know that not all cholesterol is bad for you. There is good cholesterol and bad cholesterol. But you have to know the difference if you want to protect your health and your heart.
What types of medicines are given for high cholesterol?
Obviously the first choice of physicians is exercise and a healthy diet low in trans fats. But when that does not work or there is a high level of LDL present then medications must be brought in to help. There are many different types of medicines currently being used to treat high cholesterol. The goal of each type of medicine is to lower the amount of LDL present in the blood stream and to help remove blockage and build up that has occurred. Some of these medicines are statins, bile acid resins, and nicotinic acid and fibric acid derivatives.
How is the blockage from the arteries removed?
The initial stage is through medicines however if there is a measurable narrowing or blockage in the artery or blood vessel then a slightly more aggressive operation is needed. The actual processes may change but one frequent method is through a balloon angioplasty. The mechanical device is inserted into the artery and navigated to the blockage where the build up of plaque has taken place. The balloon is then inflated to clear the passage. Nowadays the operation is minimally invasive and most patients are capable of going home that day.
Does a diet rich in fish really help lower my cholesterol?
You may be surprised but a diet rich in fish, particularly salmon, can help you lower your overall LDL cholesterol while helping raise the HDL cholesterol. It is the omega-3 fatty acids that have been shown to help the body. But do not stop at just salmon. There are other great foods that can help you reduce your LDL’s and raise your HDL’s such as: avocados, garlic, black beans, uncooked soy and even Shitake mushrooms.
To learn more click here Controlling High Cholesterol and more information at List Of High Cholesterol Foods in addition to Normal Cholesterol Levels