Denise
M. Dietz, MD, MS, FACC
|
According to the American Heart Association, Heart
disease – also called cardiovascular disease and coronary heart disease – is a
simple term used to describe several problems related to plaque buildup in the
walls of the arteries, or atherosclerosis. As the plaque builds up, the
arteries narrow, making it more difficult for blood to flow and creating a risk
for heart attack or stroke.
Men and women experience similar symptoms for heart
attack, with the most common being chest pain and discomfort. Classic angina,
or chest pain due to low blood flow to the heart muscle, is typically described
as uncomfortable pressure, fullness, squeezing or heaviness over the left
anterior chest. It can radiate to the
left arm or jaw, and is usually brought on by exertion. It can last for several minutes, it may come
and go.
Women can experience a heart attack without these typical
symptoms. Instead, they may experience
atypical symptoms such as pain or discomfort in both arms, back, neck, and
stomach. They may develop shortness of breath, with or without chest
discomfort. Other signs may include
breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea, or lightheadedness. Their symptoms may be more subtle. Diabetic women are more likely to present
with atypical symptoms.
There are many steps you can take to help prevent heart
disease, but they all require being proactive and taking action to control your
risk factors. Start with the following activities:
1. If
you smoke, quit. Smoking is one of the strongest risk factors, and thereby
strongest predictors of not only heart disease, but almost all vascular
disease, including peripheral vascular disease. Talk with your primary care doctor
about programs and products that can help you quit. Also, try to avoid
secondhand smoke.
2. Manage
your blood pressure. Hypertension,
or elevated blood pressure, is a risk factor for heart disease. Seeing your primary care doctor for routine
wellness checks will provide screening blood pressure readings. If your blood pressure is elevated talk to
your doctor about treatment – which will include therapeutic lifestyle changes
and can include pharmacologic treatment.
3. Know
your cholesterol. Hyperlipidemia, or
elevated cholesterol numbers, is a strong risk factor for heart disease. Get a screening lipid panel and talk to your primary
care doctor about the results. Based on your
results and risk factors, your doctor will decide if you warrant further
treatment.
4. Avoid
diabetes. Diabetes patients are at high risk for developing heart disease, so
much so that diabetes is considered a heart attack equivalent. Get screened for
diabetes. If you have already been
diagnosed with diabetes, manage your condition collectively with lifestyle
changes (diet and exercise) as well as pharmacologic treatment. A diagnosis of
diabetes brings about unique indications for pharmacologic treatment of
cholesterol and blood pressure.
5. Know
your family history. Family history of
heart disease, particularly at younger ages, puts you at risk for developing
heart disease yourself, and is taken into consideration by your doctor to
determine your overall risk for heart disease.
6. Maintain
a healthy and nutritious diet. A healthy diet includes a variety of vegetables
and fruits. It also includes whole grains, fat-free or low-fat dairy products,
and protein foods, such as lean meats, poultry without skin, seafood, processed
soy products, nuts, seeds, beans, and peas.
7. Reduce
stress, as stress can bring about heart disease. Find ways to manage your
stress, by engaging in activities that you enjoy.
8. Exercise.
Regular exercise will help prevent heart disease, and it will help prevent you
from developing risk factors that are associated with heart disease.
For further inquiries about heart
disease or cardiovascular health, contact Denise M. Dietz, MD, MS, FACC, of Cardiology Associates of Richmond, at 804.560.8880, or visit their website at cardiologyrichmond.com.
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