Cardiac Problems
What You Need to Know About Cardiac Problems
Heart disease covers a wide range of cardiac problems that are all very serious health issues. Heart disease includes cardiovascular disease, which is narrowed or blocked blood vessels. It also includes a number of other infections and conditions that affect any part of your heart or blood vessels.
According to the Mayo Clinic, cardiac problems are the number one killer of both men and women around the world. Most cardiac problems can be prevented with a healthy diet and exercise.
Symptoms of most cardiac problems include chest pain, difficulty breathing or shortness of breath, and pain or numbness in some parts of the body. Other possible symptoms of some cardiac problems include a racing or slow heartbeat, chest pain, and dizziness. See your doctor right away if you have any of these symptoms. He will run several tests to determine what kind of heart disease you have. The first test you will probably have to undergo is an exercise stress test, which involves measuring the heart while you walk on a treadmill. Your doctor may also order an EEG, CT angiography, nuclear scan, MRI, echocardiogram, or electron-beam computed tomography to help him diagnose which kind of cardiac problem you have.
Cardiac problems can be caused by cardiovascular disease, abnormal heartbeat, a thickened heart muscle, infections, or birth defects. Treatment for cardiac problems depends entirely on what kind of heart disease you have and how serious it is. In some cases, heart disease can improve by lowering blood pressure or cholesterol. Your doctor may also advise you to take aspirin each day to prevent blood clots and cut down on the likelihood of your having a heart attack. Your doctor may prescribe other medications to also help treat your cardiac problems.
One type of heart disease that takes thousands of lives each year is coronary heart disease. More people die of coronary heart disease than any other illness. Coronary heart disease is usually caused by the build-up of plaque around the heart. The plaque blocks blood flow to your heart and can even make it stop, causing a heart attack. Men over the age of 40 are at a higher risk for coronary heart disease than women. Other risk factors include a family history of coronary heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic kidney disease, and smoking.
Like other cardiac problems, coronary heart disease can sometimes be kept at bay through a healthy diet. Reducing stress can also help you keep many different cardiac problems under control.
You can prevent heart disease starting early in life with regular exercise and a healthy diet. Make sure you exercise at least 30 minutes per day to avoid heart disease. If you’re overweight, shoot for 60 or 90 minutes of exercise per day and try to shed some pounds through diet. A healthy diet includes balanced meals with plenty of fruit and vegetables. You should also monitor your blood pressure and cholesterol closely. If either one of them is too high for too long, see your doctor right away.