Here are some questions you
might have and answers to those questions.
Smoking, high cholesterol, diabetes, high
blood pressure, obesity, and heredity are all risk factors for heart
disease.
Carotid artery disease affects the blood
vessels leading to the head and brain. It involves the gradual
buildup of plaque in the carotid arteries, which can cause these
arteries to narrow. The narrowing of the arteries affects the
blood flow, and therefore oxygen flow to the brain. People with
carotid artery disease are at risk of stroke, due to decreased
oxygen supply to the brain.
Strokes are injuries to the brain that can
severely affect the rest of one’s body. Strokes occur when the
blood supply to a portion of the brain is stopped or when there is
bleeding in or around the brain. Causes of strokes include blood
clots in the neck or brain, or if artery bursts within the brain.
The indications that one is experiencing a stroke include: sudden
and temporary weakness or numbness in the face, arm or leg,
temporary loss of eyesight in one eye specifically, difficulty
with speech or difficulty understanding others, dizziness, and
unexplained headaches.
Cholesterol is a fatty substance that is
found in all blood cells. It comes from the foods we eat as well
being produced by one’s liver. Certain foods especially those high
in saturated fat cause an increase in cholesterol. Although the
body needs cholesterol to form cell membranes and hormones, too
much cholesterol is bad. As cholesterol travels through the
bloodstream it deposits plaque on the side of artery walls. The
plaque causes a narrowing of the arteries as it builds up and
increases ones risk for heart attack.
Coronary bypass surgery involves the
rerouting of blood flow to the heart by sewing a section of vein
or artery around the diseased or clogged blood vessel. It
increases the blood flow to the heart, which allows the heart to
get more oxygen. The procedure involves around 1 to 3 days
recovery in the Intensive Care Unit followed by a week of recovery
in hospital.
Arrhythmia is irregular heartbeats cause by
a disruption in the electrical impulses that pace ones heartbeat.
Although most people’s hearts miss a beat from time to time,
people with arrhythmia experience these disruptions in heartbeat
much more frequently.
A pacemaker is a surgical implanted device
that controls the electrical impulses sent to the heart, which in
turn controls the heartbeat. There are two general different types
of pacemakers, those that turn on only when needed and those that
run constantly. Most pacemakers installed are demand pacemakers,
those that turn on only when needed. Pacemakers can be used to
eliminate arrhythmia. The batteries in pacemakers have average
lifetimes greater than 5 years and involve a minor surgery to
replace.
Enlarged heart is exactly as it sounds. It
is a heart that is larger than normal size due to a variety of
reasons: heredity, heart disorders, and heart diseases.
Triglycerides are fats that are delivered
to your one’s cells by lipoproteins in the blood. They provide
energy to one’s muscles. Triglycerides levels increase if one eats
a lot of foods high in saturated fat. Although one’s body does
need triglycerides for energy, it is believed that high levels of
triglycerides lead to greater risk of heart disease. Very high
levels of triglycerides can cause diabetes, pancreatitis, and
chronic kidney disease.
High blood pressure can be reduced by
eating foods that are low in fat and sodium, losing weight, and
exercising regularly. If none of these methods reduce blood
pressure, medicines called antihypertensives can be prescribed to
reduce one’s blood pressure.