Heart Disease Doesn’t Just Affect Your Heart

We must not forget that heart disease can affect the entire cardiovascular system. This can lead to complications, which can even be life-threatening.

The Society for Vascular Surgery in Chicago explains how heart disease is normally linked to atherosclerosis. This condition does not only affect the heart. It can also cause problems in the legs, feet, kidneys and even the brain.

In addition, they develop gradually, as they lead to a build-up of plaque in the arteries. These developments will eventually create a condition known as peripheral arterial disease.

When the arteries become clogged, it becomes increasingly difficult for blood to flow through the body and supply the cells with oxygen.

Heart Disease and Peripheral Arterial Disease

There are several types of heart disease, but peripheral arterial disease is most common in the United States.

This disease occurs when heart disease begins to affect the feet and legs. When the blood no longer reaches the ends of the body, the feet develop a kind of wound that does not heal. If this wound becomes very serious, there may even be a risk that an amputation is necessary.

You may have a heart condition

If patients experience pain when walking, they should talk to their doctor and undergo a non-invasive examination. In this type of examination, no instruments are inserted into the body. The blood pressure in the ankles will be measured. Based on this, one chooses a treatment to prevent other complications.

Good Habits Can Prevent Heart Disease

In general, there is only one good way to keep the arteries and blood vessels in good shape: good habits. So remember some basic healthy guidelines.

A good starting point is knowing what your own data is. For example, make sure you know how high or how low your blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol are.

There are also other factors that can lead to these types of conditions:

To smoke
stress
A sedentary life
A diet that contains a lot of fats, proteins and carbohydrates.

More moving is the motto

Of course, one of the best measures to prevent this is regular physical exercise.

Anyone suffering from heart disease should definitely consult a specialist. That’s really important. This doctor will assess the risk factors in each specific case. He will also make sure to create a treatment plan that the patient can follow for the rest of his life.

When exercise doesn’t offer enough solace

If non-invasive treatments are not effective, the next step will be to reverse the blockage of the blood vessels. By means of surgical interventions, the blocked arteries are then diverted.

Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Disease

These two conditions are easily confused, but they actually affect different parts of the body. Heart disease affects the heart and the blood vessels of the heart.

As you know, the heart is a strong muscle. It works like a pump and is the size of a fist. It continuously pumps blood through the circulatory system, providing a constant flow of blood to all parts of the body.

Diseases and problems of the heart and blood vessels do not actually occur suddenly.

The arteries carry blood to the heart and brain, but over time they can become clogged. This is usually due to an accumulation of cholesterol and fat.

As a result of this blockage in the arteries, the blood supply to the heart is reduced. So this can cause heart attacks. Another possible consequence is in the brain. Because a blood clot prevents enough blood from flowing to the brain, it can cause a brain hemorrhage.

Heart disease in women

Some women think that heart disease is primarily a problem that affects men. In reality, women also suffer from this disease.

Types of Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Disease

atherosclerosis

This disease occurs when the arteries thin and harden. As we age, it is somewhat normal for the arteries to harden to some extent, but in people with atherosclerosis, the inner walls of the arteries narrow more. This is due to the build-up of plaque on the vessel wall.

The Brugada Syndrome

This syndrome is a congenital disease. It is caused by changes in the genes that determine the formation of the proteins of the heart. Those proteins control the ion flow that flows through the cellular membrane (the ion channels).

Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura

This is a bleeding disorder that occurs when the immune system’s platelets are destroyed. These platelets are essential for the blood to clot normally.

Make sure you stay well informed about possible heart conditions. Eat healthy, exercise a lot and take good care of your health. It is worth it!