Health and Wellness Access

INTRODUCTION: Heart disease is a number of abnormal conditions affecting the heart and its blood vessels. Also known cardiovascular disease, it mainly affects people who are older and is a sign that there are problems with the heart and blood vessels.

It has become the number one cause of death in the U.S., is a primary cause of disability, doesn’t go away, but by working with your physician, you can live longer and feel better. Types of cardiovascular disease include: Coronary artery disease (CAD), the most common type and is the #1 cause of heart attacks.

In 2003, almost twice as many females died of cardiovascular disease (both heart disease and stroke) than from all cancers put together. The older she gets, the more likely she is to have cardiovascular disease; however women of all ages should be concerned.

African American and Hispanic American/Latina women are more likely to develop heart disease because they tend to have more risk factors such as obesity, not enough exercise, high blood pressure, and diabetes than Caucasian women. Women of color are also more apt to die of the disease.

Having diabetes elevates your chances of developing heart disease and high levels of triglycerides are linked to the disease in some people. Also Being obese increases your risk. Chest or arm pain or discomfort can be a symptom of cardiovascular problems and a warning sign of an actual or impending heart attack.

If your dad or brother had a heart attack before age 55, or if your mom had one before age 65, you’re more likely to develop heart disease. Birth control pills can pose risks for some women, especially women older than 35, women with high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol and women who smoke.

Close to 700,000 people die of heart disease in the USA each year. You can find out more about heart disease by phoning the National Women’s Health Information Center at 1-800-994-9662.

The chance of developing coronary disease can be reduced by taking steps to prevent and control those factors that put people at larger risk for cardiovascular disease and heart attack. The very best ways to prevent the disease are to control high blood pressure, diabetes or a elevated cholesterol level and, if you smoke, STOP SMOKING.

CHOLESTEROL: What does a high level of cholesterol have to do with heart disease? It can clog your arteries and keep your heart from getting necessary blood. People with high blood cholesterol or elevated blood triglycerides often have no symptoms, so have your blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked often. If your levels are high, talk to your physician about what you can do to lower them. You may be able to decrease your levels by eating better and exercising more, if not, your physician may prescribe medication to lower and bring it under control.

If there is too much cholesterol in your blood, it can build up on the walls of your arteries, forming plaque and producing blood clots. There are basically two kinds of cholesterol: Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is usually called the “bad” type because it can clog the arteries that transport blood to your heart. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) is known as the “good” kind because it takes the bad cholesterol out of your blood and keeps it from building up in your arteries.

All females age 20 and older should have their blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels checked at least once every 5 ys. If you are overweight, reducing your weight can help decrease your total cholesterol as well as LDL (”bad cholesterol”) levels.

Try to consume more foods low in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. Skim (fat-free) or low-fat (1%) milk and cheeses, and low-fat or nonfat yogurt, Fruits and vegetables (try for five a day), Cereals, breads, rice, and pasta created from whole grains (such as “whole-wheat” or “whole-grain” bread and pasta, rye bread, brown rice, and oatmeal), Limit consumption of organ meats (liver, kidney, brains), Egg yolks, Fats (butter, lard) and oils, Packaged and processed foods.

There are two diets that may help lower your cholesterol: Heart Healthy Diet and Therapeutic Lifestyles Changes (TLC) Diet. Exercise can help lower LDL (”bad cholesterol”) and raise HDL (”good cholesterol”). If your doctor has prescribed medicine to lower your cholesterol, take it exactly as you have been told to.

CONCLUSION: Heart disease is not contagious - you can’t get it like you can the flu or a cold. It is a general term that refers to a variety of acute and chronic medical diseases that affect one or more of the components of the heart. The signs you describe to your physician will help to decide if you need to be tested for heart disease. Your physician will also check if you have any conditions that can increase your chance of developing the disease.

These conditions include: high blood pressure, diabetes, smoking, elevated cholesterol level, menopause in women, family members who have had heart disease at a young age. If you have cardiovascular disease, your angina can be treated by treating the heart disease. Maintaining a healthy diet and weight in addition to a regular exercise program can help you avoid developing heart disease.