Cardiovascular Disease: Symptoms, Causes, Types, Treatment & Diagnosis

Cardiovascular Disease Complications

Complications of heart disease may include the following: 

• Heart failure
• Heart attack 
• Stroke 
• Aneurysm 
• Peripheral artery disease
• Sudden cardiac arrest 

 Cardiovascular Disease Diagnosis

Your healthcare professional will conduct a physical examination and inquire about your symptoms, individual health, and family medical history. They could also request testing to identify cardiovascular illness.

Typical examinations used to identify cardiovascular disease include:

• Blood tests to evaluate elements including cholesterol, blood sugar levels, and certain proteins that signify cardiovascular health. 
• To identify peripheral artery disease, the ankle-brachial index (ABI) analyzes the blood pressure in your ankles and arms.
• The electrical activity of your heart is captured by an electrocardiogram (EKG).
• Wearable gadgets are used in ambulatory monitoring to monitor your heart rate and rhythm.
• Sound waves are used in an echocardiogram to provide an image of your heartbeat and blood flow.
• Sound waves are used in ultrasound to examine the blood flow in your neck or legs.
• X-rays and computer processing are used in cardiac computed tomography (CT) to produce 3D images of your heart and blood arteries.
• Magnets and radio waves are used in cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to provide detailed images of the heart.
• MR angiograms and CT angiograms, which employ an MRI or CT, respectively, to view your neck, head, and leg blood arteries.
• Stress tests examine how your heart reacts to physical exertion in a safe environment while you exercise or take drugs. EKGs and/or imaging tests may be used in this kind of test.
• A catheter (a thin, hollow tube) is used during cardiac catheterization to assess your heart's blood flow and pressure.

Cardiovascular Disease Treatment

Treatment for heart disease is based on the type and cause of heart damage. Healthy lifestyle practices, including quitting smoking, exercising frequently, getting enough sleep, and eating a low-fat, low-sodium diet, are crucial components of treatment.

• Medications: Medication may be required to control heart disease symptoms and to avoid complications if lifestyle modifications alone are ineffective. The kind of cardiac condition is what determines the medicine's kind.

• Surgery: Some heart disease sufferers might require treatment or surgery. The type of heart illness and the degree of cardiac damage will determine the sort of operation or surgery.

• Cardiac Rehabilitation: To assist your heart get stronger, you might need to start an exercise program under supervision.

• In the absence of medications, treatments, or surgeries, you could need ongoing, careful observation.

• Changing your diet, getting more exercise, and giving up smoking or using tobacco products altogether are some examples of lifestyle improvements.

Cardiovascular Disease Prevention 

By changing some aspects of one's lifestyle, heart disease can be lessened or even prevented. To enhance heart health, the following adjustments are suggested:

• Consume nutritious foods

• Control blood pressure

• Control diabetes 

• Exercise 

• Maintain a healthy weight 

• Manage stress 

• Practice good hygiene 

• Practice good sleeping habits 

• Stop smoking 

• Test your cholesterol

References 

Alves, A. J., Viana, J. L., Cavalcante, S. L., Oliveira, N. L., Duarte, J. A., Mota, J., ... & Ribeiro, F. (2016). Physical activity in primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease: Overview updated. World journal of cardiology, 8(10), 575.

Cosselman, K. E., Navas-Acien, A., & Kaufman, J. D. (2015). Environmental factors in cardiovascular disease. Nature Reviews Cardiology, 12(11), 627-642.

Gaziano, T., Reddy, K. S., Paccaud, F., Horton, S., & Chaturvedi, V. (2006). Cardiovascular disease. Disease Control Priorities in Developing Countries. 2nd edition.

Laslett, L. J., Alagona, P., Clark, B. A., Drozda, J. P., Saldivar, F., Wilson, S. R., ... & Hart, M. (2012). The worldwide environment of cardiovascular disease: prevalence, diagnosis, therapy, and policy issues: a report from the American College of Cardiology. Journal of the American College of Cardiology, 60(25S), S1-S49.

Nabel, E. G. (2003). Cardiovascular disease. New England Journal of Medicine, 349(1), 60-72.