Heart, vascular diseases of the brain and kidneys, as well as peripheral arterial diseases. The causes of heart disease are varied, but the most common are atherosclerosis and hypertension. In addition, with age, a number of physiological and morphological changes occur that impair the function of the heart and blood vessels, and subsequently lead to an increased risk of heart disease, even in healthy people without symptoms.
Heart disease remains the leading cause of death worldwide, although deaths due to heart disease have declined in many high-income countries over the past two decades. At the same time, cardiac mortality and morbidity are increasing rapidly in low- and middle-income countries. Although heart disease usually affects older people, its precursor pathologies, in particular atherosclerosis, occur at an early age, so it is necessary to take primary preventive measures from childhood. That's why there is an increased emphasis on eating healthy, exercising, and quitting smoking.
Types of cardiovascular diseases
- Cardiac ischemia
- Cardiomyopathy is a disease of the heart muscle
- Hypertension - heart disease due to high blood pressure
- Cor pulmonale - damage to the right side of the heart
- Cardiac arrhythmias - disturbances in heart rhythm
- Inflammatory heart diseases
- Endocarditis is inflammation of the inner lining of the heart - the endocardium. The structures most often involved are the heart valves.
- Inflammatory cardiomegaly
- Myocarditis is inflammation of the heart muscle, the muscular part of the heart.
- Heart valve disease
- Stroke and cerebrovascular diseases
- Peripheral arterial disease
Risk factors for heart disease
Epidemiology suggests that factors that contribute to the occurrence of heart disease include: age, gender, high blood pressure, high serum cholesterol, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, family history, obesity, physical inactivity, psychosocial factors, diabetes mellitus, air pollution. While the individual impact of each risk factor varies between different states or ethnic groups, the combined impact of these risk factors is surprisingly large. Some of these risk factors, such as age, gender, or family history, remain the same, but many important risk factors for heart disease change due to lifestyle choices, drug treatment, or social changes.
Age
Age is an important risk factor for developing heart disease. It is estimated that 87 percent of people die from coronary heart disease when they are 60 years of age or older. At the same time, the risk of stroke doubles every decade after age 55.
Several explanations have been proposed for why the risk of heart disease increases with age. One of them is related to serum cholesterol levels. For most people, total cholesterol levels increase with age. In men, the increase in total cholesterol levels stops around the age of 45-50 years. In women, a sharp increase continues until 60-65 years.
Aging is also associated with changes in the mechanical and structural properties of the vascular wall, which leads to loss of elasticity of the arteries and can subsequently lead to coronary heart disease.
Men are at greater risk of heart disease than premenopausal women. However, after menopause, women's risk of heart disease is about the same as men's.
Among middle-aged people, coronary heart disease occurs 2-5 times more often in men than in women. A study conducted by the World Health Organization found that the difference in mortality from coronary heart disease between sexes was about 40%. Another study reports similar results: gender differences explain almost half of the risks associated with heart disease. One proposed explanation for gender differences in heart disease is hormonal differences. In women, the predominant sex hormone is estrogen. Estrogen has a protective effect on glucose metabolism and the hemostatic system, and has a direct effect on improving endothelial cell function. Estrogen production decreases after menopause, and women's lipid metabolism changes toward a more atherogenic form by decreasing HDL cholesterol and increasing LDL and total cholesterol. Women who have experienced early menopause - either naturally or because they have undergone a hysterectomy - are twice as likely to develop heart disease as women in the same age group who have not yet reached menopause.
Differences exist among men and women in body weight, height, fat distribution, heart rate, stroke volume, and vascular compliance. Among the oldest people, age-related pulsation and inflexibility of the large arteries are more pronounced in women. This may be due to smaller body size and smaller arteries not associated with menopause.
Air pollution
Particulate matter has been studied for its short- and long-term effects on heart disease. Currently, PM 2.5 is the main focus of gradient use to determine heart disease risk. For every 10 µg/m 3 long-term exposure to PM 2.5, the estimated risk of mortality from heart disease is 8-18%. Women have a higher relative risk (1.42) of coronary heart disease caused by PM 2.5 than men (0.90). In general, long-term exposure to particulate matter increases the incidence of atherosclerosis and inflammation. For short-term exposure (2 hours), every 25 µg/m3 of PM 2.5 leads to a 48% increase in the risk of mortality from heart disease. In addition, after 5 days of exposure, systolic (2.8 mm Hg) and diastolic (2.7 mm Hg) blood pressure increases for every 10.5 μg/m 3 PM 2.5. Other studies have shown the effects of PM 2.5 on heart rate irregularity, decreased heart rate variability (decreased vagal tone), and most notably, heart failure. Thickening of the carotid artery and increased risk of acute myocardial infarction are also associated with PM 2.5.
Pathophysiology of diseases
Population-based studies show that atherosclerosis, a major precursor to heart disease, begins in childhood. A study of the pathobiological determinants of atherosclerosis in young people showed that intimal lesions appear in the aorta in all children aged 7-9 years, and in more than half of the children in the right coronary artery.
This is very important considering that 1 in 3 people will die from complications associated with atherosclerosis. In order to stop the development of atherosclerosis and heart disease, it is necessary to recognize that they pose the greatest threat and take measures to prevent or eliminate them.
Obesity and diabetes are often associated with heart disease, as are chronic kidney disease and hypercholesterolemia. In fact, heart disease is most life-threatening in people with diabetes, and diabetics are two to four times more likely to die from heart disease than non-diabetic heart patients.
Cardiovascular screening
ECG screening (at rest or during exercise) is not recommended in patients without symptoms and with a low risk of heart disease. In such cases, there is not enough reason for ECG screening.
Some biomarkers can be added to conventional cardiac risk factors in predicting the risk of future heart disease, but the clinical significance of some biomarkers remains questionable. Currently, biomarkers that reflect a higher risk of heart disease include:
- Calcification of the coronary arteries
- Intima-media thickness of the carotid artery
- The total area of atherosclerotic tissue damage of the carotid artery
- Highest concentration of fibrinogen and PAI-1 in the blood
- Elevated homocysteine levels
- Elevated blood levels of asymmetric dimethylarginine
- C-reactive protein levels, which indicate inflammation
- Elevated blood levels of brain natriuretic peptide, also known as B-type
Prevention of heart disease
Currently practiced measures to prevent heart disease include:
- eating a low-fat, high-fiber diet, including whole grains and plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables (at least five servings a day);
- smoking cessation; preventing non-smokers from inhaling tobacco smoke;
- limiting alcohol consumption to the recommended daily limit: drinking 1-2 standard drinks per day reduces the risk of disease by 30%. However, excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of heart disease;
- reducing blood pressure, if it is elevated, through the use of antihypertensive drugs;
- reduction in the volume of adipose tissue in accordance with the body mass index in case of overweight or obesity;
- increasing daily activity to 30 minutes of intense exercise per day at least five times a week;
- reduction of psychosocial stress.
Regularly counseling adults to improve their diet and increase physical activity did not have a significant effect on behavior change and is therefore not recommended.
Diet
Evidence shows that the Mediterranean diet can improve the outcome of heart disease. Clinical trials of the nutritional approach to treating hypertension have also shown that blood pressure, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol are reduced and metabolic syndrome is improved; but long-term benefit outside of clinical trials remains questionable.
The link between saturated fat consumption and heart disease is controversial. Scientific studies and clinical observations show conflicting results. Replacing polyunsaturated fats in the diet with saturated fats reduces the risk; replacing carbohydrates does not change or increases the risk. A diet high in trans fatty acids significantly increases the risk of heart disease.
Supplements
There is no evidence to support omega-3 fatty acid supplementation based on the 2012 study.
Treatment
The benefit of aspirin in reducing the risk of heart disease is not substantiated, since the risk of serious bleeding is equivalent to the benefit in relation to heart problems. Statins are effective in preventing later heart disease in patients with a history of heart disease. The reduction in risk of death, however, appears to only occur in men.
Managing the course of the disease
Heart disease is treatable with initial therapy primarily focused on diet and lifestyle changes. Medicines are also useful for prevention.
Epidemiology of heart disease
According to the World Health Organization, 63% of all deaths worldwide are due to chronic diseases, of which heart disease is the leading cause of death.
Cardiovascular research
The first cardiovascular studies were conducted in 1949 by Jerry Morris, who used professional health data, and were published in 1958. The causes, prevention, and treatment of all forms of heart disease remain active areas of biomedical research. Hundreds of scientific studies are published weekly. A trend began to emerge, especially in the early 2000s, when numerous studies found a link between fast food and an increase in heart disease. These studies include those conducted by the Ryan Mackay Research Institute, Harvard University and the Sydney Heart Centre. Many large fast food chains, particularly McDonald's, protested the methods used in these studies and responded by adding healthy foods to their menus.
More recently, emphasis has been placed on the relationship between the low degree of inflammation that is a hallmark of atherosclerosis and its possible intervention. C-reactive protein is a common marker of inflammation, and elevated levels are found in patients at risk for heart disease. Osteoprotegerin, which is associated with the regulation of a major inflammatory transcription factor called NF-kB, has also been found to be a risk factor for heart morbidity and mortality.
In some areas, a possible link between infection with Chlamydia pneumonia, and coronary heart disease. Communication with Chlamydia was unlikely due to lack of improvement after antibiotic use.
Greetings to all blog readers!
Currently, throughout the civilized world, cardiovascular diseases have taken first place. It is alarming that these diseases have recently often occurred at a young age and are the causes of serious outcomes.
Prevention of cardiovascular diseases will help prevent heart disease. To do this, we need to know what our heart does not love, but what it responds to with gratitude.
First, let's talk about what the heart likes.
In the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, attention must first be paid to nutrition. Eat wholemeal bread, which is high in fiber. Fiber collects cholesterol and removes it from the body. This means that atherosclerotic phenomena will manifest themselves much more slowly.
Eat more vegetables and fruits, they contain important microelements and vitamins for the heart.
It is better to avoid animal fats and consume vegetable oil. The best oils are olive and linseed.
Don't forget about sea fish and seafood, which are rich in omega-3 fatty acids and Q-10. These substances help prevent atherosclerosis.
Drink unboiled and high-quality raw water. There is little calcium left in boiled water, and this leads to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
In order to prevent cardiovascular diseases, it is good to spend fasting days, for example, eat only vegetables, fruits or drink kefir during the day.
Eat four times a day, try to eat dinner no later than three hours before bedtime.
Taking daily walks is beneficial for cardiovascular health. If you don't have enough time for walks, walk on the way to and from work. You need to leave the house early and try not to walk along busy highways. It's good to walk through parks where you can get some fresh air.
Exercise regularly. They should be moderate and varied. They should be increased gradually.
To prevent cardiovascular diseases, try a course of treatment with raisins. This recipe will help the heart, relieve weakness and pain in the heart.
Take 2 kilograms of seedless raisins. Rinse well first with warm and then with cold water. Let it dry, sort it out. Eat an equal amount of cooked raisins throughout the day - 40 raisins in the morning on an empty stomach. Start breakfast no earlier than one hour later. According to this scheme, you need to eat 1 kilogram of raisins. Start taking the second kilogram in a decreasing pattern. Today there are 40 pieces, tomorrow 39, and so on. Preventive treatment can be carried out 1-2 times a year.
In the fall, don’t forget to prepare viburnum. Drink viburnum tea with honey or sugar for prevention.
In the fall, do not miss the opportunity and carry out a preventive course of treatment with a mixture of apple and beet juice.
The juice mixture recipe is prepared as follows:
Squeeze the apple and beet juice through a juicer. Let stand for 2 hours. Mix 5 parts apple and 1 part beet juice. Take 2 glasses per day.
It is good to prepare beet juice and honey in a 1:2 ratio, add the juice of one lemon. Drink half a glass an hour after meals. Store the juice mixture in the refrigerator.
Now let's talk about what the heart reacts badly to, what it doesn't like?
A large peak in cardiovascular diseases, strokes and heart attacks occurs at the beginning of the summer season. People come to their dachas and try to immediately redo everything. We must not forget that everything can never be completely remade. It is better to do it at a slow pace, but you will avoid dire consequences. Everything that has been said can be recommended to people who decide to do the repairs themselves.
Pay attention to your dream. Sleeping for a long time is bad, but lack of sleep is also harmful. A major risk for cardiovascular disease is working night shifts or overtime.
Avoid stress and conflict situations. You need to try to avoid them altogether or treat them with a bit of humor. Think about the fact that there are no ideal people, and we are all so different.
Monitor your blood pressure. High blood pressure can lead to a heart attack; the load on the heart increases significantly. Every home must have a pressure measuring device. The choice of tonometers is now really wide, you can choose one for every taste and price.
Pay attention to salt, try to salt your food less, but it is not recommended to completely give up salt.
Pay attention to your weight. Try to lose excess weight. Excess weight very often leads to increased blood pressure.
Monitor your cholesterol levels, and don’t forget to donate blood for lipid levels. If the indicators are elevated, try to take action and change your lifestyle and diet.
Ask your healthcare provider for a blood clotting test once a year. Viscous blood does not pass through the vessels well, blood microcirculation is disrupted. And to make the blood less viscous, don’t forget about lemon and cranberries. Aspirin also thins the blood; doctors prescribe it in small doses. This way you will be protected from thrombosis.
Magnesium and calcium deficiency decreases significantly with age. This is especially dangerous for women, as hormonal changes occur in their bodies. A deficiency of these important minerals leads to cardiovascular diseases and osteoporosis. To prevent cardiovascular diseases, every woman over 40 years of age should take magnesium and calcium supplements.
Such simple prevention of cardiovascular diseases will definitely help you cope with serious ailments.
You need to take care of your health; for us it is priceless. Take preventative measures and lead a healthy lifestyle.
And I wish you health! Don’t forget that our heart is such a vulnerable and delicate organ!
Prevention of cardiovascular diseases
In the Kirov region, diseases of the circulatory system account for more than half of the mortality rate; about 2 thousand people under the age of 60 die annually as a result of cardiovascular diseases; more than 400 thousand working days are lost annually due to temporary disability.
To minimize the risk of developing hypertension, coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis and, accordingly, such dangerous complications of these diseases as myocardial infarction and acute cerebrovascular accident (stroke), every person should know the risk factors, the elimination of which will increase life expectancy and make its more comfortable.
What are these risk factors?
- High blood pressure (above 140/90 mmHg)
- Increased cholesterol levels in the blood (upper limit of normal 5.0 mmol/l).
- Increased fasting blood sugar (normal blood glucose levels are from 3.3 to 5.5 mmol/l).
- Smoking.
- Excess body weight. Abdominal obesity, which can be determined by waist circumference, has a greater negative impact on health. For men, the waist circumference should not exceed 102 cm, and for women - 88 cm.
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Excessive intake of fatty and salty foods. It is necessary to reduce the consumption of animal fats to a minimum (lard, butter, sour cream, a lot of animal fats in sausages), and limit salt consumption to 3-5 g per day (a teaspoon without a “pea”).
In terms of preventing cardiovascular accidents, it is especially important to highlight the need to control blood pressure levels, since high blood pressure increases the risk of stroke and myocardial infarction several times. Optimal blood pressure is 120/80 mmHg.
According to studies conducted in the Kirov region, the prevalence of arterial hypertension among the adult population of the region is 40.9%. 67.9% know their blood pressure level. Among people suffering from hypertension, more than half receive antihypertensive therapy, but only a seventh of them are treated effectively. During treatment, only every seventeenth person among the population of patients with arterial hypertension achieves and maintains normal blood pressure values for a long time (years). The male part of the population treats their health especially poorly.
The low effectiveness of treatment is primarily due to the fact that there is still a widespread misconception about course treatment of hypertension, when medications are discontinued when normal blood pressure levels are reached. Hypertension is a chronic disease, so treatment should be daily and long-term, and normal blood pressure numbers indicate that the treatment was chosen correctly and should be continued.
The World Heart Federation says it is critical that efforts to combat cardiovascular disease go beyond policies and health care professionals. People all over the world can help reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease in themselves and their loved ones. As the center of everyone's family and daily life, the home is a great place to start taking steps to improve heart health. By making small changes to household habits and behavior at home to prevent heart disease and stroke, people around the world can live longer and better lives.
The World Heart Federation has identified four simple measures that need to be followed in everyday life:
- Do not allow smoking in the house. By quitting smoking, you will improve your health and the health of your loved ones. Set a rule: for every cigarette smoked, the smoker does additional housework.
- Follow the principles of healthy eating. Your diet should contain vegetables and fruits. Avoid fatty, fried and high-calorie foods.
- Encourage physical activity. Limit the time you and your family members spend watching TV and using the computer. Organize family outings, hikes and outdoor games.
- Know your numbers. Visit a medical facility, for example, a health center, where they will measure your blood pressure, determine your blood glucose and cholesterol levels, and calculate your body mass index. Knowing your risk for developing heart disease can help you develop a specific action plan to improve your heart health.
By adhering to these rules, you can reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases. However, not all heart diseases are preventable. Over 70 percent of all heart attacks and strokes that require emergency medical attention occur at home, with a family member nearby to help the patient. Therefore, it is important to know what measures to take if a heart attack or ischemic stroke occurs at home. If you suspect your family member is having a heart attack or stroke, seek medical help immediately. Always have emergency numbers on hand.
Signs of a heart attack:
- Chest discomfort, including squeezing pain in the chest or behind the breastbone.
- Discomfort and/or pain that spreads to other areas of the upper body, such as one or both arms, under the shoulder blades, back, neck, upper or lower jaw, or stomach area.
- Shortness of breath with or without a feeling of discomfort in the chest.
- Other signs include: unexplained weakness or tiredness, restlessness or unusual nervousness, cold sweats, nausea, vomiting, dizziness and fainting.
Signs of a stroke:
- Sudden weakness in the face, arm, or leg, most often on one side of the body.
- Sudden confusion, problems speaking or understanding speech.
- Sudden vision problems in one or both eyes.
- Sudden disturbance in gait, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.
- Sudden severe headache of unknown cause.
If you observe any of these signs, which may be transient, call 911 immediately. Remember, the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it is.
As you celebrate World Heart Day, take responsibility for the health of your heart and the hearts of your loved ones. Make your home a place where healthy food is available, tobacco is free, and physical activity is encouraged to reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke. It is in your power to create conditions for a healthy lifestyle in your home!
Prevention of heart and vascular diseases. Atherosclerosis. Hypertension
Today we will continue to talk about modifying your lifestyle to reduce your individual risk. We will talk about other measures of primary and secondary prevention, including certain medications.
Start in all patients following MI and acute coronary syndrome. Continue taking it indefinitely. Observe the usual contraindications. Use as needed to treat angina, arrhythmias, or hypertension in all other patients.
Abbreviations: BP - blood pressure, ACE - angiotensin-converting enzyme, Hemoglobin A1 c - the largest fraction of adult hemoglobin (glycolysed hemoglobin), MI - myocardial infarction, BMI - body mass index, HDL - high-density lipoproteins, LDL - low-density lipoproteins, INR - international normalized ratio, CNC - chronic circulatory failure, CRF - chronic renal failure.
* – the use of resin is relatively contraindicated when triglycerides< 200 мг/дл (5,2 ммоль/л).
† – not HDL cholesterol = total cholesterol minus HDL cholesterol.
Information about some individual drugs that are listed in the table:
STATINS. The most studied statin to date is simvastatin (sold in pharmacies under the names: Zocor, Simvor, Vasilip, Simgal, etc.). Since December 2003 it has been sold in the UK without a prescription. Starting dose 10 mg x 1 time per day before bedtime. Next, the dose is selected under the control of LDL cholesterol levels (beta-lipoproteins, “bad” cholesterol). Two weeks after starting treatment, it is advisable to perform a biochemical blood test for the activity of ALT and CPK enzymes. Possible side effects of simvastatin are comparable in frequency to placebo. If you have had angina, then the intensity of pain should decrease with statins; other sensations are usually not encountered when taking simvastatin. Simvastatin has been shown to reduce mortality and the development of myocardial infarction and stroke in patients taking it.
Fibrates, niacin, resin are drugs that only a doctor prescribes and controls their effect!
Antithrombotics/anticoagulants. The most studied drugs in this group are aspirin (sold in pharmacies under the names: aspirin, acetylsalicylic acid, thrombo ACC, etc.) and warfarin. Aspirin is taken once a day in a dose of 75 to 325 mg. A contraindication to the use of aspirin is a predisposition to bleeding and/or ulceration. Coated aspirin causes stomach ulcers in the same way as uncoated aspirin, because this action occurs through the bloodstream, by acting on the enzyme cyclooxygenase, and not at the point of contact on the gastric mucosa. Aspirin has been shown to reduce mortality and the development of myocardial infarction and stroke in patients taking it.
Warfarin is a drug that only a doctor prescribes and controls its effect! The selection of the dose of warfarin is carried out under the control of blood clotting indicators!
ACE inhibitors. The most studied drugs from this group are ramipril (sold in pharmacies under the names: tritace, corpril) and enalapril (sold in pharmacies under the names: renitek, enap, ednit, invoril, enam, etc.). The initial dose for ramipril is 2.5 mg x 1 time per day, for enalapril 5 mg x 2 times per day. Ramipril and enalapril are contraindicated in pregnancy, hyperkalemia, bilateral renal artery stenosis and aortic valve stenosis. The dose is adjusted according to the blood pressure level to the maximum tolerated level. Ramipril or enalaril has been shown to reduce mortality and the development of myocardial infarction and stroke in patients taking one of these drugs.
Beta blockers. The most studied drug from this group is metoprolol (sold in pharmacies under the names: betalok, egilok, unilok, etc.). The initial dose is 12.5 mg x 2 times a day. Contraindications to metoprolol: bronchial asthma and other obstructive pulmonary diseases, bradycardia and AV block. The dose is selected according to blood pressure level. Metoprolol has been proven to reduce mortality and the development of myocardial infarction in patients taking it.
One of the diseases that can lead to the development of myocardial infarction is hypertension. This is why blood pressure control is so important.
First you need to decide: do you have hypertension?
Determination and classification of blood pressure levels
Cardiovascular diseases - an epidemic of the 21st century
According to official data, about 1 million people die from cardiovascular diseases in Russia every year. 300 thousand people. Mortality due to this reason accounts for more than 55% of all deaths. Among developed countries, Russia leads in this sad indicator.
Not only treatment, but first of all, competent prevention of cardiovascular diseases will help reduce the number of patients suffering from and other ailments. People from so-called risk groups especially need to know about prevention methods.
Physical education is your main assistant
The benefits of physical therapy are beyond doubt, since, firstly, during active exercise, especially in the fresh air, the cells and tissues of the body are saturated with oxygen, and secondly, blood circulation increases and the heart muscle is strengthened. Aerobic activities that increase the heart rate are preferable - walking, running, skiing, cycling.
It is known that when lipids are deposited on the walls of arteries, thereby leading to a narrowing of the lumen of blood vessels and even clogging them. In physical education it works as follows. Fatty substances consumed by a person in excess do not settle in the vessels, but are burned by the body during exercise, and their safe level is maintained in the blood, coronary blood flow increases.
Physical activity depends on the age, functional state of the person, and also on whether he or she already has any diseases of the cardiovascular system. Those who have never been involved in physical education and sports should start with walking.
Doctors have found that the minimum dynamic load is as follows: 3 times a week for 30 minutes at a comfortable pace. Those who engage in recreational running should remember that it is not recommended to run more than 30-40 km per week, since in this case the body’s reserves are depleted and performance decreases.
In addition to aerobic exercise, it has benefits for the body. You can do the following exercises:
- Rotation with hands clenched into fists, as well as feet pointed on toes (20 times in one direction and the other);
- Rhythmic compression-extension of the hands (30 times);
- Rotations of the body left and right with arms spread to the sides (10 times);
- Swing with a straight leg forward, while reaching for your toes (10 swings with each leg);
- Lunges forward with each leg alternately (10-20 times);
- Vertical leg lift to prevent vascular diseases of the legs (1-2 minutes).
This complex can be included in morning exercises, or performed at any convenient time. It is important that the room is well ventilated and that the person wears comfortable clothing that does not restrict movement. But there are a number of the following contraindications to physical education:
- Acute forms,;
- Spicy;
- accompanied by severe pain in the heart area.
To properly structure your training, you need to adhere to the following rules:
Healthy eating is a big step towards health
Prevention of vascular diseases requires adequate balanced nutrition. One of the main causes of these diseases is insufficient consumption of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are responsible for lipid metabolism in the body. Therefore use:
- Steamed or boiled fish (2-3 times a week);
- Raw avocados (1-2 fruits per week);
- Flaxseed oil (2 tablespoons per day);
- Nuts (6-8 pieces per day).
Due to the fiber content, which prevents the absorption of cholesterol, as well as Omega-3 acids, you should consume cereal porridges - rolled oats, buckwheat, brown rice. The coarser the grind, the richer the porridge in valuable substances.
The following vegetables and fruits are especially valuable and healthy:
Pumpkin
Reduces blood pressure and improves water-salt balance (contains beta-carotene, potassium, vitamin C);
Garlic
Reduces vascular tone and blood pressure (contains hydrogen sulfide, nitric oxide);
Broccoli
Nourishes the heart and blood vessels with vitamins and elements (the composition includes vitamins B, C, D, as well as potassium, iron, manganese);
Strawberries
Strengthens the walls of blood vessels and fights anemia (contains folic acid, copper, iron, iodine);
Pomegranate
Improves blood circulation, strengthens the walls of blood vessels, thins the blood, preventing blockage of blood vessels (contains antioxidants, iron, iodine).
In addition to eating healthy foods, it is worth reducing the amount of salt consumed, fatty, fried, refined foods that do not carry any nutritional value other than empty calories. Refrain from eating foods containing large amounts of sugar - cakes, creams, milk chocolate.
Stress is a blow to blood vessels
The mechanism of action of stress on the cardiovascular system is known: the hormone adrenaline is produced, which causes the heart to beat faster, and the blood vessels spasm and narrow. Because of this, blood pressure increases and the heart muscle wears out.
American scientists have found that the cardiovascular system is directly connected to the brain and hormonal sphere. That's why if a person experiences negative emotions - fear, anger, irritability, then the heart will suffer.
To prevent this, a person needs to:
- Spend more time in nature, away from the bustle of the city;
- Learn not to let minor troubles and everyday troubles get close to your heart;
- When you come home, leave all thoughts about business at the door;
- Listen to relaxing classical music;
- Give yourself as many positive emotions as possible.
- If necessary, take natural sedatives, such as motherwort.
Down with bad habits!
Smoking and healthy blood vessels are incompatible. Nicotine spasms blood vessels, therefore. In addition, the vascular walls are damaged and plaques are deposited on them, which are the main cause of cardiovascular diseases. The smoker's brain suffers, memory is impaired, and paralysis may occur. That's why To prevent the formation of blood clots and destruction of vessel walls, you must stop smoking.
Another destructive habit is excessive drinking. Ethanol acts quickly: under its influence, red blood cells lose their negative charge and begin to stick to each other, worsening the patency of blood vessels, increasing blood clotting and increasing the risk of the formation of extremely dangerous blood clots. Oxygen starvation is experienced not only by organs and tissues, but also by the myocardium; the heart begins to beat faster, depleting its resources. In addition, ethanol interferes with fat metabolism, sharply increasing the level of cholesterol in the blood, and it contributes to the formation of plaques on the walls of blood vessels.
Fans of strong drinks should know that systematic consumption of alcohol, no matter what - beer, wine or champagne, provokes the replacement of the muscle layers of the myocardium with fatty ones. The reception of electrical impulses is disrupted, the ability of the myocardium to contract decreases, and this threatens the appearance of arrhythmias, myocardial ischemia and other severe consequences. There is only one conclusion - reduce alcohol consumption as much as possible, and if it cannot be avoided at a banquet, then simply eat as many fresh green vegetables as possible along with it.
Bad habits include sitting for long evenings in front of the TV or computer. A person who deprives himself of sleep wears out his heart, because he also needs periods of rest. To ensure that the heart does not experience overload, It is recommended to sleep at least 8 hours a day, and this time can be distributed throughout the day.
About the benefits of regular examination
Diseases of the heart and blood vessels can occur unnoticed, without any external manifestations. Therefore, you should examine your blood vessels and heart approximately once a year using the basic available methods..
- . This method is based on recording the heart rhythm using special electrodes. Allows you to identify disturbances in the functioning of the myocardium, intracardiac patency, etc.;
- Ergometry. The essence of the technique is to study the functioning of the cardiovascular system in dynamics;
- (ultrasound Dopplerography). It is used mainly for the prevention of cerebrovascular diseases. The doctor evaluates blood flow in the large vessels of the neck and head;
- . Using MRI, specialists determine the patency of blood vessels, the presence of blood clots, its anatomy and diameter. Its advantages are obvious: efficiency, accuracy and harmlessness to the patient.
- MRA (magnetic resonance angiography). This method is the most modern and effective, especially when diagnosing the condition of cerebral vessels, since it allows one to obtain a three-dimensional image of the vascular network of the area under study. If the blood vessels of the body are examined, a special dye is injected into the artery or vein, thanks to which the images are clear and understandable.
- avoid factors that have a detrimental effect on the system - active and passive smoking, taking narcotic substances;
- control your weight. Fat deposition in the waist area is especially dangerous.
To prevent heart and vascular diseases, a transition to a healthy diet is necessary. It is recommended not to overeat, eat 4 times a day. It is advisable to have dinner no later than three hours before bedtime. You should pay attention to the dishes and products you eat:
- limit caffeinated drinks, sugar, sweets, flour products;
- palm, coconut, ghee oils are harmful to the muscle tissue of the heart;
- avoid sausages, canned food, pickles;
- reduce your consumption of alcoholic beverages;
- Replace fatty meats with lean ones: rabbit, turkey, chicken;
- The recommended amount of salt is 5 g per day;
- introduce olive, sesame, and flax oils into your diet;
- Fresh fruits and vegetables, herbs must be present on the table;
- Dried apricots and raisins are very beneficial for heart health;
- Replace mayonnaise in salads with vegetable oil;
- eat a handful of nuts daily;
- include different cereals in the menu, eat bread made from wholemeal flour;
- sea fish and seafood are rich in healthy omega-3 fatty acids;
- Fermented milk products will provide the body with the calcium it needs.
Bake, boil, steam dishes more often, avoiding fried foods as much as possible in order to prevent cholesterol plaques on the blood vessels of the heart. Drink at least two liters of fluid per day. It is better if it is green or herbal tea, juices, compotes, mineral water. Carbonated drinks are best avoided as they help remove calcium from the body.
An inactive lifestyle, as well as increased physical activity, threatens the development of health problems. Prevention of heart and vascular diseases includes mandatory movement. The following types of activities are recommended:
- bicycle rides;
- swimming;
- skiing;
- moderate gardening work;
- race walking;
- physiotherapy.
Activity should be fun and not cause overwork. This is especially true for the prevention of heart disease in older people. Excessive physical activity exhausts the cardiovascular system and is harmful to health.
Prevention of heart pathologies in children should begin from birth. Fatty deposits on arterial walls are found in 16% of infants; over the age of three years, almost 100% of children have these precursors of atherosclerosis. Usually, they go away on their own over time, but when favorable conditions are created, they can transform into plaques.
Often in children, atherosclerosis occurs without characteristic symptoms, appearing only with the onset of maturity, when the disease requires serious treatment. A young body has the ability to quickly cleanse and restore, which is why it is so important to instill healthy lifestyle skills. Prevention of a healthy child’s heart is based on the following rules:
- healthy eating;
- physical activity;
- giving up destructive habits;
- regular medical examinations.
The personal example of parents will be effective in this regard. They also need to know about the state of the cardiovascular system in themselves and their closest relatives, so that in case of a hereditary predisposition, they can carefully monitor the child’s well-being. His increased blood pressure and excess weight are reasons for urgent medical consultation.
Preventive measures in old age
The approach of old age causes changes in the body, which also affect the circulatory system. The vessels become rigid and fragile, cholesterol plaques form in them, gradually narrowing the lumen of the coronary arteries. The blood thickens, its flow slows down, as a result of which the nutrition of all tissues of the body deteriorates. The risk of blood clots increases.
Consultations with a cardiologist every six months are a necessary preventative measure for the heart after 40 and 50 years. It is advisable to conduct the following examinations:
- An ECG should be taken; a stress electrocardiogram is recommended for men.
- Take a blood lipid test every year.
- Monitor blood clotting.
- Buy a blood pressure monitor for home and measure your blood pressure regularly.
Deviations from the norm in test results require clarification from a specialist. A cardiologist or therapist can advise you on what to drink to prevent heart disease. Courses of dietary supplements, complexes of vitamins and minerals are recommended.
Taking special medications to support the cardiovascular system is usually prescribed for secondary and primary prevention of rheumatic heart disease, as well as bradycardia, hypertension and other ailments.
Panangin for heart prevention
It is recommended to take Panangin in a course for the prevention of cardiac extrasystoles. It replenishes the deficiency of potassium and magnesium. The drug is also indicated for diabetics, women on hormonal contraceptives, and bath lovers.
For prevention, take 1 tablet three times a day. The course of treatment is 3-4 weeks.
Riboxin for heart prevention
Riboxin is available only with a doctor's prescription. It stimulates the supply of oxygen to tissues, improves blood circulation, and normalizes heart contractions.
The drug is taken before meals according to the following regimen for 1-3 months:
- On the first day, take 1 tablet 3-4 times;
- On days 2-3 from the start of administration, the dose is increased to 2 tablets 3-4 times a day.
Note! The daily dose of the drug can be increased gradually and in the absence of negative reactions from the body.
Contraindications for taking Riboxin:
- hypersensitivity, allergy to iosin and its constituent substances;
- renal failure;
- excessive uric acid levels;
- gout.
Aspirin
Indicated to reduce blood clotting and improve its fluidity. Recommended for use by older people. Long-term use leads to increased acidity and heartburn, so the drug should be periodically changed to a similar one (Warfarin, Clopidogrel).
Magnesium for heart prevention
Magnesium is often prescribed to pregnant women for the prevention and treatment of cardiac tachycardia. It usually comes in combination with folic acid.
Magnesium supplements are taken for the heart to stabilize heart rate and lower blood pressure.
What to take to prevent heart disease should be decided together with your doctor. The list of drugs is quite wide:
- Magnerot Prescribe 2 tablets 3 times a day for a week, then 1 tablet 3 times a day. Duration of treatment is 4-6 weeks. For leg cramps, take 2-3 tablets in the evening. The drug is taken before meals with water.
- Orocamage take 4 capsules 3 times a day. The course of treatment is from 4 to 6 weeks. Contraindications: hypersensitivity to the drug, renal failure, urolithiasis, pregnancy and lactation.
- Doppelhertz Active magnesium + calcium is prescribed 1 tablet with meals, 1 time per day. The course of therapy is 2 months.
Asparkam for heart prevention
Asparkam contains magnesium aspartate and potassium aspartate. Microelements normalize the balance of fluid and salts in the body and help get rid of swelling.
Asparkam is used to prevent cardiac arrhythmia and myocardial infarction. For preventive purposes, take 1 tablet 3 times a day for a month.
Contraindications:
- excess magnesium and potassium in the body;
- allergic reactions to the active ingredients of the drug;
- diseases of the adrenal glands and kidneys;
- cardiogenic shock;
- severe muscle weakness.
Traditional medicines are cheap and easily available. There are many recipes for the prevention and treatment of heart and vascular diseases:
- Garlic is very useful for heart ailments. Eat 1-2 cloves every day. A simple and effective infusion is also prepared from it: two crushed cloves are poured with warm water and infused overnight. In the morning you should drink the liquid and prepare a new portion. The course is 30 days.
- You can make garlic butter. To do this, pour a crushed head of garlic into a glass of unrefined sunflower oil and leave for a day. Next, squeeze the juice from one lemon into the mixture and set aside in a cool, dark place for 7 days. The product needs to be shaken periodically. Take 1 tsp half an hour before meals. 3 r. per day for a course of three months. Then you should stop for 30 days and repeat the treatment. This remedy is especially effective for the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis of the heart vessels.
- Mix chokeberry with honey in a ratio of 1:2, grind well and eat 1 tbsp. l. once a day.
To prevent myocardial infarction, you should strengthen your heart muscle. The following mixtures will help with this:
- Mix equal parts of persimmon and turnip juice with honey, use 1 tbsp. l. 3 r. in a day;
- mix juices from carrots, radishes, beets with honey and take the same;
- Mix 200 ml of carrot juice with vegetable oil and drink in 2 doses throughout the day.
To prevent heart ischemia, replace sugar with honey. You can use it with royal jelly in a ratio of 100:1 for a course of 14 days. Before meals 0.5 tsp. The mixture is kept in the mouth until it dissolves completely.
Prevention of cardiac tachycardia may include remedies from hawthorn. This plant is rich in useful substances: calcium, magnesium, iron, zinc, copper, ascorbic acid, tocopherol and many others. Its fruits reduce heart rate, tone the heart muscle, soothe and relax the organ. Recipes with hawthorn to prevent heart disease:
- add fruit juice to tea or dilute with water and drink;
- 5 tbsp. l. crushed dry berries, pour 400 ml of vodka, leave to brew for 14 days, strain, drink 20 drops before meals;
- mix tinctures of hawthorn and motherwort 1:1, take 1 tsp. 3 r. in a day.
All folk remedies should be used with the knowledge of a doctor and taking into account individual reactions to the ingredients. If you feel worse– Stop using this drug to prevent heart disease.
2924
Tatiana Kuritskaya
03/20/2018 Gulmira Sadzykova - cardiologist. General practitioner of the highest category at the clinic of Dr. Orynbaev. Participant of international cardiology congresses and conferences. Author of articles on the diagnosis and treatment of heart diseases. Diseases of the cardiovascular system can be avoided if you start using medications to prevent heart disease on time. To learn how to protect yourself from heart attacks and other serious...
2058
Tatiana Kuritskaya
27.02.2018
According to WHO, cardiovascular diseases are the most common cause of death in the world. At the same time, coronary heart disease (CHD) leads to death in 30-50% of cases. Prevention of coronary heart disease is necessary for everyone, since the disease develops in a latent form. Symptoms and forms of coronary heart disease In case of coronary heart disease under the influence...
Natalya Mukha graduated from the ChSMA with a degree in General Medicine in 1998, then completed graduate school at the same university. In 2004 she defended her thesis and is working on her doctorate. Teaches at the Department of Faculty Therapy of the Medical Academy. He is certified as a cardiologist, therapist, and functional diagnostics doctor. Conducts a private consultation with a cardiologist and therapist. Member of the All-Russian Society of Cardiologists, Transbaikal Society of Cardiologists.
Currently, cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death in adults. On average, heart and vascular diseases account for 55% of total mortality.
The most common diseases of the cardiovascular system are: arterial hypertension, known to everyone as hypertension, coronary heart disease, which is a wide range of diseases (myocardial infarction, angina pectoris, heart rhythm disturbances, etc.), and acute disturbance of cerebral blood flow ( stroke).
One of the reasons for the high mortality rate from heart or vascular diseases is the lack of effective measures for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular complications. Most often, people do not rush to see a doctor if they notice initial symptoms. Although, this should be done, because timely intervention by a cardiologist can save lives.
Experts are confident that it is possible to minimize the risk of heart disease. And the reduction in mortality due to heart disease should not be caused by the introduction of new treatments, but by increased attention to risk factors. There is a group of factors that cannot be influenced. For example, it is known that men suffer from coronary heart disease more often and the disease develops in them at a younger age than in women. It has been statistically proven that arteries not damaged by atherosclerosis are found in only 8% of men aged 40 to 70 years. However, only 48% of women are at risk.
It is impossible to prevent the development of cardiovascular diseases in the case of a family history. People whose immediate family suffers from such diseases (especially if they suffered a myocardial infarction before the age of 50) have an unfavorable heredity, and the risk of developing coronary heart disease increases by 25%.
Age is the biggest factor. After age 65, the risk of developing cardiovascular disease increases significantly, but not equally for everyone. If there are other risk factors, the probability of the disease increases by 65%, in the absence of such factors - only by 4%.
Other factors include those that can be modified or treated either non-pharmacologically or with medication. These are various bad habits, to get rid of these risks it is enough to lead a healthy lifestyle.
According to the World Health Organization, smokers are more likely to develop cardiovascular, oncological, and bronchopulmonary diseases. The severity of the pathology and the frequency of complications are associated not only with the fact of smoking, but also with its intensity. According to experts, there are no “safe” types of tobacco products, since the range of harmful substances in tobacco smoke is so wide that measures to reduce them generally do not reduce the dangers of smoking. People who smoke die from coronary disease 2 times more often those who have never smoked.
Of course, you need to watch your diet. Diabetes and obesity directly affect the condition of blood vessels, and therefore the heart. Alcoholic drinks have the most detrimental effect. The risk of death is increased in those who abuse alcohol.
Low physical activity also negatively affects body tone, body endurance, resistance to external influences and increases the risk of disease by 2-3 times. Increases the risk of sudden heart attacks.
It is contraindicated to expose yourself to stressful situations. In a state of stress, the body does not function fully, especially with regard to blood vessels, metabolism and all other systems associated with the nervous system. Acute stress can become a catalyst and impetus for the occurrence of some kind of life-threatening acute vascular accident.
The higher your total cholesterol level, the higher your risk of heart disease, so you need to monitor your blood pressure. If it is elevated, the likelihood of myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure and kidney damage increases.
All about beauty and health in Chita and Trans-Baikal Territory
Currently, certain systems and scales are used to assess the risk of death from CVD in the next 10 years of life. For example, SCORE, it takes into account risk factors mentioned above: gender, age, smoking, blood pressure and total cholesterol. Based on all this, the cardiologist decides on the need for preventive measures, including medications. Subsequently, upon repeated treatment, the cardiologist is able to evaluate the result of preventive measures. Thus, a person who quits smoking will move from a higher risk category to a lower risk category.
The heart screening system includes the following examinations: ECG, EchoCG, lipid profile study, study of the hormonal status of the body, consultation with a cardiologist. This spectrum of examination provides a quick and accurate classification of the heart condition into one of the groups: normal, pathological. If a pathology is detected, only a cardiologist is able to decide not only on the diagnosis, but also on further therapeutic and diagnostic tactics. All these examinations can be completed at the MedLux medical center, after which you can immediately see a cardiologist.
Cardiovascular diseases can be prevented by following your doctor's treatment recommendations, changing your lifestyle and following simple rules. It is necessary to emphasize that adherence to the rules of a healthy lifestyle and the prevention of cardiovascular diseases is the life of the patient, not the doctor. And first of all, the patient’s health should be of concern to him.
