What is Cardiovascular disease?
By Marcos Otero
February is heart month so I thought we should discuss the cardiovascular disease and specifically hypertension.
Cardiovascular disease involves multiple problems including heart attacks, strokes, and hardening of the arteries. Essentially the arteries are blocked by plaques, which harden and cause blockage in the arteries. Clots can form which cause heart attack or strokes.
Heart attacks happens when a clot blocks the circulation supplying the heart. The part affected becomes injured and lacks oxygen. What are risk factors for cardiovascular disease?
- Tobacco use.
- High blood pressure.
- Obesity.
- High cholesterol.
- Lack of exercise.
What is hypertension and what causes it? Hypertension is defined as blood pressure higher than 120 (systolic) and 80 (diastolic). Primary hypertension is idiopathic but there are risk factors that contribute to its development. These include family history of hypertension, age, gender, race, and high intake of salt. Other causes include smoking, lack of exercise, alcohol use, being overweight, thyroid problems, and kidney problems. Use of drugs such as amphetamines and cocaine can cause it as well.
What are the effects of high blood pressure? Hypertension can cause hardening of the arteries, or arteriosclerosis, due to the collection of fats, restricting blood flow to the legs, kidneys, brain and heart. This can result in chest pain, kidney failure, heart attack, and aneurysms. High blood pressure makes the heart to work harder, causing the left ventricle to stiffen, limiting the ventricle’s ability to pump blood to the body. This can cause sudden cardiac death or heart failure, a condition in which the heart muscles weaken, work less efficient or wears out. Hypertension can also weaken the brain’s blood vessels, causing blood clots and blood vessels to narrow and leak, resulting in a stroke. Narrowing of arteries can reduce the ability of the kidneys to remove toxins, and the kidneys can stop functioning with time.
Treatment for high blood pressure may include the use of medications and lifestyle changes such as following a healthy diet, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, quitting smoking and managing stress.
How can I prevent cardiovascular disease? QUIT SMOKING! Tobacco is a major risk factor. By quitting you can reduce that risk to that of non-smokers within 5 years. Eat heart healthy foods like those high in fruits, vegetables, and whole grain and low in saturated and Trans fats. Exercise 30- 60 minutes four to five times weekly. Get 7-9 hours of sleep. Keep your blood pressure controlled.
