Heart Attack Heart disease affects your heart's muscle, blood vessels, and electrical system and is the leading cause of death among women. The most common form of heart disease is coronary artery disease in which plaque (a fat-like substance) deposits on artery walls. Plaque build-up is called atherosclerosis. This is a chronic condition that occurs in people with risk factors such as diabetes, obesity, smoking, abnormal levels of blood fats, high blood pressure, a family history of heart disease and older age. When a plaque ruptures, it causes a blood clot to form and suddenly block an artery. If this happens in a heart artery, it results in a heart attack. Treatment Don’t smoke Control your blood pressure Control your cholesterol level. Maintain a healthy weight. Exercise regularly. Eat a low-fat diet. Take care of diabetes. Be aware of chest pain. High Blood Pressure High blood pressure (also called hypertension) occurs when your blood moves through your arteries at a higher pressure than normal. The heart is a pump designed to force blood through our body. Blood is pumped from the heart through the arteries out to our muscles and organs. Pumps work by generating pressure. Put simply, too much pressure puts a strain on the arteries and on the heart itself. This can cause an artery to rupture or the heart to fail under the strain - in the worst case stopping altogether. Treatment Blood pressure is measured with a monitor called a sphygmomanometer. This is a digital box attached to a tube with a cuff on the end. The cuff is placed around the upper arm and inflated to a certain level, then deflated slowly. A sensor in the cuff provides information about the blood pressure or a doctor or nurse will listen to the blood flow using a stethoscope. Hypertensive Heart disease Hypertensive heart disease is any of a number of complications of arterial hypertension that affect the heart. It is one of the most common causes of death in western societies. Hypertensive heart disease is the No. 1 cause of death associated with hypertension and is actually a group of disorders that include heart failure, ischemic heart disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy Treatment Common medications include diuretics, beta blockers, calcium channel blockers, angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, angiotensin II receptor antagonists, and direct vasodilators. intravenous diazoxide or nitroprusside may be prescribed if hypertension is extremely severe and intensive care is necessary. Preventive measures against hypertensive heart disease emphasize control over weight, healthy diet (rich in fiber and vitamins), and abstinence from drugs and alcohol. In cases of a severe heart problem, surgery may be required to restore the normal blood flow in the heart and/or blood vessels. In addition to medications, recommended lifestyle changes include weight loss, exercise, and dietary adjustments. Dietary recommendations include increasing fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Whole grains, poultry, and fish are also generally recommended. Tran’s fats and saturated fats should be avoided. Patients may benefit from reducing salt intake. If you smoke, stop smoking -- cigarettes are a major cause of hypertension and related heart disease. Reducing excessive alcohol consumption may also help.
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