Diseases And Conditions

Disorders causing a disturbance of the regular rhythmic beating of the heart are called Arrhythmias. Atrial fibrillation currently affects well over two million Americans. Arrhythmias may be present in a healthy heart with inconsequential effect; however, they may also point to a potentially life-threatening condition that could lead to heart disease, stroke or cardiac arrest.

To learn more about arrhythmias, you may visit the American Heart Association’s Heart Hub™ by clicking here.

Surviving a heart attack, or simply being diagnosed with heart disease, can be a life changing experiencing. You can make it a positive one by working with your healthcare team and taking an active role in your rehabilitation. Changing your health habits (quit smoking, improve your diet, exercise) and taking your medications properly are two key actions you can take to lower the risk of future heart problems or episodes. Additionally, it is imperative to be attentive to new or worsening symptoms.

Click here for additional information about cardiac rehabilitation at the American Heart Association’s Heart Hub™.

Your risk of cardiovascular disease increases right along with the level of bad cholesterol and triglycerides in your blood. Understanding the difference in good (HDL) and bad (LDL) cholesterol and actively managing their contributing factors can substantially reduce your risk for a heart attack or stroke.

To start to get your cholesterol under control, you should schedule a screening. If you’re cholesterol is “high”, you may seek to lower it by eating foods low in cholesterol and saturated fat and free of trans fat, become physically active, maintain a healthy weight and carefully follow your healthcare professional advice.

For a more in-depth explanation of cholesterol and how it affects your health, click here for the facts at the American Heart Association’s Heart Hub™.

Because of the aging of the population and an increasing prevalence of obesity and sedentary life habits in the U.S, the prevalence of diabetes is increasing. Individuals living with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease. What’s more, studies show that cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of diabetes-related death in the U.S. In fact, heart disease and stroke cause about 65 percent of all diabetes-related deaths, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Diabetics are particularly susceptible to cardiovascular disease due to the cardiovascular complications associated with the disease. Diabetes can damage your blood vessels, including the arteries that supply blood to your heart and brain. This damage makes it easier for fatty deposits (plaques) to form in the arteries. The buildup of arterial plaques, a condition called atherosclerosis, can choke off blood supply and drive up your blood pressure. The result may be a heart attack or stroke.

If you are a diabetic, there are a variety of risk factors should be aware of, including: high blood pressure, lipids disorders, high LDL choleterol, high triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, smoking, obesity, lack of physical activity and poorly controlled blood sugars.

Fortunately, many of these risk factors can be effectively controlled through a combination of diet, exercise and medications. For more information on diabetes and tips for a healthy lifestyle for people with diabetes, visit the American Heart Association’s Heart Hub™ by clicking here.

When it comes to a heart attack (myocardial infarction), prevention is critical. Regrettably, many first-time heart attacks are fatal or disabling due to permanent damage to the heart muscle. They occur when blood flow (and oxygen) to the heart is severely reduced or blocked entirely. The underlying cause of this blockage is a buildup of fat, cholesterol and other substances that combine to form plaque in coronary arteries that carry blood to the heart.

Keys to heart attack prevention are heart-healthy nutrition, daily physical activity, ceasing tobacco use, controlling diabetes, and adhering to your physician’s advice with regard to cholesterol and high blood pressure. By age 20, you should be aware of your risk factors for a heart attack and start working to keep them low. The sooner you begin a comprehensive heart attack risk reduction measures, the better.

To learn the warning signs of a heart attack, as well as survey more detailed information about heart attacks and prevention, click here for a wealth of information available at the American Heart Association’s Heart Hub™.

A serious, long-term condition that inhibits the heart’s ability to pump blood, heart failure currently affects over five million Americans with 550,000 new cases reported each year. With proper, timely treatment and far-reaching lifestyle changes, you can manage this condition and live a full and enjoyable life.

Warning signs of heart failure such as sudden weight gain, non exercise-related shortness of breath, swelling of legs or ankles, swelling or pain in the abdomen, trouble sleeping, and increased fatigue. Should these symptoms appear, it is imperative to seek medical attention without delay.

The American Heart Association’s Heart Hub™ provides further insight into heart failure here.

Ominously referred to as the “silent killer”, high blood pressure often goes undetected in individuals for years. As the most significant risk factor for stroke, high blood pressure is believed to be present in one third of U.S. adult. Even more sobering, one third of those with high blood pressure aren’t aware of it. With no symptoms, the only way to become aware of high blood pressure is to have it checked.

With potentially severe repercussions, such as stroke, heart attack, heart failure and kidney failure, it’s a good idea to keep tabs on your blood pressure. If you discover it’s too high, often lifestyle chances are enough to bring it down. To get all of the facts on high blood pressure, click here to connect to the American Heart Association’s Heart Hub™.

The connection between chronic leg pain and a potential heart attack or stroke is not intuitive. Perhaps that’s why Peripheral Artery Disease (PAD) often goes undiagnosed. PAD, the most prevalent type of Peripheral Vascular Disease (PVD), affects roughly eight million Americans and up to 20 percent of those over the age of 65. For those who have PAD, the risk of a heart attack or stroke is four to five times greater.

Given these grim statistics, timely diagnosis is of the essence. While the symptoms of PAD are often mistaken for something else, there are telltale-warning signs. Principle among them is cramping, pain or tiredness in the leg or hip muscles during, sometimes continuing after, physical activity. Other symptoms include foot wounds that won’t heal or heal very slowly, gangrene, and a noticeable decrease in the temperature of your lower leg or foot.

A clinical explanation of PAD, as well as further information about its diagnosis and treatment are available at the American Heart Association’s Heart Hub™. Click here to go there now.

A stoke occurs when blood flow to the brain is prevented, either by a ruptured blood vessel or a blood clot. When the brain is deprived of oxygen and the nutrients it normally receives from the blood stream, that portion begins to die. Depending upon to region of the brain that is affected and the length of time before blood flow is restored, consequences can range from temporary vision impairment and speech problems to paralysis on one side of the body.

As the third leading cause of death in the U.S., trailing only disease of the heart and cancer, stroke is a very serious cardiovascular problem. Timeliness of care in the event of a stroke is crucial. If clot-busting drugs (tPAs) are administered within a three-hour window of symptom onset, long-term disability may be minimized and, in some case, avoided all together. So, every second counts.

A classic, widely recognized symptom of stroke is sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg (especially on one side of the body). Confusion, trouble speaking, difficulty seeing, dizziness, and loss of balance or coordination are also readily apparent warning signs.

The American Heart Association’s Heart Hub™ is an excellent resource from stroke-related information, including tips for recovering from a stroke. Click here to learn more.