Cardiovascular Disease: Risk factors, Symptoms, Diagnosis And Treatment

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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are one of the leading causes of mortality throughout the world affecting one or many parts of the heart and blood vessels. CVDs refer to a group of diseases including coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, and other conditions.

Risk factors

CVDs are known to affect all age groups, but the risk factors grow with age. Here is a list of risk factors that may increase your chance of getting a CVD.

• Lifestyle factors:

1. Consuming a diet high in saturated fats, trans fat, and cholesterol
2. Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure levels
3. Not doing enough physical activities
4. Cigarette smoking can damage the heart and blood vessels

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• High cholesterol (hyperlipidemia)
• Diabetes
• Family history of heart disease
• Sedentary lifestyle or obesity
• Pre-eclampsia or toxemia
• Gestational diabetes
• Chronic inflammatory or autoimmune conditions
• Chronic kidney disease

While non-modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors cannot be changed, the modifiable cardiovascular disease risk factors can be reduced or controlled with an altered behavior.

What are the symptoms of heart disease?

Heart disease symptoms can vary depending on the cause.
Symptoms of abnormal heart rhythms:

• Pounding or racing heart (palpitations)
• Shortness of breath
• Irregular pulse or heart palpitations
• Feeling faint, dizzy, or light-headed
• Pale skin
• Sweating
• Chest pain

Symptoms of heart valve disease:

• Chest pain
• Dizziness
• Heart murmur
• Shortness of breath
• Tiredness

Symptoms of blockages in the blood vessels in the heart:

• Pain in your chest or upper body
• Exhaustion
• Neck pain
• Dizziness
• Nausea or vomiting
• Heartburn or indigestion
• Shortness of breath

How are CVDs diagnosed?

Depending on your symptoms, there are a variety of tests available to know the cause of your symptoms and their severity. Your doctor may start it by asking your personal and family medical history, recording current and past symptoms, and doing some laboratory tests.

Some common tests to diagnose CVD include:

1. Electrocardiogram (ECG): It detects the electrical activity in your heart using sensors placed over the chest.
2. Stress Echo: You may be asked to exercise in a controlled way to allow your doctor to measure how your heart responds to stress.
3. Imaging scans: MRIs, Cardiac CT scan, and chest X-rays provide an accurate picture of your heart and the surrounding tissues.
4. Blood tests: In case of a heart attack, there will be elevated amounts of specific proteins in your blood.
5. Cardiac catheterization: This is an invasive procedure in which a narrow tube, or a catheter, is inserted through one of the arteries in your leg or arm, and thread it through to your heart. It lets your doctor measure the pressure and blood flow in your heart.
6. Electrophysiology test: This test measures your heart rhythm and records the electrical activity and pathways of your heart.
7. Carotid ultrasound: It uses high-frequency sound waves to create images of the inside of your carotid arteries.

Treatment

The treatment options for CVDs fall into three main categories:

Lifestyle changes:

• Maintaining a healthy weight
• Not smoking or using tobacco
• Aiming for at least 30 to 60 minutes of daily activity
• Managing stress
• Getting a good quality sleep

Medications:

Your doctor may prescribe a medication based on the type of heart disease. These medications usually aim to reduce blood pressure or widen your arteries.
Surgery or invasive procedures
In a few cases, surgery or a medical procedure may be required to treat the condition and prevent worsening of symptoms.

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Data Sources:

• https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/237191#treatments
• https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/heart-disease-risk-factors

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