How+to+Treat+an+Unhealthy+Heart

       Heart disease is the leading cause of death in both men and women in the United States, killing one person every 34 seconds. Currently **//there is no umbrella cure//** **//for heart disease//** so the best defense against this killer is to **//prevent it//**. Changing to a healthier lifestyle will help prevent both new and current heart problems. It may feel overwhelming with all the preventative measures out there, but if you make small changes, over time they can make a big difference in the health of your heart.

One of the most important things we can do to treat and prevent an unhealthy heart is to //start eating a heart healthy diet //. Changing your diet can stop or even reverse the effects of heart disease. These dietary changes include:
 * Eating more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other high-fiber foods
 * Choosing foods that are low in saturated fat, trans fat , and cholesterol
 * Limiting your amount of sodium intake
 * Eating foods rich in omega-3 fatty acid such as fish

**//Heart disease develops over many years//**, which is why it is important to remember to constantly stay active in order to maintain a healthy heart. As adults gain weight, they gain mostly fatty tissue. This added weight greatly increases your risk of heart disease. Many adults get very little exercise, but it is important to remember when treating an unhealthy heart to // exercise daily // because it helps: Aerobic exercise is important to building and maintaining heart and lung efficiency. Adults should get at least 30 minutes of exercise five days each week. Regular mild exercise is far more advantageous than occasional strenuous exercise. Even small reductions in weight can be beneficial. Reducing your weight by just 10% can decrease your blood pressure, lower your blood cholesterol level and reduce your risk of an unhealthy heart. But how do you know if you have a healthy weight? One way is to // calculate your body mass index (BMI) ////,// which considers your height and weight in determining whether you have a healthy or unhealthy percentage of body fat. BMI values of 25 and higher are indicators of high blood fats, high blood pressure, and an increased risk of heart disease and stroke. The BMI is a good but imperfect guide. Muscle weighs more than fat, for instance, and women and men who are very muscular and physically fit can have high BMIs without added health risks. In fact such people include professional athletes who are most likely at a lower risk for heart diseases. Are you healthy? [|Check your BMI here.] Sharonne Hayes, a cardiologist, stated smoking is "the most powerful, preventable risk factor for heart disease." When it comes to treating and preventing heart disease, //no amount of smoking is safe //. And unfortunately adults over the age of 35 have an increased risk of heart disease when they smoke. Even smokeless tobacco and low-tar and low nicotine cigarettes are also risky because of exposure to secondhand smoke. Tobacco smoke contains more than 4,800 chemicals, many which damage your heart and blood vessels making them more vulnerable to arteriosclerosis (which can ultimately lead to a heart attack). The nicotine in cigarette smoke makes your heart work harder by constricting blood vessels and increasing your heart rate and blood pressure. Carbon monoxide in cigarette smoke replaces some of the oxygen in your blood. Thankfully, when you quit smoking **//your risk of heart disease drops dramatically within just one year//**. No matter how long or how much you smoked, you'll start helping your heart become healthy again as soon as you quit. In fact, it is claimed that after 15 years of no smoking, your risk of heart disease is nearly exactly the same as it was before smoking.  // Drugs // can also help heart disease patients by working to dilate the coronary arteries, enabling more blood to be delivered to the heart tissue. It should be noted, however, that drug therapy **//only treats the symptoms//** of coronary artery disease. In addition, drugs often have **//adverse side effects//** and are not always effective at increasing the blood supply to the heart.
 * Blood circulation
 * To keep blood pressure and cholesterol within normal limits
 * Keep muscles in tone
 * To prevent obesity
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Aspirin - helps lower the risk of a heart attack for those who have already had one. It also helps to keep arteries open in those who have had a previous heart bypass or other artery-opening procedure such as coronary angioplasty. However aspirin does carry certain risks that should be discussed with a doctor <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Digitalis - makes the heart contract harder and is used when the heart's pumping function has been weakened; it also slows some fast heart rhythms
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">ACE (Angiot ensin Converting Enzyme) Inhibitor **-** <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> stops the production of a chemical that makes blood vessels narrow and is used t o help control high blood pressure and for damaged heart muscle. It may be prescribed after a heart attack to help the heart pump blood better. It is also used for persons with heart failure, a condition in which the heart is unable to pump enough blood to supply the body's needs
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Beta Blocker - slows the heart and makes it beat with less contracting force, so blood pressure drops and the heart works less hard. It is used for high blood pressure, chest pain, and to prevent a repeat heart attack
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Nitrates (Including Nitr<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">oglycerine) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> - relaxes blood vessels and stops chest pain
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Calcium Channel Blocker - relaxes blood vessels and is used for high blood pressure and chest pain
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Diuretic - decreases fluid in the body and is used for high blood pressure. Diuretics are sometimes refer red to as "water pills”
 * <span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Blood Cholesterol-lowering Agents - decrease LDL cholesterol levels in the blood
 * <span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Thrombolytic Agents - also called "clot busting drugs," are given during a heart attack to break up a blood clot in a coronary artery in order to restore blood flow

<span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">When all else fails and a patient still exhibits symptoms of cardiovascular disease such as fatigue, shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or experiences some irregular palpitations, then // surgery is considered to be the last option // to fix an unhealthy heart. **//Various testing methods//** are used by doctors to test for heart disease and determine whether or not surgery is appropriate. <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">Noninvase tests include: > >   <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;">Invasive tests include: > <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> If and when a doctor deems it necessary for a patient to undergo surgery, the patient may undergo one of several types of surgery depending on the condition: <span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> //Sometimes procedures and surgeries can be wrongly advised and are overly emphasized.// For most patients who are not at high risk for heart disease, a rigorous healthy lifestyle does the same if not more than having a procedure, like angioplasty, or a surgery done. These procedures can in fact become risky themselves, not to mention that they are quite costly. Dr. Ozner is a leading prevention-oriented cardiologist, concerned with the overuse of "interventional cardiology". This [|article]enlightens the disadvantages of the overuse of heart disease treatments and the urge for emphasizing healthy lifestyles, that are free and most effective.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Echocardiogram - a test in which ultrasound is used to examine the heart. It is capable of displaying a cross-sectional "slice" of the beating heart, including the chambers, valves and the major blood vessels
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Computed Tomography (CT) - a combination of special x-ray equipment with sophisticated computers to produce multiple images of the inside of the body and heart
 * <span style="color: rgb(67, 146, 234);"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; color: rgb(0, 179, 255);"> <span style="font-size: 110%; color: rgb(79, 157, 232);">Magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) -   <span style="font-size: 110%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">type of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) that provides images of blood vessels by using a magnetic field and radio wave pulses. It shows both blood flow and the condition of blood vessel walls  [[image:mra.jpg width="361" height="239"]]
 * <span style="color: rgb(62, 102, 204);"><span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) - <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;">measures electrical activity of heart by attaching small electrode patches to skin of chest, arms, or legs.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;"><span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Family History - a diagnostic tool that can indicate whether or not heart disease has been passed down generations.
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Cardiac Catheterization - a procedure to examine blood flow to the heart and test how well the heart is pumping. A doctor inserts a thin plastic tube into an artery or vein in the arm or leg. From there it can be advanced into the chambers of the heart or into the coronary arteries.
 * <span style="font-size: 120%; font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(114, 135, 228);">Electrophyiology (EP) - primarily used to test heart's beating and locate source of arrhythmia (abnormal beating). Catheters are injected through the groin to the heart vessels, which sense the electrical conduction of the heart.
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"><span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Heart Transplant - the surgical placement of a human heart from a patient who has been declared clinically brain dead (cadaveric donor) to a patient in need of a new heart. Donor family consent must be obtained after a match is found and blood work is performed to rule out any possible infections
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) - a surgery that creates new routes around narrowed and blocked arteries, allowing sufficient blood flow to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle. “Spare” vessels are usually taken from the internal mammary arteries (inside the chest wall) or the greater saphenous veins (in the leg). Grafts usually last for 10 to 12 years
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Minimally Invasive Direct Coronary Artery Bypass (MIDCAB) - a minimally invasive approach to conventional CABG. MIDCAB is a beating heart surgery, which means that stopping the heart (cardioplegia) is not necessary and a heart-lung machine is not required. MIDCAB is usually used when one or two coronary arteries need bypassing as opposed to CABG patients who need three or more
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif;"> <span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Heart Valve Surgery - a surgery in which one or more valves are repaired or replaced
 * <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 110%;"> <span style="color: rgb(79, 129, 189);">Angioplasty - a surgery that widens a narrow or obstructed blood vessel using a balloon catheter. It is used to treat atherosclerosis. Angioplasty is commonly performed as a minimally-invasive procedure where a stent (small mesh tube) is inserted into the blood vessel to keep it open

EXERCISE MORE: Overall, the risk of heart failure increased by 180 percent in men who met the definition of obesity according to their body mass index (BMI of 30 and higher), and by 49 percent in men who met the definition of overweight (a BMI of 25 to 30). Conditions such as coronary artery disease and high blood pressure can leave the heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump blood efficiently. Dr. Satish Kenchaiah of Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and colleagues also looked at how physical activity affected heart failure risk. "The lean and active group had the lowest risk and the obese and inactive group had the highest risk," Kenchaiah said in a telephone interview. "As far as vigorous physical activity is concerned, even if somebody said they exercised one to three times per month -- which is a very low level of exercise -- they had an 18 percent reduction in the risk of heart failure after accounting for all other established risk factors," Kenchaiah added. In heart failure, the heart isn’t working properly, so many people think exercise will hurt them. But moderate physical activity can actually help the heart get stronger. With daily exercise, most people will find that they don’t feel as tired, they have less stress and their energy level increases. Other advantages include weight control or weight loss, better circulation, and lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels. That’s a lot of benefits for a little physical effort.

It’s important to plan your physical activity with your healthcare professionals. How much exercise you can do will depend on your specific condition. But even a small amount can improve the way you feel and help you have a more positive attitude. If you can enjoy some recreation, family outings or other leisure activities, you’ll get more pleasure out of life.

<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);"> Whether you take part in a formal exercise program, if you have heart failure, you need to make time for moderate aerobic physical activity, like walking, swimming or biking. You should always stay within your physician's recommendations and your own comfort zone. Here's a checklist of what to do and what to avoid. 
 * Exercise tips**
 * DO...**
 * Wear comfortable clothes and flat shoes with laces or sneakers.
 * Start slowly. Gradually build up to at least 30 minutes of activity, five or more times per week (or whatever your doctor recommends). If you don't have a full 30 minutes, try two 15-minute sessions or three 10-minute sessions to meet your goal.
 * Exercise at the same time of day so it becomes a habit. For example, you might walk Monday through Friday from noon to 12:30 p.m.
 * Drink a cup of water before, during and after exercising (but check with the doctor, because some people need to limit their fluid intake).
 * Ask family and friends to join you. You'll be more likely to keep exercising.
 * Note your activities on a calendar or in a log book. Write down the distance or length of time of your activity and how you feel after each session. If you miss a day, plan a make-up day or add 10–15 minutes to your next session.
 * Use variety to keep your interest up. Walk one day, swim the next time, then go for a bike ride on the weekend.
 * Join an exercise group, health club or YMCA. Many churches and senior centers offer exercise programs, too. (Get your doctor's permission first.)
 * Look for chances to be more active during the day. Walk the mall before shopping, choose a flight of stairs over an escalator, or take 10–15 minute walking breaks while watching TV or sitting for some other activity.
 * Get discouraged if you stop for awhile. Get started again gradually and work up to your old pace.
 * Do isometric exercises that require holding your breath, bearing down or sudden bursts of energy. If you're taking part in an exercise class or physical therapy, ask the leader or therapist what these are. Also avoid lifting weights and competitive or contact sports, such as football.
 * Engage in any activity that causes chest pain, shortness of breath, dizziness or lightheadedness. If these happen, stop what you're doing right away.
 * Exercise right after meals, when it's very hot or humid, or when you just don't feel up to it.

Stress is another major risk factor that can be significantly reduced if the right measures are taken. Although it is not determined whether high stress itself is a risk for heart disease or the physiological responses it provokes are, it is more than safe to say that nonetheless, it can and should be controlled. Stress can be emotional, physical, and/or both. It causes increase in heart rate, blood pressure, and respiration. Also, it triggers the release of adrenaline, a hormone that narrows arteries and constant stress leads to long-term damage to the arteries, and cortisol, which can lead to higher blood pressure, cholesterol, and abdominal fat. In some studies, it has also been shown to be linked to altering the way the blood clots. There are a few tests that can measure stress, such as the stress test that monitors the heart rate while running on a treadmill, an instance of work or stress. Stress can be relieved by several ways, such as doing favorite hobbies, taking a vacation, eating foods that reduce levels of adrenaline and cortisol ("stress hormones") and increase the release of serotonin (chemical that calms the brain), deep breathing, and changing environments to lower stress and pressure.