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Take care of Your Heart

Today's fast-paced life and workplace pressures escalate stress levels, taking a toll on one's heart. We must  realize  that the healing power of the body decreases when under stress, leading to many complications like hypertension and obesity. Today, even youngsters are prone to heart ailments. So, it's very important to stay healthy and manage your stress levels by understanding the risk factors — high cholesterol levels, stressful lifestyle, smoking, and lack of exercise — following simple changes in lifestyle.  Avoid smoking  Smoking reduces life expectancy by 15-25 years. If you are a smoker, you are twice more likely to have a heart attack than a non-smoker. The moment you stop smoking, the risk of heart attack begins to reduce.  Cut down on salt   Too much salt can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease.  W atch your diet  Try to have a balanced diet. Eat ...

LIFE AFTER HEART ATTACK

Life AFTER HEART Attack Many people survive heart attacks and live active, full lives after treatment which includes angioplasty /bypass surgery or medicines. If you get help quickly, treatment can limit damage to your heart muscle. Less heart damage improves your chances for a better quality of life after a heart attack. Medical Follow-up After a heart attack, you'll need treatment for coronary heart disease (CHD). This will help prevent another heart attack. Your doctor may recommend:      Lifestyle changes, such as following a healthy diet, being physically active, maintaining a healthy weight, and quitting smoking       Medicines to control chest pain or discomfort, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, and your heart's workload           A cardiac rehabilitation program If you find it hard to get your medicines or take them, talk with your doctor. Don't ...

Healthy Heart & Healthy You

Heart Failure

Heart failure, sometimes known as congestive heart failure, occurs when your heart muscle doesn't pump blood as well as it should. Certain conditions, such as narrowed arteries in your heart (coronary artery disease) or high blood pressure, gradually leave your heart too weak or stiff to fill and pump efficiently. Not all conditions that lead to heart failure can be reversed, but treatments can improve the signs and symptoms of heart failure and help you live longer. Lifestyle changes — such as exercising, reducing salt in your diet, managing stress and losing weight — can improve your quality of life.   What Is Heart Failure Heart failure does not mean the heart has stopped working. Rather, it means that the heart's pumping power is weaker than normal. With heart failure, blood moves through the heart and body at a slower rate, and pressure in the heart increases. As a result, the heart cannot pump enough oxygen and nutrients to meet the body's needs. The ch...

Simple Steps to a Healthy Heart

Today's fast-paced life and workplace pressures escalate stress levels, taking a toll on one's heart. We must realize that the healing power of the body decreases when under stress, leading to many complications like hypertension and obesity. Today, even youngsters are prone to heart ailments. So, it's very important to stay healthy and manage your stress levels by understanding the risk factors — high cholesterol levels, stressful lifestyle, smoking, and lack of exercise — following simple changes in lifestyle. Avoid smoking Smoking reduces life expectancy by 15-25 years. If you are a smoker, you are twice more likely to have a heart attack than a non-smoker. The moment you stop smoking, the risk of heart attack begins to reduce. Cut down on salt Too much salt can cause high blood pressure, which increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease. Watch your diet Try to have a balanced diet. Eat fresh fruits and vegetables avoid starch fo...

Mild and Massive Heart Attacks: What's the Difference?

When you think about a massive heart attack, you probably imagine someone who suddenly clutches their chest and collapses. This is not always the scenario, even with a large heart attack. Although some heart attacks are more dramatic than others, a heart attack is always serious. Whether a heart attack is mild or severe, you can improve your odds of living the longest, healthiest life possible if you know what to do. What Causes Heart Attacks? All heart attacks occur when circulation of blood to the heart is blocked. If the blockage is not rapidly opened, heart tissue will die from a lack of oxygen. Most often, a heart attack, also called myocardial infarction (MI), is a result of coronary heart disease (CHD). Coronary heart disease is a narrowing of the coronary arteries, which bring blood into the heart muscle. Coronary heart disease is most often caused by atherosclerosis, a buildup of fatty plaque on the artery walls. Narrowed coronary arteries reduce bl...

WHAT IS CORONARY ANGIOGRAPHY

Coronary angiography is a test that uses dye and special x rays to show the insides of your coronary arteries. The coronary arteries supply oxygen-rich blood to your heart. A waxy substance called plaque can build up inside the coronary arteries. The build-up of plaque in the coronary arteries is called  coronary heart disease (CHD). Over time, plaque can harden or rupture (break open). Hardened plaque narrows the coronary arteries and reduces the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. This can cause chest pain or discomfort called  angina . If the plaque ruptures, a blood clot can form on its surface. A large blood clot can mostly or completely block blood flow through a coronary artery. This is the most common cause of a  heart attack . Over time, ruptured plaque also hardens and narrows the coronary arteries. Overview During coronary angiography, special dye is released into the bloodstream. The dye makes the coronary arteries visible on x-ray...