The modern way of life has led us to sedentary lifestyle, poor diet and unhealthy habits, such as excessive alcohol and tobacco consumption. As a result, the incidence of heart disease also increased.
This organ is responsible for circulating blood through the body, taking the necessary nutrients for the functioning of organs and cells. When it does not work properly, it can harm the health of the body as a whole, causing malaise and can even lead to death.
Thus, it is essential to take good care of heart health. And the first step in this is to stay well informed. Therefore, this post presents the 8 most common heart diseases and ways to avoid them. Follow!
- Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis is characterized by hardening and narrowing of the arteries that carry oxygen and nutrients from the heart to the rest of the body. This happens due to the accumulation of saturated fat, cholesterol and other substances. Thus the blood flow is impaired, causing chest pain, fatigue and muscle weakness, in addition to other symptoms.
This heart disease is more associated with aging, since fat accumulates progressively. Factors such as family history, high cholesterol, hypertension and diabetes can greatly influence.
- Angina
Angina is characterized by severe chest pain whenever more is required from the heart – physical efforts, strong emotions or low temperatures. When it lasts short and ceases quickly, it is called stable. When it is less intense, but persistent, it is known as unstable.
Both can be a consequence of arteriosclerosis or anemia, diabetes, high cholesterol , in addition to genetic factors and physical inactivity . Angina is one of the heart diseases that can indicate the presence of other more serious heart problems and, therefore, it must be treated carefully.
- Heart attack
Heart attack is one of the most common and fatal heart diseases. It is a heart attack, in which the blood flow in the heart muscle (myocardium) is interrupted for a prolonged period, damaging it or causing the death of the tissue.
This problem occurs when a coronary artery (which carries blood to the heart) is blocked by a fat or clot plaque, becoming blocked. That is, it can be a direct consequence of arteriosclerosis, and is also influenced by other factors, such as high cholesterol, smoking, obesity, alcoholism and genetic propensity.
- Heart failure
It is one of the most common and most serious heart diseases, since the heart cannot pump enough oxygen-rich blood to the body. Over time, symptoms arise such as difficulty in breathing, fatigue, weakness, swelling, palpitations, among others.
The most common cause for heart failure in Brazil is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD), which causes the narrowing of blood vessels. Other risk factors are associated with bad habits, infections and other health problems, such as sleep apnea, diabetes and heart attack. In the most severe cases, it may be necessary to have a heart transplant.
- Arrhythmia
It consists of a feeling of rapid heartbeat, even if they are abnormal or not. The person feels discomfort, malaise, fatigue, palpitations and even difficulty breathing. In extreme cases, there may be loss of consciousness.
It is not a serious problem, being caused, mainly by genetic conditions, stress, anxiety and other heart diseases, such as atrioventricular valve prolapse. However, it can represent a symptom of something more dangerous or lead to a complication.
- Cardiomyopathy
It is a condition in which the heart muscle becomes swollen and inflamed, becoming weak. Thus, the heart is unable to pump blood to the body normally, leading to heart failure. Therefore, the symptoms are very similar to that of this disease, with fatigue, swelling and weakness and, as a last resort, it may also be necessary to have a transplant.
The causes for cardiomyopathy are still unknown, although it is believed that genetic factors, bad habits and other heart diseases can influence it. Anyway, there is drug treatment to control the disease, in addition to recognized forms of prevention, with the adoption of a healthier lifestyle.
- Peripheral arterial disease
Peripheral arterial disease is a condition that affects the arteries that carry blood to the lower limbs – legs and feet. The arteries become narrower and harder, making it harder for blood to reach these peripheral regions. Consequently, pain, swelling, wounds that do not heal can appear, among other symptoms. Men may even have erectile dysfunction.
The main cause for this heart disease is atherosclerosis, the formation of plaques of fat, calcium or other substances in the arteries. Other factors, such as smoking and high cholesterol, may contribute.
For this reason, in order to treat peripheral arterial disease, one must take care of the occurrences of atherosclerosis by the body and prevent new ones from forming. Because the progression of both problems can lead to infarction, the formation of edema and stroke , among other complications.
- Endocarditis
It is an infection of the internal muscle that lines the heart (endocardium). It usually happens due to the migration of a bacterium, fungus or virus from another part of the body, such as the mouth, through the blood system, something quite common to occur. However, the tissue is only affected if it is already weakened by another disease, such as heart failure or low immunity.
This can happen, for example, when a person brushes his teeth and has sores in his mouth, through the contamination of catheters and needles and even by the existence of infections in other parts of the body. Thus, it is necessary to avoid this type of infection or occurrence and take care of other health problems.
All of these heart diseases can be treated and controlled with different types of medication , in addition to adopting healthy habits . Often, surgery to repair or replace the affected areas may be recommended. In the latter case, it is necessary to have a heart transplant, when the organ is already quite compromised.
However, it is best to take good care of yourself and consult a doctor regularly to prevent these heart diseases from developing. So, keep a balanced diet and low in salt and fats, as well as exercise regularly, control weight, reduce stress, stop drinking and smoking. For sure, you will have more quality of life and longevity.
