Warning Signs of Coronary Heart Disease,Risk Factors and Prevention

Heart coronary disease is caused by fatty deposits in the blood arteries, high blood pressure, and some other factors. You should know the risk factors of heart disease and reduce the risk of heart attack.

What is Heart Disease?

What Causes Heart disease

Heart disease or coronary heart disease results when plaque (a fibrous tissue) builds up inside the arterial walls, which causes a partial or complete obstruction of blood flow. The effect of this is less oxygen carrying blood to heart and may result in angina. Angina is a sensation of discomfort, pain, burning or pressure which is generally felt in the chest area and may propagate to the arms or neck.

Angina may be the first indication of heart disease. But many people with heart disease often get no warning signals, until they suffer a full heart attack. Chest pain should not been ignored, even when it is not permanent.

During a heart attack, the supply of oxygen to heart is cut off, resulting in tissue death for a part of the heart muscle.

More than 2500 people die daily from heart disease.

Reduce Major Risk Factors of Heart Disease

Heart Disease & Woman

Most people think that heart disease is a problem mostly for men. But according to the American Heart Association, more women than men die from heart disease in the U.S.

"40% of the time the first symptom of heart disease for a woman is a fatal heart attack, so don't wait until you have a risk factor," warns cardiologist Dr. Lori Mosca.

Heart Disease & Neck, Thighs & Waist Size

Besides ballooned waistlines, a fat neck may also signal possible trouble for the heart. It is found that that for every 3cm increase in neck size, men (average neck size 40.5cm) can have their HDL (good cholesterol) reduced by 2.2 mg/dl and women (average neck size 34.2cm) by 2.7mg/dl. The neck size, however, does not affect LDL cholesterol.

The neck size also affects the blood glucose levels; for every 3cm more of neck men had 3.0mg/dl more and women 2.1mg/dl.
The study says that even those with relatively trim waistlines appeared to be at greater risk if they had larger necks.

Women who measure 35 inch around their waist are at high risk or already have high blood pressure, high cholesterol and/or diabetes. Talk to your doctor, make some lifestyle changes and get heart healthy. The waist size and the waist to hip raio is very important for the heart.

The size of thighs is also important for the health of heart. "The thinner your thighs, the greater your risk of heart disease," reports a study published in British Medical Journal on 4 Sept 2009. However, fat thighs above 60 cm in circumference are not good for heart.

Scientists say that knowing your overall heart attack risk factors such as age, family history and smoking status, is more important than knowing your cholesterol level.

"If your overall risk is elevated, you should probably be on a statin medicine regardless of what your cholesterol level. However, if your LDL cholesterol is high, but your overall heart attack risk is low, taking a statin does not make sense for you. If your cholesterol is your only risk factor and you're younger, you should work on diet and exercise", says (Jan 2010) Professor Rodney A. Hayward of internal medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School.

To reduce the risk of Heart attack you should reduce major cardiovascular risk factors.
(Source: Dr. Charles H. Hennekens, Harvard Medical School)

Stop Smoking Smoking cessation can decrease heart attack risk by 50-70%.
Watch Your Body Weight Maintenance of ideal body weight can decrease heart attack risk by 35-55%.
Reduce Blood Cholesterol: A 10% reduction of total cholesterol can decrease heart attack risk by 20-30%.
Monitor Your Diabetes: Heart disease is the leading cause of death among people with diabetes. According to the American Heart Association, 65% of patients with diabetes die from cardiovascular disease. Know the diabetes warning signs, symptoms. Keeping diabetes under check is a must, Blood sugar level during fasting must ideally be 70-110 mg/dl. To keep protect yourself from diabete, eat lots of fruits and vegetables and maintain a healthy weight.
Exercise Regularly Regular exercise can decrease heart attack risk by 35-55%. Exercise at least 5 days a week for 40 minutes or a brisk 5 kilometer walk every day helps decrease heart ailments by 20%. Walking is the best medicine for a healthy heart as it increases blood circulation.
Reduce Blood Pressure 6 point decrease in diastolic blood pressure can decrease heart attack risk by 16%.
Sleep Well A good sleep reduces mental stress and stabilzes heart rate.
Manage stress Avoid stress over a long period.
Eat a healthy diet A healthy diet including vegetables and fruits providing vitamins, minerals, fibers and anti-oxidants can help you lower blood pressure and cholesterol levels, prevent obesity, heart disease and strokes.

Screening of Children

Dr. Ashok Seth, Chairman Escort Heart Institute says, "Blockages start as early as 3-4 years of age and major blockages can occur by 15 years of age. Regular health screenings including blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar tests during childhood once in every two 2 years and once every year in case of grown ups. In case detected with any irregularities, then a regular check is important on the advice of the doctor.

Warning signs of heart attack.

Irregualr Pulse

Sometimes the pulse go down and up and becomes irregular due to several reasons including stress and anxiety. In ancient Vedic Science, there is a home cure for this as following:
Make a paste of 1/2 teaspoon of carom seeds (ajwain), 1 teaspoon of jaggery gur) and 1-2 cloves of garlic and eat it. After that eat 1 teaspoon of ghee (clarified butter). The pulse should become stable after some time.