Heart Care Tips by Physiotherapy

Heart Disease – An Overview

Heart Care Tips by Physiotherapy

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the nation. While some cases of heart disease may have family history behind it, there is much that we can do to prevent heart disease in the future.

A basic understanding of heart disease is a good place to start.

Coronary Heart Disease

When the small blood vessels of the heart become clogged, it causes the narrowing of these blood vessels. The plaque will build up and cause what is known as hardening of the arteries.

When fatty materials begin to deposit into the arteries, it becomes difficult for blood and oxygen to reach the heart through those pathways. The result is that the heart cannot receive vital blood and oxygen and a heart attack may occur.

While many factors such as family history go into coronary heart disease, there are also ways to prevent or diminish the chances of this illness. Since heart disease is the number one cause of death in both women and men, learning as much as you can about preventative measures is a wise and healthy choice.

Symptoms

Some symptoms that you should be aware of when it comes to the health of your heart may be noticeable, while other symptoms are subtle. In either case, if you have any kind of symptom, a visit with your doctor is imperative.

* Shortness of breath – Shortness of breath could develop from anything from heart disease to asthma. If you are short of breath, do not hesitate to visit your physician. You may be able to ward off something more serious in the future. Do not take it for granted that you are just getting on in years. Visit your doctor.

* Dizziness or fainting – Dizziness or fainting are symptoms that something is amiss in your body. If you have both dizziness and fainting and shortness of breath, this warrants an immediate visit to your physician. Do not put it off.

* Pressure – Pressure associated with heart disease is a tell-tale sign of something wrong. Pressure in your chest or your arm, neck, and shoulders could be indicative of heart disease.

* Fatigue – Sometimes we view fatigue as something that will go away on its own. However, if you have fatigue, it could be your body warning you that something is going wrong somewhere down the road. You may be able to ward it off if you act early enough.

Visiting Your Doctor

If you have any or all of the symptoms listed above, a regular check-up will not hurt you. It is better to be wrong and say something than to be right and saying nothing. Your doctor has many ways of evaluating you:

* An electrocardiogram

* An echocardiogram

* A Heart stress test

* A Heart CT scan

These are just a few of the many things available.

Once the diagnostic tests are complete, your physician can properly treat your particular situation. However, as with any other disease, act early to prevent a worsening situation later.

Heart Health Tips for Men

Often, you will see an article announcing that the number one killer of women is not breast cancer. It is heart disease. There is much emphasis placed on this today; however, men need to be just as aware of their heart health.

For many men, getting older and gaining weight seems to go hand in hand. Also, with the constraints of home, family, and work, eating right and working out often fall by the wayside. It does not have to be that way, though.

Incorporating a healthy diet and exercise regimen into your weekly routine is a gift you give yourself, but also a gift you give your family.

A Few Small Changes Go a Long Way

Just like anything else, if you start overzealous in your exercise regimen, chances are you will fall. Start your new heart-healthy way slowly and gradually. When you see that you have made little successes, you will be more likely to proceed to more complex workouts.

The same thing goes for your diet. If you take everything you like completely out of your diet, you find yourself missing and focusing on all those things that you have denied yourself. Instead, start adding new and different heart-healthy foods into your diet every day.

Diet and Nutrition

Some men associate the word diet with a few carrot and celery sticks. By setting a goal of eating more nutritious foods, you will create a more positive connotation. "More nutritious foods" has a much nicer tone to it than the word "diet."

Add a few new things every day to your nutritious eating goal. If you do not like something, try making it a different way. For example, some folks just cannot get used to the taste of oatmeal or quinoa. Adding honey to the quinoa or fresh fruit to the oatmeal will make it more appealing.

If you have never tried cranberries, nuts, almonds, seeds, flax, or olive oil, now is a great time to experiment. Instead of butter on your bread, try using olive oil with some delicious herbs. Be creative and you will be adding new foods that are healthy into your routine before you know it.

Exercise

One of the biggest complaints men have for exercise is that they do not have the time. However, if you let your family in on your new desire to bring exercise back into your life, you will more than likely find yourself with lots of enthusiasm and support, as well as plenty of company.

If you incorporate walking or bike riding into your family routine, do not be surprised to find the whole family joining you.

Many times, for men, a feeling of lack of support or aloneness may accompany a new-found desire to eat right and exercise. But once you let your family know that you are focused on having a healthy heart, they will not only cheer you in but also probably join you.

Heart disease remains the leading cause of death in the nation. While some cases of heart disease may have family history behind it, there is much that we can do to prevent heart disease in the future.

A basic understanding of heart disease is a good place to start.

Coronary Heart Disease

When the small blood vessels of the heart become clogged, it causes the narrowing of these blood vessels. The plaque will build up and cause what is known as hardening of the arteries.

When fatty materials begin to deposit into the arteries, it becomes difficult for blood and oxygen to reach the heart through those pathways. The result is that the heart cannot receive vital blood and oxygen and a heart attack may occur.

While many factors such as family history go into coronary heart disease, there are also ways to prevent or diminish the chances of this illness. Since heart disease is the number one cause of death in both women and men, learning as much as you can about preventative measures is a wise and healthy choice.

Symptoms

Some symptoms that you should be aware of when it comes to the health of your heart may be noticeable, while other symptoms are subtle. In either case, if you have any kind of symptom, a visit with your doctor is imperative.

* Shortness of breath – Shortness of breath could develop from anything from heart disease to asthma. If you are short of breath, do not hesitate to visit your physician. You may be able to ward off something more serious in the future. Do not take it for granted that you are just getting on in years. Visit your doctor.

* Dizziness or fainting – Dizziness or fainting are symptoms that something is amiss in your body. If you have both dizziness and fainting and shortness of breath, this warrants an immediate visit to your physician. Do not put it off.

* Pressure – Pressure associated with heart disease is a tell-tale sign of something wrong. Pressure in your chest or your arm, neck, and shoulders could be indicative of heart disease.

* Fatigue – Sometimes we view fatigue as something that will go away on its own. However, if you have fatigue, it could be your body warning you that something is going wrong somewhere down the road. You may be able to ward it off if you act early enough.

Visiting Your Doctor

If you have any or all of the symptoms listed above, a regular check-up will not hurt you. It is better to be wrong and say something than to be right and saying nothing. Your doctor has many ways of evaluating you:

* An electrocardiogram

* An echocardiogram

* A Heart stress test

* A Heart CT scan

These are just a few of the many things available.

Once the diagnostic tests are complete, your physician can properly treat your particular situation. However, as with any other disease, act early to prevent a worsening situation later.