Definition: Heart disease consists of a variety of conditionsaffecting the structures and functioning of the heart.Heart disease is a global epidemic, the leading cause of death for men and women in the world.
About Heart Disease
Types of Heart Disease
Heart disease is either acquired defects of the blood vessels, heart rhythm problems or hereditary defects you are born with. Common conditions include: coronary artery disease (CAD), congestive heart failure, bad heart rhythms among others.Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a term often used interchangeably with heart disease but it’s specific to conditions involving narrowed or blocked blood vessels. It’s characterized by heart attack, angina and stroke.
Congenital heart disease begins before birth and is characterized by complex or abnormal formation of the heart.
Symptoms
Heart disease shows symptoms depending on the type of condition and how far it has progressed. For example, symptoms of congenital heart disease may include: skin discoloration, leg and stomach swellings, short breaths, getting tired easily just on the onset of a physical activity etc.
Risk Factors
The following are the risk factors for heart disease: age, gender, high blood pressure, and highcholesterol level, the use of tobacco, excessive alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, obesity, diabetes, and family history of cardiovascular disease, air pollution, psychological factors and socioeconomic status among others.
Note that most of these risk factors are lifestyle choices. It is therefore important to embrace healthier lifestyle choices, for instance, with the help of HealthReachTM systems.
Prevention
Most of heart disease is acquired. It would serve you well to know how to avoid these conditions using diet and lifestyle interventions. Research has it that 90% of heart disease is preventable by healthy lifestyle choices.Quitting smoking, lowering cholesterol, controlling high blood pressure, exercising and maintaining a healthy weight are among the heart disease preventive measures.
The HealthReachTMsystem in conjunction with compatible and connected health devices offers you an ideal program for prevention and treatment of heart disease by helping you live a healthy lifestyle. These systems will help you cut down on cholesterol consumption, maximize whole-grain, veg and fruits intake and generally improve your diet, lower blood pressure if elevated with the help of blood pressure monitor, exercise and better manage stress levels.
If left untreated, heart disease can result into severe heart attack, heart failure, stroke or even death. Seek medical assistance, early diagnosis and treatment of any symptoms related to heart disease.
