1/02/2022 / Heart & Vascular
Cardiovascular diseases are one of the leading causes of death in many countries. So, awareness about the diseases, their symptoms, risk factors and management is essential.
Cardiovascular diseases (abbreviated as CVD) are a group of disorders affecting the heart and the blood vessels. They are the world’s leading cause of death, claiming millions of lives every year. A majority of these deaths due to cardiovascular diseases are seen in the developing nations due to lack of access to early diagnosis and treatment. But, the developed nations are at no loss of deaths due to CVDs because of high rates of obesity, diabetes and hypertension that can serve as serious risk factors for cardiovascular diseases.
India, one of the largest developing nations, has a high prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Here, the onset of CVD is at an early age and if left untreated, could progress rapidly ending in fatalities.
The incidence of cardiovascular diseases is 47% in developing countries and 27% in developed countries amongst people below seventy years of age.
The heart is a vital, pump-like organ whose functioning is tightly regulated. The right side of the heart receives deoxygenated (oxygen-poor) blood from the rest of the body via veins and sends this deoxygenated blood to the lungs. In the lungs, oxygen that is taken inside by breathing is mixed to this blood, now making it oxygenated (oxygen-rich). This oxygenated blood is now received by the left side of the heart. The left heart now sends this fresh blood to all parts of the body via arteries. The different organs use this oxygenated blood for their nutrition and functioning.
Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a group of diseases affecting the heart and the blood vessels. There are different types and ways in which these diseases can manifest, based on which they are named. Some of the major cardiovascular diseases include:
It forms the base of almost all of the major cardiovascular disease symptoms and complications. Atherosclerosis is the hardening of the arterial walls and their narrowing caused by the buildup of cholesterol and other fats in the form of plaques over their inner walls. If these plaques rupture, they can cause a sudden blockade of the artery by inducing clot formation, thereby cutting off blood supply to the organ concerned.
Coronary arteries are the vessels which are supplying the heart itself. CAD is one of the most common cardiovascular diseases and it occurs because of the atherosclerotic damage to the coronary arteries. So, now the part of the heart which loses its blood supply dies, causing irregularities in the way the heart beats. This presents as a myocardial infarction or a heart attack.
The term ‘congenital’ refers to any disease that is present at birth itself. These congenital heart diseases include several structural and functional defects in the heart that affect the way in which the heart beats. Though highly fatal, most of these could be corrected by very early diagnosis and surgical correction. These diseases are caused by any factor that affects the development of the heart, especially in the first half of the pregnancy.
Like heart attacks, cerebrovascular diseases, and also called strokes are another acute complication arising due to coronary artery disease. Due to artery diseases like atherosclerosis, if the blood supply going to the brain gets interrupted, strokes can occur.
RHD arises as a dangerous complication of Rheumatic fever, which is a bacterial infection caused by Streptococcus bacteria. This bacteria can either cause sore throat complaints or scarlet fever. If these are left untreated, the bacteria can spread to the heart and cause permanent damage to the heart valves. It also can affect other parts of the body like joints, skin or brain. RHD is common between the ages of 5 and 15.
This is a disease mainly affecting the blood vessels supplying the limbs. It is caused by the narrowing and hardening of the arteries by deposition of fats and calcium. Smoking is the chief risk factor for this condition. It can cause chronic non-healing ulcers, severe cramping pain, and numbness and may end up needing amputation if not managed early.
DVT is a dangerous condition in which blood clots are formed within a deeply located vein, especially in the legs. It can happen because of multiple factors like surgery and prolonged bed rest, pregnancy, cancers, birth control pills, leg bone fractures etc. This is extremely dangerous because if these clots break, the little pieces called emboli can travel and block the blood vessels of the lungs (a fatal condition called Pulmonary Embolism).
These are rhythm abnormalities of the heart due to various reasons that affect the normal beating of the heart. There are several types of arrhythmias out of which some can be mild and asymptomatic whereas others can be life threatening.
As already seen, atherosclerosis forms the first step in the majority of cardiovascular diseases. The atherosclerotic lesions can cause blood clots to form (called thrombosis) within the major vessels which can manifest acutely as:
stroke
heart attacks
angina (pain in the chest)
myocardial infarction (death of the heart tissues)
ischaemic death of tissues ( due to insufficient blood supply) leading gangrene of limbs which may end up needing amputation or gangrene even of internal organs
In addition, long-standing atherosclerotic damage combined with hypertension can weaken the walls of the major arteries leading to tears in them (arterial dissection) or ballooning out of these arteries (aneurysms). If these dissections or aneurysms rupture, they can lead to severe internal bleeding and death.
Heart failure is the endpoint of any cardiovascular disease. It develops when the heart is not able to pump enough blood to fulfill the body’s needs. Heart failure can either develop acutely and slowly and chronically over time based on the underlying causes.
As the right heart is concerned with collecting deoxygenated blood, if there is right heart failure, this oxygen poor blood cannot be received by the failing right heart. So it starts flowing back to the veins at the periphery of the body. Over time, the fluid element of this blood starts leaking via the vein walls into the space around the veins, especially at the ankles, legs, abdomen etc thereby causing their swelling. Ultimately this blood and fluid also collects in the chest cavity, further compressing the lungs and heart, causing a condition called Congestive Heart Failure and finally death.
The risk factor profile of cardiovascular disease symptoms is multifactorial. They can be either modifiable risk factors which can be corrected by lifestyle changes and medical assistance or non-modifiable which cannot be corrected.
Increasing age
Male sex
Positive family history
Genetic factors
Type A personality
Smoking
Alcohol consumption
Diabetes mellitus
Elevated blood cholesterol
Obesity
Poor physical activity / sedentary lifestyle
Stressful living
Intake of oral contraceptive pills
There are a multitude of cardiovascular disease symptoms. Different combinations of cardiovascular symptoms can be seen in different heart conditions based on the underlying issue. Some of these major cardiovascular disease symptoms include.
Palpitations
Chest pain that could be felt radiating to the jaw, neck, back and arms
Sweating
Shortness of breath
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Unable to carry out activities of daily life which were easily possible earlier
Swelling of legs
These are some of the major cardiovascular disease symptoms.
If the patient has undergone stroke, the cardiovascular symptoms could be different:
Numbness over face or limbs, especially on one side
Unable to walk or falling down
Disorientation and altered consciousness
Difficulty in speech
Blurring of vision
Severe headache
Fainting spells
Seizures etc. could be seen.
To arrive at a specific diagnosis and to start with the treatment plan, your treating physician may subject you to a few routine tests and a few special tests to estimate the working capacity of your heart.
Routine tests like blood tests to estimate your cholesterol and blood sugar levels, urine tests, ECG and checking of vitals like pulses in different parts of the body and blood pressure may be done.
Further certain special tests may be prescribed based on the need and severity of the condition:
this is a special type of ECG taken while the patient is made to exercise on a treadmill. This helps assess the working of the heart under stress.
it is an invasive study of the heart where a small catheter is channeled through different chambers of the heart to study them
This is a special ultrasound scan for the heart which helps to assess the real-time motion of the heart. This is the best test to assess the functioning of the heart valves.
Specially to study the coverings of the heart and soft tissues around it
These scans use radioactive isotopes to check whether the heart muscle is receiving adequate blood perfusion.
The treatment plan for heart diseases vary according to the condition and its severity and several other factors. Mild conditions in the beginning stages could be managed just by lifestyle modifications whereas more serious and acute conditions may need immediate surgery or invasive procedures to save the patient.
This is the first step in treating cardiovascular diseases. These include regular physical activity, eating a low sugar, salt-restricted and low-fat diet, smoking and alcohol cessation and trying to follow a stress-free lifestyle. Your physician may refer you to a dietician to help tailor a balanced Cardiovascular diet plan just for you.
Stress can be managed by stretching, breathing exercises, relaxation, meditation, and yoga.
Aerobic exercise elevates the strength of the heart and its size. Being physically active also enhances the circulatory system by increasing the oxygen-carrying capacity of the blood.
If the lifestyle modifications are not enough, your physician may start you on drugs. The combination of drugs may be different for each patient based on their specific clinical picture. Drugs may include anticoagulants or blood thinners, diuretics to avoid any fluid accumulating in the body, cholesterol lowering drugs, drugs to control blood pressure and drugs to help the heart pump better and in a regular fashion. If the patient is diabetic, anti-diabetic drugs may also be included in their daily regimen.
The dosages of these various drugs will be frequently adjusted to maintain the delicate balance between different vital parameters in the body.
Surgical management of cardiovascular diseases may be needed in advanced conditions or in acutely life-threatening conditions. Few examples are:
Immediate corrective surgeries may be needed in congenital heart diseases to save the life of the baby
In serious rhythm abnormalities of the heart where it starts beating irregularly and inadequately, pacemaker implantation surgeries may be performed which help in regulating the rhythm in which the heart has to beat
Cardiac bypass surgeries may be needed to bypass a narrowed portion of a major vessel due to atherosclerosis
Angioplasty surgeries are done to open up narrowed or blocked coronary arteries. These procedures could be combined with the placement of a stent made of meshed metal inside the previously narrowed vessels to avoid future blockade.
It is absolutely possible to prevent the progression of cardiovascular diseases and reduce the risk of heart attacks by controlling the modifiable risk factors which are also cardiovascular disease causes.
Quit smoking and alcohol
Keep your blood pressure and diabetes if present, under control
Take a healthy balanced diet
Get regular physical activity
Try to control stress levels
Get adequate nighttime sleep
Consult with a physician immediately if you experience any of the above cardiovascular diseases symptoms
If diagnosed with a heart disease, sincerely follow the prescribed treatment plan
Make it known to your close family members and work colleagues that you are a cardiac patient as it may help save valuable moments in case of any medical emergency.
Wishes for a happy and healthy heart!
Reference:
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally.
These include chest pain, palpitations, shortness of breath, sweating and giddiness etc.
Yes, diabetes, if associated with obesity or high blood pressure, can worsen heart disease.
Mild cardiovascular symptoms could be managed in the early stages just with lifestyle modifications. However it’s important to consult a physician immediately even with minimal complaints.
In heart failure, the heart doesn’t actually stop, rather it is weakened and unable to pump effectively
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