Banayan, April
HP 200
Feb. 19, 2014
Heart Disease – Assignment 2
Whether it is Lipitor being used to lower cholesterol or aspirin to lower blood pressure, until the present, cardiovascular and heart diseases have been tackled by a variety of medications that address its various risk factors. However, this strategy focuses on secondary and tertiary prevention instead of heart diseases’ underlying causes. Yes, diabetes mellitus and hypertension have a concrete proven link to heart disease, but addressing them with medication only masks them and does not address the root of the problem.
As mentioned, one of the go to forms of treatment is medication. “ These could include medications to lower your blood pressure, such as diuretics, angiogenesis-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or beta blockers; blood thinning medications, such as daily aspirin therapy; or cholesterol-lowering medications, such as statins or fibrates”(Mayo Clinic). These medications have been successful in their attempts to lower these risk factors and have been helpful when underlying genetic conditions and age become a factor; however, when these problems stem from au unhealthy lifestyle it is import to understand that these risks will never fully go away until sweeping changes are made.
In addition to medication, some tertiary treatment options used as a last resort are procedures and surgery. For example, an Angioplasty is a nonsurgical procedure, which recruits the use of a balloon to open the arteries. “ A thin, flexible tube with a balloon is threaded through a blood vessel to the narrowed or blocked artery. The balloon is inflated to compress the plaque against the wall of the artery restoring blood flow through the artery.” (National Institutes of Hea...
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...r weight loss every week and progress is made. Cognitive philosophy has also been employed, but to a lesser degree. Knowledge of prevention methods and health risks are provided to people, but often only after they have been diagnosed; similarly only small strides have been made with the social change philosophy like soda tax in New York, but there has been a lack in support for ending subsidies to corn companies producing high fructose corn syrup and focusing on preventative measures.
In combination all of these treatment options can be used to minimize death and risk from cardiovascular disease. In order to stop its rise, fundamental changes have to be made in the Western way of life, so that secondary prevention methods and surgeries do not become a necessity. There is a long road ahead, but it is a path that must be paved if any sweeping changes are to occur.
In some studies, CAM approaches have shown potential for controlling hypertension, but more research needs to be done to show the safety and effectiveness. Some herbs and supplements show evidence of lowering blood pressure. Omega-3 fatty acids are found in fish, some nuts and vegetables, and supplements. Research shows that they can decrease triglycerides (the major form of fat stored in the body), slow the buildup of fatty deposits inside arteries, decrease the risk of abnormal heartbeats, and lower blood pressure slightly (Hirsch). Coenzyme-Q10 is produced by the body and is also available in supplements, there is good scientific evidence that coenzyme Q-10 does lower blood pressure (Hirsch). Furthermore, Garlic contains sulfur that has a positive effect on cholesterol levels, which could lower blood pressure levels. Cocoa products and dark chocolate are rich in antioxidants. A study shows that when people with high blood pressure consumed cocoa twice daily for two weeks, it improved the ability of artery walls to relax but did not lower blood pressure significantly (Hirsch). A patient who is taking alternative medicines needs to let their physician know because some herbs and supplements will interact with other medication. Relaxation techniques help relax the body and reduce stress, which could help with blood pressure.
Thompson, P. D., Buchner, D., Pina, I. L., Balady, G. J., Williams, M. A., Marcus, B. H., ... Wenger, N. K. (2003). Exercise in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease: a statement from the Council on Clinical Cardiology. Journal of the American Heart Association, 3110-3116. http://dx.doi.org/doi: 10.1161/01.CIR.0000075572.40158.77
There are four different categories of treatment: lifestyle changes, surgical procedures, non-surgical procedures, and medications. Lifestyle changes include having a healthy diet; increasing physical activity; eliminating cigarettes, alcoholic beverages, and illicit drugs; and getting enough rest and sleep; losing excess weight. These lifestyle changes are to lower the patient’s blood pressure, cholesterol, and reducing any other future medical conditions. There are also surgical options to help cure, prevent, or control cardiomyopathy. Surgical method include a septal myectomy, surgically implanted devices, and a heart transplant. A septal myectomy is used to specifically treat hypertrophy cardiomyopathy which is where the heart muscle cells enlarge and cause the walls of the ventricles to thicken. The thickening of the walls may not affect the size of the ventricles but instead may affect the blood flow out of the ventricle. Usually along with the ventricles swelling, the septum in between the ventricles can become enlarged and block the blood flow causing a heart attack. When medication is not working well to treat hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a surgeon will open the chest cavity and remove part of the septum that is blocking blood flow. Surgically implanted devices include a pacemaker, a cardiac resynchronization therapy device, a left ventricular assist device, and an implantable
Heart disease is one of the most common causes of the mortality and morbidity in most well developed countries. They come in different forms such as stroke and other cardiovascular diseases and it’s the number one cause of death in the state of America. In the year 2011 alone nearly 787,000 people were killed as a result of this epidemic. And this included Hispanic, Africans, whites and Americans. As for the Asian Americans or pacific Islanders, American Indians and the natives of Alaska, the concept to them was a second only to cancer. However, statistics has proved that a person gets heart attack every 34 seconds and in every 60 seconds, someone dies out of it which include other related event. Additionally, majority of the women are the
Cardiovascular Diseases (CVD) are the currently the leading cause of death globally for both men and women accounting for 21.9 per cent of total deaths and is projected to increase to 26.3 per cent by 2030 . Statins are the treatment of choice for the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease and in the management of hypercholesterolaemia because of their proven efficacy and safety profile. Evidences are showing their effectiveness in reduction of cholesterol synthesis and number of pleiotropic effects, which may be cholesterol dependent and cholesterol independent. The present review focus on the origin, properties and effects of statins on endothelial function ( non lipid action of statins) through the increase of endogenous production of NO in different pathways.
Blood pressure tends to rise with age. Following a healthy lifestyle helps delay or prevent this rise in blood pressure. People who have HBP can take steps to control it and reduce their risk for related health problems. Key steps include following a healthy lifestyle, exercise most days of the week, avoid alcohol, stop smoking, and having ongoing medical care.
Since 1960 the age-adjusted mortality rates for cardiovascular disease (CVD) has declined steadily in the U.S. due to multiple factors, but still remains one of the primary causes of morbidity and premature mortality worldwide. Greater control of risk factors and improved treatments for cardiovascular disease has significantly contributed to this decline (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2011). In the U.S. alone it claims approximately 830,000 each year and accounts for 1/6 of all deaths under the age of 65 (Weiss and Lonnquist, 2011). Based on the 2007 mortality rate data an average of 1 death every 37 seconds is due to cardiovascular disease (Lloyd-Jones et al., 2009). Controlling and reducing risk factors is crucial for saving lives. There are a number of contributing risk factors for cardiovascular disease, which may appear in the form of hereditary, behavioral, and psychological, all of which ultimately converge in social or cultural factors.
One of the leading causes of death in the United States is heart disease. “Approximately every 29 seconds one American will have a heart attack, and once a minute one American will die from a heart attack” (Ford-Martin and Odle, 915). According to the Gale Encyclopedia of Alternative Medicine men over the age of 45 and women over the age of 55 are considered at risk for heart disease. Heart disease is a major cause of death. It is beneficial to individuals who seek to prevent heart disease to recognize the risks leading to heart attacks as they are one of the primary indications of developing heart disease; especially those that fall into the at risk age groups. These risks consist of some that cannot be changed such as heredity risks, or those that can change such as smoking habits. It is very important to know these specific risks for prevention and to understand the symptoms of heart attacks, such as sweating or the feeling of weakness so if these or other symptoms occur people are aware. Finally heart disease treatment is of vital importance if you experience a heart attack so you can learn how to prevent another one from occurring.
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both women and men in the United States. It is very important to learn about the heart to prevent heart disease. Many forms of heart disease can be prevented and treat with healthy lifestyle choices. For someone who has heart disease or does not; there is information, facts, symptoms, different types, diagnoses, tests, treatment, care, and living and managing that can be given.
Just as breast cancer is killing our African American women, heart disease is also one of the major diseases killing our women. Heart disease is one of the nation’s leading causes of death in both woman and men. About 600,000 people die of heart disease in the United States (Americas heart disease burden, 2013). Some facts about heart disease are every year about 935,000 Americans have a heart attack. Of these, 610,000 are a first heart attack victim. 325,000 happen in people who have already had a heart attack. Also coronary heart disease alone costs the United States $108.9 billion each year. This total includes the cost of health care services, medications, and loss of productivity. Deaths of heart disease in the United States back in 2008 killed about 24.5% of African Americans.
Some ways to fight of this syndrome include regular diet and exercise and various bariatric surgeries. Long range BMI target/goal is less than 25. If life style change is not enough than drugs that help lower cholesterol level high blood pressure and blood sugar can be used such as statins, fibrates or nicotinic acid. 4Other things that can be done include trying to fight the insulin resistance by starting thiazolidinediones. Also, treating the different risk factors like elevated blood pressure, prothrombotic and proinflammatory state independently.
Science has been effective on solving this problem by trying to create new drugs/medicines and new surgery methods to help cure varieties of cardiovascular diseases. Surgery’s like coronary bypass surgery is a cure for coronary artery disease.
Although atherosclerosis affects millions of people around the world, there are many ways to prevent and treat it once it has developed. Simple life style changes can greatly reduce the inflammation and damage to the endothelial wall of the artery. It is very important that people who have high blood pressure or diabetes get regular checkups; if atherosclerosis goes untreated, the adverse effects, such as stroke or myocardial infarction can be deadly.
Lifestyle changes include healthy eating, physical activity, managing stress, and quitting smoking. The medicine prescribed to patients with atherosclerosis is aimed at the factors that influence atherosclerosis, like statin medications to control or lower cholesterol levels and medications to lower blood pressure, blood sugar levels, or prevent the formation of blood clots or inflammation.2 The aim is to lower the lipid concentration as well as adding anti-inflammatory therapies, which can ultimately slow down the progression of atherosclerosis.3 However, these treatments are not able to completely inhibit the development or growth of these atherosclerotic lesions and only have a 30-40% efficiency
Among diabetic patients a high prevalence of coronary heart disease is observed at a relatively young age. Thus, risk factors for atherosclerosis must be defined and avoided in patients with diabetes mellitus. Abnormality of lipids such as high triglyceride levels and low HDL cholesterol levels emerged as residual cardiovascular risks for diabetic patients (Ehara et al., 2012).