Cardiovascular disease is a disease that usually occurs with age or bad lifestyle habits, such as a high-fat diet and lack of physical activity, such as high blood pressure, heart failure and heart attack, for example; however, cardiovascular disease can be diagnosed at birth, for example in the case of congenital heart disease.
In addition, cardiovascular disease can occur as a result of infections with viruses, fungi or bacteria, causing inflammation of the heart, as in the case of endocarditis and myocarditis.
- Hypertension is characterized by an increase in blood pressure.
- Usually greater than 130 x 80 mmHg.
- Which can influence the proper functioning of the heart.
- This can occur from aging.
- Lack of exercise.
- Weight gain or excessive salt consumption.
- For example.
- High Blood pressure can also occur as a result of other situations.
- Such as diabetes or kidney disease For example.
Increased blood pressure usually does not produce symptoms, but in some cases it may be noticed through some of them, such as dizziness, headaches, vision changes and chest pain, for example.Learn how to identify high blood pressure.
What to do: It’s important to monitor your blood pressure to prevent the onset of other cardiovascular diseases, such as heart failure, for example.Therefore, it is recommended that the person undergo a treatment guided by a cardiologist that usually involves the use of medications in addition to a low-salt diet.
It is also important to exercise, avoid smoking, drink at least 2 liters of water a day and control the pressure daily, if the pressure is still high even with the recommended treatment, it is recommended to return to the cardiologist for a new evaluation and a modified treatment can be performed.
Acute myocardial infarction (MAIS) or myocardial infarction occurs due to disruption of blood flow to the heart, mainly due to fat buildup in blood vessels. The most characteristic symptom of a heart attack is chest pain that can radiate to the arm., but there may also be dizziness, cold sweats and discomfort.
What to do: In case of a heart attack, it is recommended that the person be took to the nearest hospital to start treatment, which can be done with the use of medicines that prevent the formation of blood clots and promote blood circulation., surgery or angioplasty, which is a procedure aimed at restoring blood circulation.Understand how the treatment of heart attack is going.
In addition, after urgent treatment, it is important to follow medical guidelines, take medication regularly, adopt healthy habits, such as regular physical activity, and a diet low in fatty foods and high in fruits and vegetables.
Heart failure is more common in people with high blood pressure, which can lead to weakening of the heart muscle and therefore difficulty pumping blood to the body. The main symptoms associated with heart failure are progressive fatigue, swelling of the legs and feet, dry cough at night and shortness of breath.
What to do: Treatment of heart failure should be indicated by the cardiologist, being generally indicated the use of medicines to lower blood pressure, such as enalapring and lisinopril, associated with diuretics, such as furosemide.
In addition, regular exercise is recommended, when properly indicated by your cardiologist, and to reduce salt intake, control pressure and therefore prevent heart decompensation.
Congenital heart disease is one in which the heart undergoes changes during the developmental process, even during pregnancy, which can lead to changes in heart function that are already born with the baby, these heart disease can be identified even in the mother’s uterus., by ultrasound and echocardiography, and may be mild or severe.Learn about the main types of congenital heart disease.
Mild congenital heart disease usually has no symptoms and the person can lead a normal life, however, in cases of severe heart disease, surgery may be needed from the baby’s birth to correct the structural defect or even perform a heart transplant.
What to do: Treatment of congenital heart disease varies by severity, and it is recommended that surgery or heart transplantation be recommended in the first year of life for severe congenital heart disease.For benign heart disease, treatment is done to relieve symptoms., and the cardiologist may indicate the use of diuretics and beta blockers, for example, to regulate heart rate.
Endocarditis is inflammation of the tissue lining the inside of the heart, usually caused by a microorganism, usually a fungus or bacteria, which has reached the bloodstream and reaches the heart, then is called infectious endocarditis.Although infection is the leading cause of endocarditis, it can also occur as a result of other diseases, such as cancer, acute rheumatoid arthritis and autoimmune diseases, for example.
Symptoms of endocarditis appear over time, with persistent fever, excessive sweating, pale skin, muscle pain, persistent cough and shortness of breath.In more severe cases, blood in the urine and weight loss may also be noticed.
What to do: The main form of treatment of endocarditis is the use of antibiotics or antifungals to combat the microorganism responsible for the disease, treatment must be performed on the advice of the cardiologist, in addition, it may be necessary to change the valve in question.
Cardiac arrhythmia refers to changes in the heart rate, which can speed up or slow down the heart rate, such as fatigue, paleness, chest pain, cold sweats, and shortness of breath.
What to do: The treatment indicated by the cardiologist varies depending on the symptoms of the person, but aims to regulate the heart rate, for example, the use of medications such as propaphenone or sotalol, for example, defibrillation, implantation of pacemakers or ablation.Surgery may be indicated. Understand how to treat cardiac arrhythmia.
It is also important to avoid alcohol, drugs and beverages that contain caffeine, for example, as they can alter your heart rate, as well as regular physical activities and a balanced diet.
Angina is a feeling of heaviness, pain, or chest oppression and usually occurs when blood flow to the heart decreases, which is more common in people over age 50 who have high blood pressure, decompensated diabetes, or unhealthy lifestyle habits.resulting in an interruption of blood flow due to the accumulation of fat in the vessels.Learn about the main types of angina.
What to do: The cardiologist recommends treatment for angina based on the type of angina, and rest or medications may be recommended to control symptoms, improve blood circulation, regulate blood pressure and prevent clots from forming.
Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle that can occur as a result of infections in the body, which can occur during a viral infection or in cases of advanced infection by fungi or bacteria.This inflammation can lead to several symptoms in more severe cases, such as chest pain, irregular heartbeat, excessive fatigue, shortness of breath and swelling of the legs, for example.
What to do: Myocarditis usually resolves when the infection is cured with antibiotics, antifungals or antiviral drugs, but if myocarditis symptoms persist even after treatment, it is important to consult your cardiologist so that treatment and use of medications reduce pressure, decrease swelling, and it may be recommended to monitor your heart rate.
Valvulopathies, also known as heart valve diseases, occur most often in men over the age of 65 and women over the age of 75 and occur due to calcium buildup in the heart valves, preventing blood flow due to hardening.
In some cases, symptoms of valvulopathy may take some time to appear, but some symptoms that may indicate heart valve problems include chest pain, heart murmur, excessive fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling of the legs and feet, for example.
What to do: People over the age of 60 should consult their cardiologist regularly to check for changes in organs, including heart valve disease. When valvulopathy is confirmed, your doctor indicates treatment based on the affected valve and degree of deterioration, and the use of diuretics., antiarrrhythmic drugs or even valvular substitution may be indicated.