HEART
Health BY DR GEORGIA PAGE
Cardiovascular disease accounts for over 1 in 4 deaths in Australia as is the leading cause of death for older Australians. Approximately 1.2 million Australians are living with heart disease, stroke or vascular conditions. However, cardiovascular disease is largely preventable and by reducing cardiac risk factors, leading a healthy lifestyle and having regular checks with your doctor you can reduce your risk. What is Cardiovascular Disease? Cardiovascular disease (CVD), which includes heart disease, stroke and peripheral vascular disease, occurs when arteries become narrowed or blocked. This is due to a build up of fatty material in the wall of the blood vessels called plaque. Over time the plaque increases in size which narrows the blood vessel so less blood is able to pass through. This is called atherosclerosis. If the heart doesn’t get enough blood due to narrowing of the coronary vessels supplying the heart people may experience chest pain or shortness of breath. If some of the plaque breaks off and a blood clot is formed the coronary vessels can block completely causing a heart attack. Similar can occur when the vessels supplying blood to the brain become blocked, leading to a stroke.
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Symptoms of Coronary Heart Disease In the early stage of cardiovascular disease you may have no symptoms. It may not be until you have significant build up of plaque or atherosclerosis that you experience symptoms. A heart attack occurs when the artery supplying blood to the heart is completely blocked. Not everyone’s symptoms are the same, and can be different amongst men and women. Common symptoms include: Chest pain (angina) – can be described as a discomfort/pressure or tightness Pain in the neck, jaw, or left arm Shortness of breath Nausea Cold and sweaty More tired than usual Women are more likely than men to have non-chest pain symptoms and may also experience: Flu-like symptoms (including fatigue and tiredness) Heartburn Back pain Symptoms that last for several days If you develop sudden chest pain or are concerned you may be having a heart attack please call 000 for an ambulance immediately. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease Risk factors increase your chance of having a heart attack or stroke. 2/3 of Australian adults have more than 3 risk factors for cardiovascular disease. There are some we can modify or change but others we can’t (such as family history). Modifiable risk factors account for 90% of risk factors.
Modifiable Risk Factors Smoking – can increase your risk in several range such as reducing the amount of oxygen in your blood, damaging the artery walls, and making your blood and artery walls more ‘’sticky’’ which increases your risk of blockage and clots. Not only does this increase risk of heart attack and stroke but can also affect the arteries going to the hands and feet causing gangrene. High Cholesterol – if we have too much cholesterol, we get a build up of fatty material in our arteries causing atherosclerosis. We have bad cholesterol (LDL - Low density lipoprotein) which causes the build up of plaque, and good cholesterol (HDL – high density lipoprotein) that is protective. By decreasing the LDL by dietary modification or medication we can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. High Blood Pressure – can put extra pressure on the heart and also speed up the process of atherosclerosis, therefore increasing risk of heart attack and stroke. Diabetes – Those with diabetes are at the same high risk of having a heart attack as those who already have established coronary artery disease. By preventing diabetes from developing in the first place, or controlling blood sugar levels and risk factors in those that already have diabetes, you can reduce risk of heart disease. Physical Activity – The Heart Foundation recommends 30 – 45 minutes of exercise (such as walking) five or more days a week to reduce your risk of heart disease. Exercise can also help control
