By James V. Talano, MD, MBA, FACC
Cardiovascular wellness is the ability to maintain physical health, mental capacity, and longevity through early detection and treatment of cardiovascular disease.
Cardiovascular disease is a compilation of diseases affecting your heart and blood vessels, which can affect one or more organs in your body.
A person may be symptomatic, physically experiencing disease, or asymptomatic, not experiencing any symptoms at all.
Cardiovascular disease includes issues with the heart and blood vessels, including:
1. Narrowing of the blood vessels in your heart and
other organs throughout the body
2. Blood vessel problems which developed at birth
3. Heart valves that are not working correctly
4. Irregular heart rhythms
If you are symptomatic, you could have:
1. Chest pain
2. Shortness of breath
3. Dizziness or lightheadedness
4. Palpitations or irregular heartbeat
5. Pain or cramps in your legs
But if you’re asymptomatic, you may have no outward signs or symptoms of disease states.
There is a variety of heart diseases, but the most common are:
. Coronary artery disease
. Valvular heart disease
. Cardiac arrhythmias
. Heart failure
. Peripheral arterial disease
. Disease of the aorta
. Congenital heart disease
. Pericardial disease
. Cerebrovascular disease
. Deep vein thrombosis
There are several risk factors for coronary artery disease and other cardiovascular diseases, which are, in decreasing order:
1. Hypertension
2. Hyperlipidemias
3. Diabetes type 1 and type 2
4. Family history of heart disease
5. Lack of physical activity
6. Excessive weight or obesity
7. Diet high in sodium, sugar, and fats
8. Overuse of alcohol
9. Misuse of recreational drugs
10. Gestational diabetes
11. Preeclampsia
12. Chronic inflammatory or autoimmune diseases
13. Chronic kidney disease
We have many tools that can help us diagnose heart disease. They include:
. Blood testing including inflammatory markers
. Lipids
. Blood count
. Electrocardiogram
. Ambulatory ECG monitor
. Nuclear SPECT stress testing
. PET myocardial perfusion imaging
. Cardiac MRI
. Invasive coronary angiography
. CT coronary angiography
. Dynamic nuclear imaging
The most important approach to diagnosing cardiovascular disease is a high index of suspicion, including excessive weight gain, worsening diabetes, decreasing exercise tolerance, excessive sleepiness and tiredness, inability to walk long distances, passing out, palpitations, and irregular heart rhythms.
However, prevention to identify and address risk factor modification is the more prudent and effective way to prevent cardiovascular disease and improve cardiovascular wellness. It is important to identify and correct modifiable risk factors by taking a proactive stance, empowering individuals to actively manage their heart health and minimize CV events. There is an
adequate relationship between cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and obesity. These act as amplifiers, intensifying risk factors that promote heart disease.
Through prevention, we can promote lifestyle changes including adopting healthy lifestyle choices such as exercise and diet while integrating drug management.
To summarize, people with cardiovascular disease often experience symptoms like chest pain, shortness of breath, and excess or new onset fatigue. The symptoms limit the patient’s ability to perform their daily activities such as walking, climbing stairs, or even carrying groceries; they note new onset of fatigue not present previously.
Managing cardiovascular disease requires lifestyle adjustments. This includes dietary restrictions and substitutions, regular exercise, taking medications as prescribed by the physician, and following a heart-healthy diet low in saturated fats, sugars, and sodium. Living with cardiovascular disease can also affect the mind, causing anxiety and stress for individuals worrying about their health and future.
As part of the plan, regular medical follow-up and the need to monitor symptoms can also address additional stress. However, social and recreational activities really contribute to improvement. Some people may need to limit or modify their social and recreational activities. They need to avoid strenuous activities, take frequent breaks during physical activities, and stay hydrated.
Regular visits to your physician or healthcare provider are essential and may need adjustments to diet and medication. This can be time-consuming but, in the end, it is effective in eliminating medical disasters and hospitalization.
Despite these challenges, many people with cardiovascular disease can live fulfilling lives by managing their conditions effectively.
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