Southwest Florida's Health and Wellness Magazine Health and Wellness Articles
By Dr. Aneley Yegezu Hundae, M.D., FACC
Heart disease is the leading cause of death in America in both men and women. For those who suffer from diabetes, the risk of heart disease DOUBLES and is likely to occur at a younger age. Additionally, the risk increases the longer you have diabetes.
Thankfully, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of heart disease and improve your heart health. As an added bonus, many of the steps will also help you to better manage your diabetes too!
How does diabetes affect the heart?
First, high blood sugar damages blood vessels and nerves over time. Additionally, those who suffer from diabetes also likely have other conditions that raise the risk for heart disease. According to the CDC, those risks include:
• High blood pressure
• High LDL cholesterol (the bad kind)
• High triglycerides and low HDL cholesterol (the good kind)
Diabetics are also more likely to have heart failure.
Other factors that raise your risk for heart disease with or without diabetes include:
• Smoking
• Obesity
• Lack of physical activity
• Eating high a fat diet
• Drinking too much alcohol
What are the warning signs of heart disease?
It is important to speak to your doctor if you experience any the following:
• Chest pain/tightness when doing physical activities
• Chest pain accompanied by fatigue or shortness of breath
• Your heart rate if usually faster than 100 bpm when resting
• You are a young male experiencing erectile dysfunction
• Fainting/dizziness/lightheadedness regularly
• Pain in one arm or both
• Numbness in the legs
• Pain in the neck, throat, back, upper abdomen
• Any of the above combined with nausea or vomiting
How is heart disease detected?
Your doctor will first take into account your blood pressure, weight, and cholesterol levels. He may also run one (or all) of the following tests:
• EKG or ECG (electrocardiogram): measures your heart’s electrical activity
• Echo (echocardiogram): tells who well the heart pumps and examines the thickness of the heart muscle
• Treadmill (stress) test: checks how your heart works under pressure
How to take care of your heart
Interestingly, if you look for ways to manage diabetes and ways to care for your heart, the two lists are almost identical. Mostly, it boils down to living a healthy lifestyle that includes eating right, getting enough exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight.
Here is a helpful list of ways that you can improve your heart health AND manage your diabetes:
1. Lose excess weight
If you’re overweight, losing even a small amount of weight can lower your triglycerides and blood sugar. The American Diabetes Association recommends that people who are overweight or obese lose 7-10% of their body weight over 6 month intervals until they achieve ideal body weight.
2. Get moving
Exercise can help you lose the weight mentioned above, lower your blood sugar, improve your body’s use of insulin, and lower your risk of heart disease. A good goal is to engage in 30 minutes of aerobic activity each day. This can be in the form of running, walking, swimming, Zumba, or any activity that gets your heart rate up for at least 30 minutes. Resistance exercise (i.e., yoga or weight lifting) is also beneficial in that it increases your strength, balance, and ability to maintain an active life.
3. Eat healthy
Eating healthy should be a lifelong habit. Training your brain and body to choose healthy foods and control portions is a lifestyle, not a fad diet.
Eating less junk food, avoiding trans fats, avoiding alcohol and sugary drinks, and drinking more water are all ways to improve your diet dramatically. Calorie counting when needed is also a good strategy.
4. Manage stress
Stress raises your blood pressure. It can also lead to making poor choices in food and drink. Find ways to manage your stress such as seeing a therapist or getting some exercise instead of engaging in activities that create other problems.
5. Stop smoking.
Dr. Aneley Yegezu Hundae, M.D., FACC invasive cardiology and advanced heart failure management Dr. Hundae received his Premedical and Doctor of Medicine Degree from Jimma University School of Medicine. He completed his Internal medicine Residency at Mercer University School of Medicine. His Heart Failure/Heart Transplant fellowship at the University of Miami Cardiovascular Fellowship Program. Cardiovascular fellowship at Baylor University Medical Center.
Board certifications
• Cardiology
• Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant
• Nuclear Cardiology
• Comprehensive Echocardiography
• Internal Medicine
3161 Harbor Blvd, Suite A, Port Charlotte, FL 33952
(941) 235-8892
www.portcharlottecardiology.com
