Heart disease, symptoms and treatments for the most common ailments.
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According to the World Health Organization, approximately 17.7 million people worldwide die each year from cardiovascular disease , a figure equal to 31% of total deaths worldwide. 80% of premature deaths are caused by heart attacks. According to Istat, in Italy this class of pathologies, which include ischemic heart diseases and cerebrovascular pathologies, represent the first cause of death in the country. On the occasion of World Heart Day, which was celebrated all over the world on 29 September, here are the most common heart diseases, the most common symptoms not to be overlooked and the treatments available today.
The most common heart diseases
When we talk about heart disease we refer to heart diseases that can affect one or more parts of the cardiovascular system. The heart can start to malfunction when coronary artery disease occurs: in this case it is possible to witness the onset of myocardial infarction (muscle tissue that makes up the walls of the heart) or angina pectoris (chest pain caused by insufficient oxygenation of the heart muscle, caused by obstruction of the coronary arteries). As reported in the section dedicated to cardiovascular diseases of the World Health Organization, heart diseases include heart valve failure, arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, cardiomyopathies, thrombosis.
Congenital and fatal heart diseases
In some individuals, the heart has some defects from birth. We speak of congenital heart disease when there is an alteration of the structure or organ that has already occurred during gestation. According to ALMa.C. Onlus in Italy every year 4 thousand newborns are born with a form of congenital heart disease. Cardiac malformation can affect a single part of the heart or involve major malformations of the entire organ. Congenital heart defects can be severe, moderate (medically treatable) or mild (resolve spontaneously). Among the most frequent forms, there is the interventricular defect (which represents between 28-32% of all congenital heart disease), the atrial defect (about 9%), the patent Botallo duct and aortic coarctation (about 8% ), the Tetralogy of Fallot (about 6%), the complete transposition of the great arteries (about 5%). Prenatal diagnosis, made through clinical, radiographic and echocardiographic examinations, can help to identify and possibly control these pathologies.
Symptoms
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| Heart Disease |
It is not always easy to diagnose the severity and causes of a heart disorder: for this reason it is good to make periodic visits to a specialized doctor, especially in the case of a family history in which there are previous cases of cardiovascular disease. In general, the combinations of symptoms to look out for are different. According to the portal dedicated to the Cardiac Surgery Department of the San Camillo Forlanini hospital in RomeOne of the main warning signs is intense and prolonged pain in the chest, associated with a feeling of pressure and discomfort that lasts for more than a few minutes. This pain can be caused by several causes, including myocardial ischaemia and heart attack. Also, be very careful if the pain spreads to the left shoulder, left arm, neck, back and jaw. You may feel palpitations or excessive heartbeats, breathlessness. Symptoms also include fainting, nausea, vomiting, sweating, chest pains not caused by physical exertion or emotion.
The primary cause: cholesterol
As reported by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità , cholesterol, especially "bad" cholesterol, consisting of low density lipoproteins, is the first risk factor for ischemic heart disease. Cholesterol is a lipid molecule produced by our body (liver and glands), but also present in meat, eggs and dairy products. It has a valuable function for the human body, including the health of cell membranes and the synthesis of vitamin D, but its accumulation in low density lipoprotein (LDL) risks blocking the arteries, making blood traffic more difficult and causing the formation of thrombi and atherosclerotic plaques.
How to reduce cholesterol
It is the lifestyle and the type of diet that determine the type of cholesterol that forms inside our body. To avoid the accumulation of LDL, in addition to avoiding foods rich in saturated fats, red meats and sausages, one can orient one's diet towards foods rich in beta-glucans, soluble fiber present in oat bran, and omega 3 fatty acids. A study by the Sant'Anna School of Advanced Studies in Pisa, in collaboration with the Neuroscience Institute of the CNR of Pisa, Jol Whited of the Telecom Italia Group and Granoro, has also developed a line of pasta based on beta barley flour, that is the variety containing the highest concentration of beta- water-soluble glucan. In addition to dietary attention, physical activity and virtuous behaviors must also be added, including abstention from smoking and alcohol.
Treatment
In addition to preventive care related to nutrition and a healthy lifestyle, cholesterol can be kept under control with pharmacological therapies developed ad hoc by specialist doctors. Furthermore, given that diabetes is also among the underlying causes of cardiovascular disease, as underlined by the Istituto Superiore di Sanità keeping blood sugar levels under control helps reduce the risk of contracting arteriosclerosis, hardening and loss of elasticity of the arteries. Blood pressure control can also help prevent these diseases. "Cardiovascular diseases represent one of the main enemies of our health - underlines in a statement Dr. Riccardo Bigi, coordinator of the cardiology service of the Italian Diagnostic Center -. For this reason it is essential to adopt a healthy lifestyle and eliminate all bad habits: sedentary lifestyle, smoking, improper diet are just some of the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases, the onset of which is in most cases sudden and unexpected ".
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