The Worldwide Occurrence of Heart Diseases
CVD (cardiovascular diseases) also known as heart diseases are taking more lives than other diseases such as chronic lower respiratory disease and cancer. CVD is the underlying cause of several deaths. For instance, in 2016, CVD was the cause of every one in three deaths. For example, in the US it was the leading cause of death.
In fact, between the years 2013 to 2016, about 121.5 million adults were suffering from cardiovascular diseases.
CVD accounts for more than 17.6 percent of deaths each year, which can increase to more than about 23.6 million by the year 2030.
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally.
According to a study, the total medical cost for cardiovascular disease can increase to $749 billion by the year 2035.
In fact, coronary heart disease (CHD) is the most common cardiovascular disease death in the US. To explain every 40 seconds in the US, an American suffers a heart attack. According to studies, the medical cost for CHD will increase to 100 percent by the year 2035.
Out of about 17 million premature deaths due to non-communicable disease in the year 2015:
- More than 75% of the deaths occurred in lower to middle-income countries.
- 85% of the deaths occurred due to strokes and heart attacks.
What are Risk Factors for Heart Diseases?
As a matter of fact, the most important risk factors (behavioral factors) for cardiovascular diseases are:
- Unhealthy diet.
- Physical inactivity.
- Use of tobacco.
- Exaggerated use of alcohol.
The effects of these risk factors may show up as:
- Raised levels of blood glucose.
- Raised blood lipids.
- Increased blood pressure.
- Obesity and overweight.
These risk factors are also known as “intermediate” risk factors. These factors are measurable in any primary health care facility, which indicates the increase in the risk of heart attacks, heart failures, and several other complications.
There are several determinants for cardiovascular diseases. In fact, these underlying determinants are the reflection of driving forces as cultural, social, and economic changes. For example population aging, urbanization, and globalization.
Other essential determinants for cardiovascular diseases include:
- Stress.
- Hereditary factors.
- Poverty.
How to Prevent Cardiovascular Diseases?
For instance, we can reduce the risk of CVD if we:
- Reduce the use of tobacco.
- Reduce salt intake.
- Consume more fruits and vegetables.
- Do regular physical activity.
- And avoid the use of harmful substances such as alcohol.
Additionally, pharmacological treatment of high blood lipids, hypertension, and diabetes is also necessary for reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases or preventing heart attacks.
Another key point is health policies that can create a conducive environment for letting people make healthy choices are essential. These policies can help to motivate people to adopt and sustain healthy behavior.
Can Heart Disease Cause Anxiety as a Side Effect?
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a common symptom among patients suffering from heart diseases such as CHD (coronary heart disease).
About 20 to 30% of heart disease patients may experience elevated anxiety levels.
The relationship between anxiety and cardiovascular is complex. Anxiety can be a response to any stressful condition like an acute cardiac disease. However, when anxiety persists for a longer duration, then it can be detrimental to physical, psychiatric, and overall body health.
Anxiety is associated with the progression of cardiovascular disease. In fact, anxiety also in patients without any cardiac disease can link to the development of coronary artery disease (CAD).
Relationship Between Heart Diseases and Anxiety:
Anxiety disorders are prominently associated with the onset and even progression of heart disease. In many instances, these anxiety disorders can affect the outcomes of cardiovascular disease, which includes mortality.
Two factors can help to understand the relationship between anxiety and cardiovascular diseases:
- Physiological mechanisms as changes in platelet aggregation. Inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and autonomic dysfunction.
- Health behavior mechanisms.
Patients suffering from anxiety may have fluctuations in their blood pressure and heart rhythms. Their platelets can become stickier, which can make the blood more likely to clot.
Thus, increasing the chances of developing heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases.
As there is an association between two conditions, therefore, an accurate and timely identification or treatment is necessary.
Psychotherapeutic and pharmacologic interventions can manage anxiety disorders. These interventions can help both cardiovascular and psychiatric health.
How Does Heart Disease Affects Kidneys?
The heart pumps the oxygenated blood to all the body parts. Kidneys clean the circulating blood, remove waste products, and excrete extra water. The healthy functioning of these organs is necessary for overall body health.
Kidneys and the heart tend to work together (closely). Therefore if one of these organs is facing a problem, things can change with the other one.
Cardiovascular diseases can cause chronic kidney disease (CKD), and even CKD can lead to cardiovascular diseases.
When you are suffering from cardiovascular disease, your heart might not pump the blood properly. Thereby, your heart can become too full of blood. Furthermore, this phenomenon can lead to pressure build-up in the vein connected to the kidneys. This accumulation of blood can lead to blockage and a decrease in the supply of oxygen-rich blood to the kidney.
If there is a problem with the working of the kidney, then the hormone system of the body will need to work harder. The hormone system helps to regulate blood pressure. An increase in workload will hinder the supply of blood to the kidneys. To meet the need for blood supply heart will have to pump harder, which can put extra strain on the heart. Thus, leading to heart diseases.
How to Avoid Kidney and Heart Failure
These are the most common cause of mortality for patients on dialysis. It is necessary to work with your health care provider to modify your lifestyle:
- Control your levels of blood sugar, blood pressure, phosphorus, and calcium in the body.
- Manage your high body cholesterol.
- Follow a healthy diet plan.
- Increase your physical activity.
- Follow a schedule for your medicines.
Complications of chronic kidney and cardiovascular diseases can lead to anemia, high blood pressure, homocysteine levels, and unbalanced calcium-phosphorus levels.
Anemia – when your body is unable to make enough blood cells, there is less supply of blood to the body. This deficiency can lead to anemia and increased chances of a heart attack.
Hypertension – if the kidneys are damaged, they can release an excessive amount of renin enzyme. Renin helps to control blood pressure. Excessive release of renin can increase the risk of cardiovascular diseases, congestive heart failure, and even stroke.
High homocysteine levels – if the kidneys are damaged. They can not remove a blood protein known as homocysteine. High levels of homocysteine can cause CAD (coronary artery disease), heart attack, and even stroke.
Unbalanced calcium and phosphorus levels in the blood – if you are suffering from chronic kidney disease (CKD). Then you might have too much calcium and phosphorus in your blood. An increase in these two components can increase the chances of developing heart-related diseases.
Can Heart Disease Kill You?
Yes, heart disease can even kill you.
- Cardiovascular disorders are the leading cause of death for patients of almost all ethnic and racial groups.
- In the United States, one person dies due to cardiovascular disease every 37 seconds.
- Heart attacks happen to one patient every 40 seconds.
According to an estimate, 805,000 Americans can have a heart attack. Out of these patients, 605,000 have their first heart attack, while 200,000 people might be having a heart attack in the past.
One in every five heart attacks is always silent, meaning a patient is not aware of the heart damage.
Therefore it is crucial to pay attention to your heart health. Regular heart monitoring is a must. Early identification of problems highly increases the chance to prevent them. One of the simplest, most comfortable, fastest, and most effective solutions is a personal electrocardiogram (ECG / EMG) monitoring. This allows you to follow heart health changes, draw lines between them and daily activities, identify potential danger, and avoid it timely.
