Introduction to Heart Health: The Heart pumps the oxygenated blood to other body parts and maintains the blood pressure of the body, the flow of blood in the body is depends on the functioning of the heart. The heart is the most vital organ in the human body, to be healthy it is necessary to keep our heart healthy. The maximum number of deaths causes in this world is due to heart disease. Around 9 million deaths in the world are caused due to heart disease. It is very important for a human being to keep their heart healthy. In this article, which is written under the guidance of an experienced medical practitioner, we will see what effective strategies for can be preventing heart disease.

The main functions of the human heart are:

• The heart pumps blood to the parts of the body (organs).
• Maintaining blood pressure of the body.
• The circulatory system delivers oxygen and nutrients to cells and takes away wastes.
• The blood plasma carries water, salts, and enzymes the plasma takes the nutrients, hormones, and proteins to the parts of the body that needs it.

Heart Disease

• Angina Pectoris
• Heart Attack
• Heart Failure
• Valve Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Inherited Heart Conditions
• Cardiac Arrest

1. Angina Pectoris

Angina symptoms pain, heaviness, stiffness(tightness), discomfort, pressure, or pain in the chest.

Reason of Angina Pectoris – The reason for Angina Pectoris is not supplying the proper amount of blood to the heart muscles.

Causes of not supplying proper blood to the heart muscles – The blockage in heart arteries is due to cholesterol(plaques), deposits in the heart arteries due to which the flow of blood in the heart gets restricted or reduces causing angina pectoris.

The Major Reasons of Blockage in the Heart

• High blood cholesterol is due to an increase in LDL (low-density lipoprotein), sometimes called “bad” cholesterol.

The reasons of increasing LDL are:

• Diet: Saturated fat and cholesterol food (Palm oil, Cheese, Cream, Chips, Mayonnaise, Ice-Cream, Beef Lamb, Chicken) are cholesterol rich foods increases cholesterol.
• Overweight: Overweight raises your LDL level, lower your HDL level, and increases cholesterol level.
• Lack of Physical Activity: Lack of physical activity can lead to weight gain, which raises LDL level.
• Smoking: Cigarette smoking lowers HDL cholesterol, when HDL cholesterol lowers then the LDL cholesterol gets increases, and deposit in the arteries of a human body increased LDL blocks the arteries of a human body.
• Age and Sex: The level of the cholesterol depends upon the age and sex of the human in young age cholesterol levels of the males are higher than the females because of the estrogen hormone in female as the level of estrogen rises, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol also rises, peaking at the time of ovulation. As, HDL cholesterol is also known as good cholesterol and is protective against heart disease. After menopause the levels of the estrogen hormone in a female gets very low, as the estrogen levels lower down the HDL (high-density lipoprotein) gets lower and LDL (Low-density lipoprotein) gets high which is harmful for human heart.
• Genetic Reasons of Heart Disease: The levels of cholesterol also depend on age and gender.

1. 1.  Gender: In younger age men are more prone towards higher cholesterol level than female, because the presence of estrogen hormones in females, as the levels of estrogen hormones increases the levels of the HDL also gets increases the levels of estrogen are on their peak at the time of ovulation, so this hormones levels keep the cholesterol level lower in females.
   2. Age: The cholesterol level also depends on age because of the weakening of organs like the liver, the digestive system of a human also gets weak, and the liver doesn’t flush outs the LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) the LDL levels get increased in the human body. In females due to menopause in females after 52-55 years of age, the estrogen hormone levels get low to a high extent as a result levels of this, the HDL (High-Density lipoprotein) also gets low and the levels of LDL(Low-Density lipoprotein) get high.

• Medicines: Some medicines, including steroids, blood pressure medicines, and HIV medicines increase LDL(Low-Density Lipoprotein) levels.
• Other Medical Condition: CKD (chronic kidney disease), HIV, and Diabetes are some medical conditions in which the levels of LDL remain higher.
• Race or Ethnicity: Some races and ethnic groups such as South Asian, and Black Africans have the risk of higher cholesterol levels.

LDL Levels Chart 

LDL(Bad) Cholesterol Level	LDL Cholesterol Category
Less than 100 mg/dL	Optimal
100-129 mg/dL	Near Optimal/above optimal
130-159 mg/dL	Borderline
160-189 mg/dL	High
190 mg/dL	Very High

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2. Heart Attack:

A heart attack is also known as a myocardial infarction, a heart attack is a condition when the flow of oxygenated blood is suddenly restricted because of the block in the heart artery & the heart muscle does not get adequate oxygenated blood, and if the condition does not restore quickly, the heart muscle starts dying.

Reasons of Heart Attack:

The main reason of heart attack is high cholesterol LDL (Low-Density lipoprotein), this high cholesterol deposits in the heart arteries and blocks the heart arteries and restrict the flow of the oxygenated blood to the heart muscles.

The reasons due to which this condition of heart attack arises:

• Smoking
• Obesity
• Stress
• Diabetes
• High-Fatty Diet
• High-Blood Pressure
• Lack of Nutrition

Signs Of Heart Attack:

• Chest pain, discomfort, or Pressure in chest
• Sometimes pain and discomfort in jaw
• Sometimes pain in neck, back, arm, and shoulder.
• Feeling nausea

In diabetic patients most of the time they do not have pain in the chest, but other signs are present.

Treatments of Heart Attack:

• Clot Dissolving Drugs given to the Patient.
• Angioplasty to remove the clot in the heart.
• Bypass surgery to ensure the proper flow of blood to the heart.
• And many other combinations of treatment.

Golden Hours After Heart Attack.

Within an hour of a heart attack, the patient should provide the treatment, if the patient gets the treatment within an hour of a heart attack the damage is reversible, then the next six hours if the clot is removed within 6 hours of a heart attack the damage in the heart is reversible up to some extent after that the tissue of the heart muscle start damaging and the damage in the heart is irreversible.

Sometimes a patient gets faint after heart attack, due to not supplying oxygenated blood to the heart muscles, then in this emergency condition the patient has to give CPR treatment.

CPR: CPR stands for Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation. It is a first aid procedure performed when someone has stopped breathing and heartbeat is stopped, in this process of CPR, chest compressions are performed to revive the patient.

3. Heart Failure:

Heart failure is a condition that occurs due to damage in the heart muscles and the heart muscles are unable to pump an adequate amount of blood to the body, this causes build fluids in the lungs and legs, shortness of breath, unstable heartbeat, in case of heart failure blood pressure gets very high, and in case of CHF (congestive heart failure), blood pressure drops too very low.

Reasons of Heart Failure:

• Coronary Heart Disease
• High Blood Pressure
• Cardiomyopathy
• Heart inflammation

Coronary Heart Disease

Coronary heart disease is a condition in which the heart arteries get blocked due to the LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein) cholesterol deposits in the heart arteries and blocks the heart arteries, and this block restricts the blood flow to the heart muscles and due to this low supply of blood to the heart muscle, this cause damage in the heart muscles.

High Blood Pressure

High blood pressure is a condition in which the force of blood flowing through the blood vessel is higher than the normal range of pressure.

Causes of High Blood Pressure:

• Obesity and Overweight
• Not Having a Nutritious Diet (including mineral, vitamin, and alkaline food in a appropriate amount)
• Have a Lot of Stress
• Smoking and Other Intoxication Addiction
• Ethnicity i.e., Black African and Black Caribbean Descent People Have More High Blood-Pressure Problem
• Not Doing Enough Exercise
• Sometimes Age Factor
• Infection and Other Medical Conditions Like CKD (chronic kidney disease)

Due to these factors, heart walls get damaged, which causes a deposit of plaque in the blood vessels and causes blockage in the heart, this high blood pressure is the main cause of heart attack, heart failure, and cardiac arrest issues.

Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy is a condition in which heart muscles get stiff, which makes the heart hard to pump blood.

Causes of Cardiomyopathy:

• High Blood Pressure
• Abnormal Heart Rhythm Due to Weakening of Heart
• Damage in Heart Due to Heart Attack
• Heart Valve Disease
• Endocarditis, it is a fatal infection of the inner lining of heart.
• Too much Iron in Heart
• Amyloidosis (Too much proteins build in heart)
• Drinking too much alcohol

Heart Inflammation

Heart inflammation is a body’s reaction to an infection or injury in Heart. viral, bacterial, fungal infections can cause the heart inflammation.

In mild cases there is no need of any kind of treatment, but in some severe cases there is a requirement of medication and intervention is required.

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4. Heart Valve Disease

Heart valves are of two types of bicuspid valve also known as the mitral valve which divides the left atria and left ventricle and the tricuspid valve which divides the right atria and right ventricles.  the main function of these valves is to prevent backflow of blood from ventricles to atria.

In heart valve diseases either the valve has holes which cause the blood to flow in a backward direction or the valve gets ruptured by sudden injury in both ways functioning of the heart is affected severely.

Some of the main diseases of valves include

1. Mitral valve regurgitation – In this disease, the flaps of the mitral valve do not close properly which results in backflow of blood.

2. Mitral valves prolapse – In this the valves become too floppy.

3. Mitral stenosis – In this disease valve does not open as wide as it should.

4. Valvular heart disease – The valves do not work properly which decreases the efficiency of the heart.

Causes Of Heart Valve Diseases Includes

• History Related to Certain Infections of Heart.
• History of Heart Attacks and Heart Diseases.
• Heart Conditions Which are Present from Birth.
• Older Age.
• High Blood Pressure, Diabetes, and Cholesterol.

5. High Blood Pressure

High Blood Pressure also known as hypertension; high blood pressure is caused when the force of blood on the artery wall increases than normal. Normal blood pressure ranges between 80 mmHg to 120 mmHg. Any blood pressure which is higher than this is considered hypertension.

In stage 1 hypertension the blood pressure from the top number ranges from 130 to 139 mmHg or the bottom number ranges from 80 to 89 mmHg and in Stage 2 hypertension the top number is 140 mmHg or higher or the bottom number is 90 mmHg or higher.

Causes Of Hypertension –

• Age- The risk of hypertension increases with age mainly with women. hypertension is found commonly in women aged above 60.
• Race- High blood pressure is found at an early age in South Asians and black African people as compared to white people.
• Hereditary – High blood pressure can also be in an individual if either one of their parents is affected. It is mainly because every individual shares genes with their parents.
• Smoking or tobacco use – Tobacco can easily increase blood pressure as it contains substances that harden the walls of arteries and lungs and also get deposited on the walls and decreases the surface area.
• Obesity and lack of exercise- People who are lethargic often tend to have heart diseases. obese people have high cholesterol levels which cause hypertension as cholesterol gets deposited on the walls of arteries and in severe cases may result in heart attack.
• Too much salt and law potassium levels- Common Salt (NaCl) consists of sodium and an excess quantity of sodium in an individual’s body can cause the body to retain water which increases blood pressure whereas low potassium can cause hypertension as it maintains the amount of salt in body cells. lack of potassium in diet can cause high BP.
• Too much alcohol – Alcohol leads to high BP, particularly in men.
• Stress- Stress is the main cause of hypertension indirectly. most people choose smoking, tobacco eating, and drinking alcohol as a coping mechanism for stress which leads to high BP.
• Nutrition- Minerals like calcium, magnesium, and potassium play a very important role in heart health. It should be seen that an individual’s diet contains the proper amount of these minerals.

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6. Inherited Heart Conditions

Inherited heart diseases are the ones that have been passed to an individual by the genes of their parents and family. It compiles an enormous amount of heart diseases within itself. inherited diseases can range from common less harmful diseases to life-threatening diseases.

Inherited heart diseases can also be caused by a gene mutation. Mutations are caused by sudden changes in genetic codes which result in diseases.

Some inherited heart diseases are.

1. Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy – In this disease, the heart muscles get thickened which makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood.

2. Restrictive Cardiomyopathy – Restrictive cardiomyopathy refers to a set of changes in how the heart muscle functions. These changes cause the heart to fill poorly.

3. Long QT Syndrome – It’s basically a signaling disorder that causes fast, chaotic heartbeats.

4. Brugada Syndrome – It’s a life-threatening disease that predisposes patients to fatal cardiac arrhythmias.

7. Cardiac Arrest

It’s a condition in which the heart suddenly stops pumping blood, breathing stops and the person becomes unconscious, and without immediate treatment, it can cause the death of the person.

Immediate treatment includes CPR and shocks by a device called AED (Automated External Defibrillator)

Symptoms of cardiac arrest are as follows

• Unconsciousness
• Breathing Loss
• Loss Of Pulse
• Discomfort In Chest
• Palpitations

Causes Of Cardiac Arrest

1. Scarring of Heart Tissue – A scarred heart is most likely to undergo ventricular arrhythmias. a heart can be scarred by a prior heart attack.

2. Heart Medications – Heart medications can cause cardiac arrest by causing heart arrhythmias.

3. Thickened heart muscle – Thickened heart muscle is caused by hypertension and valve diseases which refers to that the heart is diseased, and a diseased heart can have a cardiac arrest any time.

4. Recreational drug use – Drugs such as analgesics, depressants, hallucinogens, and stimulants which are used without proper medical supervision and in undefined quantities can cause heart diseases which can lead to cardiac arrest.

Effective Strategy to Keep Our Heart Fit

1. Healthy Eating – A healthy diet is a must to maintain a healthy heart. We should maintain and balance nutrients in our diet and eat all the minerals and vitamins especially calcium and magnesium minerals and Vitamin B complex levels in fruits and vegetables especially apples, lemons, oranges, etc. to lower cholesterol levels.
2. Exercise And Meditation – It plays an important role in maintaining a healthy heart, Exercise leads the heart to pump more blood in less time increasing the cardiac output and meditation helps in providing the body with more oxygen and thus increasing heart efficiency.
3. Say No TO Drugs – Drugs cause heart diseases which can be stopped by not using drugs and if used then by only medical supervision.
4. Quitting Tobacco and Smoking – Smoking, and consuming tobacco harms the heart a lot, quitting tobacco and smoking is very beneficial for heart health.
5. Living A Stress-Free Life- In today’s world stress is the main cause of a lot of diseases, living a stress-free life is important as it prevents a lot of diseases and also keeps us happy and healthy, to be stress-free people should follow their hobbies, and passion, also involve their selves in some social work, spirituality that is all about the welfare of mankind are some tools that can keep anyone’s life stress-free.

Effective Measures to Prevent Heart Disease

1. Take proper medication under a specialist.
2. Quit smoking and any kind of intoxication addiction.
3. Take a healthy fiber-rich diet including low-fat dairy, fruits, and vegetable.
4. Do light exercise including walking but not very fast, and some breathing exercises.
5.  If you are a diabetic, then keep your diabetes under control.
6. Try to maintain your life stress-free, don’t take stress for a long time.
7. Take proper sunlight in the early morning time.

These are some simple ways by which a person can keep their heart healthy, and if he is suffering from any heart disease, he can overcome that heart disease and can live a healthy life.

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