Heart Disease

Heart disease affects millions of Americans. Almost 500,000 die every year from heart attacks that are the result of coronary heart disease, which is the number one cause of death for both men and women in the United States.

Coronary heart disease—and ultimately a heart attack—occurs when the coronary arteries become narrow and block the heart’s blood supply. The part of the heart that does not receive oxygen begins to die, and some of the heart muscle may be permanently damaged. A heart attack results when the blood supply is completely cut off. Immediate medical attention within the first hour saves lives and limits heart damage. But many heart disease patients can prevent heart attacks by simply monitoring the risk factors in their daily lives that contribute to their chronic heart conditions.

Blood Pressure

The heart pumps blood from the lungs into the heart, and then back out through the rest of the body. Oxygen is taken by the blood from the lungs to supply the muscles and tissues throughout the body. Blood pressure results from the force exerted by the blood as it is pushed through the body’s arteries against their resistance to this flow.

Blood pressure is measured by two numbers, the first number being the systolic and the second number the diastolic. The systolic blood pressure measures the maximum pressure in your arteries when the heart beats. The diastolic blood pressure measures the minimum pressure when the heart is relaxed in-between beats.

High blood pressure, or hypertension, is one of the major causes of heart disease and stroke. Unfortunately, high blood pressure does not necessarily have any visible symptoms and is usually detected when a doctor or healthcare professional measures a person’s blood pressure. However, some people may experience headaches, dizziness, irregular or rapid heartbeat, nosebleeds, fatigue or blurred vision. Also, there are several factors that do increase a person’s chance of having high blood pressure. These factors include age, genetics (a family’s history of heart disease), smoking, weight and alcohol.

Heart Risk Factors

Risk factors are the conditions or behaviors that increase a person’s chance of developing heart disease. Some of these factors are controllable while others are uncontrollable. The controllable factors include high blood pressure, high blood cholesterol, smoking, weight, physical inactivity, diabetes and stress. The uncontrollable factors include a person’s sex, genes and age.

Coronary arteries become blocked when their inside walls thicken. Cholesterol and fat both contribute to this clogging of the arteries. Then high blood pressure and smoking double the chances of this occurring. Physical inactivity and obesity often cause high cholesterol and high blood pressure, which in turn increase the chances of developing heart disease. Diabetes causes high blood pressure, high cholesterol and obesity, and greatly increases a person’s risk of heart failure. Therefore people who are at risk need good eating habits, regular exercise, diabetes management and no smoking to control their possibility of developing heart disease.

Congestive Heart Failure

Almost 10 percent of our aging population suffers from congestive heart failure, with 400,000 new patients diagnosed every year. Heart failure is usually a long-term condition as the heart loses its ability to pump enough blood through the body. As the heart pumps less efficiently, it becomes enlarged, overworked from contracting more frequently and the heart muscles thicken and stiffen in their effort to pump more blood out after contracting. Sometimes a person’s heart does not fill properly with blood when it is relaxing (diastolic). Fluid builds up around their heart and often in their legs and feet. Other people have problems when their heart is too weak to push blood out into circulation (systolic). Blood backs up into the heart and causes fluid to leak into the lungs.

There are numerous symptoms of heart failure. Shortness of breath is caused by fluid retention in the lungs. Fatigue results as the heart’s pumping capacity decreases and muscles receive less oxygen. Fluid also accumulates in the lower extremities and causes swelling in the legs, ankles and feet. A constant cough or wheezing can also occur.

Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia occurs when the heart beats irregularly, skips a beat or changes its regular speed in beating. This condition results from heart disease, stress, caffeine, alcohol, tobacco and medications. As people age, they are more likely to experience arrhythmias. The symptoms include a fluttering sensation in the chest, chest pains and dizziness. Uncontrolled arrhythmia can further increase a person’s risk of heart failure.

Heart Disease Related Products

Heart Attack
Homecare bedroom products help to improve their daily quality of life including:

• Bedside Commode
• Patient Lift

Congestive Heart Failure
Oxygen systems help the congestive heart patient compensate for their shortness of breath and weakness including:

• Oxygen Concentrator
• Suction Machine

All Heart Diseases
Mobility products help the patient with ambulation and/or mobility either within or outside of the home including:

• Canes
• Walkers
• Wheelchairs
• Scooters

Aids to Daily Living (ADLs) help heart disease patients remain independent by facilitating their daily tasks in eating, dressing, bathing and toileting including:

• Reachers

Bath Safety Products help to maintain stability and compensate for loss of strength when toileting and bathing including:

• Elevated Toilet Seats
• Bedside Commodes
• Bath Benches or Chairs

Heart Disease Resources

American Heart Association (AHA)
800 634-1242
www.americanheart.org

National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
301 435-0535
www.nhlbi.nih.gov