Anxiety and heart issues: How to safely medicate for both
Heart Disease News
Apr. 25, 2024 — A multicenter study has identified a potential new treatment for acute heart failure, a leading cause of hospitalization and ...
Apr. 24, 2024 — Investigators have uncovered a way to unleash in blood vessels the protective effects of a type of fat-related molecule known as a sphingolipid, suggesting a promising new strategy for the treatment ...
Apr. 24, 2024 — Cognitive decline among Black women linked to poor heart health in middle ...
Apr. 23, 2024 — Using light pulses as a model for electrical defibrillation, scientists developed a method to assess and modulate the heart function. The research team has thus paved the way for an efficient and ...
Apr. 22, 2024 — Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia worldwide with around 59 million people concerned in 2019. This irregular heartbeat is associated with increased risks of heart failure, ...
Apr. 18, 2024 — A heart attack will leave a permanent scar on a human heart, yet other animals, including zebrafish, can clear cardiac scar tissue and regrow damaged muscle as adults. Biologists sheds new light on ...
Apr. 17, 2024 — In a new study, researchers show that elevated levels of proteins related to cellular senescence, or aging, in the blood and the placenta are linked to this form of heart ...
Apr. 17, 2024 — Adults with congenital heart defects were more likely to experience an abnormal, irregular heartbeat, finds a new ...
Apr. 11, 2024 — A new study showed that a non-invasive imaging test can help identify patients with coronary artery blockage or narrowing who need a revascularization ...
Apr. 11, 2024 — A drug approved to treat pulmonary arterial hypertension may be effective at managing hypertension and end-organ damage in patients with sickle cell disease, according to a new study. An early phase ...
Apr. 11, 2024 — Health researchers identify patients at risk for preventable death in the year after ...
Apr. 10, 2024 — Over 200 million people around the world experience peripheral artery disease (PAD) -- a condition caused by the narrowing of the blood vessels from the heart to the lower limbs that leads to pain ...
Apr. 9, 2024 — A clinical trial showed that a nasal spray that patients administer at home, without a physician, successfully and safely treated recurrent episodes of a condition that causes rapid abnormal heart ...
Apr. 9, 2024 — Medical researchers have performed a successful transcatheter tricuspid valve repair procedure with a groundbreaking ...
Apr. 8, 2024 — Coronary artery disease and major depression may be genetically linked via inflammatory pathways to an increased risk for cardiomyopathy, a degenerative heart muscle disease, researchers have ...
Apr. 8, 2024 — For heart attack patients, treating only the coronary artery that caused the infarction works just as well as preventive balloon dilation of the other coronary arteries, according to a new large ...
Apr. 8, 2024 — Researchers unveiled BeatProfiler, a groundbreaking new tool -- a comprehensive software that automates the analysis of heart cell function from video data. It's the first system to integrate ...
Apr. 8, 2024 — New technology uses a smartphone to analyze heart movement and detect heart ...
Apr. 8, 2024 — Half of all patients discharged from hospital after a heart attack are treated with beta-blockers unnecessarily, new study ...
Apr. 8, 2024 — New research could change standard-of-care guidelines to improve outcomes for heart attack patients after coronary stenting ...
Hypertensive Heart Disease
Hypertensive heart disease refers to heart conditions caused by high blood pressure.
The heart working under increased pressure causes some different heart disorders. Hypertensive heart disease includes heart failure, thickening of the heart muscle, coronary artery disease, and other conditions.
Hypertensive heart disease can cause serious health problems. It's the leading cause of death from high blood pressure.
In general, the heart problems associated with high blood pressure relate to the heart's arteries and muscles. The types of hypertensive heart disease include:
Narrowing of the arteriesCoronary arteries transport blood to your heart muscle. When high blood pressure causes the blood vessels to become narrow, blood flow to the heart can slow or stop. This condition is known as coronary heart disease (CHD), also called coronary artery disease.
CHD makes it difficult for your heart to function and supply the rest of your organs with blood. It can put you at risk for heart attack from a blood clot that gets stuck in one of the narrowed arteries and cuts off blood flow to your heart.
Thickening and enlargement of the heartHigh blood pressure makes it difficult for your heart to pump blood. Like other muscles in your body, regular hard work causes your heart muscles to thicken and grow.
This alters the way the heart functions. These changes usually happen in the main pumping chamber of the heart, the left ventricle. The condition is known as left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
CHD can cause LVH and vice versa. When you have CHD, your heart must work harder. With severe LVH, your heart can become enlarged, causing an obstruction of blood leaving the heart. This can then lead to symptoms of coronary artery disease.
ComplicationsBoth CHD and LVH can lead to:
Heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States. Over 695,000 Americans die from heart disease every year.
The main risk factor for hypertensive heart disease is high blood pressure. Your risk increases if:
You're more prone to heart disease if it runs in your family. Men are more likely to get heart disease than women who have not gone through menopause. Men and postmenopausal women are equally at risk. Your risk for heart disease will increase as you age, regardless of your sex.
Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the condition and progression of the disease. You may experience no symptoms, or your symptoms may include:
You need emergency care if your heart is suddenly beating rapidly or irregularly. Seek emergency care immediately or call 911 if you faint or have severe pain in your chest.
Regular physical exams will indicate whether you suffer from high blood pressure. If you do have high blood pressure, take extra care to look out for symptoms of heart disease.
Your doctor will review your medical history, conduct a physical exam, and run lab tests to check your kidneys, sodium, potassium, and blood count.
One or more of the following tests may be used to help determine the cause of your symptoms:
Treatment for hypertensive heart disease depends on the seriousness of your illness, your age, and your medical history.
MedicationMedications help your heart in a variety of ways. The main goals are to prevent your blood from clotting, improve the flow of your blood, and lower your cholesterol.
Examples of common heart disease medications include:
It's important to always take all medications exactly as prescribed.
Surgeries and devicesIn more extreme cases, you may need surgery to increase blood flow to your heart. If you need help regulating your heart's rate or rhythm, your doctor may surgically implant a battery-operated device called a pacemaker in your chest.
A pacemaker produces electrical stimulation that causes cardiac muscle to contract. Implantation of a pacemaker is important and beneficial when cardiac muscle electrical activity is too slow or absent.
Cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are implantable devices that can be used to treat serious, life threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
Coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) treats blocked coronary arteries. This is only done in severe CHD. A heart transplant or other heart-assisting devices may be necessary if your condition is especially severe.
Long-term outlookRecovering from hypertensive heart disease depends on the exact condition and its intensity. Lifestyle changes can help keep the condition from getting worse in some cases. In severe cases, medications and surgery may not be effective in controlling the disease.
Monitoring and preventing your blood pressure from getting too high is one of the most important ways to prevent hypertensive heart disease. Lowering your blood pressure and cholesterol by eating a healthy diet and monitoring stress levels are possibly the best ways to prevent heart problems.
Maintaining a healthy weight, getting adequate sleep, and exercising regularly are common lifestyle recommendations. Talk with your doctor about ways to improve your overall health.
How serious is hypertensive heart disease?Hypertensive heart disease is a serious condition that requires treatment. It increases your risk of death and puts you at risk of developing other cardiovascular diseases like heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and stroke, as well as chronic kidney disease.
How long does it take for hypertension to cause heart damage?Long-term high blood pressure ultimately leads to heart damage, and often heart failure. The length of time to develop heart damage varies for each person and depends on how uncontrolled your blood pressure is and what markers are used to determine LV damage. Treatment of high blood pressure can help prevent damage to the heart.
Can heart damage from hypertension be reversed?A 2016 study found that after 6 months of treatment, a person had succeeded in reversing heart damage caused by hypertension. That said, it's not always possible to reverse heart damage caused by high blood pressure. Following a well-development treatment plan can help you manage symptoms and prevent disease progression.
The Mediterranean Diet: A Sustainable Option For Heart Health
By Aristotelis E. Vlahos, M.D., Hackensack Meridian Health interventional cardiologist at Bayshore Medical Center and director of Cardiac Catheterization Lab at Riverview Medical Center
When it comes to heart health, everyday diet and lifestyle choices play a key role in reducing your risk of coronary artery disease, heart attack, stroke and other health conditions. But with the amount of processed carbohydrates, cured meats, refined sugars and alcohol that are part of the typical American diet, it can be challenging to make healthy choices.
The Mediterranean diet — which is based on traditional cuisines of countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea, including Greece — has become a popular choice for Americans who are looking to lose weight, reduce their risk of cardiovascular conditions and improve their overall health.
And for members of the Greek community, the Mediterranean diet is a sustainable option that incorporates ingredients found in many traditional Greek dishes.With an emphasis on fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, nuts, beans and vegetarian meals, the Mediterranean diet includes a variety of unprocessed, whole foods traditionally found in Greece and nearby countries.
Incorporating spices and seasonings with moderate amounts of olive oil, lean dairy products and animal proteins such as seafood and poultry can provide the variety needed to make filling meals without compromising taste or nutrition. And you don't have to give up alcohol completely — having a glass of red wine a few times a week is fine.Instead of being a short-term crash diet, the Mediterranean diet promotes long-term lifestyle change. Instead of requiring you to be perfect at all times, the Mediterranean diet encourages moderation while allowing for flexibility.
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Although it's important to note that age and genetics also have an impact on heart health, following a sustainable, palatable eating plan, such as the Mediterranean diet can reduce your overall risk of developing conditions such as high cholesterol, high blood pressure and blocked coronary arteries.
And when combined with moderate exercise and resistance training, the benefits of the Mediterranean diet can extend even further. Incorporating a simple morning and evening stroll — a popular part of everyday life in Greece — and light strength training exercises using body weight or resistance bands into your daily routine can make an enormous difference in your heart health.
As any member of the Greek community knows, food and family are among the threads that connect us. Preserving those cultural, culinary and community connections while making healthy lifestyle modifications can help us age gracefully — no matter what country, state or neighborhood we live in.
About the AuthorDr. Aristotelis Vlahos is fluent in Greek. He spent the first three years of his life living in Greece before his parents emigrated to the United States. In his cardiology practice, he cares for many members of New Jersey's vibrant Greek community, helping them to make heart-healthy lifestyle changes while preserving their cultural and culinary traditions.
Click here to make an appointment with Dr. Vlahos
To make an appointment with Dr. Vlahos, scan the QR code or visit HMHforU.Org/FindADoc.
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