CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES - Incidence, Risk factors, Symptoms and Prevention.

 Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are a group of diseases of heart and blood vessels. These include : 

• Cornonay Heart Disease (Myocardial infarction and Angina). 

• Stroke. 

• Hypertension (High blood pressure). 

• Heart failure. 

• Heart attack. 

• Congenital heart diseases. 

• Heart muscle disease (Cardiomyopathy).

• Rheumatic fever. 

INCIDENCE OF CVDs : 

CVDs are number one cause of death globally.  82% of world's deaths from CVD's occur in low and middle income countries. The poorest people are affected most due to lack of facilities and healthcare programmes for early detection and treatment of the disease. 

It is also estimated that by 2030, about 23 million people will die from CVD's every year. 

The incidence is greater in urban areas than in rural areas due to habits like tobacco consumption, unhealthy diet, lack of physical activity and obesity. 

RISK FACTORS : 

• Ciggerate smoking. 

• High blood pressure. 

• Diabetes. 

• High Cholesterol level. 

• Unhealthy diet (Fast food habits). 

• Overweight. 

• Lack of physical activity. 

• Stress. 

Other risk factors include Male sex, positive family history and increasing age. 

High alcohol intake is an independant risk factor for Coronary heart disease. 

Women using Oral Contraceptive Pills have high blood pressure and it increases the risk of Heart disease. 

SYMPTOMS OF HEART ATTACK : 

• Pain or discomfort in the centre of chest. 

• Pain or discomfort in arms, left shoulder, jaw or back. 

• Shortness of breath.

• Feeling light headed and sick. 

SYMPTOMS OF STROKE : 

• Numbness of face, arm, leg on side of body. 

• Severe headache. 

• Fainting.

• Difficulty in seeing and walking. 

• Confusion and difficulty in speaking. 

PREVENTION : 

Primary prevention - 

• Break the smoking habit, nicotine chewing gum can be tried to wean patients from smoking. 

• Reduce the intake of foods high in fat, sugar and salt. 

• Develop exercising habits like cycling and walking. 

• Decrease body weight and blood pressure. 

• Reduce harmful use of alcohol. 

• Increase consumption of vegetables, fruits, whole grain and legumes. 

Secondary prevention - 

It is for people with established CVD - 

• Medications like - Aspirin

                              -  Beta blockers 

                              -  Angiotensin Converting enzyme inhibitors .

                              - Statins. 

When these interventions are used together along with cessation of smoking, nearly 75% of the events may be prevented. 

• In addition, some surgeries are required to treat CVDs : 

- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting. 

- Balloon angioplasty. 

- Valve repair and replacement. 

- Heart transplant. 

                                   By Dr. Fahim Ahmed