Why your precious heart is at risk?

The heart is a very powerful pivotal muscular organ in our body. It is about the size of a clenched fist and composed of strong cardiomyocytes and connective tissues. It sits just to the left of the center of the chest.

What is a heart?

The heart is a very powerful pivotal muscular organ in our body. It is about the size of a clenched fist and composed of strong cardiomyocytes and connective tissues. It sits just to the left of the center of the chest.

The human heart has four chambers including upper left and right atria and lower left and right ventricles. The right atrium and ventricle are commonly called the right heart and the left atrium & ventricle is referred to as the left heart. Heartbeats 70-80 times per minute in normal people.

How does the heart work?

The heart is the principal organ of the circulatory system. It pumps oxygen-rich blood, water, and nutrients to the tissues and removes waste products like carbon dioxide from the bloodstream of the entire body through two important channels arteries and veins.

The blood in the arteries carries oxygen from the lungs and energy from the food we eat. Veins carry away waste products like carbon dioxide and returned the dark tired cells to the heart to recharge with oxygen from the lungs. The aorta is the largest artery in the body and the main transport system, that branches off into smaller arteries to perform. The arteries that supply blood to the heart are called coronary arteries and they are named left main coronary arteries and right coronary arteries.

The left main coronary arteries(LMCA) supply blood to the left ventricle and left atrium of the heart. LMCA is further divided into two branches-left anterior descending (LAD) and left circumflex (LCx). The left anterior descending supplies blood to the front of the left side of the heart, whereas the left circumflex wrap around the heart supplies blood to the outer and back sides of the heart. This part of the heart is larger and more muscular as it pumps blood to the entire body.

The right coronary artery (RCA) is smaller than the left. It supplies blood to the right ventricle, right atrium, and two nodes(Sinoatrial/SA and atrioventricular/AV). SA is a pacemaker responsible for a heartbeat. When the above mechanism of the heart did not work, the heart puts into trouble. Cardio Vascular Diseases (CVD) attack the heart.

Angina vs Heart attack:

Angina:

Angina is a specific type of pain experienced in the chest, often spread to the shoulders, arms, and neck due to insufficient blood supply to the heart. It is pre symptom of a heart attack. Angina is of two types, including stable angina and unstable angina. Stable is a common type, caused due to stress or physical exertion, and can be predictable. Unstable is unpredictable and If the above condition prevails for long causes a heart attack.

Heart attack:

If the coronary arteries get blocked, certain parts of the heart muscles die out of blood which leads to a heart attack and it may be fatal. In such cases, the walls of arteries become lumpy, rough, and narrow, due to the excessive fat in the blood. Research says although blockages can happen in other arteries leading to the heart of LAD artery is one where most blockages occur. Plaque can build up in the circumflex artery leading to bifurcation blockage.

Heart failure vs Cardiac arrest vs Heart stroke

_{Heart failure;}

When the heart muscle is not pumping blood as well as it should be, leads to heart failure. It occurs gradually and the body gives its prior symptoms many times before it happens.

_{A cardiac arrest:}

A cardiac arrest happens, when the heart stops pumping blood to the body leading to a stoppage of breathing. It happens suddenly without giving a prior warning.

Heart stroke:

Heart stroke is caused due to blockage of blood flow to the brain. It may happen due to blockage of the artery (Ischemic stroke) or leaking or bursting of a blood vessel (hemorrhagic stroke). A heart attack is deadlier than a heart stroke.

Risk factors of heart attack:

WHO reported that in 2016 in India 63% of total death due to NCDs of which CVDs contributed 27% which was alarming. More than 45% of death in CVDs death was in the 40-69 years of age group. Individuals at risk of CVD may demonstrate raised blood pressure, glucose, and lipids as well as overweight and obesity.

The Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) study estimated the CVD death @ 272/100,0000 population in India, which was higher than the global average figure of 235 per 1000,000 population. In January 2021, in India, 3000 people lost their lives to heart attacks every month, which was 500 in 2020. GBD further reported that nearly a quarter (24.8%) of all death in India is due to CVDs. Now people are coming under different risk factors for heart attacks. WHO and other experts have identified them including;

• blood pressure
• diabetes or pre-diabetes
• overweight
• obesity
• smoking
• high cholesterol
• big stress
• unhealthy diet intake
• pollution
• excess alcohol consumption
• physical inactivities
• insufficient sound sleep

Symptoms of heart attack:

One may experience the symptoms of heart attack as follows;

• chest pain or some sort of uncomfortable feeling with sweating
• pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders
• dizziness, light-headedness, or feeling faint.
• shortness of breathing
• fatigue and weakness
• rapid or irregular heartbeat.

Once any of the above symptoms are experienced, one must visit a specialist for diagnosis. The doctor may ask for any of the following, tests, whatever he/she thinks fit like – ECG, echocardiogram, or cardiac catheterization.

Treatment:

Treatment of the heart attack depends on the condition of the patient. It can be treated either by surgery or by non-surgery medication.

Placement of stent,

The stent is a tiny expandable metal mess coil is placed by surgery into the newly opened area of the artery to make it functional without further closing or narrowing.

Angioplasty,

In angioplasty, a long, thin tube, referred to as a catheter with a tiny balloon at its tip put into a blood vessel and guided to the blocked coronary artery. This presses the plaque or blood clot against the sides of the artery, making more space for blood inflow.

Bypass heart surgery,

In the coronary (arteries) bypass surgery redirects blood around a blocked or partly blocked artery of the heart. During the process, a healthy blood vessel is taken from the leg, arm, or chest whatever ever physician thinks is good, and connect below and around the blocked arteries for blood flow.

Heart valve surgery,

Heart valve surgery is open heart surgery through the breastbone, into the heart. In the process, the aortic valve is replaced with. The success percentage is a minimum of 98.

Pacemaker,

A pacemaker is a small device installed in the chest to control the heartbeat when the natural pacemaker does not work properly. It is used to prevent the heart from beating too slowly.

Heart transplant,

A heart transplant is the last refuge left to keep the patient alive. In the process, a functional heart is taken from a donor( brain dead is the standard) and replaced with the heart of the diseased patient.

Preventive measures to keep the heart healthy:

It is a big challenge for us to remain healthy and keep the heart healthy in the changing pollutant world and busy tense lives. Still, we should be optimistic enough to get rid of all the adverse situations.

• _{Eat a healthy balance nutrient-rich diet. Focus on whole grains, germinated grains, green leaf vegetables, fruits, spinaches, low-fat dairy products nuts, and seeds, and avoid packaged food, soft drinks, and baked foods.}
• _{Avoid smoking, and limit alcohol if consumed.}
• _{Involve in physical exercise and leave a lethargic approach and attitude.}
• _{Overcome overweight and obesity through regular exercise, and yoga with due consultants of the experts.}
• _{Manage cholesterol with regular check-ups and medication.}
• _{Manage diabetes and keep blood pressure under control.}
• _{Be health conscious and maintain disciplined life and practice Yoga regularly.}
• _{Manage stress and focus on the present, life is beautiful to enjoy it with good doing. ( the above measures are suggestions not prescriptions)}

The bottom line:

Life is yours and your heart. Life is precious don’t let you pressed under stress. Take the best available healthy food, and avoid spicy tasty foods including soft drinks, baked food items, and packaged food. Enjoy physical exercise, and raise early to get fresh oxygen. Enjoy a regulated healthy lifestyle. Pay visits to doctors as and when required, without delay, and check up on the body regularly. In the case of CVD maintain austerity measures as per the direction of treating physicians.