Heart Disease: Causes and Treatment

When fat deposits in the heart's own blood vessels obstruct blood flow, various symptoms can appear, which is known as heart disease. Anyone can fall victim to heart disease. While it can originate in adolescence, the disease typically manifests in middle age. Men have a comparatively higher tendency for heart disease, but women also face an increased risk of heart disease or heart attack as they age.

Those who smoke and suffer from diabetes, high blood pressure, and high blood cholesterol levels are at a higher risk of heart disease. If there is a history of coronary artery disease or ischemic heart disease in the family, the risk for other family members increases.

In the early stages of heart disease, there may be no symptoms while resting, but with physical exertion, pain or discomfort in the center of the chest may be felt. In many cases, pain can be felt in the chest heaviness, chest pressure, left arm, neck or jaw, or behind the chest. Pain in the upper abdomen can also often be a symptom of a heart attack.

In the advanced stages of heart disease, symptoms like excessive sweating, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, dizziness, and loss of consciousness can also occur. In such cases, if chest pain is felt, the patient must be taken to the nearest hospital immediately, and an ECG and blood test should be done quickly to confirm a heart attack.

Heart Attack Risk
Individuals with heart disease are at risk of a heart attack at any moment. The primary treatment is to restore blood flow in the heart's blood vessels. The faster the treatment is provided, the greater the patient's chance of recovery. The most modern treatment for a heart attack is to identify the blockage in the heart through an angiogram and quickly remove it to restore blood flow. However, this requires a cath lab equipped with modern tools and round-the-clock skilled staff.

Alternatively, blood flow can be normalized by dissolving the clot through injections. Both methods are recognized treatments for heart attacks. Which method is more effective for which patient depends on the patient's condition and the doctor's advice.

Living a Healthy Life
Living a healthy lifestyle can largely prevent the risk of heart disease or heart attack. It is possible to prevent this disease by habits such as quitting smoking, controlling diabetes and high blood pressure, avoiding fatty foods, exercising regularly, avoiding fast food and junk food, and staying as worry-free and stress-free as possible. And if those who have already suffered a heart attack follow regular medical check-ups and their doctor's advice, it is possible to live a long, normal life even with heart disease.

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Dr. Md. Tariq Bin Abdur Rashid
Senior Consultant, Clinical & Interventional Cardiology
Evercare Hospital Chattogram.