Heart diseases are all diseases that affect the heart or blood vessels. The heart is one of the vital organs that pumps blood to the body through veins. It is located in the center of the circulatory system, which includes veins, arteries and capillaries. The heart, which meets the nutritional and oxygen needs of the organs by pumping blood to the body, is located on the upper left side of the body. A healthy heart pumps the right amount of blood throughout your body. Clean and dirty blood are present together in the heart, and they are prevented from mixing with each other thanks to the heart valves.
Heart diseases
Cardiovascular diseases occur as a result of any damage to the heart, valves or other circulatory system structures. It can also be called cardiovascular system diseases. Some cardiovascular diseases include:
- Coronary artery diseases
- Abnormal heart rhythms (Arrhythmias)
- heart valve diseases
- Abnormal heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
- Heart compression and difficulty relaxing (heart failure)
- Congenital heart disease problems
- Problems with the pericardium (the sac of fluid surrounding the heart)
What are the Misconceptions About Heart Diseases?
You may have heard or even thought of sentences about heart disease such as “Heart disease is a men’s disease” or “I am young, what disease is it?” The easier it is to obtain information in our age with developing technology, the more information pollution can occur. Information that can grow like an avalanche as it is said creates misconceptions that are known to be true about any subject. In this section, you can learn about common misconceptions about heart disease.
“Heart disease is for old people”
Heart disease can occur in people of all ages. Particularly in young women, smoking together with birth control pills may increase the risk of heart disease. Packaged food, unhealthy diet and sedentary lifestyle, which are widely preferred today, may cause artery occlusion in the future or accelerate the development process.
“People with heart disease should not be too active”
It is one of the most common misconceptions about heart disease. People who think they are doing the right thing by not tiring their heart may, on the contrary, cause clots in their legs and decrease in physical condition by being inactive. Regular physical activity helps strengthen the heart muscle, improve blood flow and overall health. You can get information from your doctor about what kind of physical activity program you should follow.
“High blood pressure is normal in old age”
The hardening of the artery walls with age may lead to higher blood pressure in later ages. However, this normal increase may not be good for you. Normal blood pressure should be 140/90 millimeters. For values above or below this, it is useful to consult your doctor.
“There is heart disease in my family, so there is nothing I can do.”
Having a family history of heart disease is one of the factors that increases a person’s risk of heart disease. But this does not mean that there is no escape from heart disease. You can greatly reduce your risk of heart disease by engaging in activities that support heart health and avoiding risk factors.
“You can reduce the risk of heart disease with vitamins and supplements”
Vitamins A, E, C may reduce the risk of heart disease. However, among the studies conducted to date, there are no studies supporting a lower risk of heart disease in people using supplements. Vitamins and minerals are best used when taken into the body through food. Therefore, eating a healthy and balanced diet can be much more effective than using supplements.
What Should Be Done to Prevent Heart Diseases?
Heart disease can occur in anyone and in any age group, although it is more common in women. There are a number of factors that increase the risk of heart disease. These factors can be divided into two groups: modifiable and unchangeable. Unchangeable risk factors are characteristics that we do not have in our control, such as gender, age, genetics and family history, and that we begin to have from birth. Modifiable risk factors are situations that we can choose, such as smoking and physical activity. Making healthier choices regarding modifiable risk factors can protect against heart disease. For this;
- Stop using tobacco products such as cigarettes. Even if you do not consume it yourself, being in an environment where smoking can cause you to become a passive smoker. Therefore, do not be around people who consume it.
- Take care to have a healthy and balanced diet. Foods such as fat, salt and sugar increase cholesterol and have negative effects on general health.
- If you have blood pressure, use your medication regularly and be careful to follow your doctor’s recommendations. Constantly high blood pressure can cause the arteries to thicken.
- Diseases such as obesity and diabetes can increase the risk of heart disease.
- Having a sedentary lifestyle is among the risk factors for many diseases, including heart disease. Being active increases the good cholesterol in the body. This increased good cholesterol may reduce the risk of heart disease.
- Remove stress from your life. For this, you can try taking a quiet walk on a path you like, doing yoga, or taking up a hobby.
- Having poor dental health may also be a risk factor. Therefore, it is beneficial to brush your teeth regularly and use dental floss.
Frequently Asked Questions About Heart Health
How do we know there is a problem with the heart?
Heart diseases may show some symptoms in the early stages or may not have any symptoms. Some early symptoms include:
- chest pain
- dizziness
- unexpected fainting
- swelling in the legs
- Shortness of breath
- Tiredness
What are heart diseases and their causes?
Heart diseases are a large group of diseases. There are many types such as heart valve diseases, heartbeat irregularities, congenital diseases, and diseases caused by arteriosclerosis. Some of the causes of heart disease include:
- Smoking or use of tobacco products
- using drugs
- Excessive alcohol and caffeine use
- Unconscious drug use
- Diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity
- still life
- infections
- genetic problems
- thyroid diseases
- Kidney related problems
What is the difference between a heart attack and heart failure?
Contrary to popular belief, heart failure and heart attack are not the same thing. A heart attack occurs when one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked. Due to the blockage in the vein, blood does not reach the heart muscle and if no intervention is made, the person may not receive enough oxygen and death may result. Heart failure occurs when the heart cannot pump the amount of blood the body needs. Heart failure may occur congenitally or as a result of other diseases. While heart failure is a slowly developing condition, heart attack develops suddenly and requires immediate intervention. Left arm numbness can be mentioned among the main symptoms of a heart attack. If you have any doubts, you can call 112 and ask for support.
What can you do if you have a hereditary predisposition to heart disease?
Heart disease risk factors include genetics. Having a family history of heart disease may increase the risk of developing the disease, but this does not mean that you will definitely get it. Heart disease has multiple risk factors, and the risk of developing the disease may increase as exposure increases. Making healthier choices by eliminating factors beyond your control, such as genetic predisposition, will have a positive impact on your risk of developing heart disease in the future.
What foods should be consumed for heart health?
It is known that some food groups reduce LDL cholesterol, known as bad cholesterol, in the blood and are thus beneficial for heart health. Among these food groups;
- Green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale
- Whole grain products such as oatmeal and whole wheat bread
- Semi-fat dairy products such as milk, cheese, yoghurt
- Products high in omega-3, such as fish
- Nuts such as walnuts, almonds and hazelnuts
