Signs that your artery is blocked

There are a few signs that can indicate a CAD and identifying it on time can be the difference between life and death.

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is quite common among people. It is caused by cholesterol and fatty plaque build up in the arteries. It is called atherosclerosis. This condition can restrict blood flow to the heart by narrowing down the arteries. When the heart does not get the required amount of oxygenated blood, it malfunctions. This will then lead to a heart attack.

There are a few signs that can indicate a CAD and identifying it on time can be the difference between life and death.

Angina
Angina is a very common symptom of CAD. People who have angina report discomfort or pain in the centre of the chest. The pain is often described by patients as numbness, tightness, aching or a burning pain. If your artery is blocked, the pain radiates to other parts of the body like the arms, back, stomach, neck or jaw. Seek immediate medical help if you have angina as it maybe sign of a heart attack.

Difficulty in breathing
Breathing difficulty is also reported among those with a blocked artery. If you are having a shortness of breath, or difficulty in walking up stairs then it may be a sign of a blocked artery. The difficulty in breathing in happens when your heart does not receive adequate supply of blood due to which fluids gets built up in the lungs.

Nausea
Nausea can result from a blocked artery. This happens to some people and is not a common symptom. Along with nausea, people also face other gastrointestinal problems such as abdominal pain and vomiting.

Dizziness
When oxygenated blood doesn’t reach the brain due to a blocked artery, you will start feeling dizzy and lightheaded. If you find yourself experiencing light headedness, fainting or loss of consciousness, then beware. Extreme weakness and anxiety is also another symptom. Seek medical help immediately on experiencing these symptoms.

Irregular Heartbeat
When the heart receives less blood due to the blockage, it starts pumping faster to supply the heart with more blood. This could result in abnormal and irregular heartbeat.  When the heart rate quickens, you could also experience dizziness or chest pain.

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Family history of heart attacks should not be ignored

Having a family history of cardiovascular disease increases the risk of developing coronary heart disease, angina, heart attack, heart failure and stroke.

Therefore, it is imperative to not ignore a family history of heart attack or heart diseases in general.

Research indicates that siblings with one parent that had experienced a heart attack were 48% more likely to have one. Those with two parents with history of heart attack were nearly six times more likely to have a heart attack.

Speaking about the same, a Dr. said, "The warning signs of a heart attack include chest discomfort, upper body pain, shortness of breath. Most people experience an unusual feeling that begins at the center of the chest and radiates out."

He added, "The discomfort, which can feel like uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain, can last for more than a few minutes or go away and come back. Sometimes people have discomfort or pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach. Women, just like men, commonly experience chest pain or discomfort when a heart attack strikes and are more likely than men to suffer other symptoms, such as shortness of breath. Timely consultation with a doctor and treatment at this stage can avert the onset of disease in many cases, which may be potentially life-threatening in some cases."

When a plaque in a heart artery breaks, a blood clot forms around the plaque. This blood clot can block the blood flow through the heart muscle. When the heart muscle is starved for oxygen and nutrients, it is called ischemia. Damage or death of part of the heart muscle due to ischemia is called a heart attack.

The Dr. added, "Those with a family history of heart attack should begin taking preventive measures and precautions at a very early stage. This includes eating a heart-healthy diet composed of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and omega-3 fatty acids; regular physical activity; and quitting smoking or drinking."

To live above the age of 80 without a heart attack, one needs to have ideal health parameters and lifestyle. Both can be remembered with the formula of 80.

It is advisable to maintain fasting blood sugar (FBS) (mg%), fasting low-density lipoprotein (LDL) bad cholesterol (mg/dL), diastolic lower blood pressure (mm Hg), resting heart rate, and abdominal girth (cm) all below 80. Apart one should also keep the kidney and lung functions above 80. 

THIS IS ONLY FOR INFORMATION, ALWAYS CONSULT YOU PHYSICIAN BEFORE HAVING ANY PARTICULAR FOOD/ MEDICATION/EXERCISE/OTHER REMEDIES.    

 
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This innovative test may detect symptoms of heart disease in older adults

An innovative approach – blood-based precision medicine test – can be helpful in detecting early symptoms of heart disease in older outpatients. According to researchers, a blood-based precision medicine test incorporating age, sex and gene expression score (ASGES) was helpful in evaluating older outpatients with symptoms suggestive of obstructive coronary artery disease(CAD). In the study of 176 stable, non-acute outpatients presenting with symptoms suggestive of obstructive CAD who were aged 65 and older, The participants with low scores with low likelihood of obstructive CAD were referred for further evaluation at low rates, whereas those with higher scores had higher rates of referral to cardiology and advanced cardiovascular tests.

After one year follow-up, the incidence of major adverse cardiovascular events or revascularisation was higher in participants with high ASGES than in those with low ASGES (10 percent versus 0 percent). However, here are a few symptoms of heart diseases that you should know.
1. Shortness of breath (dyspnoea): Breathlessness is commonly experienced by patients with heart failure. It is also a warning sign of heart attack.
2. Chest pain: Chest pain (angina) is a classic symptom of heart attack and coronary artery disease (CAD). In some cases, chest pain is associated with inflammation of the tissue covering the heart (pericardium).
3. Swelling of feet: Swelling in the feet and ankles is seen in people with congestive heart failure where the blood pumping capacity of the heart reduces.
4. Cold sweat: A person who is likely to get a heart attack sooner may start sweating profusely without any physical exertion.
5. Tiredness or fatigue: It is one of the common symptoms of heart failure and heart attack in women is unexplained overall weakness and fatigue. Fatigue is also common in the elderly population or people with diabetes who suffer from heart disease.
If you have any of the above signs, you should consult a cardiologist and get your heart check up done before any complication arises.



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What Every Woman Should Know About Heart Failure

One thing that we have discovered is that many aspects of heart failure differ between men and women. For both sexes, heart failure comes about as a result of coronary artery disease, or chronic hypertension (high blood pressure). Usually, the symptoms of heart failure, and the treatment of it, are similar in men and women, but there are some differences.
 
There are a few aspects of heart failure that pertain especially to women. These include the causes of heart failure in women, the age of women who develop heart failure, the symptoms caused by the heart failure, and how doctors treat heart failure in women. If you’re a woman who has heart failure, you should make sure you know these differences.

Causes of Heart Failure That Are Especially Important in Women
Hypertension The most common medical problems that lead to heart failure are hypertension and coronary artery disease (CAD). Of these, hypertension is the leading cause in both sexes. However, hypertension is substantially more likely to cause heart failure in women than in men. Hypertension increases the risk of developing heart failure by 300% in women, but “only” 200% in men. Among women with heart failure, hypertension is the underlying cause in 59% of cases in women, compared to 39% in men. So while it’s important for anyone with hypertension to be treated adequately, it’s even more so for women.

Diastolic Heart Failure In diastolic heart failure, cardiac function deteriorates because the heart muscle becomes stiff, and the heart has difficulty filling with blood. As a result, the amount of blood that is pumped around the body with each beat is significantly reduced (making you tired and exercise intolerant), and the blood that is unable to fill the heart “backs up” into the lungs (producing pulmonary congestion). While this condition can occur in anyone, it’s more prominent in women than men.

Diabetes Diabetes by itself doesn’t cause heart failure, but people with diabetes have a high incidence of conditions that do, such as CAD and hypertension. Furthermore, for reasons that are not understood, women with diabetes are twice as likely to develop heart failure than men with diabetes.

Obesity 

Women who are obese have a high risk of developing heart failure that is 50% higher than women who are normal weight. Obese men also have a higher risk of heart failure, but the excess risk from obesity is not thought to be as high in men as it is in women.

Chemotherapy Certain drugs used for chemotherapy can cause cardiac toxicity that can lead to heart failure. Women tend to be exposed to these chemotherapy agents a lot more often than men, in particular, for the treatment of breast cancer.

Stress Cardiomyopathy Stress cardiomyopathy, also known as “broken heart syndrome,” is a form of sudden, severe heart failure that is triggered by extreme emotional trauma. While this condition can be found in either sex, it’s far more common in women, and may be related to microvascular angina – a condition that is more common in women.

 

Age of Women with Heart Failure Women who develop heart failure usually do so at an older age than men who develop heart failure. Unfortunately, as past clinical trials tended to exclude people over the age of 65, this means that relatively little data has been collected from clinical trials showing how older women with heart disease respond to treatment. Recently, researchers have been including a sufficient number of elderly women in their clinical trials, and this shortcoming is slowly being rectified.

Symptoms of Heart Failure in Women
As mentioned previously, the symptoms of heart failure in men and women are largely the same – gradually worsening fatigue, dyspnea, exercise intolerance, and edema. However, some scientific studies suggest that women with heart failure are more likely to experience significant dyspnea and edema than men.

Response to Treatment in Women 

As stated, clinical trials evaluating the treatment of heart failure have tested considerably more men than women. Nevertheless, the data that is available strongly suggests that women with heart failure respond to treatment just as favorably as men.

Differences in How the Hearts of Men and Women Respond to Cardiac Stress
In studies with animals and in clinical trials, evidence is accumulating to suggest that the heart muscles of men and women react differently to various kinds of physiologic stress. Several animal studies have looked at how the hearts of males and females react to experimental conditions that have been designed to produce heart failure. These studies have consistently shown that female cardiac muscle tends to respond by making various adaptions that help to prevent heart failure, whereas male cardiac muscle fails more quickly.

Clinical trials on people have shown the same thing. In those with aortic stenosis (a narrowing of the aortic valve, which greatly increases the pressure and stress in the left ventricle), premenopausal women develop cardiac hypertrophy (thickening of the heart muscle) more readily than men. This hypertrophy reduces wall stress, delays the onset of dilated cardiomyopathy and thus, reduces the risk of heart failure. Interestingly, postmenopausal women do not show this same adaption, and they develop heart failure at the same rate as men, suggesting that female hormones may play a part. However, clinical trials evaluating this have given contradictory results.

These findings may help to explain why women develop heart failure later than men, and why women who have heart failure tend more often to have diastolic heart failure than men.
Still, having said this, all we can say with confidence at the moment is that the hearts of men and women respond somewhat differently to various kinds of physiological stress.

Outcome of Heart Failure in Women 

Evidence suggests that, even though they usually develop heart failure at a later age than men, women with heart failure tend to survive longer than men.

This relatively good news for women who have heart failure is counter-balanced by some clinical evidence that suggests that doctors tend to be less aggressive when treating women with heart failure when compared with men. One reason for this may be that women may tend to minimize their cardiac symptoms when talking to their doctors. Those doctors who do not push their patients for a full accounting of symptoms may not be aware of just how sick their female patients actually are.

Therefore, it’s very important for anyone, male or female, who has symptoms of heart failure – especially worsening fatigue or dyspnea – to make sure their doctors are aware of it. But, maybe women need a little extra reminding of how important it is.

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Is that stress or stroke?

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 Every stroke patient might have different symptoms; however, the symptoms of a stroke are very sudden.

What is a stroke?
Strokes occur due to problems with the blood supply to the brain; either the blood supply is blocked or a blood vessel within the brain ruptures. A stroke is a medical emergency, and treatment must be sought as quickly as possible.
There are three main kinds of stroke; ischemic strokes, hemorrhagic strokes and transient ischemic attacks (TIAs), also referred to as mini-strokes.

The Warning Signs of a Stroke:

· A terrible headache
· Weakness on one side of your body
· Trouble walking, talking, or understanding things
· Vision loss in one or both eyes

At times, other health issues can mimic stroke symptoms. A high blood pressure can cause headaches, feelings of weakness, and vision problems. Hypertension is the major cause of stroke.
Chronic stress in life, increases the risk of older people having a stroke or transient ischemic attack.
Understand your body & learn to differentiate between symptoms for stress/anxiety attacks, stroke or migraines.

Better understanding of important & potentially modifiable stroke risk factors, including stress and hypertension, is required given the aging population and increasing burden of stroke.

How is a stroke different from a heart attack/cardiac arrest?

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked, usually by a blood clot. Without oxygenated blood, the heart muscle begins to die. A stroke is a brain attack, cutting off vital blood flow and oxygen to the brain.

Heart attacks are almost always the result of progressive coronary artery disease (CAD). In CAD, the arteries that supply blood to the heart become choked with fatty deposits called plaque, which narrows and blocks arteries. The condition is called atherosclerosis. When pieces of plaque break free, blood clots can form, blocking the flow of blood to the heart. When that happens, the heart muscle does not get the oxygen and nutrients that it needs, and parts of the heart may become damaged or die. This is a heart attack.

When the blood supply to the brain is interrupted, causing a part of the brain to die, it is called a stroke, or "brain attack." A stroke requires immediate medical attention. Stroke is similar to a heart attack, but it affects the blood vessels in the brain instead of the heart.

Preventive Tips for Stroke:

If you've had a stroke, preventing a second stroke is a top priority. The risk of a stroke is tenfold higher in someone who has had a stroke in the past.

Keep your blood pressure low since high blood pressure exerts continuous pressure on the walls of the arteries. If it is left untreated, it damages and weakens your arteries, making them more likely to clog or burst and cause a stroke.

Don't smoke or expose yourself to second-hand smoke. Limit your calories and make exercise a daily habit. Know your risks - your age & your genes can put you at risk of stroke.


Inputs by Dr. PN Renjen, Senior Consultant - Neurology, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals

Some Foods Which Help To Beat Knee Osteoarthritis and Other Aching Joints

The newest studies show the keys to beating knee osteoarthritis and other painful joints may be through your stomach. From fatty fish to tart cherries, here are the right foods and supplements to ease arthritis pain... 

The latest osteoarthritis studies suggest certain foods and vitamins, many found in Mediterranean diets, may ease knee osteoarthritis, keep the condition from worsening, or help stop it in the first place. 

There’s a huge drive “to find natural approaches to treating medical conditions like osteoarthritis,” .
1. Mediterranean foodsPeople in Greece and Italy eat lots of fruits and vegetables, with an emphasis on lean meat, fish, whole grains and olive oil. Eating meats & sweets less often, having moderate portions of yoghurt, cheese & eggs, drinking water more instead of sodas or other drinks.

It’s a diet that promotes a healthy weight and greater joint health, studies show.

Women with arthritis who learned to cook Mediterranean-style – and ate more produce, beans and olive oil – had less pain and morning stiffness after six months than those who didn't make those dietary changes, according to a 2007  study.

A clear cause-and-effect hasn't been found, but one reason may be that this diet is brimming with antioxidants – including vitamin C – and omega-3 fatty acids, both of which have been associated with an improvement in symptoms of arthritis. 

Plus, people who follow the Mediterranean diet tend to lose weight, which eases arthritis discomfort. 

With each pound you gain, the overall force across your knee increases by 2-3 pounds; shedding pounds has the opposite effect. 

Heavy people who lost just 5% of their body weight lowered their risk for knee osteoarthritis by 5%, according to a 2010 study.


2. Selenium This trace mineral helps antioxidants clear out cell-damaging free radicals. In fact, your toenails are loaded with it. Without selenium, new studies show, you run a greater risk of hip and knee osteoarthritis. 

Researchers have been measuring levels of selenium in the nail beds of nearly 1,000 people – average age 59 . The study is ongoing, but so far it’s shown that “people who have low selenium levels are more likely to have knee osteoarthritis,” says a rheumatologist . 

What’s more, knee osteoarthritis is more likely to affect both legs and be more severe, she adds. -

In another part of the study that looked at 786 people ages 45 and older, those with the highest selenium levels in their toenails had about 45% less risk of developing moderate to severe hip arthritis or of getting osteoarthritis in both hips.

What to do: More research is needed before specific osteoarthritis-related recommendations can be made, researchers say. But try to meet the U.S. government’s Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA) of 55 micrograms (mcg) per day by eating a varied, healthful diet, she adds.

Where to find it: Most nutrition labels don’t list selenium, but plant foods, like mushrooms and nuts, are our main source. 

It can also be found in some meats and seafood. 

For example, a 3-ounce serving of light tuna has 63 mcg; 3-1/2 ounces of beef have 35 mcg; a cup of shiitake mushrooms has 28 mcg, and a cup of brown rice has 19 mcg. 

At 544 mcg per ounce, Brazil nuts are packed with the mineral. 

(But beware: Consuming too much selenium could cause GI upset, white fingernails, irritability and fatigue.) 

3. Vitamin C 

A decade ago, the 10-year Study found that people who took the most vitamin C had a threefold reduction in the progression of knee osteoarthritis. 

And in a 2007 Australian study that followed 293 people for 10 years, those who got the most vitamin C in their diets had less cartilage breakdown and less bone degeneration, both of which are associated with osteoarthritis. 

What to do: The jury’s still out on whether Vitamin C can slow osteoarthritis progression, says a Dr. 

Still, “I tell my patients to have a good intake of fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants,” he says. That way, they easily meet the women’s vitamin C RDA of 75 mg.

But don’t overdo supplements, because some research has found that too much Vitamin C can worsen arthritis.

Where to find it: Look for C in a range of fruits and veggies, especially citrus. Some examples: 1/2 cup cooked sweet red pepper has 116 mg; a medium orange, 70 mg; 1/2 cup strawberries, 49 mg; 1/4 cup cantaloupe, 47 mg.  I Indian gooseberry or amla has it is called, gives enough Vitamin C for the day.

4. Omega-3 fatty acids 
The oils in fatty fish such as salmon and tuna have long been touted as heart-healthy. But research also suggests they may ease arthritis pain and other similar conditions. 

The duration of morning stiffness and number of painful or tender joints improved after three months of taking fish oil capsules.

That may be partly because the body converts fatty acids in fish oil into a chemical called resolvin D2, a 2009 study. Researchers found that the body makes resolvin D2 from omega-3 fatty acids.

What to do: The American Heart Association (AHA) advises people without coronary heart disease, which narrows the arteries and vessels that provide oxygen and nutrients to the heart, eat a variety of fatty fish at least twice per week. If you have heart disease, ask your doctor how much fish or supplements you should consume. Where to find it: Fatty fish include mackerel, lake trout, herring sardines, salmon and albacore tuna. You can also get omega 3’s from enriched eggs. 

Canola, walnuts, flaxseed, soy oil and milk, contain oils that the body partially converts into omega 3s. 

5. Vitamin K It’s key for helping blood clot and maintaining strong bones.

People 42 and older who don’t get enough vitamin K are more likely to develop bone spurs (bony bumps on joints that hurt when they rub against cartilage or bone) and narrowing of the space between joints (a sign of cartilage breakdown), according to a research. Both conditions are associated with osteoarthritis. 

A 2010 follow-up found that people with hand osteoarthritis had about 47% less narrowing between their hand joints if they had sufficient blood levels of K.

Although it’s still unknown if K will help prevent osteoarthritis, it may slow its progression, says a rheumatologist.

What to do: Aim for at least the RDA of 90 mcg of vitamin K per day. (A caveat: If you take warfarin to thin your blood and prevent clots, ask your doctor if you should avoid vitamin K because it may interfere with the medication.)

Where to find it: Eat leafy green vegetables (especially when cooked). A cup of spinach has 889 mcg when cooked, 145 mcg when raw.

6. Cherries 
Anthocyanin, a tongue-twister of a compound, provides red, blue and purple colouring to fruits, vegetables and even flowers. It may also provide osteoarthritis pain relief.

When 20 men and women with knee osteoarthritis, ages 43-77, took a daily gel cap containing 100 mg of concentrated Montmorency (tart) cherry extract for 12 weeks, about half had 50% improvement in measures of pain, joint tenderness, stiffness and function, according to a  study.

The anthocyanin appears to act like Advil and other NSAIDs.

What to do: Eat lots of red-blue-purple foods, including berries, cherries, plums and even purple carrots or potatoes. But consult your doctor before taking these supplements if you’re on anticoagulants, because they can have mild blood-thinning properties too.

Where to find it: Cherries, blueberries and other high-anthocyanin fruits are available fresh, frozen, as juice, and in jams and syrups. Minimal processing may help preserve the anthocyanin content.




ps- this is only for information, always consult you physician before having any particular food/ medication/exercise/other remedies.

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I've not given details about designs, but those interested are free to mail me for the same.