The Wake-up Call of Heart Disease
Many people believe that heart disease is just a temporary ailment because of the wide range of successful treatment protocols available, such as medicines, devices and surgery. But this is not so, sadly, because once you have heart disease, then you will always have it.
This is because the heart and its related structures, such as the arteries, remain diseased or damaged despite the medicines, devices and surgery applied. For example, angioplasty and bypass surgery can make for healthier blood and oxygen flow through the coronary arteries and into the heart but the arteries remain damaged.
Heart disease should be a wake-up call!
Fortunately, heart disease can be managed and controlled with a combination of healthy lifestyle habits, including diet, exercise and stress management, and medications coupled with regular doctor consultations (Visit the cardiology department at Healthpointe for a personal consultation). You can, indeed, manage your heart condition, lessen your risks for heart attacks, and increase your chances for a long life.
Focus on Control
Many of the risk factors that contribute to the development of heart disease can be controlled while a few, such as gender, family history, and age, cannot be controlled. You must then focus your efforts on what you can control and, thus, reduce the impact of the uncontrollable factors.
Furthermore, you must make important changes to address each factor against your favor and to adopt an overall approach to prevention. For example, you cannot justify exercising 5 times a week but eating plenty of fatty foods.
The important thing is to make gradual changes in your lifestyle and stick to them, hence, further reducing your risks for heart disease. When you start focusing on your controllable risk factors, you start taking control of your own health.
Know the Factors
What then are the controllable factors that you must act on?
- Smoking. The chemicals in cigarette smoke places the heart in jeopardy in so many ways, such as constricting the coronary arteries, raising carbon monoxide levels, and reducing oxygen levels.
- Hypertension. High blood pressure increases the risk not just for heart attacks but for stroke and kidney disease, too.
- Overweight and obesity. Too much weight exerts too much pressure on your heart, among other internal organs.
- Physical inactivity
- Diabetes
- Stress
- Alcohol
- Sleep apnea
- Menopausal hormone therapy
Even just one of these risk factors can significantly increase your chances of getting heart disease. You must then discuss what you can do and cannot do with your cardiologist as early as possible.
Adopt the Treatments
When you have been diagnosed with heart disease or you have the risk factors for it, then you should take action on the following doctor-recommended steps in heart health management:
- Take your medications, which can include ACE inhibitors, anticoagulants, and antiplatelets.
- See your cardiologist on a regular basis for proper monitoring of your health condition.
- Stop smoking and limit your alcohol consumption.
- Adopt healthy eating habits, such as more fruits, vegetables and whole grains, among other healthy choices; eat small but frequent meals; and drink plenty of water.
- Exercise or engage in physical activity on a daily basis.
- Lose excess weight and maintain your healthy weight.
Ultimately, your heart health is your responsibility so seize it and enjoy a long, rewarding and relatively healthy life.
Healthpointe is a leading multidisciplinary healthcare organization offering a full range of medical services in practice locations throughout Southern California (Los Angeles County, Orange County, San Bernardino County, and Riverside County). Healthpointe has locations situated in over 10 cities in Southern California including La Mirada, which is conveniently located by Whittier, La Habra, Norwalk, Cerritos, Buena Park, and Santa Fe Springs. As a highly regarded musculoskeletal group, we have a personal investment in the highest level of service, and we are proud of our record of excellence over the last four decades with private patients, injured workers, urgent care, personal injuries, and professional and non-professional athletes. Leading our organization is a dynamic team of healthcare professionals who continually strive to be at the forefront of medical innovation and healthcare service delivery. For more information, a complete list of services, and Healthpointe locations, visit Healthpointe.net.