According to data from the Ministry of Public Health, heart disease ranks among the leading causes of death for Thai people. Annually, up to 70,000 individuals succumb to cardiovascular disease, and there is a concerning trend suggesting that the mortality rate will continue to rise due to modern lifestyle habits. To combat this, it is crucial to prevent and mitigate various risk factors associated with heart disease. Let's delve into a comprehensive understanding of this condition.
Getting Acquainted with Our "Heart"
Before delving into heart disease, let's familiarize ourselves with the structure and function of our heart. The heart is a muscular organ, approximately the size of a fist, situated beneath the breastbone in the center of the chest, slightly to the left. It consists of four chambers, divided into two upper chambers (atria) and two lower chambers (ventricles). The heart's primary function is to pump blood, delivering oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the body. Let's explore the four chambers:
1. Right Atrium: Receives oxygen-poor blood and transports it to the right ventricle.
2. Right Ventricle: Upon receiving blood, it pumps it to the lungs for oxygenation.
3. Left Atrium: Receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs and transfers it to the left ventricle.
4. Left Ventricle: Pumps oxygenated blood to various body parts.
The heart begins its vital role even before birth, while we are still in the mother's womb. It possesses the remarkable ability to generate electrical currents by itself. These electrical signals originate from the atrial heart, specifically the SA (sinoatrial) node, which propagates them to the AV (atrioventricular) node via specialized myocardial cells. From there, the electrical current spreads across the ventricles, resulting in a complete electrocardiogram (ECG). We commonly measure this process as the "heart rate" or "pulse." For a healthy individual, the resting heart rate typically ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute.
Understanding Heart Disease and Its Causes
Heart disease encompasses a range of abnormal conditions that affect the heart's functioning. Its causes can be classified into two categories: uncontrollable factors and controllable factors.
1. Uncontrollable factors: These include hereditary factors, gender, and age. Males face a higher risk of heart disease due to hormonal differences and anatomical factors like larger heart size and blood vessels. This risk typically increases for males aged 45 and above. In females, the risk rises at approximately 55 years or after menopause. While these uncontrollable factors contribute to disease occurrence, we can mitigate and slow down the risk by managing lifestyle-related risk factors.
2. Controllable factors: These factors pertain to individual lifestyle choices, such as consuming high-fat foods, smoking, congenital diseases like hypertension, obesity, diabetes, high blood cholesterol levels, lack of physical activity, and stress.
10 Warning Signs of Heart Disease
Heart disease exhibits several recognizable symptoms. Here are the 10 warning signs to be aware of:
1. Chest pain: Feeling a heavy object pressing on the chest, pain spreading to the jaw, neck, arms, shoulders, or back, accompanied by sweating, cold body, and palpitations lasting over 20 minutes.
2. Easy fatigue
3. Reduced exercise capacity
4. Sudden rapid heartbeat
5. Palpitations
6. Easy weakness and fatigue
7. Swelling in the legs, shins, or toes on both sides, causing persistent dents upon pressing.
8. Fainting or loss of consciousness
9. Breathlessness while lying down and waking up gasping in the middle of the night
10. Having distension
"Exploring the 6 Types of Heart Disease"
Heart disease manifests in various types, each characterized by distinct symptoms and underlying causes. Let's delve into the six major types of heart disease:
1. Coronary Artery Disease
This prevalent disease primarily affects adults and stems from risk factors like age, heavy smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, hypertension, and lack of exercise. It involves the constriction of blood vessels and myocardial ischemia.
Symptoms:
Chest pain, tightness, and pressure, often radiating to the jaw, shoulder, or left arm, particularly during physical activity. Severe cases may lead to exhaustion, shortness of breath, inability to lie down, blackouts, and loss of consciousness, posing a high risk of heart failure and mortality.
2. Arrhythmia-Related Heart Disease
Arrhythmias occur when the heart experiences abnormal fast or slow heartbeats due to irregular electrical conduction. This can result from conditions such as abnormal heart valves, abnormal heart muscle, or coronary artery stenosis, as well as factors like short circuits, scars, or fat deposits affecting the heart's electrical currents.
Symptoms:
Irregular heartbeats, palpitations, fatigue, chest tightness, dizziness, or fainting. However, if the heart contracts normally, the risk of a heart attack is reduced.
3. Congenital Heart Disease
This condition arises from abnormalities in heart development during the first three months of pregnancy. It includes defects such as septal holes, narrow or leaky heart valves, and mispositioned aortic valves.
Symptoms:
Manifestations appear shortly after birth, including fatigue during feeding, inadequate weight gain, pale or discolored skin, and swelling in the legs, abdomen, or around the eyes. Although congenital, it may not pose an immediate life-threatening risk.
4. Heart Disease Caused by Abnormal Heart Muscle
In the early stages, this disease may exhibit no symptoms. However, as it progresses, symptoms become apparent.
Symptoms:
Easy fatigue, shortness of breath, exacerbated symptoms during physical exertion, swollen limbs, inability to lie down comfortably, and nocturnal coughing.
5. Infectious Endocarditis
This infection affects the inner lining of the endocardium and cardiac valves.
Symptoms:
Persistent fever, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, dry cough, swollen legs or abdomen, and skin rashes or spots.
6. Heart Disease Caused by Valve Stenosis or Leakage
Heart valves are responsible for regulating blood flow in one direction. Various factors can lead to abnormal valve function.
Symptoms:
Patients may experience easy fatigue, increased risk of heart attack, and pulmonary edema due to valve abnormalities.
By understanding the different types of heart disease and their respective symptoms, individuals can be more proactive in recognizing potential signs and seeking appropriate medical attention.
Diagnosing Heart Disease
If you experience unusual chest pain, shortness of breath, persistent fatigue, or episodes of loss of consciousness, it is essential to consult a doctor for a proper diagnosis. The diagnostic process typically involves the following steps:
1. Physical Examination and Medical History:
The doctor will conduct a comprehensive physical examination and inquire about your medical history and family history to identify potential risk factors associated with lifestyle choices and genetic factors.
2. Specialized Tests:
The doctor may recommend several specific tests, including:
o Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): A quick and painless test that records the electrical activity of your heart.
o Ambulatory ECG Monitoring or Holter ECG: This test monitors heart rhythm over an extended period to detect irregularities that may not appear during a standard ECG.
o Echocardiogram: A detailed test that utilizes echocardiography to visualize and measure the heart's structure, including its size, muscle function, valves, septum, and pericardium.
o Stress Test: This evaluates heart rate, blood pressure, and ECG abnormalities by inducing increased heart rate and contractions through exercise or medication. In some cases, a Stress Echocardiogram may be used to diagnose coronary heart disease and arrhythmias, while also assessing blood vessel health and heart muscle contractility.
o Cardiac Catheterization: Involves inserting a tube into a vein or artery in the leg or arm to directly measure the heart's chambers or diagnose conditions such as coronary artery disease, heart valve issues, abnormal septum, or congenital heart disease.
- CT Scan: An imaging test that uses X-rays to generate detailed pictures, including the measurement of coronary calcium score. Contrast medium injection may provide additional insights into vascular diseases, heart muscle abnormalities, and heart wall conditions.
Preventing Heart Disease through Behavior Modification
While genetic factors beyond our control can contribute to heart disease, adopting certain lifestyle changes can delay or reduce the risk of developing the condition. Here are some benefits of adopting heart-healthy habits:
1. Quit or Reduce Smoking:
Smoking doubles the likelihood of heart attacks compared to non-smokers, as nicotine increases heart rate and blood pressure. Harmful chemicals in cigarettes can also damage blood vessel walls and impede oxygen supply to the heart.
2. Maintain a Healthy Diet:
Regularly consume fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and other fiber-rich, vitamin-packed foods while limiting calorie-dense and high-fat options. Excessive fat intake can lead to the accumulation of fat in blood vessels. Additionally, it is advisable to avoid excessive salt or spice consumption.
3. Engage in Regular Exercise:
Regular physical activity enhances the efficiency of the heart's blood pumping function, improving cardiovascular health.
4. Practice Stress Management:
Engage in activities that promote relaxation and reduce stress levels, as chronic stress can negatively impact heart health.
5. Ensure Sufficient Rest:
Adequate sleep and rest contribute to overall well-being and help maintain a healthy heart.
In today's modern lifestyle, particularly for office workers, certain risk factors, such as poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles, increase the likelihood of heart disease and other ailments. By understanding and addressing these risk factors, we can strive to distance ourselves from heart disease. Krungthai-AXA Life Insurance customers can find further details about KTAXA Health services at https://www.krungthai-axa.co.th/th/HealthServices
References:
· MedPark Hospital
· Sikarin Hospital
· Samitivej Hospital
· Bangkok Heart Hospital
· King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital
· Bumrungrad Hospital
· Siriraj Hospital
· Paolo Hospital
· Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health
· Louisiana Heart and vascular institute
