Pregnancy Risks When You Have Heart Troubles

Having a baby is the ultimate showing that life is miraculous. However, that miracle could be put at risk when you are pregnant, particularly if you have some type of heart disease. Being pregnant places quite a burden on a woman’s body, particularly the heart. Pregnancy makes the heart work harder to not only carry the extra weight of a baby but also to supply that miracle of life with the blood, oxygen and other nutrients it needs to thrive. A woman with a healthy heart can usually handle the extra strain and work the body must cope with.

If you have heart disease, the extra burden of weight and supplying the baby with extra nutrients and oxygen can be quite troublesome, causing a variety of different health issues during pregnancy. As there are a number of different types of heart disease, each one poses different problems when you are carrying child.

Primary risks for pregnant heart disease sufferers

There is a lot of risk for pregnant women with heart disease as the situation could create conditions where the blood flowing to the lungs could be reduced. Pulmonary stenosis could occur if the pulmonary valve (regulating the blood flow from the heart to the lungs) becomes hindered from blood flow issues. Mitral stenosis could also occur if the mitral valve (the one that operates the blood flow from the lungs to the heart) is affected.

In either case of stenosis, the blood flow into your lungs doesn’t match the increased flow needed to keep up with your growing baby and the need for oxygenated blood flow to the rest of the body. When this occurs, you are opening up yourself to other diseases related to heart disease such as Cor pulmonale, pulmonary hypertension, Eisenmenger syndrome or even any number of occlusive pulmonary vein conditions. The risk of death to a pregnant mom could be as high as 50% depending on the condition.

Health issues with the unborn child

With some incidences of heart disease, you still have the chance at having a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby. If you have heart disease as a result of an old case of rheumatic fever, you would likely be fine, perhaps giving birth to a baby that weighs a few ounces to a pound underweight. Even some women with congenital heart disease experience normal births and healthy babies.

However, if you have a particular heart disease in which are constantly struggling to maintain a healthy oxygen level in your blood, chances are your unborn child will struggle and be born with retardation because they were starved for oxygen. In other cases, spontaneous abortion, miscarriage or premature birth is the result.

There is a small chance (higher than average than healthy moms) of the baby being born with congenital heart disease or some other heart ailment. The coincidence is that many of the babies who do end up with some type of congenital defect will have the same one their birth mother has.

The bottom line is that while pregnancy is a risk for heart disease patients, it is not impossible. The type of heart disease you have will determine the health problems you and possibly your unborn child will have during the pregnancy.

Supplement your Diet for a Good Heart

Heart disease is a major health issue globally because it kills more people than many other diseases combined! The downer of it all is that a large portion of these cases could have been prevented. Heart disease can be controlled but it will shorten your lifespan as well as affect your quality of living. By eating a healthy sensible diet and incorporating exercise, you can prevent or reduce the effects of heart disease.

Total diligence in your diet is not always enough to stem the tide of heart disease. In fact, most people find it virtually impossible to follow a heart healthy diet to the letter. Plus, you might find a number of heart healthy diets and not like half the foods listed on there. You need some help in garnering enough vitamins, minerals and other nutrients to create a heart healthy atmosphere in your body.

If you are totally healthy now with no evidence of heart disease, taking supplements will be the most beneficial, although they will still help if you have been diagnoses with a heart problem. As with anything you put in your mouth, you will want to follow-up with your doctor in regards to which supplements would be the most beneficial for you.

“B” good for the heart

There is an amino acid called homocysteine that can build up in the blood and contribute to the accumulation of plaque in the arteries. By taking supplements of vitamins B6, B12 and folic acid, you are protecting yourself from this happening. Niacin is another B vitamin that is important for the heart. It has the power to lower your cholesterol as well as improve blood circulation. Niacin also boosts your good HDL in blood cholesterol while reducing your triglyceride levels.

Antioxidants and fatty acids

Vitamins C and A both are great antioxidants which can stave off oxidation of cholesterol as well as protect your blood vessels from damage from the cellular level. This is very important for heart health. Vitamin E maintains blood vessel elasticity and reduced the bad LDL cholesterol in the blood as well as plaque build-up.

Omega-3 fatty acids derived from fish and flaxseed protect the heart in a variety of ways such as helping lower cholesterol and blood pressure. Co-enzyme Q10 is an essential part in maintaining healthy cells in the heart muscle.

Herbal and alternative options

Herbs have been put to use for thousands of years for a variety of ailments and the prevention of heart disease or treating its symptoms is no different. Garlic is widely touted to prevent the blood platelets from clotting and sticking to the fatty deposits that accumulate in the arterial walls. Garlic also reduces cholesterol and blood pressure. Gingko Biloba boost oxygenation in the blood as well as improves blood circulation while ginseng protects the heart muscle by reducing the resistance of insulin.

Be advised that if you do have heart disease and are already on medications, you will want to consult with your doctor about which foods you should not eat as well as what herbs are not good for you. Some foods like grapefruit interfere with medication absorption while some herbs may cancel out the helpful effects of medication. Just know that you have options to prevent heart disease or at least reverse the trend through diet and supplements.

Kawasaki Disease and Its Relationship with Heart Disease in Kids

There are really only two ways that children end up with heart disease ? either they are born with some type of congenital defect or the disease is acquired through other means such as illness or even some other type of disease which could harm the heart or blood vessels, sort of a domino effect. One of these illnesses that can affect a child’s heart is called Kawasaki disease.

Kawasaki disease is a syndrome of the lymph nodes and is presented in the form of fever, swelling of the feet and hands, swollen lymph glands, rash, swelling and pain in the throat, mouth and lips and even redness of the eyes. The symptoms of this disease are not usually serious but there are some heart complications that could result in the long-term. It could be a few years before the heart problems present themselves or even just a few weeks.

A brief history

A Dr. Tomisaku Kawasaki recognized the disease as such in the late 1960’s, even though it has likely been around for much longer. This Japanese pediatrician recognized that the disease occurred quite a bit in Japan than in other countries around the world. It is not only an Asian disease as it can strike children in almost any ethnic or racial group.

In the U.S., Kawasaki disease is one of the top causes of heart disease in children, especially those under the age of 6. For some reason, Kawasaki disease afflicts mostly those under the age of 5 and boys are more likely to get it than girls. This disease tends to confine itself to outbreaks in localized areas, usually in the spring or latter part of the winter season but it is not totally confined to those times.

The damages that could result

Approximately 20% of the children who contract Kawasaki disease end up developing some type of heart problem as a result. The primary damage usually occurs in the coronary arteries that supply the heart with blood and sometimes even the heart muscle itself. An aneurysm could occur in a coronary artery that is weakened by the disease. This aneurysm in the blood vessel is actually an enlarged area of the vessel wall.

Babies under one year of age are at the greatest risk of the disease because their heart is not fully formed or strong enough. Kawasaki disease typically runs its course in children within two weeks or so and most do recover quite well with few ill effects. However, not much is known as to whether some of these children who later develop heart disease as an adult could attribute part of the reason to the Kawasaki disease. It has been somewhat hard to quantify it.

There is not much known about the cause of Kawasaki disease. Most medical professionals believe that it is not contagious nor is it genetic. A virus is the likely cause of the disease but just being exposed to that particular virus does not necessarily mean all children will get it. Like most viral infections, there is nothing you can do to treat Kawasaki disease other than make the children who contract it comfortable and just hope that heart disease does not follow.

Heart Attack a Complication of Peripheral Artery Disease

Heart attack sufferers could have any number of heart disease problems which could invoke an attack. One condition called peripheral artery disease may not directly affect the heart but it surely does count as a contributing factor to heart disease. Also known as PAD, peripheral artery disease affects the arteries, the same blood vessels that bring oxygenated blood into the heart as well as require the heart to pump the blood through them to get to the rest of the body. If there is a blockage or slow blood flow, all sorts of problems can occur.

Defining peripheral artery disease

Peripheral artery disease (PAD) affects the circulatory flow mainly due to the narrowing of the arteries, a condition which lessens the blood flow to your arms, legs and other extremities. Your legs often take the worst of the problem so you may feel as if you were walking on pins and needles.

The presence of PAD also suggests that you have quite a few fatty deposits circulating in your arteries hindering blood flow causing atherosclerosis. Not only would your brain be starving for oxygen but also the legs, brain and other body parts. Early diagnosis is the best thing that could happen to you as treatment for PAD could halt or at least greatly hinder the progression of it. Lowering risk of stroke and heart disease is also a goal.

Signs of PAD

You may not display any signs or symptoms of PAD but at least 10-20% of PAD sufferers do feel leg pain on occasion when moving around and walking. The tingling pain sensation is usually accompanied by cramping and muscle pain. Regular exercise such as walking could make pain worse but you will notice it goes away when you are just relaxing. Doctors say that the location of any leg pain is of utmost importance due to the fact it could be pinpointing the location of a possible blood clot.

Some people experience excruciating pain while others are barely bothered by it at all. You may have PAD if you experience hurtful cramping in the calf, hip and thigh muscles so soon after or during exercise like stair climbing or walking. Leg weakness or numbness may occur as could a sensation of cold temperatures in the foot or lower half of the leg. Other signs of PAD include problems with your toenails and loss of hair on the legs.

Treatment options

Treatment for PAD usually starts with revamping your lifestyle with healthy eating plans, exercise and lowering stress. Medications may also be necessary to prevent blood clots in arteries, specifically those around the heart. The goal is to lower cholesterol in the blood so as to prevent blood clots from traveling throughout your body as accidentally causing stroke, heart attack, aneurysms and more.

The good news is that if you revamp your diet and add exercise to your daily routine, you can greatly reduce your chances of a heart attack. Quitting smoking, regulating your blood sugar and limiting your alcohol consumption can make strides in preventing peripheral artery disease.

Aortic Stenosis – A Common Heart Valve Problem

One of the contributing factors to heart disease is a condition called aortic stenosis. To understand what the condition is, you have to understand how the aortic valve operates in relation to a healthy heart. The aortic valve protects the left ventricle opening. When it opens, this causes the ventricle to pump blood so that it can flow out of the heart to the rest of the body. Once the ventricle pumps, the aortic valve is supposed to close so that the blood is not backwashed into the ventricle.

With aortic stenosis, the aortic valve does not open all the way, causing an obstruction. This means the heart works even harder to pump the blood out to the body. Over time, this overworked heart will begin to fail.

Defining aortic stenosis

General wear and tear of the aortic valve is the most common cause of aortic stenosis. It takes time for the valve to degenerate to the point where the heart begins to fail. During this time, calcium deposits form on the aortic valve. These create irregular formations that weigh down the valve and cause the valve from closing properly to prevent the blood regurgitation in the left ventricle.

Three cusps are the norm for aortic valves but a small percent of the male population are born with only two. When this occurs, the aortic valve is more prone to degeneration. It may take years before the symptoms become troublesome enough for treatment. Congenital defects of the aortic valves not including the one above are also a problem. Membranes or pieces of extra muscle may grow in the area can prevent the aortic valve from operating properly.

Diagnosing aortic stenosis

Some of the first symptoms of aortic stenosis present themselves with shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, fainting, lower tolerance for exercise and more. The doctors will also test the heart and listen for murmurs, a common problem with people who have aortic stenosis. The murmur sound is caused by the force of the blood going through the narrowed aortic valve as it opens and closes. An echocardiogram is another test that can rule or rule out aortic stenosis.

Unfortunately, there are no medications that can effectively treat aortic stenosis as the problem is a physical obstruction in the heart. A few drugs like diuretics and digitalis alleviate some of the symptoms temporarily but it is only a stop gap while doctors discuss surgical options with you.

Surgery may consist of aortic valve replacement which does carry some risks. The elderly are most at risk for dying during the operation than someone younger. The rest of patients with the valve replacement can live for up to five years before death or another surgery to replace the valve again.

Timing is everything when it comes to aortic stenosis. Do the surgery too early and you are at risk for heart failure and other problems. The first indication of aortic valve failure is when the surgery should happen. Once the surgery is complete, most people realize immediate relief from their symptoms which makes recovery and life afterward a lot easier, usually prolonging life far longer than is predicted.

Understanding Aspirin’s Role in Heart Attack Prevention

An aspirin a day could keep the heart attacks at bay ? or at least that is what the experts say. Is a daily does of aspirin really an effective tool against heart attacks? The answer is “yes” but it is a conditional “yes” because not everyone can take aspirin. First of all, aspirin should only be considered if you already have had a heart attack or have already been identified by doctors as being at risk for a heart attack.

A doctor’s approval is necessary to follow a daily aspiring therapy because it may not always be safe for everyone. Some people can develop serious side effects by taking a daily aspiring, especially when combining it with other medications, thus the need for caution.

How aspirin works

Aspirin interrupts the clotting of the blood. When you are injured, say a scrape or cut, the platelets (the clotting cells) gather at the site. These platelets form a barrier that seals the wound so that the bleeding will stop. This same clotting action occurs elsewhere in the body as well. If you have atherosclerosis, a narrowing and hardening of the arteries, a blood clot could prove detrimental. This blood clot could block an artery, preventing blood from flowing to the heart or even the brain. The aspirin thins out the clumping platelets a bit to allow them to flow easily through the blood vessels, even the ones narrowed by disease.

There are some slight variations as to how aspirin therapy affects men and women of different ages. For example, in women over the age of 65 and in all men, aspirin can lower the risk of having that first heart attack but it doesn’t help much in women younger than this cut-off age. However, the odds of getting heart disease or experiencing a second heart attack are reduced in both men and women of all ages.

Is aspirin right for you?

If you exhibit several risk factors for heart attack, you could benefit from aspirin therapy. For instance, smoking, sedentary lifestyle, high cholesterol, hypertension and family history of heart disease are all risk factors. Previous heart attack or stroke, stress, diabetes and excessive alcohol drinking are other indicators that aspirin might help you.

A few conditions do exist when an aspirin a day might actually hurt more than help you in your quest to reduce heart disease and heart attack risk. If you have asthma or stomach ulcers, aspirin could exacerbate these conditions. A blood clotting disorder is an automatic no to aspirin as is the presence of heart failure. Some medications could also interfere with the aspirin so it is important to check with a doctor before starting the aspirin therapy.

There are some side effects to taking aspirin daily such as opening yourself to a hemorrhaging stroke where bleeding in the brain rather than a blood clot is the culprit. Stomach bleeding is possible such as from an ulcer and you may experience ear ringing or hearing loss. Allergic reactions are not unheard of either.

All in all, aspirin does seem to continue to work as a miracle “drug” keeping heart attacks at bay. Just remember to talk with your doctor about it so that your daily aspirin is actually not counterproductive to other health conditions.

Understanding the Heart Disease Called Pericarditis

Heart disease is not always about blocked arteries. It can also turn up as a condition called pericarditis which is an inflammation or swelling of the pericardium. The pericardium is the protective layer that surrounds the heart muscle. Pericarditis can be caused by a number of problems, not all of them heart related.

Causes of pericarditis

Yes, a heart attack could cause a condition like pericarditis; however it is more likely that an infection, drug use, cancer or even chest injury is the likely culprit. Autoimmune diseases such as scleroderma, AIDS, lupus and rheumatoid arthritis also can cause pericarditis. The most common infections that cause the disease include tuberculosis, bacteria and viral infections and even fungal infections.

Just under 20% of people with pericarditis got the disease as a result of heart attacks. There are even some people who develop the disease months later after a heart attack. Some drugs can also cause pericarditis such as phenytoin, a drug for epilepsy and hydralazine, a muscle relaxant for those with hypertension.

Cancer spreading throughout the body can reach the sac of the pericardium and cause pericarditis. Of course, there is still a small population that gets the disease and there is no traceable cause. When this occurs, doctors call it idiopathic pericarditis.

Symptoms and definitive diagnosis

Chest pain is the most common of all pericarditis symptoms. The pain can be quite sharp, especially with deep breathing or sudden movements. Fever is not uncommon as is shortness of breath or light wheezing. There are complications to pericarditis that can produce lung congestion, excessive pumping of the heart and even failure of some body organs.

Medical history is one of the ways that doctors get to a diagnosis of pericarditis. Performing an ECG or an echocardiogram is also an important part of pinpointing the disease. The good news is that in some cases, pericarditis can resolve itself within a few days to weeks. But complications can trigger life threatening symptoms that without proper and immediate treatment could result in death.

Some of the complications include the pericardial sac filling with fluid which prevents the heart from properly filling with blood to pump to the rest of the body. In addition, the pericardial sac could stay inflamed and even swell, sticking to the heart muscle and hinder its proper function. An MRI or CT scan may be required in cases like these to make a definitive diagnosis before treatment can begin.

Treatment of pericarditis

First of all, doctors must try and find the cause of the inflammation of the pericardial sac. If a cause can be pinpointed, the treatment can be tailored to fight that specific cause. Inflammation can be treated with anti-inflammatory drugs while pain is covered with analgesics. Sometimes, if the pericardial sac is filled with fluid, a tiny catheter is inserted to drain it and reduce the pressure on the heart. For more serious cases of pericarditis, surgery is the only option.

The bottom line is that pericarditis can be quite resolvable and treatable. As long as the cause can be easily identified, a treatment can easily be assessed.

Unclogging Arteries – Angioplasty Can Help

Blocked arteries are just one of many reasons why a heart attack can occur but luckily there is a procedure that can help. Angioplasty, sometimes called percutaneous coronary intervention, is the medical procedure performed that can unblock a clogged artery. If you are in the midst of a heart attack or showing signs of one with such symptoms as shortness of breath or chest pain, doctors can perform an angioplasty to unclog an artery. Prompt action can keep damage to the heart at a minimum.

The angioplasty procedure itself

Over one million angioplasty procedures are performed every year on people with heart troubles. This process involves inserting a small probe into an artery and navigating it to the blocked site. Once there, a small balloon is inflated at the blockage which serves to widen the artery to allow blood flow so your heart and body are not starved for the nutrients and oxygen they need.

During the angioplasty procedure, surgeons may also implant a tiny coil made of metal into the clogged artery. Called a stent, this metal coil serves to support the artery at the blockage site to ensure there is less probability of it narrowing or clogging up again. This narrowing of the artery is called restenosis.

Who requires an angioplasty?

Sometimes, no matter what you do to prevent your arteries from clogging, it can still occur. Diet, exercise and medications are not always going to solve your problem, especially if it is one you have had for a long time. In addition, if you are having a heart attack or showing the symptoms of an impending one, your doctor will suggest an angioplasty as a precaution.

A coronary angiogram must be taken first to find out where your arterial blockage is. This is a test that takes an image of the heart and arteries that would show potential problems as well as definitively show whether you would be a good candidate for this procedure. If your blockage can be reached by the probe used for angioplasty and your blockage is small, you would be a good candidate for it. Also, if you are not in heart failure and the artery is not the primary one that supplies the blood to the left side of your heart, you would be good to go.

When the heart is in failure, is too weak or the main artery to the heart is compromised, a coronary artery bypass surgery is the best option for you. Other health issues such as diabetes could preclude you from the angioplasty procedure as well.

Benefits of the angioplasty procedure

While there are some risks of angioplasty, the benefits usually far outweigh the risks, especially when your life is on the line. The procedure is not traumatic in that no general anesthesia is needed and the surgeons do not have to make any big incisions. Your symptoms are usually relieved quickly and complications of the angioplasty are rare.

The main worry about angioplasty is the fact that the newly unblocked artery may re-narrow (restenosis) and cause another clog. Blood clots are a concern around the inserted stent as well. Luckily with different medications such as blood thinners in those first few weeks, these problems can be kept to a minimum so that you can enjoy the benefits of no pain from your heart problems.

Use It or Lose It – A Good Heart Motto

The very thing that keeps you alive is one of the things you rarely think about. It is your heart. From the moment you are born, it beats to keep you alive and works tirelessly all your life. Your heart is the most important organ of your body because without it working properly, you would not be alive. So why is this most important body organ taken for granted and neglected with poor lifestyle choices? It’s time to shake yourself out of complacency and decide how to properly condition your heart before it is too late.

Get it pumping

The heart is just like any other muscle in your body ? it must be conditioned and worked to become stronger. Just like you lift weights so your muscles in your arms can become stronger and lift heavier objects, your heart must be constantly challenged so that it will be stronger and become more efficient.

Aerobic exercise is important as it exercises your cardiovascular system, including your heart as well as other parts of the body. The use of your large muscle groups is important as the efforts to build those muscles feeds into the efforts of maintaining a strong beating heart. Anything that promotes increased blood flow to the muscles and better oxygenation is good. Jogging, walking, skiing, skating, stair climbing, bicycling and even dancing are some great ideas for exercise.

Your heart in review

When you exercise, your muscles require larger amounts of oxygen and other nutrients than normal in order to maintain your efforts. Your lungs produce the oxygen which your blood carries to the heart; and from there, the heart pumps the oxygenated blood to the rest of the body. Without your beating heart, everything is, well, dead in the water so to speak. When your physical exertion increases, so does the demand from your muscles for oxygen. This means your heart beats faster to accommodate the need. This exercise is essential for the heart to maintain its strength.

Mix it up

Aerobic exercise is great for the heart but your body needs more than that. Introduce strength and resistance training to your exercise repertoire. These will help you keep flexibility in the body and promote stronger muscles so that you are capable of more physical activity and strength. Conditioning the entire body means you have more stamina and can perform tasks for a longer period of time.

Good nutritional choices also play a part in keeping the heart in good condition. Bad food choices coupled with good exercise habits can degrade the results from the exercise. However, good food choices serve to enhance your physical efforts. You might say that proper nutrition and physical fitness go hand in hand.

The bottom line is that you have a heart ? use it or lose it. Lead a sedentary lifestyle and you will realize a shorter lifespan and the inability to do a number of physical activities. Stay active and exercise and you will live longer, stay healthier and be able to keep up with the grandkids!

The Heart Healthy Aspects of the Mediterranean Diet

If you want to know where in the world the heart-healthiest people live, look to the nations along the Mediterranean Sea. The Mediterranean diet is a heart-healthy diet plan adopted from the eating habits of people who live in the Mediterranean area such as Italy, Greece, Sicily, parts of France and Spain and even areas of Africa that border this sea. You can expect olive oil and even perhaps red wine as staples in this diet.

The key ingredient to a heart healthy diet is plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains, fish and fiber. Of course, some of these are better than others and may have key components like omega 3 fatty acids, antioxidants or monounsaturated fats that put them far above other foods.

The benefits of following the Mediterranean diet

There are a number of studies that show a Mediterranean diet definitely lowers heart disease risk in men and women as well as certain types of cancer. That is great news for you as the diet is perhaps the easiest to manipulate. Following this eating plan means that you will follow these dietary tenets:

1. Consume plenty of vegetables and fruits
2. Eat small servings of nuts high in monounsaturated fats (aka mufas)
3. Incorporate fish several times a week and reduce red meats
4. Add healthy oils such as canola or olive oils

When it comes to the grains, vegetables and fruits, you will hopefully average 7-9 servings daily in your new Mediterranean diet plan. These selections must be high in antioxidants to be heart healthy. Bread, rice and pasta made with whole grains (no white flour) are the best choice for your diet and no butter spreads are allowed!

Your choice of fats is very important when it comes to the heart healthy Mediterranean diet. Choose those foods that are high in monounsaturated fats as well as polyunsaturated fats. These contain the omega 3 fatty acids that are so important in lowering the “bad” cholesterol as well as lower triglycerides in the blood. Olive oil, canola oil, walnuts, almonds, sunflower seeds, pecans and macadamia nuts are high in these good fats.

The key to diet success

The key to succeeding with the Mediterranean diet is following the eating rules above and reading food labels. You want to eliminate or greatly reduce your intake of saturated and trans fats. Don’t assume that if a label says it is “cholesterol-free” or “low fat” that it’s ok to eat. Often times, these foods are high in the bad kinds of fat or are saddled with extra salt and sugars to make them more palatable.

It can be tough at first following the Mediterranean diet but keep your heart health as the prize for sticking to your eating goals. If possible, slowly incorporate your changes so you won’t notice or feel like you are going “cold turkey” in some areas. Mix your white rice or pastas with the whole grain versions until you end up with all whole grain. Create your own salad dressings with olive oil. Swap your whole milk, cheeses and yogurt for the healthier 2% or fat-free versions. There are a number of ways to ease into the Mediterranean diet. Remember ? your heart will thank you for your efforts!

Next Page »