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HEART DISORDERS

INTRODUCTION:Cardiovascular disease (also called heart disease) is a class of diseases that involve the heart, the blood vessels (arteries, capillaries, and veins) or both.Cardiovascular disease refers to any disease that affects the cardiovascular system, principally cardiac disease, vascular diseases of the brain and kidney, andperipheral arterial disease.The causes of cardiovascular disease are diverse but atherosclerosis and/or hypertension are the most common. Additionally, with aging come a number of physiological and morphological changes that alter cardiovascular function and lead to subsequently increased risk of cardiovascular disease, even in healthy asymptomatic individuals.Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of deaths worldwide, though since the 1970s, cardiovascular mortality rates have declined in many high-income countries.At the same time, cardiovascular deaths and disease have increased at a fastrate in low- and middle-income countries.Although cardiovascular disease usually affects older adults, the antecedents of cardiovascular disease, notably atherosclerosis, begin in early life, making primary prevention efforts necessary from childhood. There is therefore increased emphasis on preventing atherosclerosisby modifying risk factors, such as healthy eating, exercise, and avoidance of smoking.

TYPES OF DISORDERS:

1.Cardiomyopathy:Cardiomyopathy (literally "heart muscle disease") is the measurable deterioration of the function of the myocardium (the heart muscle) for anyreason, usually leading to heart failure; common symptoms are dyspnea (breathlessness) and peripheral edema (swelling of the legs). People with cardiomyopathy are often at risk of dangerous forms of irregular heart beat and sudden cardiac death.The most common form of cardiomyopathy is dilated cardiomyopathy.Symptoms and signs may mimic those of almost any form of heart disease. Chest pain is common. Mild myocarditis or cardiomyopathy is frequently asymptomatic; severe casesare associated with heart failure, arrhythmias, and systemic embolization. Manifestations of the underlying disease (e.g., Chagas' disease) may be prominent. Most patients with biopsy-proven myocarditis report a recent viral prodrome preceding cardiovascular symptoms.Treatment depends on the type of cardiomyopathy and

condition of disease, but may include medication (conservative treatment) or iatrogenic/implanted pacemakers for slow heart rates, defibrillators for those prone to fatal heart rhythms, ventricular assist devices (LVADs) for severe heart failure, or ablation for recurring dysrhythmias that cannot be eliminated by medication or cardioversion. Treatment of cardiomyopathy (and other heart diseases) using alternative methods such as stem cell therapy is commercially available butis not supported by convincing evidence.

2.Cardiomegaly:An enlarged heart (cardiomegaly) can have various causes. But it's usually caused by high blood pressure (hypertension) or coronary artery disease.An enlarged heart may not pump blood effectively, resulting in congestive heart failure. Cardiomegaly may improve over time. But most people with an enlargedheart need lifelong treatment with medications.Dilated cardiomyopathy is the mai

n type of cardiomegaly. In dilated cardiomyopathy, the walls of both the left and right side of the heart (ventricles) become thin and stretched. The result isan enlarged heart.In the other types of enlarged heart, the heart's muscular left ventricle becomes abnormally thick:Left ventricular enlargement (hypertrophy) is usually causedby high blood pressure.Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy is an inherited (genetic) condition.Generally speaking, the heart's pumping ability is better preserved when the enlarged heart is "thick" rather than "thin."Most often, an enlarged heart causes no symptoms. If an enlarged heart becomes u

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nable to pump blood effectively, symptoms of congestive heart failure can develop:

Shortness of breath (especially with exertion or when lying flat)Leg swellingIncreased abdominal girthWeight gainFatiguePalpitations or skipped heartbeats

3.Atrial Fibrillation:Atrial fibrillation is an irregular heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation increases the risk of stroke and heart disease. Signs include dizziness, weakness, and fatigue. It is treated with medication and lifestyle changes. Aprocedure called cardioversion may be done to get the heart back into a regularRhythm. Sometimes other procedures such as ablation, pacemaker, or surgery may be needed.

Symptoms of atrial fibrillation include:Heart palpitations.Irregular pulse.Shortness of breath, especially during physical activity or emotional stress.Weakness, fatigue.Dizziness, confusion.Lightheadedness or fainting (syncope).

Chest pain (angina).

Atrial fibrillation is associated with many conditions, including:High blood pressureCoronary artery disease (blockages in the heart's arteries)Heart valve diseasePrevious heart surgeryChronic lung diseaseHeart failureCardiomyopathy (disease of heart muscle that causes heart failure)Congenital heart disease (heart disease present at birth)Pulmonary embolism (blood clot in lungs)

In addition to taking medications, there are some changes you can make to improve your heart health.If you notice that your irregular heart rhythm occurs more often with certain activities, you should avoid them,Quit smoking,Limit your intake of alcohol,Beware of stimulants used in cough and cold medications.

4.Valvular heart disease:Valvular heart disease is any disease process involvingone or more of the valves of the heart (the aortic and mitral valves on the left and the pulmonary and tricuspid valves on the right). Valve problems may be congenital (inborn) or acquired (due to another cause later in life). Treatment may be with medication but often (depending on the severity) involves valve repairor replacement (insertion of an artificial heart valve).

Symptoms of heart valve disease can include:Shortness of breath and/or difficult

y catching your breath,Weakness or dizziness,Discomfort in your chest,Palpitations,Swelling of your ankles, feet, or abdomen,Rapid weight gain.

There are several types of heart valve disease:Valvular stenosis. This occurs when a heart valve doesn't fully open due to stiff or fused leaflets. The narrowed opening may make the heart work very hard to pump blood through it. This can lead to heart failure and other symptoms (see below). All four valves can develop stenosis; the conditions are called tricuspid stenosis, pulmonic stenosis, mitral stenosis, or aortic stenosis.Valvular insufficiency. Also called regurgitation, incompetence, or "leaky valve

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", this occurs when a valve does not close tightly. If the valves do not seal, some blood will leak backwards across the valve. As the leak worsens, the heart has to work harder to make up for the leaky valve, and less blood may flow to therest of the body. Depending on which valve is affected, the condition is calledtricuspid regurgitation, pulmonary regurgitation, mitral regurgitation, or aortic regurgitation.

5.Congenital heart defect:Congenital heart defect (CHD) or congenital heart anomaly is a defect in the structure of the heart and great vessels which is presentat birth. Many types of heart defects exist, most of which either obstruct blood flow in the heart or vessels near it, or cause blood to flow through the heartin an abnormal pattern. Signs and symptoms are related to the type and severityof the heart defect. Symptoms frequently present early in life, but it's possible for some CHDs to go undetected throughout life.Some children have no signs while others may exhibit shortness of breath, cyanosis, syncope,heart murmur, under-developing of limbs and muscles, poor feeding or growth, or respiratory infections. The cause of congenital heart disease may be either genetic or environmental, but is usually a combination of both

PREVENTION FOR CARDIOVASCULAR DISORDERS:Currently practiced measures to prevent cardiovascular disease include:A low-fat, high-fiber diet including whole grains and plenty of fresh fruit andvegetables (at least five portions a day)

Tobacco cessation and avoidance of second-hand smoke;Limit alcohol consumption to the recommended daily limits;[34] consumption of 1-2 standard alcoholic drinks per day may reduce risk by 30% However excessive alcohol intake increases the risk of cardiovascular disease.Lower blood pressures, if elevated;Decrease body fat (BMI) if overweight or obese;Increase daily activity to 30 minutes of vigorous exercise per day at least fivetimes per week;Reduce sugar consumptions;Decrease psychosocial stress.Stress however plays a relatively minor role in hypertension.Specific relaxation therapies are not supported by the evidence.For adults without a known diagnosis of hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia,or cardiovascular disease, routine counseling to advise them to improve their di

et and increase their physical activity has not been found to significantly alter behaviour, and thus is not recommended.

CONCLUSION:Heart disease is our nations number one killer! The gradual clogging,hardening and damage done to the interior walls of our blood vessels are the primary cause of heart attacks and strokes. This process of atherosclerosis, the hardening of the arteries, results in poor circulation to the extremities, the brain and other organs. Ailments such as senile dementia, leg pain and even erectile impotence have their origin in atherosclerosis. The accumulation of fatty plaque on the inner walls of our blood vessels begins early in childhood and progresses gradually throughout life due to modern day dietary practices.Two things arenecessary to predictably reverse heart disease: one is to become thin and superbly nourished with antioxidants and phytochemicals found in natural plant foods,

and the other is to get your LDL below 100. Reversal of heart disease then predictably occurs. By following diet plan, one can both safely and effectively improve their health, while enjoying the benefits of great tasting food.We can win the war against heart disease by making a few simple and profound, dietary and lifestyle changes.Almost everyone can achieve protection against heart disease.