Around 3.7 million men and 3.4 million women die of heart attack every year in the world. One in four people dies of coronary heart disease or ischemic heart disease. Which is basically a consequence of atherosclerosis.
What is atherosclerosis?
When fatty substances or scar tissue accumulate in the arterial wall and thicken the arterial wall, the lumen of the artery (inner wall) narrows and blood flow decreases. This makes the arteries hard. This condition is called atherosclerosis.
Simply put, atherosclerosis is when a fatty plaque restricts blood flow through a blood vessel. It can occur in any blood vessel in the body. If it is in the hands and feet, it is called peripheral vascular disease.
Excess LDL cholesterol in the body can accumulate in the blood vessels and cause atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries reduces blood flow there. This reduces the oxygen supply there. This is because oxygen reaches the whole body by mixing with the hemoglobin in the blood. When the supply of oxygen to any tissue in the body is less than the demand, it is called ischemia. And when the oxygen supply to the heart decreases, that condition is called ischemic heart disease.
Heart attack
To keep the heart muscle active, blood is supplied to the heart through two blood vessels – the right and the left artery. The danger is that fat accumulates in them. Blood circulation is disrupted and coronary artery disease occurs. This condition is also called heart block. Atherosclerosis is when the arteries become thick and hard due to the accumulation of fat. If this happens, the blood vessels may rupture at any moment. If blood clots form inside the blood vessels, blood can no longer circulate there. And you understand, if the blood cannot circulate in the blood vessels of the heart, then the muscles of the heart will not get oxygen.
Without oxygen, the tissues of the heart begin to deteriorate. Thus, if blood clots in the blood vessels of the heart or any other artery in the body, it becomes thrombosis and travels through the blood vessels. If the coronary arteries or arteries of the heart are blocked, then the heart tissue will continue to be damaged due to lack of oxygen. In medical terms, it is called myocardial infarction or heart attack.
Failure to turn on the blood supply very quickly during this time can lead to the death of the patient. At this time the patient will have severe chest pain, shortness of breath, body sweating, pain may go to the neck, arms, back or even the chin.
Symptoms of ischemic heart disease
Most patients are asymptomatic if their blood pressure is not checked. At one point they died of a sudden heart attack. However, in some cases, there are some symptoms-
1. Chest pain on the way back.
2. Shortness of breath.
3. Chest pain after eating.
4. Chest pain with slight tension.
5. Dizziness or headache.
6. Pain in the neck or arms.
7. Feeling sick or nauseous
Causes of ischemic heart disease
1. High blood pressure or hypertension.
2. Excess fatty foods such as beef, eggs, or trans-fat foods.
3. Smoking or eating tobacco leaves.
4. Excess weight.
5. Alcohol, soft drinks.
6. Not getting enough exercise.
7. Not doing enough physical work.
8. Being a couch potato.
Complications of ischemic heart disease
1. May cause a heart attack.
2. May cause brain stroke.
Remedies from atherosclerosis
1. If you have a habit of smoking, you have to quit it first.
2. Regular blood pressure should be measured and controlled.
3. Weight should be kept according to a normal BMI index.
4. Fatty foods should be avoided and salt should be eaten less.
5. Exercise regularly.
Treatment
1. Lifestyle change is one of the cures for this disease. Those who are overweight should start exercising from now on.
2. Blood pressure must be controlled. If necessary, the medicine should be taken according to the advice of the doctor. Those drugs cannot be omitted or changed without the advice of a doctor. If you have chest pain, you should go to the nearest hospital immediately.