| Heart Attack | | | | to a certain level, then deflated slowly. A sensor in |
| Heart disease affects your heart's muscle, blood | | | | the cuff provides information about the blood |
| vessels, and electrical system and is the leading | | | | pressure or a doctor or nurse will listen to the |
| cause of death among women. The most | | | | blood flow using a stethoscope. |
| common form of heart disease is coronary | | | | Hypertensive Heart disease |
| artery disease in which plaque (a fat-like | | | | Hypertensive heart disease is any of a number of |
| substance) deposits on artery walls. Plaque build-up | | | | complications of arterial hypertension that affect |
| is called atherosclerosis. This is a chronic condition | | | | the heart. It is one of the most common causes |
| that occurs in people with risk factors such as | | | | of death in western societies. Hypertensive heart |
| diabetes, obesity, smoking, abnormal levels of | | | | disease is the No. 1 cause of death associated |
| blood fats, high blood pressure, a family history of | | | | with hypertension and is actually a group of |
| heart disease and older age. When a plaque | | | | disorders that include heart failure, ischemic heart |
| ruptures, it causes a blood clot to form and | | | | disease, and left ventricular hypertrophy |
| suddenly block an artery. If this happens in a | | | | Treatment |
| heart artery, it results in a heart attack. | | | | Common medications include diuretics, beta |
| | | | blockers, calcium channel blockers, |
| Don't smoke | | | | angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, |
| Control your blood pressure | | | | angiotensin II receptor antagonists, and direct |
| Control your cholesterol level. | | | | vasodilators. intravenous diazoxide or nitroprusside |
| Maintain a healthy weight. | | | | may be prescribed if hypertension is extremely |
| Exercise regularly. | | | | severe and intensive care is necessary. |
| Eat a low-fat diet. | | | | Preventive measures against hypertensive heart |
| Take care of diabetes. | | | | disease emphasize control over weight, healthy |
| Be aware of chest pain. | | | | diet (rich in fiber and vitamins), and abstinence |
| High Blood Pressure | | | | from drugs and alcohol. In cases of a severe |
| High blood pressure (also called hypertension) | | | | heart problem, surgery may be required to |
| occurs when your blood moves through your | | | | restore the normal blood flow in the heart and/or |
| arteries at a higher pressure than normal. The | | | | blood vessels. |
| heart is a pump designed to force blood through | | | | In addition to medications, recommended lifestyle |
| our body. Blood is pumped from the heart | | | | changes include weight loss, exercise, and dietary |
| through the arteries out to our muscles and | | | | adjustments. Dietary recommendations include |
| organs. | | | | increasing fruits, vegetables, and low-fat dairy |
| Pumps work by generating pressure. Put simply, | | | | products. Whole grains, poultry, and fish are also |
| too much pressure puts a strain on the arteries | | | | generally recommended. Tran's fats and saturated |
| and on the heart itself. This can cause an artery | | | | fats should be avoided. Patients may benefit from |
| to rupture or the heart to fail under the strain - in | | | | reducing salt intake. If you smoke, stop smoking |
| the worst case stopping altogether. | | | | -- cigarettes are a major cause of hypertension |
| Treatment | | | | and related heart disease. Reducing excessive |
| Blood pressure is measured with a monitor called | | | | alcohol consumption may also help. |
| a sphygmomanometer. This is a digital box | | | | Read about Acne Cure and Treatments and |
| attached to a tube with a cuff on the end. The | | | | Breast Enlargement Enhancement. |
| cuff is placed around the upper arm and inflated | | | | |