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Diabetes and Heart

What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a disease that affects how our body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is the important source of energy for the muscles and tissues in the body. It is also the primary source of energy for the brain.

In diabetes, blood sugar levels increase above the normal level. High blood sugar levels can lead to several serious health problems. The cause of high blood sugar depends on the types of the diabetes. There are mainly two types of chronic diabetes; Type 1diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

 

In type 1 diabetes our body cannot produce enough insulin. Insulin is the hormone secreted by the beta cells of pancreas. Insulin helps blood glucose enter in to the cell of the body. In absence of insulin, blood sugar cannot enter in to the cells thus level of sugar in blood increases and cells are deprived of glucose.

 

In Type 2 diabetes, pancreas does produce the insulin but cells of the body become resistance to insulin due to various reasons. Due to insulin resistance cells cannot utilize the blood glucose effectively, leading to increase in blood sugar.

 

There are other types of diabetes also including pre diabetes and gestational diabetes. Prediabetes is the condition where blood glucose levels are higher than normal, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. Prediabetes can progress in to type 2 diabetes unless proper lifestyle modification measures are taken.

 

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and often resolves after the birth of the baby. Person with gestational diabetes has the high risk of developing type 2 diabetes in future.

 

Diagnosis of prediabetes:

Prediabetes is diagnosed if fasting blood sugar is between 100 mg/dl to 125 mg/dl.

OGTT(oral glucose tolerance test) is blood sugar 2 hours after taking glucose orally, if it is between 140 mg/dl to 199 mg/dl, it is considered as prediabetes

HbA1c is the average blood sugar of past 3 months. HbA1c level between 5.7% and 6.4% is considered as prediabetes.

 

Diagnosis of diabetes: Diabetes is diagnosed is if fasting blood sugar is greater than or equal to 126 mg/dl or OGTT 2 hour after taking glucose if blood sugar is greater than or equal to 200 mg/dl

HbA1c more than 6.5% is considered as diabetes.

 

Symptoms of Diabetes:

Diabetes can remain symptomless in some patients and in some patients it can cause several symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, weight loss, fatigue, blurred vision and slow healing wounds.

 

Complications of diabetes:

High blood sugar levels over several years causes damage to blood vessels and nerves which leads to several complications such as heart disease, stroke, nerve damage (neuropathy), kidney damage (nephropathy), eye damage (retinopathy), eye damage (retinopathy), foot damage etc.

 

Diabetes and Heart Disease:

The term “heart disease” includes several kinds of problems that affect the heart.

 

Coronary artery disease is the most common and fatal complication of diabetes. It is caused by the build-up of plaque in the walls of the arteries reducing the blood and oxygen supply to the heart muscles, this process is called atherosclerosis. Decreased blood flow to the heart can cause angina (chest pain) and it could also lead to a heart attack.

 

Diabetic Cardiomyopathy:

Other complication of diabetes is cardiomyopathy. In Diabetic cardiomyopathy, muscles of left ventricle (pumping chamber) of the heart become hypertrophic (enlarged) leading to poor contraction and relaxation of the left ventricle affecting the blood supply to whole body.

 

How to prevent and control diabetes and its complications?

Diabetes is known as lifestyle disease. With proper lifestyle modification we can prevent diabetes and its complications.  Lifestyle modification includes healthy diet, exercise, stress management and stopping of smoking and alcohol consumption.

 

 

Diet:

Diet plays a major role in controlling diabetes and its complications. Diet should be plant based and free from animal products.

Stop consumption of sugar and jaggery completely, you can use dates as sweetener.

 

Fruits and vegetables: Eat lots of fresh and seasonal fruits and vegetables.

Fruits and vegetables are excellent source of Vitamins, anti-oxidants and fibres.

Avoid too much of sugary fruits and avoid fruit juices.

 

Fats: Avoid consumption of saturated and trans-fats. Reduce consumption of oil and butter as much as possible. Avoid any kind of fried food. Eat nuts and seeds such as almonds and flax seeds for healthy omega 3 fatty acid.

 

Bakery: Avoid refined and processed foods; avoid white flour, bakery item such as bread, biscuits and cakes.

 

Plant proteins: Beans and pulses are the rich source of healthy protein. Eat sprouts at least 3 to 4 times a week.

 

Water: Drink plenty of water, at least 2 to 3 litters per day. If you have heart condition then drinks water as per your doctor’s advice. Completely stop drinking Aerated drinks and sugary drinks.

 

 

Exercise: Exercise plays a major role in sugar metabolism. Moderate intensity aerobic exercise for 30 mins daily for 5 days per week is recommended. Strength training exercise and practice of Yoga are also very helpful in diabetes. If you are a heart patient then consult your doctor before starting any form of exercise.

 

Smoking and Alcohol: Quit smoking and alcohol consumption as it leads to several complications.

 

Stress Management: Try to manage your stress levels, learn time management, cultivate some hobbies, spend quality time with your family and friends, spend time with nature and practice Yoga and meditation.

 

Above article is just for information and please consult your doctor before following any information or advice given in above article.

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What is Coronary Artery Disease?

Coronary artery disease develops when the major blood vessels that supply your heart with blood, oxygen and nutrients (coronary arteries) become damaged or diseased. Because of presence of some irritative substance in blood, the (endothelium) innermost layer of blood vessels gets damaged and cholesterol (lipid – LDL) and sometimes calcium gets deposited (plaque) in your artery (mainly coronary artery) which causes inflammation in coronary artery.

When plaque builds up, it narrows your coronary arteries, decreasing blood flow to your heart. Eventually, the decreased blood flow may cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, or other coronary artery disease signs and symptoms. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack.

Coronary artery disease often develops over decades; you might not notice a problem until you have a significant blockage or a heart attack. But there’s plenty you can do to prevent and treat coronary artery disease. A healthy lifestyle can make a big impact.

 

Symptoms

If your coronary arteries gets narrow, they can’t supply enough oxygen-rich blood to your heart — especially when it’s beating hard, such as during exercise. At first, the decreased blood flow may not cause any symptoms. However, as plaque continues to build up in your coronary arteries, you may develop signs and symptoms, including:

Chest pain (angina): You may feel pressure or tightness in your chest, as if someone is crushing or as if someone has put some heavy weight on your chest. This pain, referred to as angina, usually occurs on the middle or left side of the chest. Angina is generally triggered by physical or emotional stress. The pain usually goes away within minutes after stopping the stressful activity. In some people, especially women, this pain may be felt in the neck, (left) arm or back.

Shortness of breath: If your heart can’t receive enough blood, it can’t pump out enough blood to meet your body’s needs. In such condition, you may develop shortness of breath or difficulty in breathing on exertion or extreme fatigue with exertion.

Heart attack: A completely blocked coronary artery will cause a heart attack. The classic signs and symptoms of a heart attack include crushing pressure in your chest and pain in your shoulder or arm, sometimes with shortness of breath and sweating. Sometimes a heart attack occurs without any apparent signs or symptoms.

Age: Simply getting older increases your risk of damaged and narrowed arteries.

Sex: Men are generally at greater risk of coronary artery disease. However, the risk for women increases after menopause.

Family history: A family history of heart disease is associated with a higher risk of coronary artery disease, especially if a close relative developed heart disease at an early age. (Your risk is highest if your father or a brother was diagnosed with heart disease before age 55 or if your mother or a sister developed it before age 65)

Smoking: People who smoke have a significantly increased risk of heart disease. Exposing others to your secondhand smoke also increases their risk of coronary artery disease.

Alcohol use: Heavy alcohol use can lead to heart muscle damage. It can also worsen other risk factors of coronary artery disease.

High blood pressure: Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in hardening and thickening of your arteries, narrowing the channel through which blood can flow. High blood cholesterol levels. High levels of cholesterol in your blood can increase the risk of formation of plaque (atherosclerosis). High cholesterol can be caused by a high level of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, known as the bad cholesterol. A low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, known as the good cholesterol, can also contribute to the development of atherosclerosis.

Diabetes: Diabetes is associated with an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Type 2 diabetes and coronary artery disease share similar risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure. Overweight or obesity. Excess weight (especially around waist) typically worsens other risk factors.

Physical inactivity: Lack of exercise also is associated with coronary artery disease and some of its risk factors, as well. High stress. Unrelieved stress in your life may damage your arteries as well as worsen other risk factors for coronary artery disease.

Unhealthy diet: Eating too much fatty food, salt and sugar can increase your risk of coronary artery disease.

 

EECP Treatment for Coronary Artery Disease.

Enhanced external counterpulsation (EECP) is a mechanical form of treatment for angina. While several clinical studies appear to show that this treatment can be helpful in reducing symptoms of angina in patients withcoronary artery disease (CAD). EECP was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 1995 for the treatment of coronary artery disease (CAD).

Several studies suggest that EECP can be quite effective in treating ischemic heart disease. EECP significantly improved both the symptoms of angina (a subjective measurement) and exercise tolerance (a more objective measurement) in patients with CAD. EECP also significantly improved “quality of life” measures, as compared to placebo therapy.

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Food and Fruits that Benefit Heart

A healthy diet helps in keeping us fit and away from metabolic disorders. In fact, certain foods can influence blood pressure, triglycerides, cholesterol levels and inflammation, all of which are risk factors for heart disease.

 

Here are certain foods the help in keeping the heart healthy:

  1. Green vegetables Consumption of at least one cup of green leafy vegetables can significantly reduce their risk of cardiovascular diseases.
  2. Broccoli and asparagus are filled with mighty nutrients such as vitamins C and E, potassium, folate, calcium and fiber.
  3. Almonds lowers your LDL cholesterol, or bad cholesterol, which is involved in creating plaques in your coronary arteries that can cause heart attacks.
  4. Walnuts are the only ones with a significant amount of a certain type called alpha-linoleic acid. Alpha-linoleic acid acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and has actually been shown to help reduce plaque buildup in coronary arteries
  5. Fruits such as oranges, cantaloupes and papaya are rich in beta-carotene, potassium, magnesium and fiber.
  6. Dried beans and lentils ― such as garbanzo, pinto, kidney or black beans, are high in fiber, B-vitamins, minerals
  7. Flaxseeds contain omega-3 fatty acids, fiber and phytoestrogen to boost heart health.
  8. Berries are full of heart-healthy phytonutrients and soluble fiber.
  9. Oats They’re a gluten-free whole grain and a great source of important vitamins, minerals, fiber and antioxidants
  10. Bell peppers: Bell peppers contain folate, another nutrient that reduces homocysteine.
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What is EECP treatment?

For those who have heart disease and have been advised Bypass surgery or Angioplasty, there is an alternative treatment available. EECP (Enhanced external counter pulsation) treatment is a non-surgical treatment for coronary artery disease.

For those patients, who are not willing for surgery or not fit for surgery, EECP is an excellent option. EECP (Enhanced external counter pulsation) has been approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for management of angina (chest pain) and Hear failure.

EECP treatment is totally safe, painless and doesn’t require hospitalization.  In EECP treatment 3 sets of cuffs are tied at calf, thigh and hip region, these cuffs are inflated during every Diastole (relaxing phase of heart) and deflated just prior to Systole (Heart contraction).The  Inflation and deflation are electronically synchronized with the heartbeat. This treatment is given 1 hour daily for 35 sessions.

 

Hoe does EECP works?

With inflation of cuffs, blood is pushed back in to the heart arteries with force and volume and it helps in creating network of small arteries (Collateral circulation) thus creating “Natural Bypass” and increasing the blood supply to the heart muscles and relieving the chest pain. The cuff deflates just prior to the contraction of the heart so heart can pump the blood with more ease thus reducing pressure from heart.

 

Benefits of EECP

No need of surgery or any other painful treatment.

No hospitalization, no recovery time needed, patients can continue their normal activities.

EECP increases the blood and oxygen supply to heart muscles and reduces chest pain / discomfort.

EECP improves exercise tolerance and quality of the life.

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Frequently Asked Questions On EECP

DOES THE BLOCKAGES GO AFTER TAKING EECP?

 

 One of the most asked questions about EECP treatment is does the blockage go after the taking the EECP treatment? No, the blockage that is there in the major arteries of the heart doesn’t go after the EECP treatment.

 

WHAT IS THE BENEFIT OF TAKING THE EECP TREATMENT?

 

The next question that arises in the patient mind is that when the blockage doesn’t go with EECP treatment then what is the benefit of this treatment.

The one thing that patient needs to understand that EECP treatment acts on the micro circulation of the heart. EECP helps in creating collateral circulation within the heart which helps in supplying blood to the area of the heart which was receiving less blood due to blockages in the major arteries.

Even when the patient undergoes a bypass surgery the objective of the surgery is to provide blood supply to the area of the heart affected by the blockage. So what the surgeon will do is take a blood vessel from a distal part of your body and create a diversion for blood to flow around the blocked vessel. So even after undergoing the knife in a major surgery cabg the blockage doesn’t disappear.

 

HOW MANY DAYS DOES THE EFFECT OF EECP LAST?

 

The benefit of EECP treatment last from 3 to 5 years but this benefit will vary from patient to patient. Some patients may require repeat 10-15 sessions every one or two years.

 

DOES EECP HELP IN HEART FAILURE PATIENTS?

 

Yes EECP does benefits heart failure patients. In some cases the ejection fraction also increases of the patient but this increase is also from patient to patient.

 

WHAT IS THE DURATION OF THE EECP THERAPY?

 

EECP treatment is a 35 days duration treatment in which patient has to come daily for one hour of EECP session. Some patients may require extra 5-10 sessions as per improvement noted in the patient.

 

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Benefits of EECP – EECP Heart Therapy

EECP is a safe, non-invasive, well tolerated and effective for patients with ischemic heart disease, angina and heart failure.

1) EECP feels like a deep muscle massage for the legs. During treatment, you do not feel anything in the chest or heart. Just it feels cuffs tires that wrap around your legs squeezing in time for your own heartbeat. Most of our patients relax, listen to music or watch TV during their treatments. Some even sleep!
2)  No side effects. However, some patients may experience muscle pain and fatigue in the first two weeks of treatment. This is similar to an exercise program. Special pants and fillers are used to minimize skin irritation by friction of the sleeve.

3) Most patients begin to feel better after 10 treatments.

4)  EECP therapy increases the blood supply to the heart and all the organs, tissues and cells of the body.

5) EECP therapy reduces symptoms of chest discomfort and / or difficulty breathing; and the amount of drugs taken by the patient.

6) EECP therapy improves exercise capacity and quality of life.

7)  The benefits of EECP therapy can last several years. Some patients require repeat therapy as recommended by the cardiologist.

 

Patient who will benefit from EECP:

Patients whom PTCA or CABG is not Contemplated.

  1.  Target Lesion is Inaccessible.
  2.  Patients have Co-morbid states like diabetes, nenal dysfunction and
  3.  pulmonary disease which create high risk.
  4. Severe LV dysfunction – High risk CABG.
  5. Restenosis after PTCA.
  6.  CABG graft occlusion.

 

What percent of heart blockage is dangerous?

Severe heart blockage is typically that in the greater than 70% range. This degree of narrowing is associated with significantly reduced blood flow to the heart muscle and can underlie symptoms such as chest pain and shortness of breath. In the diagram above, an 80% blockage can be seen at the beginning of the vessel.

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Diagnostic Test Done For Heart Functioning And Their Significance

Heart disease patients or those suspected of having a heart disease are advised a number of test to determine the functioning of heart in various parameters. Various diagnostic test like ECG, Holter monitoring, Stress test and Echocardiogram have different significance when he comes to determine the heart functioning.

 

 

 

ELECTROCARDIOGRAM

     ELECTROCARDIOGRAM measures the electrical activity of the heart. ECG is the first line of diagnostic test to be done when patient has severe angina (chest pain) at rest or heaviness feeling in the chest.

ECG helps in following ways

1) First line of test to determine if patient is having a heart attack.

2) It helps to monitor changes in heart rhythm

3) helps to predict if heart attack is developing.

 

ECHOCARDIOGRAM

In echocardiogram sound waves are used to see how your heart is beating and also to see how your blood is moving through the heart chambers.

It basically helps us to determine the following

1) The heart pumping percentage i.e. how much percentage of volume the heart is pumping at each systole

2) Determine the cause of heart murmur

3) Helps in assessing functioning of heart valves

4) Helps in assessing the heart chamber size and functioning

 

TREADMILL STRESS TEST

In this test the patient is made to walk on a treadmill while ECG is being recorded while the patient walks on the treadmill.

Treadmill stress test help is assessing following things

Determine the cause of chest pain, shortness of breath and weakness

1) Assess the health of the heart

2) Assess safety of exercise

3) Identify heart rhythm changes with activity

4) Find evidence of inadequate blood flow to the heart muscle during exercise

 

HOLTER MONITORING

The cardiologist may request a Holter monitor ECG if you have symptoms, such as dizziness, fainting, low blood pressure, ongoing fatigue (tiredness), and palpitations and a resting ECG doesn’t show a clear cause. The Holter monitor is a type of portable electrocardiogram (ECG). It records the electrical activity of the heart continuously over 24 hours or longer while you are away from the doctor’s office. Following assessment can be made from holter test

1) To evaluate chest pain that can’t be reproduced with exercise testing

2) To evaluate other signs and symptoms that may be heart-related, such as tiredness, shortness of breath, dizziness, or fainting

3) To identify irregular heartbeats or palpitations

4) To assess risk for future heart-related events in certain conditions, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (thickened heart walls), after a heart attack that caused weakness of the left side of the heart, or Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (where an abnormal electrical conduction pathway exists within the heart)

5) To see how well a pacemaker is working

6) To determine how well treatment for complex arrhythmias is working

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DIAGNOSIS AND PREVENTION OF HEART ATTACK

PREVENTION OF HEART ATTACK

Heart Attack is the leading cause of death worldwide. In India people about 25-30% dies due to heart attack. Heart is supplied by three major blood vessels, RCA, LAD & LCX. When one of the blood vessels get 100% blocked due to thrombus the area supplied by the vessel starts to die. During this the patient experiences severe chest pain, breathlessness and heaviness in chest.

Heart attack happens when the lining of the plaque in the blood vessel rupture and causes thrombus formation. The percentage of heart blockage doesn’t determine when the plaque will rupture. A blood vessel having 60% blockage can also rupture and cause heart attack.

Patient having heart blockage has symptoms of chest pain and heaviness and subsides when he takes rest or takes Tab sorbitrate. When heart attack takes place chest pain is usually at rest and doesn’t get relieved by taking tab sorbitrate. Another presentation of heart attack could be burning in epigastric falsely diagnosed as gastric problem. If you have any one of the following symptoms, one should get an ECG and Trop T done to ascertain whether the chest pain is of heart attack or no.

Prevention of Heart Attack:

Once the blockage has been detected, treatment should be done for the heart blockage. If the person doesn’t know whether he has blockage or no ascertain whether his risk factors for heart disease like high cholesterol level, smoking, diabetes, obesity or family history of heart disease. He should undergo a CT coronary angiography and ascertain how much blockage he has in the heart. Patient should modify the risk factor like quit smoking, reducing weight keeping blood pressure cholesterol levels diabetes in check.  For treatment of heart blockages we at CORDIS HEART INSTITUTE provide EECP treatment which is a non-invasive treatment which helps in increasing the blood supply to the deficient areas of the heart through collateral circulation.

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Heart Blockage Treatment without Surgery

Heart Blockage Treatment without Surgery

Heart blockage is known as coronary artery disease in medical terms. It is mostly caused by deposition of plaque inside the walls of blood vessels that supply blood to the heart. This kind of disease takes place gradually over many years. Hence the symptoms do not come in the notice unless there is a significant blockage in the heart. The prime culprit to this is the sedentary lifestyle.

Signs and symptoms

  • Shortness of breath – When the blood is not able to pump enough blood to the heart, it leads to tiredness and shortness of breath.
  • Chest pain – This is a common symptom manifested as tightness or pressure in the chest. It may be triggered by any mental or physical stress. The pain may also radiate to the neck, back or arm.
  • Heart attack – This happens at the terminal stages when there is a complete blockage of the coronary artery. There is an extreme pressure in the chest radiating to the shoulder and the arm.
  • Abnormal perspiration

Conditions that may occur as a result of heart blockage:

  • STEMI (ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) – This happens whenever there is a sudden blockage in the blood vessels, leading to a heart attack. A major area of heart muscles may be affected, which is seen through the changes in the ECG and in the chemical markers.
  • N STEMI (non ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction) – This is not noticed on the ECG or electrocardiogram. However, the chemical markers in the blood may warn you about the damage caused to the heart muscle. The blockage may be complete or partial.
  • Unstable angina –Angina can be a frequent sign. It can be relieved by taking oral medications instantly. However, unstable angina can lead to a heart attack.

How is it treated?

Primarily, the following treatments are most commonly used for coronary artery disease.

However, there is also heart blockage treatment without surgery which is discussed below.

What is the best treatment for heart blockage?

Some of the most commonly done treatments for heart blockage are surgical. However, there are some conditions which can also be treated non-surgically if the blockage is not too severe. Let’s go through some of the most effective ways to deal with the heart blockage:

Coronary Artery Bypass Surgery 

This is a surgery that involves creating a bypassed way around the blocked artery to facilitate the blood flow to the heart. The graft is taken from a blood vessel in another part of the body. The surgery is performed under general anaesthesia. The techniques used to perform the surgery can be either open-heart surgery, minimally invasive surgery, and off-pump surgery. The open-heart surgery is the traditional form of surgery which is performed in cases where a wide incision needs to be made to gain access to the blocked artery.

However, with the minimally invasive technique, the surgery can be performed with a smaller incision where there is easy access.

Off-pump surgery is quite similar to the open-heart surgery in which the chest bone is opened. But, the heart does not stop functioning during the surgery. Unlike the traditional technique, the heart-lung bypass machine is not used. This is also known as beating

 

Heart blockage removal without surgery

Many cases of heart blockage can be treated even without surgery. Some of the non-surgical treatments are given below:

Chelation Therapy

This is a new technique that uses chemical processes for the removal of toxic metals and minerals from the body. A substance called EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid) is used for the detoxification of the body. The EDTA solution is injected into the patient’s body and it binds with the calcium plaques that cause blockage of the coronary arteries, hence improving the blood flow.

Additional benefits of chelation therapy:

  • It is used in treating metal poisoning, including mercury, iron, arsenic, lead, uranium etc.
  • It may also be used to treat diseases like sickle-cell disease and thalassemia.
  • Moreover, it is used as an antioxidant by reducing the production of free radicals and lower down their negative effect.
  • Chelation therapy is also reported to be used for Alzheimer’s disease.

Lifestyle and dietary changes

A few basic changes in your lifestyle can help you in preventing a heart attack which might happen as a result of heart blockage. Some of these steps:

  • Regular exercise – It is important to walk or do any physical activity on an everyday basis. You may contact your doctor or physiotherapist to learn safe ways to do exercise.
  • Emotional stress – If you are an overly emotional person or take abnormally high stress, its significant to meditate every day. Excessive stress leads to constriction of blood vessels and may also increase the blood pressure.
  • Smoking – Smoking is a major obstacle to recovering from any illness. It should be the first step to be taken when it comes to making lifestyle changes.
  • Dietary changes – Prefer to eat foods which are low in saturated fat, trans fat, cholesterol, and sodium. Increase the number of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. You may also include fish or fish oil capsules in your daily diet.
  • Weight management – It is important to work on losing weight if you are obese or overweight and also regularly measure your BMI.

 

Can a heart blockage be treated with medicine?

When you visit a cardiologist after noticing certain signs and symptoms, a detailed cardiac evaluation is conducted. Only after the investigations, the doctor can decide the exact line of treatment for you. The medicinal treatment, however, can be used for multiple purposes such as:

  • To reduce the workload on the heart and dilate the arteries, so that the chest pain is relieved.
  • To prevent angina and other symptoms that may occur due to coronary artery disease.
  • To prevent further narrowing of the coronary arteries.
  • To open up the clogged artery.

The most common categories of medicines that are used in such cases are mentioned below:

  • Aspirin – Sometimes, the doctor recommends taking a daily aspirin or some other blood thinner to reduce the chances of blood clotting and thus preventing the obstruction of the coronary artery. However, aspirin cannot be used by all. People who have bleeding disorders or already taking blood thinners should not take it or consult a cardiologist before taking aspirin.
  • Beta-blockers – These medications are given to reduce the heart rate and hence the blood pressure. This, in turn, reduces the oxygen demand by the heart.
  • Cholesterol-modifying medications – These drugs help in the reduction of low-density cholesterol.
  • Calcium channel blockers – These are most commonly used with beta-blockers if they are unable to work alone. These help in improving chest pain.
  • Nitroglycerine – This medication is available in the form of tablets, sprays, patches etc. It is used to control chest pain by temporarily dilating the coronary arteries.
  • ACE Inhibitors – These are used to reduce blood pressure and indirectly also help in preventing the progression of coronary artery disease.

Can ECG detect heart blockage?

An electrocardiogram is a diagnostic test to examine heart-related issues by measuring the electrical activity of the heart as it pumps. It may be recommended by the cardiologist if you smoke or you are overweight, have diabetes or high blood pressure. People having symptoms like chest pain, breathlessness, dizziness or irregular heartbeats may also be advised to get an ECG.

An ECG may help in detecting enlargement of heart, abnormal position of heart, poor blood supply, inflammation of heart, congenital heart defects etc. However, it cannot tell much about blockage in the coronary arteries.

 

 How do you get rid of heart blockage naturally?

Most of us usually prefer to avoid getting treated by surgeries or medicines as these have their own side-effects. Hence, the researchers all over the world continue to find ways to treat such conditions in a natural way. Here are some of the most beneficial and the most commonly used ways to treat heart blockage:

Garlic 

Garlic is grown worldwide, which was originated from Siberia but then spread to other parts of the world in a span of 5000 years. It is often used to treat high blood pressure, low blood pressure, and high cholesterol. It is reported that garlic helps in restricting the pathogenesis of cardiovascular diseases. It has the following effects on the body which ultimately help in preventing and treating the already existing heart blockage. These effects are:

  • Garlic has chloroform extracts which promote anti-thrombotic and antiplatelet aggregatory effect, which inhibits the platelets to accumulate and coagulate the blood.
  • It also helps in enhancing a process called fibrinolysis, which is carried out to dissolve the clots formed in the blood. This further helps in improving the blood circulation in the body.
  • Garlic also helps the management of heart rate and lowering the blood pressure.
  • It also helps lowering down the cholesterol levels in the body.

Co-Enzyme Q10 (CoQ10)

It is a good antioxidant that is naturally produced in our body. The levels are kept reducing with advancing age or those who have heart disease. It is most commonly found in meat, fish and whole grains. Other than this, these days campsure and tablets are also available. It is often used to treat heart conditions as well as migraines.

Flax seeds

The flax seeds are mainly composed of phytosterols, omega-3 and lignans, all of which help in boosting the heart health. Especially, phytosterols are the molecules which have a similar structure to cholesterol. These help in preventing the absorption of cholesterol in the intestine.Flax seeds also have huge amounts of fibre which is also in maintaining cardiac health.

 

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BENEFITS OF DAILY WALKING

Walking offers ton of benefits to people of all ages and helps in body fitness. It helps in prevention of lifestyle diseases and prolonging the life of the patient.

The best time to walk for 30 minutes daily is early morning empty stomach before breakfast especially for heart patients. Walking should be minimum for 30 minutes 5 days a week. In terms of steps 7000-8000 steps per day.

Health benefits of walking.

  1. Walking helps in reducing the cholesterol and triglycerides. High triglycerides and cholesterol level causes blockages in the heart and causes coronary artery disease.
  2. Walking helps in controlling the sugar level of the body
  3. Walking also helps in burning the calories of the body. Burning calories helps you in losing the weight or maintaining the weight.
  4. Walking reduces the stress level in the body
  5. Walking helps in maintaining the joint mobility and flexibility of the joints.
  6. Walking helps in strengthening the heart. Daily walking for 30 minutes 5 days a week helps in reducing the risk of coronary artery disease.
  7. Walking boosts your immune system and energy level of the body.
  8. Walking also affects the mental health. It helps in mood elevation of some patients. Studies show it can reduce stress, anxiety, depression and negative mood. It can also boost self esteem and reduce symptoms of social withdrawal.
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