Friday, August 27, 2010

Top Heart Care Tips, Tips to Take Care of Your Heart, Heart Care

Prevention is better than cure. It is important to take care of your Heart as your heart is a sensitive part of the body. This will help prevent any possible heart diseases from affecting you.

The following tips might help in preventing Heart problems although impossible to gurantee a disease free heart, it is possible to greatly reduce your risk of having heart problems. Heart disease can affect people living a healthy lifestyle but it is more likely to affect people whose lifestyle places a burden on their heart. Many people are not aware of the risk they put themselves in and so the below tips will be an eye opener.

Tips which help to reduce Heart Problems:


Eat a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. Limit your intake of fats and increase your intake of low-fat foods. Eat a lot of fruit, vegetables and whole grain. Avoid or limit your intake of margarine, take-aways, high fat dairy products and pastries. If you find it difficult to follow a healthy eating plan, trying talking to a nutritionist.

Monitor your cholesterol levels. Ask your doctor to check your cholesterol levels, to ensure that there is the right balance between LDL and HDL levels. LDL (or bad cholesterol) levels need to be kept low. HDL (or good cholesterol) should be higher.

Maintain a healthy weight. Talk to your doctor about losing weight if you are obese and find it difficult to lose the weight needed. Obesity and cardiovascular disease often are linked together as the excess weight carried by a person places an extra burden on the heart. Most people can lose weight successfully by implementing healthy eating habits and exercising regularly.

Exercise regularly. Most people suggest at least 40 minutes three to four times a week. Start slowly if you are not used to exercising and increase it as your fitness improves. If you have any serious medical problems, or are very overweight, you should consult a doctor first. Do not rush into a heavy exercise schedule.

Have your blood pressure checked regularly. If medication is needed to control high blood pressure, make sure you take the medication and follow any other suggestions given to you by your doctor.

Keep your diabetes under control. Take any medication and follow any recommendations of the doctor if you have diabetes. You should also have your blood sugar levels checked regularly if you suspect you may have diabetes or if you have a family history of diabetes. People with diabetes have a greater chance of getting heart disease.

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy Definition, Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy Symptoms, Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis, Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy Treatment

Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a disease in which the chronic long-term abuse of alcohol leads to heart failure. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a type of dilated cardiomyopathy. Due to the direct toxic effects of alcohol on heart muscle, the heart is unable to pump blood efficiently, leading to heart failure. It can affect other parts of the body if the heart failure is severe. It is most common in males between the ages of 35-50.

Alchoholic Cardiomyopathy Symptoms:
Symptoms presented by the occurrence of alcoholic cardiomyopathy are the result of the heart failing and usually occur after the disease has progressed to an advanced stage. Therefore the symptoms have a lot in common with other forms of cardiomyopathy.
The symptoms include:
Ankle, feet, and leg swelling
Overall swelling
Loss of appetite
Shortness of breath, especially with activity
Breathing difficulty while lying down
Fatigue, weakness, faintness
Decreased alertness or concentration
Cough containing mucus, or pink, frothy material
Decreased urine output (oliguria)
Need to urinate at night (nocturia)
Palpitations
Irregular or rapid pulse

Alchoholic Cardiomyopathy Diagnosis:
Abnormal heart sounds, murmurs, ECG abnormalities, and enlarged heart on chest x-ray may lead to the diagnosis. Echocardiogram abnormalities and cardiac catheterization or angiogram to rule out coronary artery blockages, along with a history of alcohol abuse can confirm the diagnosis.

Alchoholic Cardiomyopathy Treatment:
Treatment for alcoholic cardiomyopathy involves lifestyle changes, including complete abstinence from alcohol use, a low sodium diet, and fluid restriction, as well as medications. Medications may include ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, and diuretics  which are commonly used with other forms of cardiomyopathy to reduce the strain on the heart. Persons with congestive heart failure may be considered for surgical insertion of an ICD or a pacemaker which can improve heart function. In cases where the heart failure is irreversible and worsening, heart transplant may be considered. Treatment will possibly prevent the heart from further deterioration but is unlikely to reverse the reduced function that has already occurred.