Heart and blood vessel problems do not happen
quickly. Over time, the arteries that bring blood to the heart
and brain can become blocked from a buildup of cells, fat,
and cholesterol (plaque). Reduced blood flow to the heart
from blockages in the arteries causes heart attacks. Lack
of blood flow to the brain from a blood clot, or bleeding
in the brain from a broken blood vessel, causes a stroke.
There are many forms of heart and cardiovascular
disease, and what follows is a brief description of the most
common of these diseases:
Angina is a pain or discomfort
in the chest that happens when some part of the heart does
not receive enough blood. It feels like a pressing or squeezing
pain, often in the chest under the breastbone, but sometimes
in the shoulders, arms, neck, jaw, or back. The most common
trigger for angina is physical exertion. Other triggers
can be emotional stress, extreme cold or heat, alcohol,
and smoking. Angina seldom causes permanent damage to the
heart, like a heart attack can. A heart attack happens when
the blood flow to a part of the heart is suddenly and permanently
cut off.
Atherosclerosis is a type
of arteriosclerosis (or thickening
and hardening of the arteries). As we age, some hardening
of the arteries can occur naturally. When a person has atherosclerosis,
the inner walls of the arteries become narrower due to a
buildup of plaque. Plaque results from deposits of fat,
cholesterol, and other substances. Blood clots form, blocking
blood flow, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
High blood cholesterol, smoking, high blood pressure, diabetes,
obesity, and not being physically active all put you at
greater risk for atherosclerosis.
Congestive Heart Failure
is a term often used to describe heart failure. But congestion,
or the buildup of fluid, is only one symptom of heart failure
and does not occur in all people who have heart failure.
Coronary Artery Disease is
the most common form of heart disease; it affects the blood
vessels (or coronary arteries) of the heart. It causes angina
(chest pain) and heart attacks. Women over the age of 40
are more at risk for this disease because heart-related
problems tend to increase with age. And, black women are
more likely to die of coronary heart disease than are white
women. The good news is that you can do something about
preventing this disease. High blood pressure and cholesterol,
smoking, obesity, and not being physically active all put
you at greater risk for coronary heart disease.
Heart Attack is the death
or damage to part of the heart muscle when the blood supply
is severely reduced or stopped. A heart attack occurs when
one of the coronary arteries is blocked, usually due to
atherosclerosis. The plaque can rupture and trigger an artery-blocking
blood clot. The medical term for heart attack is myocardial
infarction. It is also sometimes called a coronary attack,
coronary thrombosis, or coronary occlusion.
Heart Failure means that
the heart is not able to pump blood through the body as
well as it should. It does NOT mean that the heart literally
stops. Heart failure develops slowly over time and can have
a large impact on a person's life and ability to perform
daily activities of living, such as dressing, bathing, and
getting around. There are two main categories of heart failure
- systolic and diastolic - and within each category symptoms
can differ from person to person.
- Systolic heart failure happens when the heart's ability
to pump blood decreases. The heart cannot push enough
blood into the circulatory system, causing blood coming
into the heart from the lungs to back up and leak fluid
into the lungs (called pulmonary congestion).
- Diastolic heart failure occurs when the heart has trouble
relaxing or resting. The heart muscle becomes stiff and
cannot fill with blood, causing fluid to build up (most
often in the feet, ankles, and legs) and lung congestion
Talk with your health care provider right
away if you have any of the signs of heart failure. There
are drugs to treat heart failure. Having a healthy diet
and getting regular exercise can lower your risk for heart
failure.
Hypertension or
High Blood Pressure is often called a “silent”
killer because it usually has no signs or symptoms. A blood
pressure reading measures the force of blood pumped from
the heart against the walls of your blood vessels. It is
recorded as two numbers: a top number of systolic pressure,
or the pressure of blood in the vessels as the heart beats;
and a bottom number of diastolic pressure, or the pressure
of the blood between heart beats (when the heart rests).
Although the average blood pressure reading for adults is
120/80, a slightly higher or lower reading (for either number)
may not be a problem. High blood pressure is diagnosed when
the reading consistently exceeds 140/90. High blood pressure
can cause heart failure in women, and can also lead to stroke,
kidney failure, and other health problems. More than half
of all women over age 55 suffer from this serious condition.
And, it is more common and more severe in black women. Talk
to your health care provider and get your blood pressure
monitored regularly. If you have high blood pressure, diet,
exercise, and medicine can help you to lower and control
your blood pressure.
Stroke is a condition
that happens when there is a lack of blood flow to the brain
from a blood clot, or bleeding in the brain from a broken
blood vessel. Without a good blood supply, brain cells cannot
get enough oxygen and begin to die. You can also have what
are sometimes called "mini strokes," or transient
ischemic attacks(TIAs), where no damage is done to the brain.
Even though they do no damage, TIAs are serious and can
put you at higher risk of having a full stroke. Not controlling
high blood pressure, smoking, and diabetes all increase
your risk for stroke.
