Heart disease is the leading cause of fatalities across the world. We come across many instances of sudden cardiac failure. It cuts across age, wealth, celebrity, and gender. Some prominent cases: Mr. Sergei Grinkov, Sri Lal Bahadur Sastri, and the recent incident of Sri Taraka Ratna of NTR family.
Our conceptions of body fat and heart disease do not seem to correlate well. I knew a lean professor getting severe fatal attack out of the blue. Of course body mass index (BMI) does give clues to underlying type II diabetes, high (bad) cholesterol, and other complications (like impaired vision). Ideally only X-ray imaging (CAT scan) of the major arteries can tell us whether there is any blockage obstructing the smooth flow of blood; but such an image will give us only a snapshot at a particular time. Usually this is done with enhanced contrast (sort of dye) to help the interventional cardiologist. But the catch is this: Most insurance companies may not pay for such scanning of heart and arteries. Still, the cardiologist can utilize the routine EKG (Electro Cardiogram), echocardiogram, and stress EKG tests while brisk walking on a treadmill. Many family physicians suggest for the elderly to get annual cardio checkup. If possible even twice a year is advisable depending on the general health of the patient.
In this age, i.e., circa 2020 modern medicine and surgical procedures are very advanced for restoring full cardiac health. Nowadays heart valve repair, valve replacement, open-heart surgery, pace maker implants, and stents are routinely performed with good success rates. Both for (brain) strokes and heart attacks, time is of essence. Timely intervention is very critical. Every minute and second counts. And this fact must be fully appreciated by the patient and family members. Many heart patients (and even healthy elders) do carry nitroglycerine, Sorbitrate, and aspirin pills with them for sudden chest pain. These pills when used sublingually ease the chest pain (angina) temporarily till the patient gets full medical intervention and support. Many lives can be saved with such effective (godsend) tiny pills.
Human body is very complex. It is a nice combination of physical body with a healthy mind (brain). All heart patients are usually advised to keep the blood pressure within the healthy range (120/80 mm of Hg) and avoid extreme mental shocks. I know at least two family members who got paralytic stroke upon hearing shocking news (bulletin) from their grownup children. We may think all those movie scenes of heart attack and stroke incidents are just fictitious. But there is some veritable truth, such terrible tragic events do happen in real life. Better be forewarned about such issues.
When a well meaning caring physician tells us to avoid excess salt, smoking, alcohol, and overly sedentary lifestyle, we must listen. Listen we must if not for our own sake we should patiently hear for the benefit of our family members. Mere stubbornness in these matters does no good. Consuming fresh fruits and vegetables also helps in keeping the bad cholesterol in check. Initially we all eat (carelessly) for taste but soon with maturity we learn to eat properly for nourishment and for preserving the bodily health. Appropriate care should be taken in the choice of cooking oil – like opting for oil with low saturated fats and Omega-3. Canola oil, sesame seed oil, olive oil, or peanut oil has good properties. Walnuts and flaxseed provide Omega -3. Reducing butter and ghee is very helpful for heart patients.
Now, a quick look at the heart’s functioning. When we observe the heart cells (tiny muscle) in lab we find “life at its origin”. The tiny hearts (Cardioids) start twitching just after one week. So, the human heart is (perfectly programmed) devised (biologically evolved through thousands of years) to just vibrate, function like a pump indefinitely. It does not need our intervention, our explicit thought (intent), or control. That’s good for our own benefit and biological survival. Our heart needs two things: 1) Properly synchronized electrical signals for the efficient pumping through a variety of “states”. At rest or sleep the heart can beat at normal pace. But when we exercise, run, or excited it has to beat at a higher rate. 2) It needs continuous supply of blood with nutrients to provide energy to the heart muscle.
About the dreaded sudden heart attack: When a clot (some fatty lump or gooey substance) suddenly stops (fresh) blood flow to the heart muscle a severe chest pain is felt. The pain can radiate to the back, neck, chest, or surrounding parts. Some times the patient can identify the pain as related to the heart but some times the patient may not even feel it fully. Or, the patient may mistake it as simple stomachache (heart burn, acidity). Only a trained cardiologist can pin point the time and duration of the attack through a review of all the data (EKG, etc.). If the clot gets dislodged from the blood vessel and travels to brain or some how stops the blood flow to brain – then it results in a “stroke”. Paralysis and other symptoms may quickly set in.
So far we’ve talked about the acute phase of “attack”. But heart patients may develop other seemingly innocent symptoms too. They are: Swelling at the feet and ankles, loss of breath, difficulty of climbing stairs, dizziness, sudden fainting, or irregular heart beat. Often heart problems and type II diabetes are interrelated. The unresolved diabetes symptoms will lead to deterioration of heart and heart valve performance. Consulting with a well-qualified cardiologist with concomitant advice from an endocrinologist will help a lot.
The article's chief goals are: i) To alleviate fear from the elderly and frail persons. ii) Factual, well-researched information gives us strength, strength to choose proper course of action. It helps to modify our habits and lead a healthy peaceful life. Though modern healthcare is expensive many charitable and non-profit hospitals coupled with caring humane physicians do help patients to overcome financial hurdles in such crises. Copyright 2023 by the author
No comments:
Post a Comment