How Cholesterol And Heart Disease Are Interrelated

What is Cholesterol?

Cholesterol is a wax and fat-like substance which is found in every cell of the body and performs some important natural functions of the body. Our body needs some amount of cholesterol to make vitamin D, various hormones, and various substances that help the body to digest the foods. Our body makes some amount of cholesterol it needs. But cholesterol is also found in some of the foods we eat. Cholesterol travels through our bloodstream in small packages called lipoproteins. These lipoproteins are made proteins on the outside and fats on the inside. There are two types of Lipoproteins which carry cholesterol throughout our body:-

• Low-density lipoproteins.
• High-density lipoproteins.

Having healthy levels of both the types of lipoproteins is important for human body. Low-density lipoprotein is also called as bad cholesterol. High level of low-density lipoproteins level can lead to a buildup of cholesterol in the arteries. These arteries are the blood vessels that carry blood from our heart to our body. High-density lipoproteins are also referred as good cholesterol. These high-density lipoproteins carry cholesterol from other parts of the body back to the liver. The liver helps to remove the cholesterol from our body.

Cholesterol and Heart Disease

High blood cholesterol is a condition in which the patients have too much of cholesterol in the blood. This condition usually does not have any signs or symptoms and in many cases, the patients don’t even realize that their cholesterol levels are too high. People who have high blood cholesterol have a greater chance of getting coronary heart diseases which are also called as coronary artery disease. The higher the level of low-density lipoproteins in the blood, the greater is the chances of getting heart disease. The higher the level of high-density lipoproteins cholesterol in the blood, the lower the chance is of getting heart disease. Coronary heart disease is a condition in which the plaque builds up inside the coronary arteries. The plaque is made up calcium, fat, cholesterol, and various other substances found in the blood. The building of plague in the arteries is also referred as atherosclerosis condition.

Over time as the plaque hardens it narrows the coronary arteries which limit the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. In certain situations, the area of plaque can rupture causing the blood clot to form on the surface of the plaque. If these clots become large they can even completely block the blood flow through a coronary artery. The flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle is reduced or blocked it can also lead to heart attack or angina. Angina condition can cause chest pain or discomfort by pressure or squeeze in the chest. A heart attack occurs when the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a section of heart muscle is cut off. If blood flow isn’t restored quickly, the section of heart muscle begins to die. Without quick treatment, a heart attack can also lead to serious problems or even death in some cases. The plaque also can build up in other arteries in the body due to cholesterol such as in the arteries which bring oxygen-rich blood to the brain and the limbs. This can lead to problems such as stroke, carotid artery disease, and peripheral artery disease.

Treatment for Cholesterol and heart disease

High blood cholesterols build plaque inside the arteries which can obstruct the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart. In such condition depending on the severity of the patient’s condition, they are recommended with one of the following surgeries.

Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting (CABG):- Coronary artery bypass grafting is one of the most common types of heart surgery. This surgery improves the flow of blood to the heart. Coronary artery bypass grafting is recommended to the patients who are suffering from the severe coronary heart disease. While performing this surgery a healthy vein from the body is grafted or connected to the blocked coronary artery. The grafted artery or vein bypasses the blocked portion of the coronary artery. This results in creating a new path for oxygen-rich blood to flow to the heart muscle. The surgeons can bypass multiple blocked coronary arteries during one surgery.

Angioplasty: – Angioplasty is a non-surgical procedure. This procedure is performed to widen a narrowed or obstructed blood vessel using a balloon catheter to improve blood flow in the body’s arteries and veins. Angioplasty is used to treat atherosclerosis which is a condition where the blood vessels are obstructed. This procedure used an imaging technique to guide a balloon-tipped catheter, a long, thin plastic tube, into an artery or vein and advance it to where the vessel is narrow or blocked. The balloon is then inflated to open the vessel, deflated and removed. While performing this procedure a small wire mesh tube referred as a stent can be permanently placed in the newly opened artery or vein to help it remain open.

Stenting: – A stent is a tiny wire mesh tube which is used to open the blocked artery and the stent is then left behind permanently. When a coronary artery is narrowed by the buildup of plaque in the heart it reduces the flow of blood to the heart. The reduced flow of blood to the heart can result in chest pain and in case if a clot is formed it can block blood flow to the heart muscle which can lead to heart attack. Stents help in keeping the coronary arteries open and reduces the risk of heart attack.

Cardiac surgeries in India

India is developing as a prime destination for medical tourism. World class medical and health care facilities are available in India. Cardiac surgeries are very expensive in western countries, whereas in India it is available at a very reasonable price with the use of latest technology and treatments. IndianMedTrip medical tourism consultants help you find the best cardiac surgeons in the country. IndianMedTrip is committed to providing you with the best medical treatments all over India. Consultants at IndianMedTrip take care of every little detail from travelling to appointments of doctors, food, accommodation and visits to exotic locations.

You can send your queries at:
info@indianmedtrip.com
https://indianmedtrip.com/contact-us/
Call or WhatsApp: +91-8600855554



Source:  https://indianmedtrip.com/articles/how-cholesterol-and-heart-disease-are-interrelated/

Read More

What is a Silent Heart Attack

Silent Heart Attack is a type of heart attack which only has few, if any symptoms. People having silent heart attack may never have had any symptoms so as to warn them that they have developed any heart problem, like shortness of breath or chest pain. However, some patients have later recalled that their silent heart attack was at the time mistaken for muscle pain, nausea, indigestion or a bad case of flu. 

Risk Factors of Silent Heart Attack

Risk factors for silent heart attack are almost the same as that of typical heart attacks with symptoms. Common risk factors include the following.

• Family History of Heart Disease
• Age
• High Blood Pressure
• High Cholesterol
• Diabetes
• Chewing or Smoking Tobacco
• Being Overweight
• Lack of Exercise

Having one silent heart attack puts patients at a higher risk of having another heart attack & which can also prove to be fatal. Having another heart attack invariably increases risk of complications like heart failure. The only way which can tell that a person has had a silent heart attack is to undergo imaging tests like an echocardiogram, electrocardiogram or other similar procedures. These tests will effectively reveal changes which signal that a person has had a heart attack. People who think they have had a silent heart attack must talk to their doctors who will eventually review their symptoms, health history & conduct a physical examination which will help them decide if any more tests are necessary.

Symptoms of a Silent Heart Attack

Many heart attacks do not have obvious symptoms like shortness of breath, pain in chest & cold sweats. Silent heart attack in fact can happen without the person knowing that he is having one. Medically known as silent ischemia, which is lack of oxygen to heart muscle, some conditions associated with a silent heart attack are listed below.

Silent heart attack, like the name implies has no symptoms or minimal symptoms, or unrecognized symptoms which like any other heart attack temporarily blocks blood flow to a section of the heart & can eventually cause scarring & damage to heart muscle.

Silent heart attack patients complain of fatigue & problems associated with heart disease without realizing that they have had an heart attack, weeks or even months after they have had one. Silent heart attacks are often discovered only when doctors come to know through an EKG or MRI which is performed at a later point of time.

People having silent heart attacks are more likely to portray non-specific & subtle symptoms like indigestion or a case like flu or they may feel like they strained a muscle in chest or upper back.

Discomfort may not be felt in the chest by a silent heart attack patient. Instead he may feel it in the jaw, or arms or upper back. Some patients also have excessive & prolonged fatigue which remains unexplained. These are some of the less specific symptoms of a silent heart attack which people largely ignore or attribute to some other condition.

Causes of Silent Heart Attack in Women

Silent heart attack will typically happen when blood flow to heart muscle is blocked in the coronary artery due to buildup of plaque. While studies differ, some researchers suggest that silent heart attack is more common among women. Many women & their physicians erroneously chalk up symptoms of silent heart attacks to anxiety & dismiss them altogether. Nevertheless, risk factors of silent heart attack are similar to those recognized for common heart attacks & include high cholesterol, high blood pressure, age, obesity, smoking, & family history of heart disease. However, silent heart attacks are just as dangerous as the more obvious counterpart since this event also leaves behind scarring & damage to heart & invariably puts the person at greater risk of other problems of the heart. Moreover, the impact of silent heart attack can potentially be greater as the patient might not have sought treatment & blood flow to heart may not have been restored early without administration of medications.

Also Check Heights And Cardiac Arrest Infographic

Things to Do During a Silent Heart Attack

The “silent” fact within a silent heart attack is the most complicating factor. Women often never realize that they are experiencing medical emergency. However, it would be the most ideal thing to stay calm & seek medical help immediately when people notice any symptoms of a silent heart attack. It would also be sensible to let the doctors know that they are suspecting a silent heart attack & not an anxiety attack when patients get to the hospital. Patients should advocate for themselves, or better bring along someone who can do this for them.

How to Prevent Silent Heart Attacks

It would be advisable that patients should know their risk factors & be aware of their cholesterol & blood pressure levels. They should avoid smoking & exercise regularly so as to decrease their risk of heart attack. Above all, they should listen to their bodies & talk to the doctor when their body tells them that something is not right.

Solve Your Heart Problems with IndianMedTrip

Currently, India is one of the best medical tourism destinations in the world providing a wide spectrum of affordable healthcare solutions including cardiac procedures to international patients who are quite concerned with the rising costs of medical procedures within their homelands. With excellent cardiac surgeons & well equipped hospital facilities, India offers high quality & low cost procedures to a variety of heart problems including angioplasty, artificial heart valve surgery, coronary artery bypass graft surgery, heart transplant & several other cardiac treatments. IndianMedTrip is associated with the top cardiac surgeons & internationally accredited hospitals so as to give the best heart treatments to people from all around the world. Established as one of the leading medical tourism companies in South Asia, IndianMedTrip services begin with the first phone call & go on to assisting international patients obtain medical visa to warm welcome at airport, convenient travel & comfortable accommodation, schedule treatment & surgical appointments with doctors, exotic recuperation holidays, follow-up checks & successful farewell.

Interested in Our Services?

REQUEST FREE CONSULTATION

You can send your queries at:

info@indianmedtrip.com

https://indianmedtrip.com/contact-us/

Call or WhatsApp: +91-8600855554

Source: https://indianmedtrip.com/articles/what-is-a-silent-heart-attack/

Read More