Heart Disease and Stroke

Coronary Artery Disease

Cholesterol

Blood Pressure

Heart disease and stroke:

Diabetes and heart disease go hand-in-hand with an amazing 65% of people with diabetes dying from heart disease or stroke according to the Glendale Memorial Hospital and Health Center. People suffering from diabetes have a four times greater risk of heart attack than their counterparts of the same age.

A heart attack or myocardial infarction occurs when there is blockage in a blood vessel leading to the heart. This is a result of plaque on the blood vessel walls and sticky platelets binding together and preventing blood from reaching the heart. This lack of blood supply to the heart prevents the oxygen and nutrients necessary for the heart to function. The heart then begins to die which, if not treated immediately, can potentially be fatal.

There are warning signs that people should be familiar with:
— Chest discomfort
— Pain in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw, or stomach
— Shortness of breath
— Cold sweat
— Nausea
— Light headed

It is important to consult a health care professional if these warning signs appear in order to take proper action. Unfortunately it is possible to have a heart attack without any warning signs. But just because there isn’t pain doesn’t mean it didn’t happen. As a rule of thumb, if you are not sure, see a doctor.

A stroke is similar to a heart attack in the sense that it is caused by a blockage in a blood vessel. The difference is that a stroke is the result of blockage in a blood vessel leading to the brain. When blood flow to the brain is impeded then the brain begins to die. If a stroke is not treated immediately it can lead to paralysis or even death.

Aspirin is one of the most common treatments for people who have either suffered a heart attack or are at risk for heart disease. It’s exact mechanism of action is not yet fully understood but the basic functions are. It thins a person’s blood which can lower blood pressure and it is believed to decrease the affinity of the blood cells. The standard dose can be anywhere from 75 to 162mg daily, typically taken as “baby aspirin.” But, aspirin isn’t for everyone. The following are reasons to avoid aspirin:
— If you are currently taking blood thinners
— If you are allergic to it
— If you suffer from liver disease
— If you suffer from bleeding in the digestive tract
— If you have a tendency to bleed

A healthcare professional should be consulted before beginning an aspirin regimen.

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Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease is the most common form of heart disease. It is characterized by the build-up of plaque on the walls of the arteries which leads to the narrowing and hardening of these arteries. This decreases blood flow to the heart and the rest of the body which means diminished delivery of oxygen and nutrients to them. The ADA has developed their ABC plan for dealing with coronary artery disease.

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Cholesterol

Diabetes is known for its affects on cholesterol and triglycerides. People suffering from diabetes typically show a marked increase in low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and triglycerides, both major contributors to heart disease, and declines in high density lipoprotein (HDL), good cholesterol. This, combined with the increased blood glucose levels greatly increases the speed of developing atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries). Sticky platelets are also a negative side effect of diabetes that increases the risk of heart disease.

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Blood pressure

Blood pressure is also a marker of being at risk for heart disease and stroke. Hypertension (high blood pressure) is very common among the diabetic community with about two thirds of the people with diabetes also being diagnosed with it.

Reading blood pressure is fairly simple. It is displayed as the systolic number over the diastolic number to give you the amount of pressure put on the blood vessels. The systolic number is the amount of pressure on the blood vessels when the heart pumps blood into them. The diastolic number depicts the amount of pressure put on the blood vessels in between heart beats. It’s measured in millimeters of mercury which is displayed as mm Hg. A healthy individual has blood pressure readings of less than or equal to a systolic reading below 120 mm Hg and a diastolic reading of 80 mm Hg. Hypertension is defined as having a systolic reading of over 140 mm Hg and a diastolic reading of over 90 mm Hg. The ADA recommends that people suffering from diabetes keep there blood pressure in the range of 130/80 mm Hg or less. This significantly decreases the risk of developing complications.

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