By By Ameena Drammeh
Assalamulakum. My name is Ameena Drammeh. I am 14 years old. My subject is Medicine and Health and the topic I will be sharing with you today is heart Disease. The reason I chose this topic is because I wanted to raise awareness on heart disease. Many people are suffering from it.
Heart Disease is the umbrella term for a variety of diseases affecting the heart. As of 2007, it is the leading cause of death in the United States,England, andCanada, accounting for 25.4% of the total deaths in theUnited States. There are many types of heart disease, cardiovascular disease, heart failure, inflammatory heart disease, but the most common, coronary heart disease, refers to the failure of the coronary circulation to supply adequate circulation to cardiac muscle and surrounding tissue.
Coronary Heart Disease (CHD) is caused by the buildup of plaque in the arteries to your heart. This may also be called hardening of the arteries. Symptoms may be very noticeable, but sometimes you can have the disease and not have any symptoms.
Chest pain or discomfort (angina) is the most common symptom. You feel this pain when the heart is not getting enough blood or oxygen. How bad the pain is varies from person to person.
It may feel heavy or like someone is squeezing your heart. You feel it under your breast bone (sternum), but also in your neck, arms, stomach, or upper back. The pain usually occurs with activity or emotion, and goes away with rest or a medicine called nitroglycerin.
Other symptoms include shortness of breath and fatigue with activity (exertion).
Women, elderly people, and people with diabetes are more likely to have symptoms other than chest pain, such as: fatigue, shortness of breath and weakness.
Many tests help diagnose CHD. Usually, your doctor will order more than one test before making a diagnosis. You may be asked to take one or more medicines to treat blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol levels. Follow your doctor’s directions closely to help prevent coronary artery disease from getting worse. Treatment depends on your symptoms and how severe the disease is. Your doctor may give you one or more medicines to treat CHD.
Nutrition is important to your heart health, and will help control some of the heart disease risk factor.
Eat a diet that is rich in fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Eat proteins, such as chicken and beans. Eat low-fat dairy products such as one percent milk and low-fat yogurt.
Avoid sodium and fats found in fried foods, processed foods, and baked goods.
Eat fewer animal products that contain cheese, cream or eggs.
Coronary Heart Disease has turned out to be one of the major reasons behind the death of many. Over 459,000 Americans die of coronary heart disease every year. When people turn old, they are more prone to getting this disease and facing death. An early diagnosis of coronary heart disease can help in acquiring an appropriate treatment that will help avoid the damage that can be cause due to coronary heart disease. A weak artery is the main cause, as it will not be able to supply oxygen to the heart, thus resulting in various heart diseases including coronary heart disease.
Everyone recovers differently. Some people can maintain a healthy life by changing their diet, stopping smoking, and taking medications exactly as the doctor prescribes. Others may need medical procedures such as angioplasty or surgery.
Although everyone is different, early detection of CHD generally results in a better outcome. Thank You. Assalamulakum.