William Penn Life, 2012 (47. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2012-10-01 / 10. szám
Our Health Corner with Debbie Wolfe, rn Treating the heart Part Three of our look at heart disease NOW THAT WE have completed the tests, how will our doctor treat us? There are many choices out there today for our physicians. Some are as easy as taking an oral medication once or twice daily; others are as invasive as surgery. TREATMENT I: Medicines Medications play a huge role in treating heart disease. Some drugs help to lower blood pressure, heart rate and cholesterol levels; others can keep abnormal heart rhythms under control or prevent clots from forming. For patients who already have some heart damage, there are medications that help to improve the heart's ability to efficiently pump. TREATMENT II: Angioplasty Angioplasty is used to open a blocked heart artery and improve blood flow to the heart. This is performed during a cardiac cauterization. The doctor inserts a thin tube, called a catheter, with a balloon on the end into a large artery of the groin or arm. He then advances the catheter to the heart's blocked artery. When the balloon reaches the blockage, it is inflated, opening up the artery and improving blood flow. The doctor may also insert a small mesh tube, called a stent, to help keep the artery open. TREATMENT III: Bypass Surgery Bypass surgery is another way to improve the heart's blood flow. It gives blood a new pathway when the coronary arteries have become too narrow or blocked. During the surgery, a blood vessel is removed from one part of the body, such as a leg, chest or arm. This vessel is then attached to the blocked artery, allowing the blood flow to "bypass" the blocked part. TREATMENT IV: Prevention This should be number one on everyone's list. If we want to stay away from Treatments I, II and III, we have to learn to maintain a healthy lifestyle. This includes a nutritious diet, at least 30 minutes of exercise most days of the week, not smoking, and controlling blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes. If you drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Women should have no more than one drink a day and men no more than two. A healthy lifestyle begins with knowledge. Know your risk factors. Men have a higher risk of having a heart attack than women and at an earlier age. But heart disease is the number one killer of women. People with a family history of heart ailments are at a higher risk. High cholesterol and high blood pressure are major risk factors for heart disease. Being overweight, obese or physically inactive all increase our risk. So does diabetes, especially if your levels are not well controlled. What you eat makes a great difference to your heart. Be sure to get plenty of whole grains, fresh vegetables, legumes and fruits to keep the old ticker happy. Plant oils, walnuts, other nuts and seeds can also help to improve cholesterol levels. If you smoke, the risk of heart disease is two to four times greater than that of a nonsmoker. And, if you smoke around loved ones, you are increasing their risk with secondhand smoke. But, it is never too late to quit. Within 24 hours of quitting, your risk of a heart attack begins to fall. We have to take responsibility for our own health. As we age we must listen to our bodies. All those little aches and pains that we disregard as just part of aging may be trying to tell us something. I researched this three-part series as much for myself as for you, my readers. I had chest pain. It was followed by an EKG, a stress test, a cardiac catheterrization and a CT scan. Lucky for me, my pain has been resolved with medication, a better diet and quitting smoking. As I write this, I have been smoke-free for 15 weeks. I quit the day of my cath. My sister-in-law once told me something her cardiologist said. It has always been one of my favorite quotes, and I think this would be a great time to share it with you. "The quickest road to the Pearly Gates can be found just after the drive-thru window." Till next month.... ■fce Healthy! H#ppy! stay Fit! Bqé&zUqérel Debbie To learn more about heart disease, how to treat it and how to prevent it, log onto: O http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/index.htm (The Heart and Vascular Diseases sections of the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute website) O http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/heart-disease/DSOI 120 (The Heart Disease section of the Mayo Clinic website) william Penn Life 0 October 2012 0 13
