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Cardiac Care - February '08
Cardiovascular Disease: Prevention and management
Christopher Cooper, MD
Cardiovascular disease is a term used to describe the many different diseases that affect your heart and blood vessels. It is the leading cause of death among men and women and takes the lives of more people than all cancers combined. However, there are ways to reduce your risk of developing these deadly diseases.
“People should start taking measures to prevent cardiovascular disease as early as childhood,” says Christopher Cooper, MD, chief, division of cardiovascular medicine. “Parents should begin teaching their children healthy eating habits and the value of exercise to help them make the healthiest choices throughout their lives.”
Diseases develop over time
Many people have more than one form of cardiovascular disease. These diseases range from high blood pressure and coronary artery disease to heart failure and stroke. However, cardiovascular disease is most often used to describe arthrosclerosis, which is the build-up of plaque in the arteries. Too much build-up can restrict blood flow to organs and tissue. It causes chest pain and could eventually lead to these disabling and even deadly diseases.
Arthrosclerosis can be caused by a number of factors including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, smoking and diabetes. “Arthrosclerosis can be silent for many years and may not present symptoms until build-up in the arteries becomes so severe that it blocks blood supply,” says Dr. Cooper. “Common warning signs are chest pain, dizziness and swelling or pain in the arms or legs.”
Reduce the risk
According to Dr. Cooper, Americans can help ensure their heart health and that of future generations by maintaining a healthy lifestyle. These vital lifestyle guidelines not only help prevent cardiovascular disease, but many other diseases and conditions as well. There are some risk factors for cardiovascular disease you can’t control, such as age and a family history. However, most risk factors can be prevented by taking the following measures:
- Quit smoking – Smoking can damage the heart and blood vessels, making them more susceptible to arthrosclerosis. Quitting smoking should be a top priority to help prevent cardiovascular disease.
- Exercise regularly – 30 to 60 minutes of moderately intense exercise daily can increase blood flow to the heart and help blood flow with less effort. The benefits of regular exercise are nearly endless. Not only does it help control weight and reduce stress, it also helps fight osteoporosis and some cancers.
- Eat a healthy diet – A diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains and low-fat dairy products supports a healthy heart. Avoiding foods high in saturated fat, such as beef, butter, cheese, milk, coconut and palm oils, can help lower cholesterol. Foods high in trans fat, such as deep-fried foods, bakery products and margarines, not only raise bad cholesterol, but also lower good cholesterol.
- Maintain a healthy weight – Excess weight can cause high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. Following other guidelines, such as eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, can significantly reduce a person’s weight.
- Get regular physical exams – Routine visits to a physician can give patients a better idea of their own heart health. Physicians can measure blood pressure and cholesterol and help guide patients in the right direction.
“Although cardiovascular disease can’t be reversed, it can be stabilized if it is managed,” says Dr. Cooper. “Fortunately, there are a number of advancements for detecting and treating cardiovascular disease.” Stress tests and other non-invasive measures are standard for testing cardiovascular disease. “Stress testing continues to improve and UT Medical Center has access to the latest advancements in other non-invasive testing, such as CT scan and echocardiogram,” he says.
Treatments for cardiovascular disease are also gaining ground. “With advancements in stents, angioplasty and open-heart surgery, patient outcomes are improving significantly,” says Dr. Cooper. “And, if patients maintain good heart health, the success of these surgeries can be even greater.”
At UT Medical Center, cardiac specialists use the latest advancements to diagnose and treat cardiovascular disease. Patients also have access to cardiac programs that can help ensure the highest quality of life.
To make an appointment with a UTMC cardiovascular physician, please call 877-451-2299.
