Arteriosclerosis
What is it?
Atherosclerosis is a
disease where plaque builds up inside the arteries. Plaque is a sticky
substance made up of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other substances found in
the blood. Over time, this plaque hardens and narrows the arteries. That limits
the blood flow.
Causes
The exact causes of arteriosclerosis
are not known. Even so, if you smoke, you have high blood pressure or a lot of
fat or cholesterol in your blood you’re more prone to suffer this illness.
Symptoms
In general,
atherosclerosis has no symptoms until an artery narrows too much or completely.
Many people do not know that they are suffering until they have a medical
emergency.
Treatment
The treatment of
atherosclerosis is based on the modification of the lifestyle, the use of medicines
and even the surgery when it’s necessary.
The best way to combat
this illness is the prevention of the cardiovascular risk factors and to have a
healthy lifestyle, having healthy food and making physical activities.
Hypertension
What is it?
Hypertension is a
cardiovascular disease that develops by elevating blood pressure. It is the one
that is presented and diagnosed more frequently.
Causes
The exact causes of hypertension are not known. Even so, if you have
obesity, a sedentary lifestyle or an excessive consummation of alcohol you are
more prone to suffer this illness.
Symptoms
In general, hypertension
has no symptoms. Some patients can be alerted by unspecific symptoms that make
go to the doctor and take the strain.
Treatment
The treatment of hypertension
is based on a healthy lifestyle and the use of specific medicines to treat this
illness.
Aneurysm
What is it?
An aneurysm is an
enlargement or abnormal bulging of a part of an artery due to weakness in the
wall of the blood vessel.
Causes
It is unclear exactly
what causes aneurysms. Some are present at born. High blood pressure, high
cholesterol, and smoking may increase the risk of certain types of aneurysms.
Symptoms
The symptoms depend on
where the aneurysm is. If the aneurysm arises near the surface of the body,
pain and swelling are often seen with a protuberance. Aneurysms within the body
and brain often have no symptoms.
If an aneurysm ruptures
the symptoms can be pain, low blood pressure, rapid heart rate or dizziness.
When a brain aneurysm is broken, there is a sudden severe headache. The risk of
death after a break is high.
Treatment
The treatment is based
in regular check-ups, and in some cases surgery. To prevent you should have a
healthy lifestyle and you shouldn’t smoke.
Venous insufficiency
What is it?
It is a disease in
which veins have trouble returning blood from the legs to the heart.
Causes
The exact causes of venous insufficiency are not known. Even so, if you
have obesity, a sedentary lifestyle or some genetically causes make you more prone
to suffer this illness.
Symptoms
The most common
symptoms are pain or swelling in the legs or
irritated or dry skin.
irritated or dry skin.
Treatment
Avoid sitting or
standing for prolonged periods, lose weight if you are overweight, use compression stockings
or some medicines.
Myocardium stroke
What is it?
It is the blockage of
blood flow that results in the death of muscle tissue. Blockage happens
in one of the arteries of the heart muscle, a coronary artery. It’s also
known by heart attack.
Causes
The main cause of
myocardial stroke is obstruction of the coronary arteries. For the properly function
of the heart, blood must flow through the coronary arteries. However, these
arteries may become narrowed, making circulation difficult.
Smoking, cholesterol,
diabetes and hypertension, as some of the cardiovascular risk factors that
force the heart to work in worse conditions.
Symptoms
The main symptom of the
stroke is an oppressive pain in the center of the chest irradiated to arms
(especially left), neck and back. Also can produce respiratory distress.
Treatment
The treatment of myocardium
stroke usually requires the injection of thrombolytic medicines. They dissolve
clots and anticoagulants, such as heparin.
The effects of
myocardial infarction depends on the area affected and the size of the lesion,
which can range from a decrease in the contractile force of the heart muscle to
the immediate death of a person if the infarction interrupts the electrical
conduction system from the heart.
