Treatment FAQ

which is a treatment for heart disease?

by Daryl Jakubowski Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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In general, treatment for heart disease usually includes: Lifestyle changes. You can lower your risk of heart disease by eating a low-fat and low-sodium diet, getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake. Medications.Feb 9, 2021

What are the main types of treatments for heart disease?

Treatments for Heart Disease. Lifestyle changes, medications, and surgical procedures and devices are the main types of treatments for heart disease. Doctors recommend heart disease treatments based on what type of heart disease you have, what symptoms you experience, your age, and any other health conditions or medications you take.

What are the other medications for heart disease?

Other Medications for Heart Disease. Antibiotics, such as ciprofloxacin, vancomycin, and penicillin G , may be prescribed in cases of endocarditis and other infective heart diseases caused by nonvirus microorganisms. Corticosteroids, such as prednisone, prednisolone, and dexamethasone, are synthetic hormones that suppress immune system response.

What is CABG surgery?

CABG (pronounced “cabbage”) is the most common heart surgery . CABG is considered in cases of severe coronary heart disease, where a waxy substance called plaque has built up in the coronary arteries. Plaque hardens and narrows the arteries and limits the amount of oxygen-rich blood that reaches the heart, causing angina (chest pain). Plaque can also rupture and form clots that can block the flow of blood, leading to a heart attack. Coronary bypass surgery restores the flow of blood to the heart by bypassing the blocked section of coronary artery.

What blood thinners are used for stroke?

Anticoagulants — known as blood thinners — can help prevent dangerous clots from forming and causing stroke or myocardial infarction (heart attack). Drugs from several classes work in different ways as blood thinners. One of the most common blood thinners is the familiar aspirin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory product sold over the counter. Other blood thinners include Plavix (clopidogrel), Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Eliquis (apixaban), Pradaxa (dabigatran), Coumadin (warfarin), and Aggrenox (aspirin/extended-release dipyridamole). Blood thinners can raise the risk for bruising and bleeding problems.

What is the most common blood thinner?

One of the most common blood thinners is the familiar aspirin, a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory product sold over the counter. Other blood thinners include Plavix (clopidogrel), Xarelto (rivaroxaban), Eliquis (apixaban), Pradaxa (dabigatran), Coumadin (warfarin), and Aggrenox (aspirin/extended-release dipyridamole).

What is the best medication for high blood pressure?

Commonly called water pills, diuretics are often one of the first drugs prescribed to treat people with hypertension (high blood pressure). Diuretics are believed to reduce blood volume by ridding your body of sodium and water through urination. Common diuretics include Hydrochlorothiazide, Lasix (furosemide) and Aldactone (spironolactone). Diuretics are usually safe, but they can cause dehydration if you lose too much water.

How do pacemakers help with arrhythmia?

A pacemaker is a small, battery-powered device that helps your heart maintain a normal rhythm by emitting a low-level electrical signal when arrhythmia is detected. Pacemakers are usually implanted beneath the skin of the chest under the collarbone. Some types of temporary pacemakers may be worn externally on a belt. After pacemaker placement, you will likely need to spend one day in the hospital. You can expect to resume normal activities within four weeks.

What is the most common type of heart disease?

In the United States, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to heart attack. You can greatly reduce your risk for heart disease through lifestyle changes and, in some cases, medicine. Learn more about heart disease. About Heart Disease.

What is the leading cause of death in the United States?

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States, causing about 1 in 4 deaths. 1 The term “heart disease ” refers to several types of heart conditions. In the United States, the most common type of heart disease is coronary artery disease (CAD), which can lead to heart attack.

What is clinical trial?

Clinical trials. Clinical trials are scientific studies that determine if a possible new medical advance can help people and whether it has harmful side effects. Find answers to common questions about clinical trials in our Guide to Understanding Clinical Trials.

Can heart failure be cured?

Heart failure caused by damage to the heart that has developed over time can’t be cured. But it can be treated, quite often with strategies to improve symptoms. Successful treatment depends on your willingness to get involved in managing the condition.

What is mechanical assist?

When damage to the heart muscle causes the heart to fail, we can offer a mechanical assist device to help the heart pump more strongly or do a heart transplant. These measures don’t cure the disease, but they do allow patients to recover and live long, functional lives.

Can heart muscle regenerate?

However, once a heart attack occurs and heart muscle dies, we can’t regenerate those cells.

Is Cleveland Clinic a non profit?

Every year, billions of dollars are spent studying ways to prevent and treat coronary artery disease (CAD), valve disease and other heart diseases caused by atherosclerosis. Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center.

Can stem cells regenerate heart muscle?

A: Studies on stem cell therapy to regenerate heart muscle are promising, but they are not ready for prime time. New drugs are taking us to ever-lower levels of LDL cholesterol, but the ability to erase plaques is still a long way off.

Can heart disease be treated?

A: Although we can’t cure heart disease, we can make it better. Most forms of heart disease are very treatable today. There is some evidence that normalizing high blood pressure and lowering cholesterol to very low levels will partially reverse plaques in the coronary arteries.

What are the causes of heart disease?

Poor diet. A diet that's high in fat, salt, sugar and cholesterol can contribute to the development of heart disease. High blood pressure. Uncontrolled high blood pressure can result in hardening and thickening of your arteries, narrowing the vessels through which blood flows.

What are the two conditions that increase the risk of heart disease?

Diabetes. Diabetes increases your risk of heart disease. Both conditions share similar risk factors, such as obesity and high blood pressure. Obesity.

What causes the left ventricle to widen?

The condition usually causes the left ventricle to widen. Dilated cardiomyopathy may be caused by reduced blood flow to the heart (ischemic heart disease) resulting from damage after a heart attack, infections, toxins and certain drugs, including those used to treat cancer. It may also be inherited from a parent.

What are the symptoms of a valvular valve?

Depending on which valve isn't working properly, valvular heart disease signs and symptoms generally include: Fatigue. Shortness of breath. Irregular heartbeat.

What is the most common cause of heart failure?

One of the most common complications of heart disease, heart failure occurs when your heart can't pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. Heart failure can result from many forms of heart disease, including heart defects, cardiovascular disease, valvular heart disease, heart infections or cardiomyopathy.

What happens to the heart during systole?

During contraction (systole), your ventricles squeeze tight, forcing blood into the vessels to your lungs and body. During relaxation (diastole), the ventricles are filled with blood coming from the upper chambers (left and right atria).

What are the symptoms of endocarditis?

Endocarditis is an infection that affects the inner lining of your heart chambers and heart valves (endocardium). Heart infection signs and symptoms can include: Fever. Shortness of breath. Weakness or fatigue. Swelling in your legs or abdomen. Changes in your heart rhythm.

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Overview

  • Heart disease describes a range of conditions that affect your heart. Diseases under the heart disease umbrella include blood vessel diseases, such as coronary artery disease; heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias); and heart defects you're born with (congenital heart defects), among others.The term \"heart disease\" is often used interchangeably with the term \"cardiovascular di…
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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) are a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels and they include:
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  • Heart disease is a debilitating condition for many Americans. Its the leading cause of death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Certain risk factors make some people more likely to have heart disease. Risk factors are either modifiable or non-modifiable. Modifiable risk factors are factors you can control, such as body weight. Non-m…
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“Heart disease,” often used interchangeably with the term “cardiovascular disease” (CVD), describes several conditions affecting the heart, the blood vessels that nourish the heart (the coronary arteries), and the arteries that distribute blood to the brain, legs, and everywhere in-between. Heart disease afflicts or kills as many as …
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Treatment

  • People experiencing these symptoms should seek medical care immediately. In addition costly surgical operations are sometimes required to treat CVDs. They include: Medical devices are required to treat some CVDs. Such devices include pacemakers, prosthetic valves, and patches for closing holes in the heart.
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  • Surgical options can also treat heart disease. Coronary angioplasty is performed over one million times each year on patients in the United States, according to the NIH. In this procedure, a balloon is threaded into the affected blood vessel and inflated, pushing the plaque blocking the artery to the sides of the vessel. Sometimes, this procedure is accompanied by placement of a stent — a …
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  • Heart disease treatments vary by condition. For instance, if you have a heart infection, you'll likely be given antibiotics. In general, treatment for heart disease usually includes: 1. Lifestyle changes. These include eating a low-fat and low-sodium diet, getting at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise on most days of the week, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol intake. 2. Medications…
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  • The treatments for heart disease depend on the particular condition.For example, heart infections are typically treated with antibiotics. Generally, the treatments for heart disease include the following: 1. Lifestyle changes: This includes following a low-fat and low-sodium diet, getting regular exercise, quitting smoking and limiting or eliminating alcohol intake. 2. Medications: Pre…
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Prevention

  • Certain types of heart disease, such as heart defects, can't be prevented. However, you can help prevent many other types of heart disease by making the same lifestyle changes that can improve your heart disease, such as: 1. Quit smoking 2. Control other health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes 3. Exercise at least 30 minutes a day on most days of th…
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  • Cessation of tobacco use, reduction of salt in the diet, consuming fruits and vegetables, regular physical activity and avoiding harmful use of alcohol have been shown to reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. In addition, drug treatment of diabetes, hypertension and high blood lipids may be necessary to reduce cardiovascular risk and prevent heart attacks and strokes. Health p…
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  • Your choices can influence your heart health. Lifestyle changes can greatly reduce your chance of heart disease. Positive lifestyle changes include: The most crucial step you can take to lower your risk of heart disease is to quit smoking. Smoking is one of the leading risk factors for coronary heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Smoking causes a buildup of a fatty substance, or plaqu…
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  • In addition to lifestyle changes, some treatments are available to help avoid heart disease. Many of these medications are designed to lower cholesterol.There are two types of cholesterol. The first, LDL, is called “bad cholesterol” because it is the type that can build up and block blood vessels. The other, HDL, is called “good cholesterol” because it is responsible for transporting L…
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Causes

  • Your heart is a pump. It's a muscular organ about the size of your fist, situated slightly left of center in your chest. Your heart is divided into the right and the left side. The division prevents oxygen-rich blood from mixing with oxygen-poor blood. Oxygen-poor blood returns to the heart after circulating through your body. 1. The right side of the heart, comprising the right atrium an…
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  • Heart attacks and strokes are usually acute events and are mainly caused by a blockage that prevents blood from flowing to the heart or brain. The most common reason for this is a build-up of fatty deposits on the inner walls of the blood vessels that supply the heart or brain. Strokes can also be caused by bleeding from a blood vessel in the brain or from blood clots. The cause of he…
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  • Stress affects everyone in different ways. Theres a link between people who experience high amounts of stress over long periods and heart disease. The link isnt well understood.
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  • Cardiovascular diseases are usually caused by correctable problems like lack of physical activity, an unhealthy diet, smoking, and being overweight.Take note that the causes differ from one heart disease to another.Heart arrhythmias are usually caused by heart defects, high blood pressure, coronary artery disease, smoking and other lifestyle factors. Heart infections can be caused by p…
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Risk Factors

  • Risk factors for developing heart disease include: 1. Age. Aging increases your risk of damaged and narrowed arteries and weakened or thickened heart muscle. 2. Sex. Men are generally at greater risk of heart disease. However, women's risk increases after menopause. 3. Family history. A family history of heart disease increases your risk of coronary artery disease, especiall…
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  • According to the American Heart Association, one of the greatest contributors to heart disease is high blood pressure. High blood pressure can be brought on from smoking, poor nutrition, lack of exercise, and genetics. High blood pressure can lead to other serious conditions, such as heart attack, congestive heart failure, and stroke. Approximately 76.4 million people in this country ha…
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  • Some risk factors are beyond your control. You can't change your gender (males have a higher risk), your family history, or your age (risk increases with age). Other major risk factors can be changed. You can help lower your risk of developing heart disease by making positive lifestyle changes. Even if you already have heart disease, doing these things can help you prevent a futur…
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Signs And Symptoms

  • Often, there are no symptoms of the underlying disease of the blood vessels. A heart attack or stroke may be the first warning of underlying disease. Symptoms of a heart attack include:
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  • Stress can cause sleep loss, pain, and headaches, and can exhaust the body. Chronic stress can cause the heart to work harder. This will worsen any other risk factors for heart disease you may have.
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Coronary artery disease is the most common type of heart disease in the United States, according to the CDC. It occurs when cholesterol builds up in arteries — called plaque — narrowing the space blood can flow through, a condition called atherosclerosis.In other words, \"anything that blocks the vessel,\" said Lawrence …
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  • Possible heart symptoms which you shouldn’t avoid. Quora.com imagesThere are different signs and symptoms for particular types of heart disease but here are the heart symptoms that should not be ignored: 1. Chest Discomfort: This is a classic sign of heart disease but in some cases may also indicate digestive problems. If you have chest discomfort, it would be best to seek medical …
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Diagnosis

  • Work closely with your doctor and monitor your blood pressure on a regular basis if you know you have high blood pressure. Take all medications your provider prescribes for your blood pressure, and take them as directed. High blood pressure is difficult to detect. Consult your doctor if youre unsure whether or not you have it.
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  • Five symptoms can indicate when someone is having a heart attack and requires immediate emergency care. These include pain in the jaw, neck or back; pain in the arms or shoulder; chest pain; lightheadedness or weakness; and shortness of breath, Phillips said.Heart disease symptoms may differ for men and women, according to the Mayo Clinic. Men are more likely to …
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  • The tests you'll need to diagnose your heart disease depend on what condition your doctor thinks you might have. No matter what type of heart disease you have, your doctor will likely perform a physical exam and ask about your personal and family medical history before doing any tests. Besides blood tests and a chest X-ray, tests to diagnose heart disease can include: 1. Electrocar…
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  • The first step to getting diagnosed is a doctor’s examination that is usually followed by blood tests.Then he/she may order tests like an EKG, chest x-ray, stress test, tilt table test, echocardiogram, etc. depending on what is suspected.
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Diet

  • Youll also need to avoid or limit some foods that worsen heart disease. This includes foods with high amounts of sugar and salt, alcoholic beverages, and foods with partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Watching calories is important, too. Know how many calories per day you should be getting and focus on eating a variety of foods that are high in nutrients and low in calories.
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  • Consider these foods, which are high in nutrition: 1. Dark green leafy vegetables like spinach. These vegetables contain vitamins C and K, and folate. These nutrients may lower your risk for heart disease and some cancers. 2. Beans and other legumes. They’re high in protein and a good source of fiber. Both are good for your heart, help control cholesterol, and keep blood sugar level…
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Pathophysiology

  • Rheumatic heart disease is caused by damage to the heart valves and heart muscle from the inflammation and scarring caused by rheumatic fever. Rheumatic fever is caused by an abnormal response of the body to infection with streptococcal bacteria, which usually begins as a sore throat or tonsillitis in children.
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Epidemiology

  • Rheumatic fever mostly affects children in developing countries, especially where poverty is widespread. Globally, about 2% of deaths from cardiovascular diseases is related to rheumatic heart disease. The sixth target in the Global NCD action plan calls for 25% reduction in the global prevalence of raised blood pressure. Raised blood pressure is the leading risk factor for cardiov…
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