CVD is primarily caused by the buildup of cholesterol plaque in the arteries, which can impede blood flow to other organs and tissues. When these plaques accumulate in the arteries of the heart, it can lead to a myocardial infarction and, if found in the arteries of the brain, it can cause a cerebrovascular accident, known as a stroke, he explains in an interview with DIARIO LAS AMERICAS interventional cardiologist at the Texas Heart Institute, Alejandro Postalian.
Although it is usually associated with the lifestyle of each person, in some cases, they are usually related to genetics. “There are people who have a genetic predisposition to deposit cholesterol in the arteries and even if you lead a healthy lifestyle, sometimes you need pharmacological help to try to lower cholesterol and reduce the risk of heart attacks,” says the doctor.
Warning signs
According to the World Health Organization (WHO)Every year, more people die from cardiovascular diseases than from any other cause. For this reason, detecting these conditions in time and maintaining control is essential.
The body usually gives signals that warn you that cardiovascular disease exists. Among the symptoms of concern, Postalian mentions the chest painespecially when it occurs after aerobic physical activity.
He too tiredness and difficulty breathing. “When the fatigue is more noticeable than before, for example, before you could run two kilometers and now you can’t, you have to run a single kilometer because then you get tired. That change in your functional capacity is important,” she adds.
Likewise, it indicates that there are other important manifestations that the body emanates to warn of these diseases, which are usually underestimated. They are found:
- Leg pain, especially after physical activity. This may indicate a blockage of the arteries found in this part of the body.
- Stomach pain after each meal, which sometimes involves obstruction of the arteries that go to the intestine.
- Neurological changes, such as temporary loss of vision, the ability to speak, or arm strength, which may signal a buildup of cholesterol plaques in the arteries of the brain.
“If you have any of these symptoms, it is important that you discuss them with your cardiologist or general practitioner,” he highlights. This will allow the specialist to perform tests that determine the state of the patient’s cardiovascular health.
Among them, he mentions, the heart ultrasound and a stress test, in which it will be indirectly observed if there are blockages in the heart arteries. “If a blockage is detected with a stress test, then that is where invasive tests are done, such as catheterization, which is going in with catheters to take photos of the arteries of the heart, to see if there is anything clogged that can be unclogged with a stent (stent) or in some other way,” he points out.
Gender, race and age
Although no one is exempt from suffering from cardiovascular disease, incidence may be slightly higher by gender, race and age. Postalian indicates that initially men tend to be more likely to suffer from CVD. However, once you exceed 70 years of age, the incidence becomes equal in men and women.
In addition, there are ethnic groups that have more cardiovascular diseases. “People from India have a higher incidenceSometimes the African-American population and Hispanics also have more CVD than whites,” he adds.
However, in their opinion, race and gender are not as important as risk factors that increase the chances of suffering from these diseases. Among them, the genetic background, if there are cases of a father or mother with a heart disease; and the cigarette, which increases the incidence 5 to 10 times more of the average level.
Regarding age, he points out that it is an important factor that influences this type of diseases. “As age increases, the incidence increases. In young people it is very rare, unless there are congenital heart problems,” he says.
Although the recommendations to visit a cardiologist “are not very aggressive,” Postalian advises paying more attention to cardiovascular health after age 35. “If you have access to a cardiologist, it may be worth making a visit for a physical exam and some lab tests,” she notes.
How to take care of your cardiovascular health?
Only between 2015 and 2018, 126.9 million American adults presented some form of cardiovascular disease, according to the American Heart Association (AHA).
Maintaining a healthy lifestyle, taking care of your diet, doing physical activities, paying attention to the signals that the body emanates and visiting a doctor when after a certain age is essential to minimize the risk of CVD.
Cardiologist Alejandro Postalian recommends take care of the calorie balance, how many calories go into your diet versus how many come out with physical activity and metabolism. “The official AHA recommendation is to perform 150 minutes of moderate activity per week. That would be jogging, walking incline, doing ellipticals, cycling and a little bit of weights, so that you feel like you are making an effort, but that you are not completely wearing yourself out,” he suggests.
On the other hand, it must eliminate the consumption of simple carbohydrates, which raise sugar levels and bad cholesterol, increasing the risk of heart attacks. “Sugar, sweets, rice, pasta, bread, potatoes and flour, all of that is enemy number one. And number two is bad fats, which is animal fat, like butter, bacon and fried foods,” he adds.
Advise eat a diet that is based primarily on lean protein, such as grilled chicken and fish, with vegetables and nuts, what is known as the “Mediterranean diet.” In addition, he suggests being careful with the dressing used on salads, which can sometimes have many more calories than the rest of the food.
“As we have always said, it is better to be safe than sorry. It is better to act before something happens, rather than after, because sometimes problems can be irreversible,” she emphasizes.
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