Showing posts with label heart disease. Show all posts
Showing posts with label heart disease. Show all posts

Targeting Cellular Adhesion: A Novel Approach to Reducing Heart Attack and Stroke Recurrence

The Antioxidant Potential: A New Approach to Reducing Heart Attack and Stroke Recurrences

A groundbreaking study conducted by the University of Health and Sciences of Oregon, published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, has shed light on the underlying mechanisms behind increased risk of heart attack and stroke recurrence. The researchers identified a novel therapeutic approach involving a specific antioxidant that could potentially reduce this risk.

Understanding the Mechanism:

Following an initial heart attack, cells and platelets within the arteries become increasingly "sticky," adhering to the arterial walls. This study, conducted in mice, utilized advanced ultrasound imaging techniques to visualize these molecular interactions. The researchers discovered that this increased adhesion of inflammatory cells and platelets contributes to plaque instability, making blood clots more likely to form and leading to further cardiovascular events.

The Antioxidant Solution:

The study revealed that treating mice with the antioxidant apocynine significantly reduced plaque formation and inflammation. This finding suggests that similar antioxidants could be used to lower the risk of heart attack and stroke recurrence in humans.

Building on Previous Research:

The results of this study align with a previous study that demonstrated the effectiveness of an anti-inflammatory drug, already approved for juvenile arthritis, in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events by 15%.

The Role of Arterial Rigidity:

The researchers also emphasized the importance of arterial rigidity, particularly in distant arteries, as a contributing factor to cardiovascular disease.

The Power of Antioxidants:

Antioxidants play a crucial role in protecting cells from damage caused by free radicals. A diet rich in antioxidant-containing foods, such as fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, has been linked to a reduced risk of heart disease.   

Specific Antioxidants and Their Benefits:

  • Vitamin E: May reduce the risk of a future heart attack in individuals with existing heart disease.
  • Vitamin C: Enhances the effectiveness of vitamin E and improves arterial function.
  • Apocynine: Demonstrated potential in reducing plaque formation and inflammation in mice.

Conclusion:

The study's findings offer promising new avenues for preventing heart attack and stroke recurrences. By targeting the underlying mechanisms of increased platelet and cell adhesion, antioxidants could play a significant role in reducing the risk of these devastating events. Further research is needed to explore the potential benefits of specific antioxidants in human populations.

ApoA-IV: The Nighttime Guardian: How Sleep and Olive Oil Enhance Cardiovascular Protection

The Heart-Healthy Duo: Olive Oil and Sleep

A groundbreaking study from St. Michael's Hospital in Toronto has unveiled a fascinating connection between olive oil, sleep, and cardiovascular health. Researchers discovered that a specific plasma protein, ApoA-IV, plays a crucial role in preventing heart attacks and strokes. This protein is elevated after consuming foods rich in unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, and exhibits increased activity during sleep.

How does ApoA-IV protect the heart?

  • Platelet Inhibition: ApoA-IV acts as a natural inhibitor of platelets, the tiny blood cells involved in blood clotting. By blocking the platelet receptor integrin αIIβ3, ApoA-IV prevents platelets from clumping together and forming potentially dangerous clots.
  • Reduced Inflammation: Higher levels of ApoA-IV can help reduce post-meal inflammation, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease.
  • Improved Blood Flow: The protein's ability to inhibit platelet aggregation contributes to smoother blood flow and reduces the risk of plaque buildup in arteries (atherosclerosis).

The Power of Sleep:

  • Circadian Rhythm: ApoA-IV follows a circadian rhythm, meaning it's more active at night and less so in the morning. This suggests that sleep plays a vital role in optimizing its protective effects.
  • Reduced Risk: The researchers found that the risk of a cardiovascular event is higher after waking up in the morning, possibly due to the decreased activity of ApoA-IV during this time.

The Perfect Combination:

  • Dietary and Lifestyle Factors: A diet rich in unsaturated fats, such as olive oil, combined with adequate sleep, can create a powerful synergy for heart health.
  • Potential Applications: These findings open up new avenues for research and potential therapeutic interventions, including supplements and targeted therapies for cardiovascular diseases.

In conclusion, the study highlights the importance of a healthy lifestyle that includes a Mediterranean-style diet and sufficient sleep. By incorporating these elements into your daily routine, you can harness the protective benefits of ApoA-IV and reduce your risk of heart disease.

Complex congenital heart disease

What are complex congenital heart diseases?

Congenital heart defects are alterations that occur from the moment of birth and harm both the structure of the heart and its functioning, affecting the way in which blood flows through the heart and to other parts of the body, being the most common pathology. common in newborn babies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2018).

Statistics:

According to Sandoval (2015), these anomalies produce 3.2 million disabilities annually, becoming a public health problem, which in Latin America harms 54,000 children each year, of which only 17,000 receive care, which affects pediatric mortality at global level, as indicated by Tassinari et al. (2018), since it is estimated that 14% of these newborns do not exceed the first month and 30% die before the year.

Types of congenital heart disease:

Below are different types of complex congenital heart disease, taking into account the classification made by the CDC (2018). Those marked with a star (*) are considered critical.
  • atrial communication.
  • Atrioventricular septal defect.
  • Coarctation of the aorta.
  • Double outlet right ventricle.
  • d-Transposition of the great arteries.
  • Ebstein anomaly.
  • Hypoplastic left heart syndrome.
  • Interrupted aortic arch.
  • Pulmonary atresia.
  • Single ventricle.
  • Tetralogy of Fallot.
  • Total anomalous pulmonary venous return.
  • Tricuspid atresia.
  • Truncus Arteriosus.
  • ventricular septal defect.
  • Signs and symptoms.

The signs and symptoms of complex congenital heart disease depend on the type and severity of the patient's abnormality, which may have few or no symptoms. However, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2018) highlights some warning signs that must be considered, such as a) Blue nails or lips, b) Abnormal breathing, c) Tiredness during feeding and d) Drowsiness.

Causes:

The causes of these diseases are unknown in most patients, although some studies highlight changes in genes or chromosomes, environmental influences during the mother's pregnancy, such as her health conditions or the use of medications, diabetes, obesity and bad habits such as smoking ( CDC, 2018).

Treatment:

According to the Cardiovascular Foundation of Colombia (2019), the treatment of most of these alterations involves performing three surgeries: a) Palliative surgery, which is done in the first seven days of life and has the purpose of stabilizing the child while he manages to gain weight and improve their condition, b) Complete correction or Glenn Palliation (according to the minor's illness), which is carried out after six or nine months have passed, and c) Fontan, which is normally done with children who have only one ventricle and according to the evolution of the minor.

The time between the first and second surgeries is called the 'first interstage period' and the time between the second and third surgeries is called the 'second interstage period'.

These are periods of time in which the patient is outside the hospital environment,

The functions of the blood in the body and how the heart works

What are the functions of blood in the body?

The blood is responsible for carrying oxygen to all the cells of the body. So oxygen is the fuel that all tissues need to live.

The blood is filled with oxygen in the lungs, passes through the heart and from there it is propelled to all the tissues (the whole body), once the body takes all the oxygen from the blood, that blood that is without oxygen returns to the heart , from where it is pushed back to the lungs, so that it is refilled with oxygen, returns to the heart and is expelled again throughout the body.

So the heart plays a very important role in the body and its function is closely related to the lungs and some alteration in its shape or structure leads to this blood pumping cycle not being fulfilled in an ideal way.

How does a normal heart work?

The normal heart has 4 chambers: two atria at the top and two ventricles at the bottom (see figure 1). The two atria are separated from each other by the interatrial septum, and the two ventricles are separated by the interventricular septum.

Blood passes from the right atrium to the right ventricle across the tricuspid valve, and from the left atrium to the left ventricle across the mitral valve.

The mechanism of blood distribution in the body by the heart:

The right side of the heart (right atrium and right ventricle) receives blood from all over the body through the superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC) and sends it through the pulmonary artery (PA) to the lungs, where the blood (more specifically the red blood cells) take the oxygen, to then return to the left side of the heart (left atrium and left ventricle) through the pulmonary veins (VPI) and from there it is sent through the aorta artery (AO ) to the whole body.

Congenital heart disease and its classification

What are congenital heart diseases?

Congenital heart disease can be classified into cyanotic and non-cyanotic. The word cyanosis refers to the blue or purple coloration that patients acquire in the face, mouth, hands or skin in general, due to low levels of oxygen in the blood.

Reasons for low blood oxygen levels:

This occurs because:
- Not enough blood is flowing into the pulmonary artery (what we call pulmonary hypoflow).
- Oxygenated blood mixes with deoxygenated blood.
- The blood circulates incorrectly, as is the case when the arteries leaving the heart are invertedly connected to the ventricles, that is, the pulmonary artery leaves the left ventricle and the aorta leaves the right ventricle, this condition is called "Transposition of Great Arteries”.

Symptoms of congenital heart disease in children:

Children with non-cyanotic congenital heart disease present symptoms associated with cardiac malformation, but the child does not present blue or purple coloration.

Severe heart disease can be cyanotic or non-cyanotic and, according to medical criteria, will require two or more surgeries. In the case of very complex malformations and/or hearts with a single ventricle, the first surgery is to stabilize the child.

Norwood, Fistula or Hybrid. (These are the three types of procedures that can be done in the first surgery). Subsequently, these patients with a single ventricle will.

Surgical treatment of congenital heart disease in children:

undergo a second surgery called Glenn, which, depending on their health conditions, can be done around 6 months of life. The period of time between the first surgery and the second surgery is called "First inter-stage period" and is a time in which the child remains at home under the care of their parents or caregivers and requires permanent monitoring scheduled by their treating doctors.

Despite medical advances throughout the world, it has been recognized that the level of frailty of these children during the interstage period is high and they are easily prone to decompensation with situations that would not affect other children of the same age, such as a flu infection.

Warning signs and symptoms in congenital heart disease of the newborn

congenital heart disease of the newborn:

The incidence of congenital heart disease can be estimated at 8 to 10 per 1000 newborns, with approximately half of them presenting symptoms already in the neonatal period.

Congenital heart diseases are considered as structural alterations of the heart or the great vessels that present or potentially have the risk of functional compromise.

Congenital heart disease is a consequence of alterations in the embryonic development of the heart, mainly between the third and tenth weeks of gestation (Madrid, A & Juan Restrepo. (2012).

Clinical features of congenital heart disease of the newborn:

The child may present the following clinical manifestations:
  •  Heart failure
  •  Tachypnea (increased respirations)
  •  Tachycardia (increased heartbeat)
  •  Agitation
  •  Diaphoresis (excessive sweating)
  •  Dyspnea (shortness of breath)
  •  Stunted growth
  •  Cold feet or lower extremities
  •  Malnutrition
  •  Cyanosis (bluish discoloration of the lips and fingertips)
  •  Pallor
  •  exercise intolerance

Angina.. Inadequate blood supply to the heart as a result of narrowing of the coronary arteries or Chnjha

Angina:

Angina is a type of chest pain caused by reduced blood flow to the heart. It is a symptom of coronary artery disease (CAD), which is a condition in which the arteries that supply blood to the heart become narrowed or blocked.
Angina is not a disease itself, but it is a warning sign that you are at risk of a heart attack or stroke. It is important to see a doctor right away if you have angina symptoms.

Symptoms of angina:

The main symptom of angina is chest pain. Angina pain is often described as:
  • Squeezing.
  • Pressure.
  • Heaviness.
  • Tightness.
  • Burning.
The pain may also spread to the shoulders, neck, jaw, or back. Angina pain is usually triggered by physical exertion, such as walking or climbing stairs, or by emotional stress. It typically lasts for a few minutes and subsides with rest.

Causes of angina:

The most common cause of angina is CAD. CAD is caused by the buildup of plaque, a fatty substance, on the walls of the coronary arteries. This plaque buildup narrows the arteries and reduces the amount of blood that can flow to the heart.
Other causes of angina include:
  • Aortic stenosis (narrowing of the aortic valve).
  • Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (a condition in which the heart muscle is thickened).
  • Pulmonary stenosis (narrowing of the pulmonary valve).
  • Coronary vasospasm (spasm of the coronary arteries).

Diagnosis of angina:

To diagnose angina, your doctor will perform a physical exam and ask about your medical history and symptoms. They may also order tests such as:
  • Electrocardiogram (EKG) to record the electrical activity of your heart.
  • Echocardiogram to create images of your heart.
  • Stress test to monitor your heart's response to exercise.
  • Coronary angiography to visualize your coronary arteries.

Treatment of angina:

The goal of angina treatment is to improve blood flow to the heart and relieve symptoms. Treatment options include:
  • Lifestyle changes, such as quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and eating a healthy diet.
  • Medications to improve blood flow to the heart, such as nitrates, beta-blockers, and calcium channel blockers.
  • Procedures to open up blocked arteries, such as angioplasty and stenting.

Prevention of angina:

The best way to prevent angina is to prevent CAD. This can be done by making healthy lifestyle choices, such as:
  • Quitting smoking
  • Exercising regularly
  • Eating a healthy diet
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Controlling blood sugar levels
  • Managing stress
If you have angina, it is important to follow your doctor's treatment plan and make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of a heart attack or stroke.

Rheumatic fever.. Injured joints after a period of almost a week from the date of tonsillitis and throat in one of the textile microbes

Rheumatic fever:

Rheumatic fever is a serious inflammatory disease that can develop as a complication of inadequately treated or untreated strep throat infection caused by the bacteria Streptococcus pyogenes. It primarily affects children between the ages of 5 and 15, although it can occur in individuals of any age.

What you should know about rheumatic fever:

Here are some key points about rheumatic fever:

- Cause:

Rheumatic fever is caused by an abnormal immune response to an untreated or inadequately treated strep throat infection. The body's immune system mistakenly attacks its own tissues, particularly those of the heart, joints, skin, and central nervous system.

- Symptoms:

The symptoms of rheumatic fever can vary, and not all individuals will experience the same set of symptoms. Common signs and symptoms include fever, joint pain and swelling (arthritis), chest pain, shortness of breath, skin rash, nodules under the skin, and abnormal movements (Sydenham's chorea). In severe cases, rheumatic fever can lead to damage of the heart valves, known as rheumatic heart disease.

- Diagnosis:

Diagnosis of rheumatic fever involves evaluating the individual's symptoms, medical history, and conducting a physical examination. Blood tests may be performed to check for the presence of specific antibodies and markers of inflammation. Additionally, an electrocardiogram (ECG) and echocardiogram may be done to assess heart function and detect any abnormalities.

- Treatment:

The primary goals of treating rheumatic fever are to eliminate the strep infection, relieve symptoms, and prevent further complications. Antibiotics, typically penicillin or other suitable alternatives, are prescribed to eradicate the remaining strep bacteria. Anti-inflammatory medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be given to alleviate joint pain and reduce inflammation. In cases of severe cardiac involvement, corticosteroids or other immunosuppressive medications may be necessary. Long-term antibiotic prophylaxis is usually recommended to prevent recurrent strep infections and further episodes of rheumatic fever.

- Prevention:

The best way to prevent rheumatic fever is to promptly and effectively treat strep throat infections with antibiotics. It's important to complete the full course of antibiotics as prescribed by the healthcare provider, even if symptoms improve before the medication is finished. Treating strep throat infections promptly can help prevent the development of rheumatic fever.

If you suspect you or someone else may have rheumatic fever or strep throat, it is important to seek medical attention for a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Rheumatic fever can have serious consequences, and early detection and treatment are crucial to minimize complications and ensure optimal recovery.

Congenital heart disease problems.. Birth defects high-risk complex. Surgical correction

Fetal heart may become infected (in the first weeks of pregnancy) inside the mother's womb as a result of exposure to the virus or medicine addressed or exposed to different types of radiation during the first three months of pregnancy without consulting a doctor or genetic reasons or for reasons unknown.
These factors may affect individually or collectively to the growth and development of the heart and ends with birth defects may be simple can be borne by the child grows with a simple complications birth defects may be high-risk complex can not be a child born to live without rapid surgical correction.

Varicose veins.. Stretch and twisting into a vein and weakness in the wall. Inefficiency in the valves in the vein wall

Disease of the veins in multiple parts of the body. The result stretched and sprained Vein, and weakness in the wall. And most places in the body suited for a varicose veins are; Legs and thighs. This disease occurs in women, more than men. It No doubt the presence of    Ready Congenital and Orathi this disease is caused by weakness in the wall of the vein, and inefficiency in the Valves in the inside, and that control the functioning of blood in the right direction. Helping of varicose veins, the large stand in some professions. And help the large number of Pregnancy in women on the increasing volume of varicose veins, or spread, as a result of pressure of the uterus The main veins in the pelvis. The cases of varicose veins easy diagnosis, where Veins visible under the skin, may reach a large volume. Caused her chronic pain In the legs, swelling and inability to stand for long, and after a period of time, Patient complains of chronic eczema, or sores in the legs called ulcers Varicose, which takes a long time to heal. And dealing with varicose veins, either surgically, Or by injection drug leads to clogged veins, or by linking them and ease the pain .
The patient feels varicose sense of pain in the leg and gravity This can happen some swelling in the ankle and foot addition to the varicose veins do harm The aesthetic form of the leg.

Enlarged heart.. Inability of the heart to work efficiently in the case of falling heart muscle or meet him great reluctance to pump blood through the blood

Is a medical term to denote the large size of the heart. 
If the heart can not work efficiently in the case of the heart muscle or drop if met with great reluctance to pump blood through the vessels.
As in the case of high blood pressure, the body tries to increase the strength of the heart by increasing its size. 
Cardiac hypertrophy is a hallmark in several different heart diseases.
Increasing the volume and mass of the heart muscle increases its fuel and oxygen Through the coronary arteries,
but because cardiac hypertrophy to Atsahbh increase steadily And appropriate nutrition coronary session less than the amount of blood needs muscle Bloated
This results in chronic insufficiency in coronary session, which leads to an imbalance in Electrical activity and contraction of the heart muscle. Becomes patients with hypertrophic Heart is more susceptible than others the occurrence of heart attacks and cardiac arrhythmias And the occurrence of sudden death. If the heart muscle as a result of inflation increased significantly in Fibrous tissue at the expense of muscle tissue losing muscle flexibility and ability to Extroversion easily and myocardial hypertrophy is one of the main reasons for the failure of functions Heart Extraversion any ability of the heart to relax and fullness occurs a special kind of Diastolic heart failure, where a patient complains of symptoms of congestion of the lungs, such as difficulty Breathing (approaches) when you do the normal effort and feeling tired and speed Advanced cases Tanguen veins body Vidkhm liver and swollen feet and legs.

Stroke or stroke.. Neurological damage occurs when the blood flow stops and nutrition in the region of the brain as a result of a stroke or blood clot

Is neurological damage occurs when the flow stops Blood And nutrition in the region of the Brain ResultClot or thrombus Bloody. And the same name is also called the sudden loss syndrome in jobs Neurological disorder result in cerebral blood flow is often in Arteries Brain and sometimes it is in the Veins of the brain .
Part of the brain that occurs circulatory disorder and a lack of blood supply thus suffers from a lack ofOxygen Contained with the blood, leading to damage and death of nerve cells in this part, affecting the function of this part of the brain. Considered stroke State of emergency Requiring medical intervention and immediate transfer to the hospital where they can lead to permanent damage or death in the absence of rapid diagnosis and prompt treatment.
They get injured for part of the Brain Man As a result stopped pumping Blood To Part which leads to loss of function that was performed.
Stroke occurs when some people through the emergence of symptoms of headache Severe and other symptoms of stroke. 
After a stroke, symptoms vary and increase during the first two days. These The condition is called apoplexy sophisticated. 
If there had been no symptoms or other damages associated after a stroke, Ended called apoplexy (ie is accompanied by other symptoms ). 
There are no signs or symptoms before the onset of stroke (warning signs) when Most people. 
Mark may appear before a stroke occurs, a few vessels in the brain And result in a temporary feeling of weakness and numbness. As a result of weakness In the process of temporary supply the brain with blood. 
You may also receive some vision problems, speech, and overall balance. These symptoms remain for two minutes only and do not affect permanently., But may occur More than once and lead to persistent problems.

Heart disease.. Protein levels in the blood. The relationship between the type of protein (HCV) and coronary calcium and hardening of the coronary artery

A heart disease is the umbrella term for a number of different diseases that affect the heart. As of 2007, is the leading cause of death in United States, England, and Wales, which led to the death of one person every 34 seconds in the United States alone . "Nearly 2,400 Americans die every day from heart disease.
J, U.S. researchers say that a simple examination and inexpensive that can help detect heart disease at an early stage.
The researchers say that to identify the protein levels in the blood can lead to the discovery of heart disease at an early stage.
In another study, doctors discovered that antibiotics can protect the heart from disease.
And research scientists from the National Institute of Heart, Lung and Blood in the relationship between the type of protein (HCV) and coronary calcium.
This refers to the extent of hardening of the coronary artery. This situation index to heart disease.

Electrical problems of the heart.. Reduced or increased in heart rate or irregular heartbeat

May cause a malfunction activity and distribution of electricity to the heart of a drop or increase in heart rate or irregular heartbeat may be associated with serious symptoms either due to low blood pressure or congestion of the lungs with fluid may be the problem so complex that they may need medical intervention quick either drug therapy intravenously or electric shocks therapy or install an external regulator to heart.

Problems heart inflammation casing (pericardial membrane).. Shortness of breath and dizziness as a result of low blood pressure

May become infected membrane pericardial inflammation bacterial or non-bacterial or patient's exposure to rheumatic fever or tuberculosis has infected membrane pericardial result the body is exposed to many diseases or radioactive materials or injuries may lead any of these reasons for pain waistcoat difficult it apart from the pain of angina sometimes but often distinct pain intensity Climate Change put the patient from front to back and its relationship to breathe deep and perhaps accompanied by shortness of breath and dizziness as a result of low blood pressure.

Problems with heart valves.. Rheumatic fever or rheumatic. Congenital heart defects

God has created the Almighty cardiac valves to perform simple mechanical functions very important they are open to allow blood to pass in one direction and closes to prevent the return of blood back again. If any disease that causes increased thickness and scarring valves may lead to stenosis varies severity of mild to severe stenosis but if hit valves cirrhosis it opens enough, but fail to close the provisions and called on this case failure LED, and in many diseases valves are narrow and limited in once that is, they do not open nor closed as efficiently as it should be.
One of the reasons known and famous in the Arab societies are rheumatic fever or rheumatic which expires after several years of infection acute problems heart valves either stenosis or only inadequate or only Monday gathered together in the valve and one or more of the valve enough to begin patient in Note some symptoms that may be severe to prevent the patient from the exercise of his natural life. And spoil his daily life. 
One of the other reasons that may lead to a heart valve problems and congenital heart defects may cause symptoms early and sometimes symptoms appear later.

Faulty heart.. Problems heart muscle or valves. Hardening of the arteries of the heart. Disorders Pkherbaúah heart. High blood pressure or pulmonary artery pressure

We can think of the problems that can go wrong and disrupt heart function divide them into problems cardiomyopathies or heart valves, or problems as a result of hardening of the arteries of the heart or as a result of unrest Pkherbaúah heart or as a result of the presence of defects heart problems or membrane envelope (pericarditis) of the heart and finally problems resulting for the rise in blood pressure or high pulmonary artery pressure. 
The cause of these problems individually or collectively imbalance and weakness in the effectiveness of the heart pump may lead to the emergence of signs of congestive heart failure and its complications and we will offer every problem in Bashaye detail simple smooth.
Vitamins and other or as a result of faulty thyroid function or patient suffering diabetes for a long time or for SLE.

Valve disease. Myocardial disorders.. Inability of the heart muscle contraction or decrease its ability to absorb blood during the diastolic phase

A distemper valves:
Any narrowing in one of the heart valves or expansion reduce natural causes disturbances in the work of the heart may eventually lead to his palaces.
Myocardial disorders:
  Is a group of diseases affecting the heart muscle Decrease the ability of the heart muscle contractions or decrease its ability to absorb blood during the diastolic phase.
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