Tuesday, May 8, 2012

How heredity is heart disease? (Better to have a doctor's or a person who has it answer

How heredity is heart disease? (Better to have a doctor's or a person who has it answer)?
My mother died of it, and it was said she developed it when she was pregnant with me, although my family thinks she had it when she was a little girl. How possible is it that I may have it or contract it?
Heart Diseases - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
Heredity. Heart disease tends to run in families. For example, if your parents or siblings had a heart or circulatory problem before age 55, then you are at greater risk for heart disease than someone who does not have that family history. Risk factors (including high blood pressure, diabetes, and obesity) may also be passed from one generation to another. Also, researchers have found that some forms of cardiovascular disease are more common among certain racial and ethnic groups. For example, studies have shown that African Americans have more severe high blood pressure and a greater risk of heart disease than whites. The bulk of cardiovascular research for minorities has focused on African Americans and Hispanics, with the white population used as a comparison. Risk factors for cardiovascular disease in other minority groups are still being studied.
2 :
I am sorry to hear about your mother. There are many types of heart disease and some have more genetic influence than others. So, it is important to know exactly what your mother's heart disease was in order to properly answer your question. The most common cause of heart disease is coronary artery disease, which is a blockage in the arteries that supply the heart and can lead to heart attacks. There are many risk factors for coronary artery disease, such as family history, age, high bad cholesterol, low good cholesterol, high blood pressure and diabetes. If a family member developed coronary artery disease at a young age compared to in old age, it would contribute more to the risk of developing coronary artery disease in other family members. If you have multiple family members who have developed coronary artery disease at a young age, then this has an even greater influence. There are some rare genetic disorders that significantly increase the risk of coronary artery disease, such as familial hypercholesterolemia in which the bad cholesterol is very high. People with this genetic disorder can potentially develop coronary artery disease and heart attacks in the teenage years. I suspect your mother probably did not have coronary artery disease, but some other type of heart disease. Family history contributes, but there are many other risk factors. Other types of heart disease include congenital heart conditions like atrial septal defect (ASD) or ventricular septal defects (VSD), which are conditions where there is a hole in the heart between the left and right side of the heart. If your mother had one of these conditions, then your risk of developing it is slightly higher than someone who does not have a first degree relative with the disorder. People can go for years to decades with an ASD and small VSD without symptoms. Heart disease can also be from narrowed or leaky heart valves. Sometimes the abnormal valves can be inherited, but frequently the abnormalities occur from conditions like infection or Rheumatic heart disease which are not genetic. There are several other congenital heart disease that are rarer than the ASD an VSD. If your family thinks your mother developed the symptoms in childhood, then it is very possible that it is a congenital heart condition. Most congenital heart conditions have a small genetic contribution and therefore you would be slightly at increased risk of developing it also, but it does not mean you will definitely have it. There is a condition called hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy, which has a strong genetic basis. Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy can be associated with sudden death from abnormal heart rhythms. If you are concerned that you may have an underlying heart condition, then you should see your doctor. If you have chest pain, shortness of breath, lightheadedness or passing out then see your doctor ASAP, because these are concerning symptoms. Doctors can detect some heart conditions by listening with a stethoscope. Sometimes further testing may be required, such as an EKG or an Echocardiogram which is an ultrasound of the heart. If you do have heart disease like your mother then it is important to diagnose it early so that it can be appropriately treated and monitored. If you know more about your mother's condition you can edit your answer or email me. Good luck

Read more discussions :

Friday, May 4, 2012

How do the following make you more likely to get heart disease

How do the following make you more likely to get heart disease?
1.) a poor diet 2.) smoking 3.) lack of excercise 4.) Alcohol Thanks for any answers! If you know the answer to any of these it would be really great :)
Biology - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
All affect your coronary arteries. The arteries become plugged with cholesterol which decreases blood supply causing the cells of the heart to decrease in function or some could die. If enough die, you have a myocardial infarction (heart attack). The arteries also lose their elasticity so when the pulse of blood goes through they cannot expand to absorb the increased pressure. If the stress is great enough and artery can stretch and deform, called an aneurism, and could possibly burst.
2 :
excess weight is correlated with heart disease, the exact mechanisms are not known. However excess weight leads to high blood pressure to support your added mass. High blood pressure leads to damage to blood vessel walls (just like a ton of water going through a hose can break it). the damage leads to immune cells being attracted to the area and forming a plaque, high blood pressure can cause the plaque to be damaged and form a clot which can then break off, clog an artery (especially in another plaqe which narrows blood vessels). The lack of oxygen kills all the cells in the area supported by the blocked blood vessel. If this happens in the brain it leads to a stroke, in the pancreas - pancreatitis, in the intestine - intestinal necrosis. If it happens in a heart blood vessel (where pressure if very high) it causes a heart attack. Smoking leads to epithelial disease, or a lack of elasticity of the blood vessels, this causes high blood pressure to be more damaging as flexible blood vessels can bounce back from physical assaults and hard ones cannot, as well a hard vessel has water shoot through it faster than a flexible one. lack of exercise, likewise leads to weight gain, also, has been associated with lower cholesterol. Cholesterol also binds to blood vessels, and lead to immune cells aggregating there and forming a plaque. This is aggravated by high blood pressure. Alcohol also reduces the elasticity of blood vessesl (epithelial function) in the same way as smoking

Read more discussions :

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

How do you help your loved one with a heart disease

How do you help your loved one with a heart disease?
my mom has it, and i'm reaaaaaaaaaaaally sad :'-(
Heart Diseases - 9 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
First of all, continue to love her and show that you care, along with prayer. Your mom at times will be frustrated and might be out-of-sorts so give her that space. She don't want to feel useless and or hear that people constantly saying - oh, you know you can't do this anymore or that. I'm sure your mom has full instructions from the doctor as to what to do. I know it's easy to say don't be sad, but you can be cheerful. okay! at least for your mom.
2 :
Let your mum know that she has options and that she has your love and support. Tell her that once the surgeons have finished there work she will be back to being good again. Tell her to make sure that she is not taking any blood thinning medication before her op and support her in the post operative rehabilitation program's. Even though its hard to live with hart problems the hospitals are full of skilled workers who can get your mum fixed up and ready to get into s rehabilitation program and then back into her home,
3 :
show her that you care and support her by going on the same diet she will have to go on, and don't bring fatty foods around her. just because she has heart disease does not mean her life is over. it just means that she has to change her lifestyle, so let her know you are there for you with positive encouragement. good luck and take care.
4 :
Yes, it is normal to feel sad when some one you love and care for has a major health problem. But most of the heart problems are treatable now. I will recommend a few books for you. Pl. see: http://swamyreviews.blogspot.com/search?q=Heart+Health and out of the 4 or 5 books that come up, I especially recommend the two books by Christian Wilde. Part of the worry and fear comes from lack of knowledge and those books will fill a big gap in your and your mom's understanding of heart health. Dr. Rippe's book is another good choice to change the life style and get better health, whatever may be your present condition.
5 :
Help with everything. Eat the same food. Do her exercise with her. She can still live a long life, if she does the right things.
6 :
Encourage exercise and eating healthy.
7 :
Two experiences here: My brother had two heart attacks one at 42 & one at 43. My sis in law pushed him into walking everyday to the point where he was almost in tears. He felt he could not do it. He wanted to sit, he was tired and wore out. My Mother and I were so upset with her thinking she was going to drive him into another heart attack. The doctors said he had to walk and exercise in order to get better, he said he could not. His wife made him - everyday, day after day after day, further and further. He now is working, camping, hiking, fishing, hunting and living a wonderful life. I have had five heart caths, two cardiac ablations and open heart surgical repair of my mitral valve. I felt the same way. I couldn't do anything any more. I was tired, wore out. My doctors said walk, exercise and I said I couldn't. My husband said I shouldn't do it if I can't since I was too short of breath. My mother would come over and do my housework and help me with everything. I hardly made it to work. I gained 90 lbs and got worse. Everyone thought they were helping me when in fact they were helping to make me worse. I got mad at myself and got up and walked until I lost my weight and got back to where my brother is: Healthy Happy and Living Life Again. So help your Mom to recover but don't smother her so much so that she can't help herself. Help her to follow her Doctors instructions. If they say walk - take her for a walk. If they say exercise - make her exercise. Even if it is only for 1 minute to start. Believe me from experience that is what it took for me. ONE minute at a time twice a day is what I started at and now I can out walk and out work my husband any day of the week!
8 :
get more info..depends on type of disease..CHF vs Heart Block vs Afib vs Block blood vessels etc. Most common as we age is CHF, congestive heart failure..because heart is not efficient enough to push fluids out and round..fluid accumulates in feent/legs /hand and sometimes lungs. usually control by medicine called diuretics that work on kidney to increase urination. appropriate exercise will also help muscles assist heart in movin flid to kidney...elevate legs, and resting/ sleeping in in recliner may be helpful..decrease fluid intake as well as sodium. If heart problem is related to electrical conduction and rythym medications are also helpful..There are concerns about medication interactions., clot formation, diet concerns regarding interaction with meds. Heart disease is usually very treatable. Your mom'sdoctor should be able to assist with all these questions..if not see a cardiologist.
9 :
I hope She get well soon.. I'm doing my best to help every1 to cure their illness including your Mom.. with my Islam Prayers.. You don`t have to vote me for the best answer.. im doing this for free.. I only hopping we all get bless & Cure from Allah the most Mercyfull.. See the improvement result in few days

Read more discussions :