What is cholesterol -it is a waxy steroid of fat produced in liver or intestine, used for the synthesis of hormones and cell membranes and transported in the blood plasma of all mammals. Cholesterol is a very important structural component of plasma membrane of mammals required for maintaining proper membrane permeability and fluidity. It is also an essential agent required for the manufacture of bile acids, steroid hormones and vitamin D. It is the principal steroid synthesized by animals however, smaller amounts are also produced in plants and fungi. Cholesterol is entirely absent among prokaryotes. If its concentration increases in blood then the risk of cardiovascular diseases increases so its level must be kept under control. The word cholesterol has originated from a Greek word and was first discovered by Francois Poulletier de la Salle in gallstones in solid form in 1769 but, chemical identification was done by Eugène Chevreul in 1815 who gave the term cholester...

Coronary Artery Disease  Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) is a condition in which plaques(a fatty deposit on an artery wall in atherosclerosis ) build up in the walls of the coronary arteries (the vessels that supply blood to the heart muscle). These deposits can gradually block the artery, or they can suddenly rupture, causing a more acute obstruction.  Basically, the heart muscle requires a continuous supply of oxygen and nutrients to survive, obstruction of a coronary artery rapidly leads to significant problems. CAD is caused by atherosclerosis(a disease of the arteries characterized by the deposition of plaques of fatty material on their inner walls),a chronic, progressive disorder of the arteries in which deposits of cholesterol, calcium, and abnormal cells (that is, plaques) build up on the inner lining of the arteries. Atherosclerosis – the left artery shows a normal lumen (the cent...

What Is Bradycardia? In the Greek language means “heart slowness”. It is basically a heart rate that is under 60 beats per minute while a person is at rest. Bradycardia is usually not detectable unless the heart rate drops to below 50 beats a minute. This slower heart rate can produce heart attacks in some individuals or even cardiac arrests. A cardiac arrest differs from a heart attack. It is caused by the normal circulation of the blood getting interrupted from the lack of heart contractions. A heart attack usually happens as a result of an interruption of the blood flow specifically to part of the heart that causes cells in the heart to die. Bradycardia may trigger a heart attack or cardiac arrest when the slow heart rhythms (bradycardia’s) are unable to pump sufficient supply of oxygen to the heart. With insufficient oxygen, the heart can display symptoms that resemble a heart attack. An individual may have difficulty breathing or have a fainting spell. It...

ECG (electrocardiogram) is a test that measures the electrical activity of the heart. The heart is a muscular organ that beats in rhythm to pump the blood throughout the whole body. The signals that make the heart's muscle fibres contract come from the sinoatrial node, which is the natural pacemaker of the heart. In an ECG test, the electrical impulses made while the heart is beating are recorded and usually shown on a piece of paper. It's known as an electrocardiogram, and records any problems with the heart's rhythm, and the conduction of the heart beat through the heart which may be affected by underlying heart disease. The information taken from an electrocardiogram can be used to discover various types of heart disease. It may be useful for seeing how well the patient is responding to treatment. It is a good idea to have an ECG in the case of symptoms such as dyspnoea (difficulty in breathing),chest pain(angina),fainting, ...

There are 3 main categories of heart failure — dilated cardiomyopathy (cardiomyopathy is a term that means heart muscle disease), hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, and diastolic dysfunction. Once you are sure which category of heart failure you have, you can read below to learn more about your condition. Dilated cardiomyopathy - is the most common variety of heart failure; most people who are told they have heart failure have dilated cardiomyopathy. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the end result of a large variety of heart diseases, especially coronary artery disease and valvular heart disease. This type of heart failure occurs when the ventricles (the large pumping chambers of the heart) become weakened, flaccid and dilated. As a result, the pumping action of the heart becomes weak, the amount of blood pumped with each heart beat drops (or, to say it another way, the ejection fraction is reduced), and the body’s organs may not receive their full quotient of blood.  ...

Recent research involving people have found that higher sodium intake was associated with increased mortality from cardiovascular disease. At the same time, higher potassium intake was associated with lower mortality risk. Most likely elevated blood pressure related to high sodium intake is one of the reasons for this increase in heart disease. High blood pressure increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. Interestingly, vegetarians in general have a lower incidence of heart disease than non-vegetarians, even when they consume the same amount of salt per day as meat eaters. Why is this the case? Well, in general vegetarians consume higher amounts of potassium (found in fruit, vegetables and legumes) which is essential for heart health. In general, the average potassium to sodium consumption ratio in is 1:2. This means that people are consuming twice as much salt as potassium – but the optimal ratio is 5:1, that is, 5 times as much potassium as sodium. So n...

Coronary heart disease, is the narrowing blockage of the coronary artery, a large blood vessel that supplies blood to the heart. This narrowing is caused by fatty deposits in the artery itself and is the leading cause of heart attacks.. Cardiac disease of all types is, indirectly, the leading cause of maternal death. The risk of developing coronary heart disease increases significantly with age beyond 35 years and more significantly even in those over 50 years. Many factors have led to the increase in the number of pregnant women who suffer with coronary heart disease. The age at which women are able to conceive and sustain a pregnancy has, on average, increased with many factors driving this, not least, increases in health care and fertility medicine. Lifestyle changes have, without doubt, contributed to the rise in younger women developing coronary heart disease. The huge rise in obesity is an obvious starting point and, according to current statistics, the n...

Doctors will ask you many questions about your symptoms and your medical history. You will be asked about any conditions you have that may cause heart failure (such as coronary artery disease, angina, diabetes, heart valve disease, and high blood pressure).So it’s good to have your health data with you when you visit your doctor You will be asked if you smoke, take drugs, drink alcohol (and how much you drink), and about what drugs you take. You will also get a complete physical exam. Your doctor will listen to your heart and look for signs of heart failure as well as other illnesses that may have caused your heart muscle to weaken or stiffen. Your doctor may also order other tests to determine the cause and severity of your heart failure. These include:  Blood tests. Blood tests are used to evaluate kidney and thyroid function as well as to check cholesterol levels and the presence of anemia. Anemia is a blood condition that occurs when there is not enough ...

Heart disease Heart disease is the No.1 cause of death globally.Coronary heart disease is the most common type. General,risk factors include high cholesterol, being overweight, and high blood pressure. It normally takes years for symptoms to appear in many cases, the initial symptom is usually a sudden heart attack. While there is no cure but research is ongoing, the condition often can be treated through lifestyle changes (such as losing weight, quitting smoking, lowering the daily sodium intake,) and possibly taking medication. Coronary arteries Coronary arteries are blood vessels that carry blood and oxygen to the heart muscle. When these arteries become clogged with fatty deposits called plaque, it’s called coronary artery disease, coronary heart disease, or just heart disease. Clogged arteries can keep the heart from getting enough blood and oxygen, and can cause chest pain (angina). If a blood clot forms, it can suddenly cut off blood flow in the artery and cause a hea...

Millions of people around the world suffer with heart disease. Some people are more likely than others to get heart disease, while others have a lower chance of getting it. What are the causes of heart disease? Can you prevent it from occurring to you? As a rule, there are many people who are likely to get it. Heredity does have a say in heart disease. When heart disease runs in a family, chances are likely that the other generations will end up with it if they don’t watch what they eat. It is important for these people to avoid foods that are high in cholesterol. They should refrain from drinking too much alcohol and they should not smoke. These are all factors that can decide if you will get heart disease. Obesity is just one reason for heart disease. Along with this are diabetes, heredity, smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and peripheral artery disease. Although many of these causes can be prevented, not all of them can. That is why if you have diabetes, periphe...

Heart Attack or Cardiac Arrest? Statistics shows that several thousands of people die daily of heart disease globally. One need to know about the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest, the leading causes of heart-related deaths. Perhaps it’s a good idea for all of us to educate ourselves of these diseases. When the heart is in a really bad shape, the outcome of neither a heart attack nor a cardiac arrest is in our control, so it might be a good idea to do something about our heart before it gets really bad and destroys us. Heart Attack: Heart attack is a problem of difficulty in pumping blood in and through the heart as a result of weak heart muscles or blocked arteries due to high cholesterol or plaque, a condition also known as ‘atherosclerosis‘. A cardiac arrest, on the other hand, is a damage or irregularity of heart’s rhythm (too fast, too slow or just no rhythm at all), also called ‘arrhythmia’ or ‘atrial fibrillation’.  This could happen as a...

Heart failure is a cardiac condition in which the heart is no longer able to function sufficiently to meet the body’s needs. Because heart failure can be produced by many different kinds of cardiac disease, it is among the most common of cardiac problems. Patients with heart failure often suffer from shortness of breath and fatigue, and have difficulty with physical exertion. Heart failure life expectancy is often significantly reduced. Generally, a lot of progress is being made in the treatment of heart failure, and with aggressive therapy, both the symptoms and the risk of dying can be significantly reduced if manage and controlled earlier. So if you have heart failure, it is very essential to educate yourself about this condition and the available treatments. This way, you can help your doctor make sure you are getting the treatment you need. The term heart failure itself is lacking exactness and accuracy of expression or detail, since doctors use it to r...

Angina or chest pain happens because the heart is not receiving enough oxygen. The pain is normally in the chest and may also be felt in the shoulder, arm, or jaw. Not all chest pain is angina and it may be difficult to determine the cause of chest pain. The treatment for angina depends on the severity of the symptoms and the results of tests that are done to find the underlying cause. Chest Pain Treatment at Home. Stop doing whatever it is that causes your symptoms, remain calm, and call for help. Immediate help and intervention is your best chance for survival if you are having a heart attack or other serious problem.  If you have had angina before and been evaluated by your healthcare provider, follow his or her recommendations.  This may mean rest, and the immediate use of sublingual nitroglycerin.  It may include a visit to the hospital emergency room.  Medical Treatment for Chest Pain If you have come to the hospital em...