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Friday, 9 November 2012

Heart Failure a Silent Killer

The reported cases of heart failure are gradually increasing day by day. There are many factors contributing to this menace. A hectic life style is the primary factor. The eating habits and unhealthy lifestyle of people are 2 of the primary causes for this menace. The high intake of cholesterol causes the blood vessels to narrow and harden due the deposition of plague. This is a pre-condition which causes high blood pressure on account of disturbed blood flow inside the arteries and veins. The risk factors depend on age, gender, heredity etc.

CHD or coronary heart disease is very rampant today worldwide. The symptoms of coronary heart disease include chest pains, shortness of breath, fatigue, heavy feeling etc. If they are neglected a person can suffer from a heart attack and consequent death.

Patients are prescribed to take some medication to fight diabetes, high pressure, and cholesterol. At first the doctors gauge the severity of CHD, and then assess the kind of medication suitable for the particular patient. Doctors may recommend a series of medications consisting of beta blockers, aspirin, statins, nitrates, diuretics etc.

Heart failure is a chronic disease and needs lifelong management. Doctors prescribe a combination of medications. It may either be medicine or surgery or sometimes both. Some methods of surgery which are in vogue today are coronary bypass surgery, heart valve repair, implantable cardioverter-defibrillators(ICD), cardiac resynchronization, heart pumps, heart transplant etc. In spite of all these treatments heart failure may not improve significantly. In that case we need to take hospice care. It is a special treatment for terminally ill people.

The coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) is a modern method adopted widely by doctors. To improve the blood flow to the heart muscles and relieve the pain of the heart this is a very effective technique. It is an open heart surgery. Further, depending on the extent of disease there are other minimal advisable methods, like angioplasty or intracoronary stenting. You may consult Dr. Lim Ing Haan of Singapore.

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