Which is the best treatment of heart disease?
Which is the Best Treatment of Heart Disease?
- Introduction
- Top Tips for Effective Management of Heart Disease
- What does Medical Management of Congenital Heart Disease Mean?
- What is the Most Effective Treatment of Rheumatic Heart Disease?
- What are the Different Types of Heart Disease Medicine?
- Is There a Plan That can be Called as The Best Diet for Heart Disease Reversal?
Introduction
Heart disease can be managed to a certain extent, and reduce the risk of future adverse events through the right approach to treatment of heart disease. The best way to reduce risk is to undergo screening and follow recommendations diligently. Screening through genetic testing for inherited conditions or congenital diseases will help rule out or reveal future risk of certain conditions. Here is a quick overview of a good treatment approach.
Top Tips for Effective Management of Heart Disease
Various approaches are used in the treatment of heart disease, including managing the condition to improve quality of life. This is also essential to prevent complications and future risk of adverse events. Here are top tips on managing the condition effectively:
- Diet – needs to be heart-healthy
You need to consume more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. An important change is reducing intake of salt, sugar, and unhealthy fats, by switching over to healthy fats such as olive oil, nuts, and avocados.
- Exercise – needs to be part of routine
You need to ensure a minimum of 30 minutes of moderate exercise on five days a week. This could be walking, swimming, or cycling; however, it is important to seek consent of the treating specialist before commencing any exercise.
- Smoking and drinking
If you are a smoker, there is no alternative – you need to quit the habit. Smoking is a major risk factor and this includes secondhand smoke. Alcohol consumption will increase your risk of heart disease indirectly. If you are unable to kick the habit, cut down on the intake.
- Blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar levels
Ensure that you periodically check and maintain your blood pressure, cholesterol and blood sugar at right levels. This may necessitate intake of prescribed medications and involve lifestyle changes.
- Weight management
Maintain your weight at the right levels, to reduce strain on your heart. This may require a balanced diet and regular physical activity.
What does Medical Management of Congenital Heart Disease Mean?
Congenital heart conditions refer to defects at birth that cause structural or functional abnormalities in the heart. Medical management of congenital heart disease is all about non-surgical methods used in treating and managing symptoms of such heart defects. This could include medications, periodic monitoring, and lifestyle adjustments as part of treatment of heart disease. This includes the following:
- Medications such as diuretics, ACE inhibitors or ARBs, beta-blockers, anticoagulants, and prostaglandins.
- Monitoring through regular check-ups such as echocardiograms, electrocardiograms, and other tests to evaluate heart function.
- Lifestyle changes like dietary modifications, physical activities, quitting smoking and limiting alcohol intake.
- Staying free from infections by intake of antibiotics prior to procedures/surgeries to prevent endocarditis and other infections.
What is the Most Effective Treatment of Rheumatic Heart Disease?
Prevention of damage to the heart, managing symptoms, and prevention of rheumatic fever. Are part of goals of treatment of heart disease. The actual treatment depends on the severity of the condition and complications. Effective approaches involve the following:
- Antibiotics – such as penicillin are used to prevent recurrent rheumatic fever. Long-term prophylactic antibiotics are also recommended to prevent infections from Group A Streptococcus bacteria.
- Anti – inflammatory medicines – like aspirin, corticosteroids and NSAIDS are used to reduce inflammation of the heart, and pain.
- Managing heart failure – through medications such as diuretics, beta-blockers, ACE inhibitors, or digoxin. This is prescribed when the damaged heart valves cause heart failure.
- Valve repair or replacement – when the heart valves are severely damaged, surgical procedures may be necessary for repair or replacement.
- Anticoagulant therapy – is another option when blood thinners are used to reduce risk of blood clots and possible stroke. This is applicable in cases where the valve damage causes abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation.
What are the Different Types of Heart Disease Medicine?
One of the most important dimensions of treatment of heart disease are the prescribed medicines. Different heart disease medications handle different aspects of heart conditions, as outlined below:
- Anticoagulants prevent blood clots that cause heart attacks, strokes, or other cardiovascular issues.
- Antiplatelet agents prevent platelets from sticking together, resulting in clot formation in arteries.
- ACE inhibitors bring down blood pressure levels by relaxing blood vessels.
- ARBs relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure.
- Beta-blockers reduce heart rate and blood pressure levels.
- Calcium channel blockers relax blood vessels and lower blood pressure levels, apart from relieving chest pain.
- Diuretics reduce fluid levels in the body, and lower blood pressure.
- Statins bring down cholesterol levels in the blood.
- Nitrates relax blood vessels, enhancing blood flow and offering relief from chest pain.
- Digoxin strengthens heart contractions reducing heart rate.
- Aldosterone antagonists reduce salt and water retention, lowering blood pressure.
- Vasodilators relax blood vessels, lowering blood pressure.
Is There a Plan That can be Called as The Best Diet for Heart Disease Reversal?
No diet can be labelled as the “best” diet to bring about heart disease reversal. However, some diets are part of treatment of heart disease because of documented evidence in improving heart health. A heart-healthy diet could involve the following:
- Plant-based
You would be put on a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, legumes, and nuts. Certain diets, namely the Ornish diet and Esselstyn diet considerably reduce intake of animal products and fats.
- Mediterranean diet
This is not a completely plant-based diet, but is actually one of the most researched diets. This focusses on consumption of healthy fats, mainly from olive oil, nuts, and fish. Your intake would include fresh fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains, and healthy fats with less red meat.
- DASH diet
Acronym for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, the DASH Diet also improves heart health. The intake is mainly foods rich in potassium, calcium, and magnesium with lesser sodium. You will take more of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, healthy fats like olive oil, while reducing red meat, and processed foods.
- Whole-Food, Plant-Based Diet
Commonly known as WFPB, this cuts out all processed foods, focusing on whole, unrefined foods. This would include fruits, vegetables, legumes, and whole grains, to keep intake of saturated fats low.
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Shetty B s a cardiologist in Chennai, with extensive experience in the field. He completed his MBBS from Madurai Kamaraj University, followed by an MD in General Medicine and a DM in Cardiology from The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University (TNMGRMU).