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WHAT
YOU SHOULD KNOW ? |
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HOW
IMPORTANT IS THE PROBLEM ?
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Epidemic
of the modern era |
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Indian
men have the highest incidence of CAD and die at a younger age
than males of any other race. |
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Indian
women have coronary artery disease rate three times higher than
their American counterparts. |
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Predicted
death rate because of CAD by 2015 is 34% among all male deaths
and 32% female deaths in India. |
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40
- 50 % of the patients who suffer their initial heart attack
die with in one hour, 20 - 30 % who manage to reach the hospital
die within 24 hours. So only the rest 30 - 40 % become eligible
some sort of treatment medical or surgical. |
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| WHO
CAN GET IT: |
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Nobody
is immune to CAD. Any one who has one or more of the following
risk factor has a higher chance of getting CAD. |
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| Modifiable |
Non
- Modifiable |
| Smoking |
Age
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| Diabetes |
Genetics
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| High
fat content in blood |
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| High
blood pleasure |
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| Obesity
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| Stress
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| Lack
of excercises |
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| SYMPTOMS:
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Specific:
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Chest
pain on exertion radiating to the left arm or left jaw. |
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Tightness
or heaviness around the chest with or without difficulty in
breathing - annexation or at rest. |
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Chest
pain associated with sweating. |
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Non-Specific:
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Heart
burn, epigastria pain. |
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Generalized
weakness un-explainable. |
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Silent
especially in diabetics. |
| WHAT
TO DO ? |
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Severe
chest pain with sweating - See your physician immediately -
It may be a heart attack! |
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Chest
pain not getting relieved with rest for 30 min or more. See
your physician immediately It can be a heart attack in progress
! |
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Chest
pain on exertion - Consult your physician at an early date -It
may be a warning bell ! |
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| INVESTIGATION
TO DIAGNOSE - CAD |
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Electrocardiogram
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Echocardiogram
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Stress
Test / Thallium Scan |
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Coronary
Angiogram |
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Blood
Test - Cardiac enzymes, Lipid profile |
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| TREATMENT
AVAILABLE: |
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Medical: |
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Medicines
to optimise blood flow to the heart. |
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Angioplasty
- To widen the blocks in the arteries carrying blood to the
heart, using balloon technique. |
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Surgery:
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CABG
- Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting Operation. |
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| CAN
CAD BE PREVENTED? |
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The
truth is we can not prevent CAD but can prevent a heart attack.
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| HOW
TO PREVENT A HEART ATTACK |
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That
is by modifying the risk factors. |
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No
smoking - active or passive. |
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Low
fat, high fibre diet. Low salt diet - if blood pressure is high
and low calorie - if diabetic. |
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Strict
control of blood pressure and diabeties under supervision of
your physician. |
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Increase
physical activity, regular excercises. |
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Avoid
excessive mental stress by finding out a way of relaxation that
suits you best (ex. Yoga, Meditation, Sports ets.,). |
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If
you have more than one of above said risk factors you should
have periodic check (Blood, Cholesterol, ECG, Stress tests)
to detect CAD early. |
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If
you have any doubt about Heart Disease, |
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Please
mail to: needyheart@hotmail.com
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