Four Types Of Treatment For Heart Disease Patients
When you have heart disease, there is no one single approach for treatment; rather you would have to introduce several lifestyle changes in order to get a handle on it. You would need to work with your doctor to determine the best mix of treatments to combat your heart disease and make it something you can live with for the rest of your long life – stressing the key words: long life.
Preventative maintenance
Preventative measures are the key to avoiding heart disease and these usually involve several lifestyle changes. For example, your eating habits are one of the easiest to change and if you are a bit flummoxed as to what you should do, consult with a nutritionist. Basically, eat plenty of whole grains, vegetables, fruits, lean meats and fish and low fat dairy products.
Kick the smoking habit and moderate your alcohol intake. Studies show that one drink a day does reduce some risk of heart disease, especially a glass of red wine. However, if you are a non-drinker, don't start the habit! Men who do drink are allotted two drinks to the women's one per day to keep heart disease at bay.
Exercise is the third point in the preventative maintenance triangle. If you lead a totally sedentary life, you will need to start slow and work your way up to a real workout. Walking is a great aerobic exercise and good for the heart. Once you are an exercise regular, you can add strength training too to help keep the weight off.
Altering your other heart disease risk factors
There are certain things you cannot help such as family history and genetics, so if there are incidences of heart disease in your family, you have to be diligent with your health. Get your cholesterol checked regularly to ensure your "good" HDL cholesterol far outweighs the "bad" LDL cholesterol. If you have diabetes, follow your diet, take your medications and test your insulin levels regularly too.
Quit smoking all together and get help for it if necessary. Ask your doctor about taking an aspirin a day as a way to lower your risk of heart disease. Have your blood pressure checked regularly as well as some people tend to hover around the borderline for hypertension.
Medicated treatments
Sometimes, no matter what you do, you will still be at risk for heart disease and therefore a doctor may prescribe medications to keep your heart strong and healthy and your arteries clear of plaque build-up. Aspirin, diuretics, beta blockers, nitroglycerin, calcium channel blockers and other drugs all work to keep the blood flowing healthily in the arteries to promote better oxygenation of the body.
Surgery and medical procedures
Surgeons may perform an angioplasty if an angiogram shows blockage of an artery. This procedure involves threading a balloon-like device into the artery and inflating it at the narrow site where the blockage occurs. A stent may be placed at the site to prevent that area from collapsing causing another blockage.
Surgeries and other medical procedures exist and help you in the fight of heart disease. Every person is different and gets the disease for different reasons whether it is poor lifestyle habits or genetics. Talk with your doctor and discuss your options for heart disease treatment.
