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Cardiac diseases also referred to as cardiovascular diseases are common among the people above forty. However, of late, cardiac distress has been seen in younger people, owing to the fast-paced, unhealthy lifestyles. Apart from an unhealthy lifestyle, which encompasses minimal exercise and junk, fatty foods, today’s demanding lives have lead to a lot of stress and strain in people. Consequently, heart problems have been on the rise.

If you feel that you are also always under stress or lead an unhealthy life style, it is perhaps wise to stay aware of the risks and get some tests done before the condition worsens. It is also important to know about the causes, types, symptoms, prevention and treatment of cardiac diseases. Changing your lifestyle and adopting relaxation practices is also necessary.

Here is a list of cardiac diseases; these are, however, the common problems. Medically, the list of cardiac diseases is extensive.

• Hypertension or high blood pressure
• Coronary artery diseases
• Cardiomegaly
• Angina pectoris
• Congestive heart failure.
• Cardiac arrhythmia
• Acute myocardial infarction

The common signs and symptoms of cardiac disease (for almost all types) are as listed below:

• Pain in chest and shoulders
• Heaviness in the chest
• Heavy sweating and palpitation
• Discomfort and restlessness
• Nausea and dizziness
• Pain in lower jaw and neck, spreading to back and stomach
• Difficulty in speech
• Shortness of breath and difficulty in breathing.
• Fatigue and tiredness
• Abnormally fast or uneven heartbeats
• Loss of consciousness

So, what are the common causes of cardiac disease? As mentioned earlier, stress is a major factor when it comes to diseases associated with your heart. People who are highly stressed put themselves at a greater risk and increase their chances of getting a cardiac disease. This is because, when the mind and body are stressed, hormones are released into the system, and these hormones result in chemical changes in the blood that directly affect your heart.Another major cause for heart diseases is an unhealthy lifestyle. The term unhealthy lifestyle refers to bad eating habits, excessive smoking and drinking, and lack of physical exercise. This also includes those people who lead such hectic lives that they cannot find time to sleep. Sleep deprivation not only affects your heart but also takes its toll on other organs such as the liver and kidneys.

Apart from stress and lifestyle, heredity is also a factor when it comes to cardiac ailments. If you have a family history of the cardiovascular disease, you are already at a greater risk of heart trouble. What this means is that you need to be all the more careful about the way you lead your life and the foods you consume. Consulting a doctor, getting regular checkups, and leading a healthy life is the best way to ensure that you keep all heart problems at bay.

Treatment for Cardiac Disease

For the treatment of cardiac diseases, precise diagnosis is an absolute must. Diagnosis is usually done through ECGs and other imaging devices such as a CT scan or an MRI as well as through blood tests. All these tests help in pinpointing the root cause of the disease. Once the cause has been identified, depending on the severity of the condition, treatment is prescribed. Treatment of cardiac diseases involves administering the medications to reduce and control the parameters that are causing the illness. In mild cases, it could simply require a change in lifestyle and habits.

Some of the factors that are interrelated with cardiac diseases are as follows:

• High blood pressure: Hypertension is one of the most common cardiac problems, and it can be managed with prescribed medication, diet alteration, an adoption of a healthy lifestyle. Alternative therapies such as yoga and aromatherapy also work well to reduce blood pressure.
• Diabetes: People who have diabetes are also at a greater risk of cardiac diseases. Medicines to keep blood sugar levels in check and lifestyle and diet changes together can help manage the disease and keep the heart healthy.
• Cholesterol: If high cholesterol is the problem, then while medicines are necessary to reduce and maintain cholesterol levels in the blood, an alteration in the diet can go long way in keeping the cholesterol levels low.
• Emotional stress: In many cases, heart attacks are triggered by persistent mental strain or a sudden emotional shock. While there is medication available to calm the nerves, there are also several alternative therapies that one can opt for to keep the mind at ease. Apart from yoga and aromatherapy, exercising regular and eating right can keep your anxiety in check.
• Angina pectoris: In case of angina pectoris, nitrate drugs such as amyl nitrate are administered in order to provide immediate relief from symptoms of pain and a prevent heart attack. Nitrate drugs widen the contracted arteries so as to facilitate more bloodflow to the heart. These drugs are administered only at the time of angina attack and not on regular basis. However, you will be advised by your doctor to keep some tablets handy with you so that whenever you happen to experience symptoms of angina, you can keep one below your tongue. Angina cures also involve performing regular light exercises, leading a cheerful and stress-free life, and of course, eating a healthy diet. The dietary plan prescribed to you may be referred to as an angina diet. An angina diet includes fresh green vegetables, citrus fruits, sea foods such as prawns, fat free milk and milk products, and omega3 fatty acid supplements.