The human heart does not know any discrimination. That's why heart diseases do not spare anyone. From a vulnerable newborn to a frail elderly, every age is defenseless when it comes to heart. An alarming revelation suggests that when it comes to heart disease, twenty can be the new forty. Doctors once used to recommend a comprehensive health check up for forty something to catch early signs of wear and tear. Now they're recommending them for children as young as 10. So before you say, "I don't have to worry about that until I'm 50,” consider this: Studies show that heart trouble -- including clogged arteries and high cholesterol -- can start as early as childhood. Childhood Heart Problems Pediatric heart care in India is still in its infancy. If the heart and blood vessels don't pump properly, you can get sick and have following heart diseases: • Congenital Heart Disease: Disease that you're born with. • Acquired Heart Disease: Disease develops sometime during childhood as a result of illnesses like rheumatic fever. • Arrhythmia: An abnormal rhythm of the heart. It can beat very fast (tachycardia) or very slow (bradycardia). • Heart Murmurs: Sometime murmurs can be a symptom of larger problems. The Indian stats foretell that the burden of congenital heart disease in the country is likely to be enormous, due to very high birth rate. Teenage Heart Diseases The incidence of heart disease is growing among teenagers and young adults. A new Australian study reveals that almost one-in three 14 year olds are potentially at increased risk of heart disease. It should serve as a wake-up call to health authorities. Not just this, the findings of a study conducted by the University of Minnesota Children's Hospital, Minneapolis, leads to the conclusion that just growing up as a male increases the risk of heart disease by the time the young man is 19 years old. Heart Diseases Between Age Group 20-50 As we graduate from our 20s towards late forties, the estrogen levels start declining which in turn can raise our risk of heart disease, because this hormone helps maintain the elasticity of arteries and guards against hardening. We are also more likely to develop visceral fat around the abdominal region, which has been linked to low HDL, high blood sugar, and elevated triglycerides, all of which are considered bad and increase our chances of having a heart attack. This is considered as the most crucial age for a heart care. "Balancing work and family might be upping your stress levels, which raises your risk for heart disease. Cortisol and adrenaline are two major stress hormones that can constrict blood vessels, raising blood pressure and leaving vessels vulnerable to blockages. As the metabolism slows down in this age group, people become more prone to weight gain which can strain their heart" says Dr. Dhall. Cardiovascular Diseases more common in elderly are - • Isolated Systolic Hypertension • Orthostatic Hypotension • Heart Failure • Aortic stenosis • Mitral Annular Calcification • Complete Heart Block • Sick Sinus Syndrome • Atrial Fibrilation • Stroke Beware in your 60's Coronary heart disease is the leading killer of older people; half of all heart attack victims are over 65. While men have markedly higher rates of coronary heart disease in middle age than do women, women's rates of coronary disease begin to rise sharply after menopause; ultimately their rates are about equal to those of men. "The increased range and effectiveness of noninvasive cardiac testing has been a boon to elderly patients. Echocardiography, in which sound waves are bounced off the heart's internal structures, has great value in confirming valve disease and other malfunctions." says Dr. Agarwal. Do Not Play Doctor! The information provided in various books and networking sites is intended to educate you about your disease. It can never replace your doctor. Use that information to know better about heart diseases, but never change management dictated by your cardiologists!
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