Why you should consider obesity a disease?

In 2013, the American Medical Association (AMA) passed a resolution in which they recognized obesity as a disease. Obesity is recognized as an abnormal condition, which has the ability to interrupt the regular function of the human body. It is also associated with variety of signs and symptoms including disorders and syndromes. Many top cardiologists in NYC will agree with the AMA on this issue.

Obesity is usually described as an elevated body mass index (BMI). BMI is a formula, which uses an individual’s height and weight. In any individual, BMI over 30 is usually categorized as obese. However, some issues emerge in using BMI to measure weight according to height. It may overestimate body fat in athletes and other people with a muscular physique. Another issue with BMI is that, it may underestimate a person’s body fat who has lost muscle mass or who is old.

There are some improved methods to measure obesity in an individual. This include calculating belly fat in which waist circumference is measured. According to this method, a waist size greater than 35 inches (for women) and 40 inches (for men) can increase the health risks related to obesity.

According to an estimate, one in every three Americans is obese. Health complications related to obesity includes type 2 diabetes, high cholesterol & elevated triglycerides, high blood pressure, and high lipids. It also includes cardiovascular disease such as heart attack and stroke. Metabolic syndrome, which is a combination of high blood sugar with high blood pressure and obesity, is also included in these complications. According to a study, obesity can increase the risk of death from heart attacks by 60% in obese people compared to non-obese people.

Expert cardiologists recommend early detection of obesity in patients. They also recommend early evaluation for the health complications related to obesity in patients. These complications include high blood pressure, high blood sugar or type 2 diabetes and elevated lipids. It also includes the increased probability of risk for heart attack or stroke in patients. You can get this evaluation done after consulting with your doctor at a specialized healthcare center.

How Aspirin is Useful in Preventing Heart Attacks?

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently denied the pharmaceutical company Bayer’s request to increase the use of low dose aspirin in the prevention of heart attacks.

In 2003, Bayer requested the FDA to expand the recommendation for using aspirin for primary prevention. The American Heart Association also suggested in 2002 to use it for the primary prevention of patients that are at higher risk of cardiovascular disease.

Earlier in 1998, the FDA permitted labeling for aspirin and its related products in the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events. Secondary prevention means that these products can be used for individuals with a history of heart attack, coronary artery disease, and angina.

It also includes patients who have undergone revascularization treatments such as angioplasty or stent placement and coronary bypass surgery.

Aspirin helps prevent blood clots and decreases inflammation in the body, which makes it effective for cardiovascular disease. Risk factors associated to the use of Aspirin include allergy and gastrointestinal intolerance, and gastrointestinal and intracerebral bleeding.

The FDA denied Bayer’s request after a review over several years because the risks are higher than its benefits. However, the Food and Drug Administration noted that the recommendation might be expanded at a future date with further ongoing studies.

Baby aspirin is recommended in the secondary prevention for heart attacks at a dose of 81 milligrams per day. However, the use of this product should be started only after proper consultation with a physician. According to the best cardiologists in New York, individuals should consult with a cardiologist to evaluate the total cardiovascular risk.

Why Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for body?

Also refer to as, polyunsaturated fats; Omega 3 fatty acids are essential for human health. These acids play a major role in proper functioning of brain, and help in reducing risk of being suffering from heart diseases.

Omega 3 fatty acids are important elements that body need for performing different functions.  Fish is the best source of Omega 3 fatty acids. In addition to this, these fatty acids are also found in walnuts, soya bean, canola, and flax oil.

Benefits of Omega 3 fatty acids

Consulting a heart attack doctor is a better option to know more about omega 3 fatty acids. However, the most important benefits of these polyunsaturated fats are as follows:

Brain functioning

Including omega 3 fatty acids in daily diet is essential for growth and development of brain. Deficiency of these acids can cause psychological disorders and depression.

Heart diseases stay at a distance

Studies have revealed that those who eat fish are at a minimum risk of being suffering from heart issues and strokes.  These fatty acids also reduce levels of triglycerides in the body.

Help in fighting with osteoporosis

These fatty acids enhance bone density and strength, thus reducing risk of suffering from osteoporosis.

Can inflammation cause heart problems?

Many researches have shown a relationship between inflammation and heart disease. Let’s understand how inflammation is linked to heart disease and its related causes and symptoms.

Heart inflammation occurs as a result of infection or injury, in the body. In other words, it is a natural reaction of the body to various body conditions including fever, injuries, and infections. Regardless of the cause behind its occurrence, inflammation can be a potential sign of heart conditions.

How science relates inflammation to heart disease?

Studies by NYC cardiologists has revealed that inflammation is connected with Atherosclerosis (arteriosclerotic vascular disease occurs due to thickness of artery wall caused by large depositions of calcium and fatty materials) which can further result in life-threatening heart diseases and possibly even death.

When inflammation begins to develop, body cells are triggered and release chemicals. The chemicals that emerge during the process of inflammation can result in plaque formation in the blood circulatory system and later, cause the formation of a blood clot. Blood clots have the potential to block the flow of blood to the heart, thus causing the heart disease.

The heart condition caused due to inflammation is known as inflammatory heart disease.

Let’s understand the symptoms and causes of inflammatory heart conditions a little more.

These include the following:

• Decrease in physical activity because of difficulty in breathing
• Night sweats
• Sudden weight loss
• Exhaustion or extreme tiredness
• Fever
• Inflammation in the lower part of the rib cage
• Pain in muscle and joints
• Blood in the urine
• Visible spots in the mouth or on the white portion of the eyes
• Persistent coughing
• Red spots under the skin of fingers
• Heart murmurs (irregular heart sounds as a result of turbulent blood flow)
• A pale appearance
• Oedema (inflammation in the feet and abdomen areas)

Causes of inflammatory heart disease:

• Injury to the heart due to previous heart operation or heart conditions like heart attack or trauma
• Viral and bacterial infections
• Certain cancers
• Metabolic disorders such hypothyroidism and uremia
• If the patient have had a congenital heart defect
• Prior injury to the heart valve
• Reaction from the use of specific medication
• An unexpected reaction to a specific kind of medication
• If the patient is suffering from a disease related to the Connective tissue

Cardiologists are focused to provide people with a happy and healthy heart by incorporating the latest technologies in their heart diagnosis services.

Effects of low-density lipoproteins on heart

Cholesterol is a fat like substance produced by liver. It produces 900 to 1000 milligrams of cholesterol in day. Body requires this substance for synthesizing Vitamin D and reconstructing cell membranes.

Excessive cholesterol levels in the body result in heart issues. This wax like substance gets deposited in arteries in the form of plaque. This type of condition is known as atherosclerosis which increases risk of being suffering from coronary heart diseases. Cholesterol levels increase in the body due to diet rich in dietary cholesterol and saturated fats.

There are two types of cholesterol carriers in the body known as HDL and LDL. The low density lipoproteins carry out essential functions in the body but when the amount of LDL increases in the body, it starts accumulating on arterial walls. That is why, LDL is known as bad cholesterol.

On the other hand, HDL carries low density lipoproteins back to the liver for disposal.  When we say that a person has high cholesterol levels in the body, it means he or she has excessive LDL in body.

Excessive cholesterol in the body starts building up in the blood vessels that supply blood to other parts of the body. The building up of plaque causes narrowing of the arteries that stop flow of the blood to the heart. The contraction of arteries also decreases amount of oxygen carrying blood in the body leading to a condition known as coronary artery disease.  On experiencing any abnormal behavior in the body, one must visit NYC cardiologist to get your health issue solved with an effective treatment.

What causes high cholesterol levels in the body?

• Unhealthy eating

What you eat matters a lot. Diet rich in saturated fats such as dairy products and meat products can increase cholesterol levels in the body. The amount of cholesterol can be lowered by following a low calorie diet.

• Body weight

Obesity is one of the major reasons responsible for increasing levels of low density lipoproteins in the body. Maintaining ideal weight is important to keep cholesterol levels normal in the body.

• Heredity

Inherited genetic conditions can also increase level of cholesterol in the body. Such conditions may cause heart attack at an early age.

• Physical activity

Individuals following lifestyle that lacks physical activity are more prone to high cholesterol issues. A daily workout regime is necessary to stay fit and healthy.

The major reasons behind heart attack

Do you know what a heart attack is? What actually happens to an individual undergoing heart attack? It is a condition when the supply of oxygen enriched blood does not reach to the heart due to the blockage. A person can die, if there is a delay in the restoration of the supply of the oxygen enriched blood.

The heart attack is a major reason of death of both males and females in United States as well in other parts of the world. The best part is that excellent treatments are available for preventing heart diseases and heart attack.

What causes heart attack?

This condition is a result of coronary artery disease in which thick substance known as plaque builds up in the arteries. Arteries supply oxygen enriched blood to the heart; but when there is plaque in the arteries, the supply of blood stops, resulting in a situation known as atherosclerosis.

In such conditions, there is a high possibility of breaking of an area of plaque inside the artery that result in formation of the blood clot. A person can die, if the size of the clot becomes excessively large. An immediate treatment by heart specialist NYC is necessary to avoid serious consequences.

Heart attacks are so dangerous that they also results in severe health conditions such as arrhythmias and heart failure. Arrhythmias refer to irregular heartbeats and heart failure is a condition when it becomes difficult for the heart to pump enough blood according to the needs of the body.

When heart attack occurs, most of the people find it difficult to understand what is happening with them. There are many symptoms that put an individual on the risk of being suffering from a heart attack. Keep in mind the treatment works when given at the right time.

 

Mentioned below are some common symptoms that occur in both males and females:

• Shortness of breath- This type of condition may happen when you are relaxing or doing a light physical activity.
   
• Uneasiness in the upper body- Regular discomfort or pain in arms, back and stomach is a sign of serious heart condition.
   
• Chest pain- Discomfort and pain in the chest is the most common sign that indicates heart attack.

Making significant changes in the lifestyles is the need of hour to prevent serious heart conditions.

Do not ignore any abnormal behavior of the body instead visit heart specialists in NYC to find the root cause of the problem.

Major types of heart disease and their treatment

The term heart disease indicates any medical condition that directly affects the functioning of heart.

Heart disease, depending upon their reason of occurrence, can be of three types:

• Heart problems due to high blood pressure
   
• Heart problems due to (CAD) coronary artery disease
   
• Certain other issues due to infection

Here’s a list of the major heart problems along with their treatment:

Disease of coronary artery:

It indicates the failure of coronary circulation to provide an adequate amount of oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. High levels of blood cholesterol, obesity, overweight, high blood pressure, smoking, stress, and physical inactivity are the major causes of these types of heart problems.

Treatment: Regular physical activity, quitting smoking and drinking, and eating a balanced diet are the first few steps to maintain a healthy heart.

If the problem has reached a more severe level then surgical procedure, called coronary angioplasty is advisable. Coronary stenting is another treatment performed by a heart specialist in NYC.

Cardiomyopathy:

Chronic heart disease, cardiomyopathy occurs when heart muscles get aberrantly stiffened and enlarged. According to the extent of abnormality of the heart muscles, cardiomyopathy can be of three types:

• Dilated cardiomyopathy: occurs when heart muscle (myocardium) get weak and enlarged.
   
• Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: occurs when heart muscles get thicker than normal.
   
• Restrictive cardiomyopathy: occurs when heart stiffens and heart chamber cannot efficiently fill with blood during diastole.

Treatment:

• The selection of treatment for this disease highly depends upon age, type, and severity of cardiomyopathy, general health status, and other factors.
   
• A heart doctor can prescribe appropriate medicines to regulate the heart and preventing the development of clots.

Cardiovascular diseases:

Such diseases occur due to problems in the vascular system, veins, and arteries that supply blood to the heart. Causes of cardiovascular disease are age, high cholesterol, obesity, smoking etc.

Treatment: General treatment for this heart conditions include:

• Eating a diet with less fat content
   
• Regular physical activity
   
• Avoid unnecessary stress because it directly causes high blood pressure
   
• Timely check-up for blood pressure and addressing the situation, as needed.

A Heart specialist in NYC can suggest the right preventive and treatment measures to keep your heart healthy.