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Living With Heart Problems

Cardiovascular disease (CVD), including heart disease and stroke, remains the leading cause of death in the United States despite improvements in prevention, detection, and treatment. CVD is no longer thought of as a disease that primarily affects men as they age. It is a killer of people in the prime of life, with more than half of all deaths occurring among women.

Heart disease is sometimes referred to as the "silent killer". This is because many people don't know they have heart disease until they have a heart attack. This occurs far too often. Approximately once every twenty seconds, in the United States, someone has a heart attack. Heart disease ranks as the number one cause of death in the U.S. Lifestyle risk factors for heart disease are modifiable, making it possible for many people to prevent heart disease. To protect your heart, take note of any risk factors you have, and learn more about what you can do to live a heart healthy lifestyle.

It is essential that the body be given sufficient time to rest in a day. While at rest the heart can more easily pump blood throughout the body; just as you would rest an injured leg when it began to pain you, you should rest your heart as well. On the flip side, it is important to establish a daily exercise routine. It doesn't have to be three hours of aerobics; a half hour walk every day would have a greater impact on your physical being than nothing. Consult with your physician to find the plan that works best for your individual circumstances.

Along with an exercise plan you should work with your doctor to find the best diet plan for you. In most cases a low sodium diet is recommended to help reduce fluid retention. Diuretics can greatly affect the levels of potassium in the body causing hypokalemia, which can lead to muscle weakness, paralysis and a fatal cardiac arrhythmia; therefore, very often if you have been given a diuretic to take daily a potassium supplement will also be prescribed.

Regular medical check ups are important. Your physician can evaluate your risk of heart disease by considering your medical and family histories, and by conducting routine physical exams. If, at any time, further evaluation is warranted, specific tests can be performed in order to diagnose possible heart disease.

There are many types of diagnostic tests for heart disease. The simplest of these are noninvasive, meaning it is not necessary to insert anything into the body. Invasive tests may require the use of needles, instruments or contrast dyes. Depending on personal symptoms and physician's judgement, one or more of these test may be necessary to accurately diagnose the type of heart disease, and to plan for appropriate treatment.

Smoking can create a serious problem for patients with heart failure. It increases the heart rate and blood pressure while having a negative impact on the oxygen level in the blood. All of these things cause the heart to work harder. It is strongly recommended that if you have been diagnosed with heart failure you quit smoking completely.

Hand in hand with smoking are the inherent dangers associated with contracting a case of pneumonia or flu. If you are able you should receive an annual flu shot, as well as the one time dose of pneumococcal vaccine. This will provide some level of protection against pneumococci bacteria, the major cause of bacterial pneumonia. Pneumonia is a problem for the same reasons as smoking; the decreased oxygen levels in the blood cause the heart to work harder in an attempt to compensate and get oxygen to the organs and tissues. If possible, avoid crowded areas during cold and flu season, and stay away from people you know are sick.

You can still have Sexual relations as before; however, they should occur in as peaceful an environment as possible to prevent undue stress. If your condition is severe it is important that you discuss this with your physician; it may be necessary to forego sexual relations for a time in favor of other, less stressful shows of affection.

Start thinking in a proactive manner. Learn what you can do about your problem, what options you have, what steps you can take to make your therapy a success.