What Is Heart Disease?
Our bodies need a strong and healthy heart to pump blood through arteries and veins, the tubes that carry the blood from the heart to all parts of the body (arteries) and then back again (veins). If the arteries are blocked or brittle, not as much blood gets back to the heart, making it weak. And if the heart is too weak, it won’t pump the blood well and has to work too hard. Because the blood carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body, blood circulation and heart problems can affect the entire body. It is like a water system: if the pump works too hard, it may burn out; if it is too weak, not every household will get water; if the pipes are clogged, there is less water getting through; and in the homes that don’t get water, there will likely be more illness.
The heart works day and night to pump blood through the body. Put your fingers on the side of your neck or on your wrist to feel the steady beat of your heart.
Problems in the arteries and veins and problems with the valves inside the heart are all called heart disease. Common heart diseases (also called cardiovascular disease) include:
- Hardening of the arteries (arteriolosclerosis): When the arteries that carry blood from the heart throughout the body become stiff, narrow, or blocked—often from too much unhealthy food—not enough blood will return to the heart.
- Congestive heart failure: When the heart is not strong enough to pump the blood well, it is called heart failure. It harms the person because the blood does not get everywhere it is needed. With less blood flow to the body’s organs, the person gets tired more easily. Lack of good blood flow can cause swelling in the legs and fluids to build up in the lungs.
- Heart attack: When blood flow is blocked inside the heart, the heart muscle is damaged and becomes too weak to work properly. This is an emergency.
- Stroke: When blood flow to the brain becomes blocked or when a smaller tube, called a blood vessel, bursts inside the brain, the brain is damaged. This is an emergency.
- Rheumatic heart disease: This is caused when rheumatic fever damages a child’s heart. Medicines or an operation can help.
- Newborn heart problems: When a child is born with a hole or other defect in his heart, it may cause problems only surgery can fix. These are called heart defects.
The heart is on the left side of the chest. The heart pumps blood
through tubes that carry it throughout the body and then back to the
heart. If the heart stops pumping, the person dies. Blood moving through
the body is called circulation.
The tubes are called blood vessels. There are 2 kinds: arteries go from the heart to organs and other body parts, and veins carry the blood back to the heart. When the blood goes through the lungs, it picks up oxygen from the air we breathe.
The heart is only the size of your fist. It is like a house divided into rooms. Blood flows from one room (chamber) to another, through doors (valves) that open and close. Heart valves that are damaged or don’t work well can cause heart problems.
Who is more likely to get heart disease?
Most kinds of heart disease develop for a long time before any signs appear. But because certain conditions often lead to heart disease, it is easy to predict that a person with 2 or more of these conditions is more likely to have heart problems in the next few years:
- has blood pressure higher than 140/90 every time it is measured
- weighs too much
He was always out of breath, but we never thought it was because of his heart. |
| A heart attack or stroke may seem to happen suddenly, but heart disease often starts when you are young and then gets worse over many years. |
- has diabetes
- smokes tobacco
- is a man older than 55 or a woman older than 65
Health workers can encourage people with these conditions to check their blood pressure and get tests for diabetes and cholesterol levels.
You can make heart problems less likely, and even improve heart problems you already have. Stop smoking, get treatment for diabetes, eat less salt and less processed “junk” foods, exercise more, and lower your stress. These changes will help your heart. Talk to your health worker and see Ways to Lower Blood Pressure and Help Your Heart.
How to check the heart and circulation system
A health worker measures how well your heart is working by:
- Measuring blood pressure. This shows if your heart is working too hard to move blood around the body. When the blood pressure measurement is always high, this is a warning that you have or could develop heart disease or problems that can lead to a heart attack or a stroke.
- Testing blood to measure cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy liquid made in the body. The body needs some, but too much is a sign of heart problems to come.
Other signs that may show a heart problem, especially if you feel them often, are:
- Too fast, too slow, or always changing heartbeat (arrhythmia)
- Pain in the chest (angina)
- Trouble breathing or feeling short of breath
- Swelling in your feet and legs
- Trouble lying flat to sleep at night
Measuring a person’s blood pressure tells how much force is needed for the heart to move blood through the body and back to the heart. It is normal for blood pressure to go up and down during the day depending on exercise, eating, feelings, etc. But having high blood pressure most of the time is not healthy. High blood pressure (also called hypertension) is a sign that the heart is working too hard.
When people have high blood pressure, lowering it helps them live longer. Medicines are sometimes needed to lower blood pressure but high blood pressure can often be lowered by eating healthier foods, using less salt, and exercising. Quitting tobacco and alcohol also helps. And treating a person’s diabetes will help their heart too. There are many ways to lower blood pressure.
Sometimes there is no clear reason why a person has high blood pressure. As people grow older, their blood pressure gradually gets higher as their arteries stiffen with age. For some women, pregnancy increases blood pressure. High blood pressure can also run in families, meaning that if you have parents or other close relatives with this problem, it might be a problem for you too.
Measuring blood pressure
Usually blood pressure is measured by a “cuff” that tightens and then loosens around your upper bare arm, while your health worker (or the machine itself) listens to the blood flow above your elbow. Two numbers, written side-by-side or one on top of the other, show your blood pressure. The first (or top) number shows how hard the blood pushes when your heart is pumping. This is called systolic pressure. When the top number is more than 140, it is too high. The second (or bottom) number shows how hard the blood pushes when your heart is relaxed between beats. This is called the diastolic pressure. It is too high if it is more than 90.
| A blood pressure measurement (BP) has two numbers: | |
 |
120 is the top (systolic) reading |
| 80 is the bottom (diastolic) reading | |
| It is usual for blood pressure to vary a little each time it is measured. | |
For most people, it is normal and healthy to have a blood pressure of no
more than 120 as the top number and no more than 80 on the bottom.
Blood pressure with even lower numbers is better for most people, but
there are times when blood pressure can be too low.
A person may feel nervous in a health clinic, causing her blood pressure measurement to rise. Have her relax a few minutes first, with both feet on the floor, and not speak while you take her pressure. If it seems high, measure her blood pressure more than once during the clinic visit. Also, having one high measurement does not always mean the person has a blood pressure problem. After a high blood pressure measurement, ask the person to come back to check it again in a few months, or sooner, depending on the measurement. To learn how to measure someone’s blood pressure as accurately as possible,
When blood pressure is too high
Blood pressure measured regularly at over 140/90 is considered high blood pressure. But if a person has other health conditions, her acceptable blood pressure numbers may be higher or lower. For example, it is normal for blood pressure to go up a little as people get older, and this may not be a problem for a person with no other health problems. If blood pressure is regularly more than 130/80 or is getting higher over time, try different ways to lower it and continue checking blood pressure to see what works.
Usually, a person with high blood pressure will not notice any signs unless his blood pressure is very high. Unfortunately, no signs does not mean no harm. The only way to know if you have high blood pressure is to have it checked.
High blood pressure and pregnancy
Health workers and midwives usually measure the blood pressure of pregnant women at every visit. It is common and healthy for a woman’s blood pressure to be a little lower than usual during the first 6 months of pregnancy. A healthy blood pressure stays between 90/60 and 140/90 and does not rise much during pregnancy. High blood pressure during pregnancy causes less blood to circulate. This brings less food to the developing baby, so the baby might grow too slowly.
Blood pressure measuring between 140 and 150 for the top number or between 90 and 100 for the bottom number may be treated without medicines by having the woman rest more and lie on her left side. Signs of more serious health problems include shortness of breath, chest pains, or higher blood pressure. High blood pressure in pregnancy can be a sign of pre-eclampsia, an emergency that can lead to premature birth, bleeding, convulsions, and even death.
When is blood pressure too low?
Blood pressure lower than 90 (systolic) over 60 (diastolic) is generally considered to be low blood pressure. Some people have no problems from low blood pressure. But if there is dizziness or fainting, low blood pressure may need treatment. Low blood pressure can be a sign of dehydration or other problems. It is important to find the cause of low blood pressure to treat it.
When blood pressure drops very quickly and there are other signs such as confusion, cold sweat, or a weak, fast pulse, this could be an emergency condition called shock. Once signs of shock begin, it usually gets worse very fast until the body shuts down completely. Treat shock quickly to save the person’s life.
It is important to check your blood pressure
Anyone with a blood pressure measurement device can check blood pressure. Usually health workers check your blood pressure at every visit, but you may be able to check it at a pharmacy or a health promotion event in your community or workplace. Keep a record of your blood pressure to see if it changes over time.
If you get a blood pressure device, you can learn to check your own blood pressure at home. Blood pressure equipment can be shared safely among people.
High blood pressure is a warning that heart disease might be developing or has already begun. Over time, the increased pressure damages the organs in your body and can lead to heart attacks, heart failure, strokes, kidney disease, and eye damage. When you learn to check your own blood pressure, you can see how exercise and healthy eating help your blood pressure improve.
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