MediPharm: Conditions: Heart & Circulation

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Cardiovascular Disease

Cardiovascular disease is a broad term used to describe a range of diseases that affect your heart or blood vessels. The term "cardiovascular disease" is often used interchangeably with heart disease because both terms refer to diseases of the heart or arteries.

Heart disease is the number one killer of women and men in Malaysia. It is also a major cause of disability.

There are many different forms of heart disease, which include coronary artery disease, heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure and stroke. The most common cause of heart disease is narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart itself. This is called coronary artery disease and happens slowly over time. The gradual buildup of fatty deposits in your coronary arteries (atherosclerosis) slowly narrows your coronary arteries. Your heart receives less blood, and eventually, diminished blood flow may cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath or other symptoms. A complete blockage can cause a heart attack. Coronary artery disease is the major reason people have heart attacks.

You can help reduce your risk of heart disease by taking steps to control factors that put you at greater risk:

Control your blood pressure
Lower your cholesterol
Maintain a healthy weight
Don't smoke
Get enough exercise

Prevention

Heart disease is often avoidable. Following a heart-healthy lifestyle doesn't have to be complicated, and it doesn't mean you need to live a life of self-deprivation. Instead, find ways to incorporate heart-healthy habits into your lifestyle - and you may well enjoy a healthier life for years to come.

Heart Healthy Nutrients

Omega-3 Fatty Acids for Heart Health

Epidemiologic and clinical trials have shown that omega-3 fatty acids reduce cardiovascular incidence. Large-scale epidemiologic studies suggest that people at risk for coronary heart disease benefit from consuming omega-3 fatty acids. Randomized clinical trials have shown that omega-3 fatty acid supplements can reduce cardiovascular events, such as death, non-fatal heart attacks, and non-fatal strokes. They can also slow the progression of atherosclerosis in heart patients.

Dietary sources of omega-3 fatty acids include fish oil and certain plant/nut oils. Fish oil contains both docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA).

Research has shown that amounts of DHA and EPA in the form of fish or fish oil supplements:

Lowers triglyceride levels
Slows the buildup of atherosclerotic plaques ("hardening of the arteries")
Lowers blood pressure slightly
Reduces the risk of death, heart attack, dangerous abnormal heart rhythms, and strokes in people with known heart disease

Coenzyme Q10

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is a fat-soluble, vitamin-like substance in every human cell. It's involved in key biochemical reactions that produce energy in cells. It also acts as an antioxidant.

CoQ10 levels are reported to decrease with age and to be low in patients with some chronic diseases such as heart conditions, muscular dystrophies, Parkinson's disease, cancer, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. Some prescription medications may also lower CoQ10 levels. Levels of CoQ10 in the body can be increased by taking CoQ10 supplements.

CoQ10 is naturally present in a variety of foods. Organ meats such as heart, liver and kidney as well as in beef, soybean oil, sardines, mackerel and peanuts are particularly high in CoQ10.

Source: MayoClinic.com; American Heart Association; Medline Plus.

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