Home » Cardiovascular disease
Tag:

Cardiovascular disease

Alzheimer’s Disease and Cardiovascular Health
Conditions & Treatments

Alzheimer’s Disease and Cardiovascular Health

by Guest Blogger
written by Guest Blogger

Alzheimer’s is a growing disease that currently affects an estimated 5.5 million Americans. This number is expected to climb because of the growing number of individuals living far longer than in any previous generation. Although longer life expectancy is a sign of a healthier and better cared for population, it is also an indicator that diseases which afflict the elderly will become more prevalent as the population ages.

10% of individuals older than 65 are living with Alzheimer’s dementia, and two-thirds of these are women.

These rates are also far higher in Hispanic and African American, although researchers do not fully understand why women and minorities experience a higher prevalence of the disease.
Some believe that this is associated with higher rates of depression and anxiety, others have found links to external socioeconomic factors such as nutrition, preventative health care, and smoking. Regardless, what is known is that as America’s population continues to age and the number of the very old rises, so too will the number of individuals living with dementia.

While research is still being conducted to determine possible causes, identify early indicators, and pursue possible cures, deaths from Alzheimer’s disease have increased almost 90% since 2000. On the other hand, deaths from heart disease have decreased 14% in the same time.

Currently, one in three elderly Americans die with dementia and it is the sixth leading cause of death.
Apart from those living with cognitive impairment, a second and larger group affected by Alzheimer’s are the family and friends who care for their loved ones. Dementia takes a heavy toll on caregivers and is associated with substantial financial and emotional challenges. Although Medicare and Medicaid cover close to 70% of the $259 billion associated with Alzheimer’s and dementia care, out of pocket costs to individuals are estimated at nearly $70 billion per year.

Healthcare and long term care costs for those living with Alzheimer’s are up to three times higher than other diseases because dementia is associated with a higher number of hospital stays and with higher rates of other chronic conditions – including cardiovascular illness.

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) and Alzheimer’s disease have been recently found to be related in several ways. One association involves evidence demonstrating that pre-existing cardiovascular illness dramatically increases the long-term risks of developing Alzheimer’s disease. One study found that individuals with hypertension, or high blood pressure, in their 40s have a 24% higher risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. Another study found that higher cholesterol is likewise associated with an increased risk of cognitive dysfunction later in life. Another association between heart disease and Alzheimer’s is that the incidence of ischemic stroke, which is often caused by CVD, also increases an individual’s probability of developing Alzheimer’s disease.

While cognitive impairment is associated with heart disease and stroke, CVD also shares common risk factors with Alzheimer’s – meaning that some of the reasons why people develop cardiovascular illness are the same reasons why some people develop dementia. These include preventable conditions such as obesity and type II diabetes (which accounts for 90% of individuals living with diabetes), as well as non-preventable or genetic factors such as the elevated presence of apolipoprotein E – a naturally occurring protein associated with the transport of cholesterol to the brain.

Studies have found that frequency of a specific variant of apolipoprotein E is associated with a higher incidence of Alzheimer’s disease and that it is likewise a genetic risk factor for CVD. While it may not be possible to change genetics, apolipoprotein E has been found to interact with environmental risk factors such as smoking or poor diet. This means that while an individual’s genetics may predispose them to cardiovascular or Alzheimer’s disease, having healthy habits may reduce the elevated risks due to genetic factors. In fact, studies have shown that comprehensive treatment for heart disease may be beneficial in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s disease.

Current diagnosis of Alzheimer’s relies largely on documenting mental decline, meaning that most patients will not know that they have Alzheimer’s until they begin experiencing cognitive impairment and the disease has already caused severe brain damage.

Although researchers are trying to determine new means of identifying Alzheimer’s before irreversible brain damage occurs, these are not yet readily available. For this reason, ongoing preventative care and monitoring of cognitive functions is the best way to reduce the risks of developing Alzheimer’s or diagnose the disease early on in order to implement a comprehensive treatment plan.

The strong link between Alzheimer’s and cardiovascular disease implies that many of the same preventative and disease management options used in the treatment of CVD will be effective in protecting patients from Alzheimer’s. Such options include physical exercise to improve cardiovascular fitness, lowering cholesterol through diet and medication, and quitting smoking.

Here at Dr. Leonard Pianko’s medical practice, we strongly believe that comprehensive preventative care is integral to the health of each of our patients. We offer holistic medical care to improve the overall well-being of our patients, and one important aspect of well-being is cognitive health. Because of the association between heart health and dementia, we are uniquely equipped to help our patients strategize the most effective means of lowering the risks of both CVD and of Alzheimer’s disease.

If you are interested in hearing more about protecting your heart and your mind from unnecessary health risks, please book an appointment at Dr. Pianko’s Aventura Cardiovascular Center today.
Call us at (305) 384-4720, our staff is waiting to help you live every day to its fullest with improved health outcomes. To find out more check us out on the web http://www.leonardpiankomd.com/

From the Desk of Dr. Leonard Pianko MD PA FACC

Dr. Leonard Pianko, the founder of the Aventura Cardiovascular Center, is board certified in cardiology and internal medicine with special expertise in cardiovascular disease, preventive cardiology, and non-invasive treatment options, including echocardiogram and nuclear stress testing. A native of New York, Dr. Leonard Pianko, M.D., F.A.C.C., was born in the Bronx, and earned an undergraduate degree from Yeshiva University in New York before receiving his medical education at top-ranked Mount Sinai School of Medicine and completing his training at the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine in New Brunswick, New Jersey. For more information about this blog contact Dr. Pianko at http://www.leonardpiankomd.com/contact.php.
Alzheimer’s Disease and Cardiovascular HealthAlzheimer’s Disease and Cardiovascular Health Alzheimer’s Disease and Cardiovascular Health

Alzheimer’s Disease and Cardiovascular Health

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
Heart Disease: Silent Killer of Women
Conditions & Treatments

Heart Disease: Silent Killer of Women

by Kimberly Johnson
written by Kimberly Johnson

Heart disease and stroke are respectively the first and second leading causes of death in America – 30% of all deaths are from cardiovascular illness. Although heart disease is often thought of as affecting men primarily, this is a mistaken assumption. Cardiovascular disease is an equal opportunity killer and, in fact, more women die every year from heart disease than men. Heart Disease: Silent Killer of Women

More than 400,000 women die every year in the United States from heart disease, accounting for one out of every 4 female deaths. Heart Disease: Silent Killer of Women
However, researchers have found that many women underestimate their risks of heart attack and stroke.
Only about half of women recognize cardiovascular illness as the leading cause of death despite efforts to increase awareness.

Heart Disease is the Silent Killer of Women

Silent Killer

This low health literacy regarding heart health among women translates to suboptimal risk reduction and treatment. Studies have found that women are less likely to be counseled on steps to reduce risk and often receive less medical intervention than their male counterparts. Although nearly 7% of American women have coronary heart disease, most are unaware of the health risks entailed.
An additional challenge facing women with regards to cardiovascular illness is the discrepancy in presentation of symptoms between women and men. While men often exhibit early signs of heart disease, women frequently remain asymptomatic until the disease is very advanced and a cardiovascular incident is either imminent or has already occurred. Almost two-thirds of women who die suddenly from stroke or heart attack have experienced no previous symptoms, making cardiovascular illness a stealthy and silent killer. Furthermore, when women do experience symptoms of heart disease these may be very different from the symptoms generally described by men.

Men and Women: Different Symptoms

While many men describe chest pain – or angina – as a crushing or squeezing feeling in the chest that radiates down the arm, women may be more likely to describe sharp or burning chest pain that radiates to the neck, jaw, and back.
Women may also experience varied physical symptoms apart from chest pain, such as abdominal discomfort, nausea and vomiting, profuse sweating, dizziness, and fatigue.
Because of the wide variation in symptoms and the discrepancy from typical crushing chest pain, women are less likely to seek medical attention and be diagnosed with a cardiovascular illness.
Another difference in the presentation of symptoms between men and women is when episodes occur.
Frequently men who experience angina find that pain intensifies with physical activity and subsides while resting.
Women, on the other hand, are more likely to have pain while resting or even sleeping.
Angina in women will also be triggered during routine daily activities as well as during times of mental or emotional stress rather than during intense physical exercise.
These two major differences between how women and men present exacerbates the under-diagnosis and treatment of women with cardiovascular illness, which may, in turn, increase the risks of cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.
If heart disease is not diagnosed until the patient suffers a serious medical crisis, rehabilitation may be more difficult.
For this reason, at our cardiology practice, we strive to prevent such events through early diagnosis and prevention.

Silence of Heart Disease in Women

Because of the relative silence of heart disease in the case of female patients, this intervention is only possible if we can monitor risk factors and implement risk reduction even without the presentation of symptoms.
These risks also increase dramatically after menopause, making it especially critical for older women to closely monitor heart health.

Lifestyle Choices that Can Make a Difference

To reduce the risks of heart disease, there are a number of lifestyle choices that can make a significant difference. These include:
· Quit smoking: women who smoke are 25% more likely to develop heart disease and suffer smoking-related complications than men who smoke. Smoking also doubles women’s risk of sudden cardiac death, making smoking cessation a top priority.
· Healthy eating: reduce intake of fatty meat, especially after menopause, and increase intake of fruits, vegetables, fiber-rich whole grains, and low-fat protein. High protein diets and yo-yo dieting in older women has been linked to increased risk of cardiovascular illness. It is important to consult with your physician prior to beginning any diet.
· Exercise regularly: just 150 minutes of activity per week can reduce risks of heart disease.
· Limit alcohol to one drink per day.
· Lower stress: stress at work has been linked to a 40% increase in heart health risk and has also been linked to obesity. Finding healthy ways to reduce stress can positively impact a woman’s overall health.

What Can Your Doctor Do?

While lifestyle changes are important, it is also necessary for women to undergo regular checkups to monitor heart health. Some things that your doctor will do to ensure that you are maintaining optimal cardiovascular health include: Heart Disease is the Silent Killer of Women
· Monitoring blood pressure: high blood pressure contributes to heart disease and increases the risk of adverse events, yet is often asymptomatic.
· Testing for diabetes: uncontrolled diabetes significantly raises the risks of cardiovascular illness. While diabetes can be controlled, it is important to diagnose it and implement an appropriate management plan.
· Monitoring triglycerides and cholesterol: high triglycerides combined with high levels of ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol and low levels of ‘good’ HDL cholesterol speed up the buildup of plaque along arterial walls, which in turn increases the risk of heart attack and stroke. These levels can only be determined through regular blood tests.
At our Aventura, Florida cardiology practice, we strive to implement early intervention to reduce the risks of cardiovascular illness. Heart Disease: Silent Killer of Women
We are here to guide and support all of our patients, and our staff is uniquely equipped to treat each patient according to their individual health needs and goals. Heart Disease: Silent Killer of Women

Heart Disease: Silent Killer of Women

Dr. Leonard Pianko, the founder of the Aventura Cardiovascular Center, is board certified in cardiology and internal medicine with special expertise in cardiovascular disease, preventive cardiology, and non-invasive treatment options, including echocardiogram and nuclear stress testing. A native of New York, Dr. Leonard Pianko, M.D., F.A.C.C., was born in the Bronx, and earned an undergraduate degree from Yeshiva University in New York before receiving his medical education at top-ranked Mount Sinai School of Medicine and completing his training at the prestigious Robert Wood Johnson School of Medicine in New Brunswick, New Jersey. For more information about this blog contact Dr. Pianko at http://www.leonardpiankomd.com/contact.php.

0 comment
0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail