Cardiovascular

Articles

Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)
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Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT)

A deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a blood clot that develops in a large vein, usually in the lower leg, and requires treatment to ease symptoms and prevent clots from spreading to other areas in the body. A pulmonary embolism (PE) is the most serious complication, where part of the DVT breaks off and a clot lodges in one of the blood vessels going to the lungs, blocking the blood supply. This can cause difficulty in breathing and collapse – it's a life-threatening condition that requires immediate medical attention. It’s believed that around 900,000 people in the US have a DVT or PE every year.

Phlebitis: causes, symptoms and treatments
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Phlebitis: causes, symptoms and treatments

Phlebitis (also known as superficial thrombophlebitis) occurs when the superficial veins in your skin become inflamed, with the potential of having a small blood clot form inside of them. It typically occurs in the veins in your leg but it can occur in any vein in your body. Different things can trigger the inflammation. Trauma or injury to the vein (for example from a blood test), people with problems with their veins already (for example varicose veins or a previous blood clot), or people who have conditions that make their blood clot more easily. People who smoke, or are immobile, or have had major surgery are also more at risk.

Pulmonary embolism (PE)
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Pulmonary embolism (PE)

A pulmonary embolism (PE) is a clot blocking a blood vessel to the lungs. This threatens to stop you from breathing in oxygen to keep organs alive and stops you from getting rid of toxic carbon dioxide gas. With prompt recognition and treatment, most people recover from PEs. This can be life-threatening and requires immediate hospital admission.

Raynaud's
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Raynaud's

Named after the doctor who first described it in 1862, Raynaud's phenomenon – often just called Raynaud’s - is a condition that affects the circulation of blood in certain areas of the body, most often the fingers and toes, usually when exposed to the cold. It can cause the areas to change color (white, blue and then red in an attack), become painful, numb, and restrict movement. It is a fairly common condition that affects women more than men and the most common type usually develops before the age of 30, sometimes running in families. It can be triggered by various factors like stress, cold weather (the most common trigger), and even excess caffeine. It is not usually a serious condition although it can affect people's quality of life, and sometimes can also be linked to other underlying medical conditions.

Hypertension: how is it diagnosed?
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Hypertension: how is it diagnosed?

Your blood pressure reading has two numbers, one 'above' the other - for example, 135/85. The higher number (called the systolic) is a measure of the pressure inside your arteries when your heart pumps blood out. The lower number (called the diastolic) is a measure of the pressure inside your arteries when your heart is resting between heartbeats. Blood pressure is measured in millimeters of mercury (mm Hg). If you’re found to have high blood pressure (BP) on one occasion, you should make an appointment with your doctor or practice nurse to have this rechecked. It’s not diagnosed based on just one reading – they want to have a few. They will likely lend you a BP machine (or you may have one at home) and advise you to keep a BP diary, with a week of readings taken at different times of the day. Hypertension is diagnosed on what the majority of readings show. A BP machine gives you a fraction number – if home readings are consistently over 140/90 mmHg, they may suggest starting treatment.

Statins side effects guide
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Statins side effects guide

Statins are a type of medication used to lower your cholesterol. They work by converting the bad cholesterol in the blood. To learn more about statins and how they work read our article on Statins. In the US, there are three types of statins available on prescription. These are: First generation** - pravastatin, lovastatin, & fluvastatin. These have the greatest risk of side effects. They are not so commonly used. Second generation** - simvastatin & atorvastatin. Of these, atorvastatin is newer, more effective and has a lower side effect profile in comparison to simvastatin. Third generation** - rosuvastatin & pitavastatin. They are effective and have a low side effect profile. All medicines can cause side effects. Statins are no different, but depending on which one you are one the risk of a side effect may be more likely. Below we will look at some of the main side effects you can experience. You should speak with your doctor for advice if you develop any bothersome side effects. Your doctor may want to lower your dose. Alternatively, they might switch you to another statin as side effects can vary.

Cholesterol 101 - good cholesterol & bad cholesterol
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Cholesterol 101 - good cholesterol & bad cholesterol

Lipids are fat compounds found in the body that include cholesterol and triglycerides. They are used for many important functions, but sometimes there is too much of a good thing! Here we dive into a bit more detail on what exactly is good and bad cholesterol. Cholesterol is a waxy, fatlike substance we all have in our blood, and it’s essential for good health, helping to store energy and with other vital body functions such as creating healthy cell membranes. However, too much of the ‘bad’ kind of cholesterol can increase your risk of conditions such as heart disease or stroke. There are two main ways we make cholesterol – from our body and from what we eat. Body-generated cholesterol is made in our liver and it helps your body build cells and make vitamins and certain hormones. We make all the cholesterol we need through this process. Dietary cholesterol comes from the food we eat, particularly products like meat, eggs, cheese and milk.

What should I do with chest pain?
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What should I do with chest pain?

There can be multiple causes of chest pain, depending on your age, family history, and any related medical conditions you have. One of the most serious is if you’re having a heart attack or a myocardial infarction (MI). Let’s take you through when to worry and what requires immediate action from any bystanders and urgent medical treatment.

Chronic kidney disease
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Chronic kidney disease

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) means the kidneys are not working to full capacity after damage from either advancing age or a disease process such as diabetes. You have two kidneys, and their function is to filter out waste products from the body via the urine and balance up certain salts like potassium and sodium in your blood. CKD is sometimes referred to as a renal failure and is a long-term condition that usually causes no symptoms in the early stages. It can get worse over time, but it usually progresses slowly over the years, and it’s rare to progress to a stage where the kidneys stop working altogether, which requires dialysis. For this reason, CKD is monitored regularly, and risk factors for further damage are carefully controlled, such as diabetes and high blood pressure.

Heart attack
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Heart attack

A heart attack, also known as myocardial infarction or coronary thrombosis, happens when a coronary artery (a blood vessel that supplies the heart with blood) that carries oxygen-rich blood to the heart is blocked. If the blood supply is completely blocked, part of the heart muscle may be starved of oxygen, can become damaged and may die. The medical name for a heart attack is an acute myocardial infarction (MI). Although having a heart attack is very serious, the chances of survival are greatly increased if you are able to get to a hospital right away. A heart attack may also refer to a problem with the rhythm of the heart – an arrhythmia – that prevents it beating in synchrony to pump blood around the body effectively. Again, this can lead to a medical emergency. What causes an MI? Certain things can put you at higher risk of an MI. Age is the biggest factor, where our arteries become less elastic as we age, and we get build-up of plaque on the inside of the arteries (a bit like lime scale in a water pipe). Plaque causes less effective flow of blood as the tube is narrower, and a piece of plaque may break off to form a clot, causing a blockage. Other conditions can accelerate this process, including diabetes, high blood pressure, abdominal aortic aneurysm, high cholesterol, obesity, excess alcohol and smoking. Your family history or ethnicity can cause early-age plaque build-up in the arteries.

Hypertension: what is it?
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Hypertension: what is it?

Hypertension refers to high blood pressure (BP) in your arteries, the vessels that carry oxygen to your tissues and organs which enables them to function. If left untreated, hypertension puts you at a higher risk of having a stroke or heart attack. Pressure provides the pumping mechanism from the heart to this artery pipework around the body. If the pressure is too high, this causes the narrowing of the arteries, which, over time, can damage vital organs such as the heart, brain, kidneys, and eyes. Think of it like limescale attacking your water pipes until they narrow and become bumpy with deposits, making it harder for the liquid to get through them. Eventually, the pipes may block entirely, which is what causes a heart attack. BP is measured by a machine – a soft cuff is attached to your upper arm, which inflates and gives a fraction reading: one number at the top (your systolic BP) and one at the bottom (your diastolic BP).

Hypertension: I’ve been diagnosed. What now?
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Hypertension: I’ve been diagnosed. What now?

Hypertension, or high blood pressure (BP), is a concept some patients struggle with. You’re told you have a health condition, and yet you feel well, it doesn’t cause you any symptoms, and you don’t feel any different once treatment is started. You’re buying into the concept that looking after yourself (with lifestyle modifications and medication) will protect you from a serious illness such as kidney disease, strokes, or heart attacks in many years to come. Perhaps it’s best viewed as paying into your pension – you won’t ever feel like you’re reaping the rewards, but you’d kick yourself if you hadn’t invested.

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