Which conditions are we referring to exactly?
Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis refers to a thickening and hardening of the walls of the arteries. It is characterized by the buildup of fatty substances such as cholesterol on the artery walls. This leads to a narrowing of these blood vessels, resulting in disrupted blood circulation.
Arteritis
This term refers to inflammation of the blood vessel walls. This condition mainly occurs in the lower limbs and often results in intermittent limping. The pain caused by arteritis closely resembles cramps. You may also experience high fever, an increased heart rate, ...
Coronary insufficiency
This is a somewhat complex term for the narrowing of the coronary arteries, which surround the heart like a crown. When these blood vessels become narrowed or blocked due to a buildup of more or less hardened fats, the heart does not receive enough oxygen. This oxygen shortage can lead to:
- heart cramp or angina pectoris: angina is an early stage of a heart attack. It occurs during physical activities or emotional stress and is characterized by a tight feeling in the chest. This pain may also radiate to the arms, neck, throat, and back.
- heart attack: in a heart attack, one of the coronary arteries becomes blocked by a blood clot or damage to the vessel wall. As a result, part of the heart muscle dies. A heart attack can also lead to cardiac arrest.
Thrombosis
Thrombosis occurs when a blood clot forms in a heart chamber or in a blood vessel (vein or artery). This can partially block blood circulation. For example, thrombosis can lead to a heart attack or a stroke when the clot is located in the brain.
Heart rhythm disorders
In this case, the heart does not beat regularly at a rate of 60 to 100 beats per minute. The heart’s internal pacemaker may be disrupted in terms of frequency, but also in how the electrical signals are transmitted.
Valve disorders
The heart valves can also cause problems. One or more valves may not close properly or may open at the wrong time. This can cause blood to flow backward or leak.
Heart failure
With heart failure, the heart's pumping function is insufficient. As a result, it can no longer meet the body's energy demands. The causes of this condition include narrowed blood vessels, untreated high blood pressure, valve disorders, and heart muscle diseases.
The main risk factors for these conditions are:
- high cholesterol levels
- high blood pressure
- little or no physical activity
- unhealthy diet
- overweight
- smoking
- stress
- diabetes
- increase in cholesterol during menopause
Cardiovascular risk factors form quite a long list. Moreover, the risk of cardiovascular disease increases when several factors are present at the same time. These different risks work closely together to undermine the circulatory system. For example, if you have diabetes or high blood pressure, the risk of a heart attack increases by a factor of 2.5. If you have both diabetes and high blood pressure, this risk increases up to 8 times.
A disturbed fat metabolism, or dyslipidemia, increases the risk by a factor of 16. If you have dyslipidemia combined with high blood pressure and/or diabetes, the risk of a heart attack increases by a factor of 20.
However, most risk factors are related to unhealthy lifestyle habits. Since habits can be learned or unlearned, there is a lot you can do preventively to reduce your risk. That’s definitely good news!
TIP ! Know that Helan supports you in this and that you can benefit from a number of reimbursements.
Everything you need to know about healthy eating
Discover tips for healthier eating in our e-book.