Cardiovascular Diseases

Cardiovascular diseases occur when excessive amounts of fat and cholesterol collect in the blood vessels.

In this article:

What are cardiovascular diseases?

Diagnosis

How Chemist Online can help

Symptoms

Effect on your life

Advice & Support

Causes

Treatment

What are cardiovascular diseases?
Cardiovascular means the heart and circulation.

When the arteries in the heart become hardened due to them ‘clogging up’ with unwanted fatty deposits and cholesterol, this is where cardiovascular problems develop, such as: heart disease, heart attacks, stroke and angina.

Cardiovascular diseases are also known as CVDs – conditions that kill a staggering amount of people in the UK: one in three people, in fact.

Symptoms
Symptoms of cardiovascular disease include:

increased or irregular heart rate

chest pain

tightness in the chest

pain spreading from the chest to the shoulder and arm

pain spreading from the chest, up to the neck and then down to the jaw

heart palpitations

dizziness

fainting

shortness of breath

sweating

Note: It is possible to be in the early stages of a cardiovascular disease, yet experience no symptoms at all. Or for some people, and equally worryingly, the first indication of any cardiovascular problem is when they have a small heart attack.

Causes
Causes of cardiovascular disease include:

smoking

high blood-pressure

diabetes

a diet that is high in saturates (and with no daily intake of up to five fruit and vegetables, or wholegrain food)

excessive salt intake

drinking too much alcohol

being overweight (particularly around the waist)

not partaking in regular exercise

Diagnosis
If you are suffering from the aforementioned symptoms and feel you may be developing a cardiovascular disease, make an appointment to see your GP. After taking your medical history, he or she will ask you some questions (such as if their is a history of cardiovascular disease in your family), and then carry out a range of tests, which include:

Blood tests – this is to check your blood sugar levels and cholesterol

Measuring of blood pressure and cholesterol

Measuring of your weight

These tests are carried out as part of a risk assessment score system which enables medical professionals to calculate and better assess your cardiovascular health risk and then recommend an appropriate course of treatment (or advise you on any lifestyle changes you may need to make).

In order to establish a confirmed diagnosis, you will then be referred to a cardiovascular specialist for further tests which may include:

A chest X-ray

An electrocardiogram (ECG), or

A Coronary Angiography

Treatment
Treatments for cardiovascular diseases are primarily aimed at reducing risk. These treatments include:

Advice and recommendations regarding lifestyle changes (e.g., eating a better and more balanced diet, partaking in regular exercise, stopping smoking and reducing alcohol consumption)

Medication – Beta-blockers and nitrates to help lower blood pressure and lessen your heart’s demand for oxygen

Surgery – a coronary bypass operation or angioplasty, to help ease symptoms, but not cure your cardiovascular disease

Heart transplant – a full ‘heart replacement’ with a healthy heart from a matching donor

How Chemist Online can help
Through this website we have a range of treatments available to buy which can help you to maintain a healthy heart, such as: Hofels Neo Garlic One-a-day Pearles – an odourless garlic supplement for general health and well being, and which can help maintain a healthy heart, circulation and cholesterol levels.

We can also offer you Kwai Garlic Tablets – effective anti-oxidants with the natural anti-oxidant power of garlic. Kwai Garlic Tablets maintain your cholesterol levels and help you to attain a stronger heart and healthy blood circulatory system.

Also, insufficient folic acid in your diet can damage the lining of your arteries. We can offer you Healthaid Folic Acid Tablets 400mcg, which help in the utilisation of sugar, amino acids and the division of body cells – helping you to maintain a healthy heart and better circulation.