When it comes to life-threatening diseases, heart disease is of course among them. This is because it is one of the most common causes of death among Thai people, after accidents and cancer. However, there are many kinds of heart disease. A common and extremely dangerous one is coronary artery disease or Ischemic heart disease. It can happen to people at working ages.
Dr. Anan Kriangkraichoke, a cardiologist at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital, explained that in the past heart disease was common among people aged 40 years old and over. Women with menstruation carry less risk of the disease than men but the risk is equal between men and women with menopause. Thanks to medical advancements, they improve the detection of heart disease and reveal that people aged 20 years and over also carry the risk of developing heart disease.
More causes of heart disease have been discovered but not all of them are made known. The most common cause is gene. People whose family members have heart disease are likely to suffer from it. Ageing is the second most common cause. The older a person is, the more his heart and blood vessels deteriorate and thus the chance of heart disease is higher. The third most common cause concerns some diseases. The top three diseases that cause heart disease are hypertension, diabetes, and dyslipidemia.
Besides, external factors can also lead to heart disease. One of them is smoking because a cigarette contains about 100 substances that easily harden and clog blood vessels. Another external cause is presently popular fast food that has much content of fat which poses high risks of heart disease and dyslipidemia. People who overwork and are stressed also tend to have coronary artery disease. The disease is less found with those who work comfortably and are free of tension. Thus tension is another cause of heart disease.
Symptoms of coronary artery disease begin with chest pain. Then it disrupts heart contraction and causes pulmonary edema. A serious symptom is severe arrhythmia that may cause sudden death. It can happen to healthy people who regularly play sports. If you wonder whether you are suffering from coronary artery disease, you should note if you have chest pain, are easily exhausted or have arrhythmia. If you have any of these symptoms, you should quickly see a doctor for an examination. Those carrying the risk of genetically inherited heart disease should have their heart checked annually. People aged 20 years old and over should seek such checkups because the sooner the disease is detected, the sooner ones can take care of themselves.
Comprehensive health care is the key to cope with heart disease. It covers the consumption of five groups of food with low fat and cholesterol, enough rest, regular exercise (20 minutes a day, four days a week), and regular heart checks.
Source: Dr. Anan Kriangkraichoke, a cardiologist at Kasemrad Prachachuen Hospital
