Treating Cardiovascular Disease

Treating Cardiovascular Disease

Understanding Cardiovascular Disease

  • Cardiovascular disease is a general term that includes all diseases of the heart and circulation, such as heart disease, heart attacks, strokes, and peripheral vascular diseases.
  • It is mainly caused by the accumulation of fatty deposits within the walls of the body’s arteries – this is known as atherosclerosis.
  • Risk factors include poor diet, lack of physical activity, being overweight, smoking, alcohol consumption, high blood pressure, diabetes and family history.

Approaches to Treating Cardiovascular Disease

  • Adopting a healthy lifestyle is the first step towards preventing and managing cardiovascular disease. This includes healthy eating, regular physical activity, quitting smoking, and limiting alcohol consumption.
  • The use of drugs to treat cardiovascular disease includes: anticoagulants to thin the blood and prevent clots; ACE inhibitors to decrease blood pressure; and statins to lower the levels of bad cholesterol.
  • Surgery could be an option for severe cases of cardiovascular disease. Options include bypass surgery, balloon angioplasty, or the implantation of stents to keep arteries open.
  • Stem cell therapy is an innovative approach to repair damaged heart tissue. However, it is still under research and testing phases.

Constraints and Considerations in Treatment

  • The benefits of treatments must be set against their potential side effects. For example, long-term use of certain medications can lead to undesired effects.
  • While medications can be effective, they don’t alter underlying lifestyle causes. A holistic strategy that includes lifestyle change, medication, and possibly surgical intervention is often best.
  • The use of stem cells raises ethical and practical issues, particularly considering the source of these cells.

Evaluating Success of Treatment

  • Survival rates, the quality of life post-treatment, and the reduction in incidents of cardiovascular events can be used to evaluate the success of different treatments.
  • Medical research and ongoing clinical trials help to establish the safety and efficacy of potential new treatments, like stem cell therapies.
  • The cost-effectiveness of treatments is another important consideration, particularly for public health services with limited budgets.