Studies performed by the American Heart Association have estimated ¾ of the deaths of diabetics are the direct result from stroke and heart disease. All diabetics have an increased risk for development of heart disease, but the problem is more often seen in those with type 2. Numerous studies have been done to formulate your personal health risk factors are involved with diabetics that make them so vulnerable to heart disease. Performing one of those controlled looks into diabetics, the Framingham Study was first to identify the evidence that pointed to heart disease being a greater risk for diabetics than those without the disease.
By looking into multiple generations of certain individuals that study discovered that along with diabetes other factors play an important role in the risk potential. Knowing your family history concerning heart health, high cholesterol levels, smoking, and high blood pressure are just part of the health factors that can lead to heart disease. While it stands as a known fact that people with diabetes have a greater chance of death from heart disease, additional health risks will multiply those risk factors.
Generally speaking a person with diabetes will have a better than double the chance of death from heart disease than someone who suffers from high blood pressure alone. Medical studies have shown that the mere fact a person suffers from diabetes stands has a greater than 5 times the risk of death from heart disease, than those without diabetes. Making the risk for a diabetic to have a heart attack more likely, than even a person who has suffered from a heart attack already in their life. Physicians recommend that all diabetic patients treat their risk factors as aggressive as individuals who have had a heart attack.
Exactly What Causes Diabetics to Develop Heart Disease?
One of the most frequent causes of heart disease to develop in diabetics is the instance of atherosclerosis, which is coronary artery hardening. That hardening is the build up in your blood vessels (from cholesterol) that supply nutrition and oxygen to the heart. An increase in the amount of blood sugar which occurs in diabetics with type 2 diabetes will generally be after that build up of cholesterol has begun. Making the heart disease an established factor long before any diagnosis of type 2 diabetes has been made.
Blood clots that block the vessels are caused from the rupture and break apart that occurs when those deposits of cholesterol plaques break free, which can result in a heart attack. If that same event occurs in other arteries of the body a lack of blood to the brain can be the result. That lack can bring on a stroke, or peripheral vascular disease ( lack of blood flow to the arms, feet, or hands).
Diabetics not only suffer higher risk for development of heart disease, but the risk associated with heart failure rises substantially. That is the medical condition where the blood pumped to the heart stops performing in an adequate way for proper heart function. Fluid build up causing difficult breathing can develop in the lungs, with the retention of fluids more swelling can be seen in other parts of the body.
As a Diabetic You Should Be Aware of the Symptoms of A Heart Attack.
Those signs that are associated with heart attacks are:
- Dizziness.
- Pain that radiates through the shoulders, left arm, and jaw.
- Shortness of breath.
- Unexplained nausea.
- Feeling of faintness.
- Unexplained and excessive sweating.
- Pressure or pain in the chest (especially during activity).
As you watch for those symptoms it is vital to remember that not all heart attack victims all suffer from pain, especially women. In the event you feel you might be experiencing any of the listed symptoms it is important to seek medical attention as soon as possible.
The following symptoms can be attributed to Peripheral Vascular Disease:
- Cramping in your legs while walking, as well as pain in the buttocks or hips.
- An absence or decreased pulse in your legs or feet.
- Excessively cold feet.
- Hair loss on your lower extremities.
- Signs of a fat loss in the lower leg.
Treatment of Heart Disease for Diabetic Patients
Depending on a diabetic’s severity of heart disease they face several treatment options:
- Aspirin regimen can help to reduce the potential for clots to develop that lead to strokes and heart attack.
- Properly formulated heart healthy diet plan.
- Exercising as not only a form of weight reduction, but as a way to lower your levels of blood sugar, reduce your cholesterol, and high blood pressure. This is a valid way to decrease fat in the abdominal area, which stands as a risk factor for development of heart disease.
- Medications.
- Surgery.
Treatment of Peripheral Vascular Disease.
- A regular walking program routine, of over 30 minutes per day, and followed by rest.
- Specially designed footwear.
- Aspirin regimen.
- Medications.
- Ceasing smoking.
During an aspirin regimen therapy someone with type 2 diabetics that are over 40 will take low doses of aspirin as a form of prevention. If you are diabetic, hold a high risk for both peripheral vascular disease or heart disease, you should consult your physician about the possibility of adding aspirin to your daily routine. Your doctor will help to determine if you have any medical problems that warrant you not to take the aspirin.
Prevention of Heart Disease In a Diabetic.
Remember the best prevention for any disease is to exercise, eat properly and take care of yourself but managing your diabetes to the best of your ability.
- Keep your blood sugar as regular as possible.
- Use medication as a way to control blood pressure, if necessary.
- Cholesterol medications to help lower your levels may be necessary.
- Lose weight if you are over weight.
- Seek a physician’s advice to see if aspirin can be a benefit.
- Exercise on a regular basis.
- Eat a heart-healthy diet, consisting of both less fat and sodium.
- Quit smoking
