Diabetes and Heart Problems

One of the commonest causes of heart attack is diabetes mellitus and in majority of diabetes patients cause of death is heart attack. There are certain peculiarities of heart attack in these patients, as compare to heart attacks in non-diabetic patients.

• Incidence of heart attack in diabetics is higher than general public. Incidence of heart attacks in diabetic males is 50, times higher while in females it is 10 times more.
• Incidence of sudden death due to Sudden Cardiac Arrest is 50 times more in males, while it is 300 times more in females in diabetics.
• 35% of diabetic patients die due to heart problems before they reach the 55 years of age as compare to 4 to 8% of general public.
• 50% Diabetic patients have high blood pressure.

In obese diabetic patients blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels are high and these get deposited in the blood vessels which supply blood to heart. Because of this deposition blood supply is affected (due to narrowing of blood vessels) and this can cause Angina or Heart Attack.

Other additional factors are:

• Obesity-over weight.
• High Blood Pressure.
• Smoking.
• Blood vessels of legs, foot and arms also get narrowed down due to cholesterol deposition and can cause pain in legs while walking which may become better by further walking. This is seen more frequently in iabetics who are smoker.

Precautions

Certain precautions are essential

• Weight Records-reduce over weight.
• Control Blood Pressure.
• Swelling over legs and feet should be reported to Doctor.
• Get regular sugar and cholesterol examinations and keep records.
• Get X-Ray chest once in a year.
• Get E.C.G. once in a year.
• If one gets discomfort in chest while walking or after food should undergo stress test/tread mill test so that cadiac status can be evaluated.

Bad Companions of Diabetes

• Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)
• Dyslipidaemia (High Cholesterol and Triglyceride Levels)
• Smoking
• Obesity (Over Weight) Motapa

All the above factors increase the risk for Strokes and Heart Attacks.

Hypertension (High Blood Pressure) is associated with:

• Insulin Resistance,
• Obesity Central, and
• Accelerated Atherosclerosis (Blockage of artry).

By keeping Blood Pressure under control there was large reduction of stroke, i.e. by 44%.

Blood Pressure should be kept around 130/82 to prevent vascular complication of Diabetes mainly stroke and heart attacks.

As 40% of diabetics have associated with high blood pressure, all diabetic patients should have regular blood pressure check up and if needed use medicines regularly as per their doctors advice.

Diabetic Heart Attack are seen in young diabetic and are usually severe. Heart Attack are painless (silent). Usually seen in the age group of 35 to 40 years. All the major blood vessels of Heart are involved. Always need By-Pass Surgery.

Instead of pain they get discomfort in chest, suffocation and difficulty in breathing.

How to Cope

• Stop smoking.
• Keep Blood Sugar under control.
• Regular exercise and weight control.
• Control Blood Pressure.
• Regular Heart check up an follow your Doctor's advise.

By-Pass Surgery

• Diabetes involves heart muscle and Blood vessels of heart and reduces expectancy of life.
• By-Pass Surgery would improve the quality of life make change in food habits and lifestyle.
• Persons can lead normal life.