According to abbreviationfinder, CHD stands for Hypertensive Heart Disease. When the heart becomes diseased, it can lead to a life-threatening condition. In addition, diseases of individual components of the heart, which are damaged by hypertensive heart disease (CHD), are the trigger for various functional disorders of other organs.
What is hypertensive heart disease?
The anatomical representation of a heart that has been diagnosed with hypertensive heart disease shows clear size deviations from a normal, healthy heart.
Hypertensive heart disease affects the “engine” of our body and refers to the entire heart muscle. The heart is a single muscle that can perform its function through special openings.
If the heart muscle’s ability to contract and relax is reduced by hypertensive heart disease, a loss of function of this central organ can result.
In this context, hypertensive heart disease can promote heart failure. For this reason, the disease is one of the organic abnormalities that are associated with high risks and extensive treatment.
Causes
The causes of hypertensive heart disease are similar to those that promote arterial hypertension. In most patients who have been diagnosed with this form of heart disease, deficits in the hormonal control of blood pressure and damage to the kidneys come to light in advance.
An existing disease of the cardiovascular system usually ends in hypertensive heart disease. Despite the enormous muscle strength and the astonishing resilience of the heart muscle, after a long period of unfavorable factors, a CVD can no longer be averted.
If the arteries are partially blocked by deposits associated with arteriosclerosis, hypertensive heart disease also occurs.
Symptoms, Ailments & Signs
The symptoms of hypertensive heart disease can vary depending on the extent. In all cases, those affected suffer from significantly elevated blood pressure. First, they notice signs such as shortness of breath after physical exertion or mental stress. The further the disease progresses, the more often shortness of breath occurs even with light physical exertion.
There is also an increased need to urinate at night. Most of the urine is usually excreted at night by those affected. As the heart’s ability to pump decreases, the heart muscle can become dysfunctional. Those affected therefore experience symptoms such as chest pain, shortness of breath , dizziness, persistent nausea and tiredness in addition to shortness of breath.
In the advanced stage, cardiac insufficiency, cardiac arrhythmia, angina pectoris and finally atrial fibrillation occur. In addition, long-term exposure can lead to pulmonary congestion and even pulmonary edema, which can cause bronchitis. There is a strong cough with sputum. Such congestion can also occur in the stomach and kidneys.
Those affected often also have water retention on their legs or abdomen (ascites). If the hypertensive heart disease is already very advanced, the coronary arteries can become blocked, which can cause the heart muscle tissue to die off. In many cases this leads to a heart attack.
Diagnosis & History
The anatomical representation of a heart that has been diagnosed with hypertensive heart disease shows clear size deviations from a normal, healthy heart. Cardiovascular disease causes the heart muscle to thicken and lose its elasticity.
The pumping ability of the heart decreases. This is expressed in a functional weakness of the muscle. The patients show measurable disorders of the regular heart rhythm, palpitations and, in an advanced stage, atrial fibrillation. Shortness of breath, persistent nausea, dizziness and tiredness as well as high blood pressure are typical of hypertensive heart disease.
Before the last stage of HHK is reached, individual stages such as the so-called relaxation disorders, pseudo-normalization and the courses known as restriction are identified. The clinical symptoms reported by those affected are the focus of the diagnostic surveys when a hypertensive disease is suspected. The focus of the technical diagnostics of the HHK is the echocardiography of the heart and the measurement of the blood pressure.
Complications
As a rule, heart problems are always a serious complication, which in the worst case can even lead to the death of the patient. For this reason, early diagnosis and treatment of these diseases is essential to avoid secondary damage, which is usually irreversible and cannot be treated. The person affected suffers from heart failure and can suffer sudden cardiac death.
Cardiac arrhythmias also occur and the patient’s resilience is greatly reduced. Normal activities and sporting activities are usually no longer possible for the patient, so that everyday life is restricted. Heart disease reduces the patient’s quality of life and life expectancy. It can also cause chest pain and a heart attack, which is associated with serious complications.
Heart problems can also have a negative effect on other organs. Heart problems can usually be treated with medication or surgery. Likewise, the sufferer must strive to lead a healthy lifestyle to minimize the risk of heart disease. A bypass can also be placed or a pacemaker installed to avoid emergencies.
When should you go to the doctor?
Heart problems can be fatal. Therefore, a doctor should always be consulted in the event of irregularities. If there is a feeling of pressure in the chest, pain in the upper body or if the person concerned feels unwell for a long time, a doctor is needed. If you have breathing problems, shortness of breath or a shortage of air in your body, you should consult a doctor as soon as possible. There is a risk of multiple organ failure and thus a reduction in life expectancy. If there are interruptions in speaking, swallowing problems or a decrease in performance, a doctor should be consulted.
In case of tiredness, vomiting, nausea or dizziness, a doctor’s visit is recommended. If additional emotional abnormalities set in, the symptoms need to be clarified. Mood swings, melancholic or depressive phases, lethargy or apathy should be examined and discussed with a doctor. In the case of sleep disorders, exhaustion or reduced well-being, the symptoms should be examined. If existing discrepancies spread or increase in intensity, a doctor’s visit is necessary. If the daily obligations can no longer be fulfilled as usual, the person concerned needs help. A doctor should therefore be consulted to determine the cause. tachycardia,
Treatment & Therapy
With the current medical options, there is a good chance of treating hypertensive heart disease.
In the case of CVD, the first goal is to have normal blood pressure. A meaningful change in the lifestyle of those affected may be essential to achieve this goal. Drug-assisted therapy is indicated for hypertensive heart disease. The drugs that are prescribed for HHK come from the groups of ACE inhibitors, calcium antagonists or beta blockers. These pharmaceutical preparations do not always lead to success as single doses.
In many cases, a sensible combination of all active ingredients takes place. So-called dehydrating drugs that increase urine excretion are also included in this therapy for CVD. The implantation of a pacemaker against atrial fibrillation, the integration of a stent or the implantation of a heart bypass are also relevant in advanced hypertensive heart disease.
These methods can extend the life span of CVD and maintain a certain level of quality of life.
Outlook & Forecast
Hypertensive heart disease can be treated with timely and good treatment. Although most patients do not make a full recovery or are free of symptoms, the symptoms and triggers that have occurred can be significantly alleviated with comprehensive medical care.
From the use of a pacemaker, drug treatment to mental support, doctors offer a wide range to enable a good prognosis. The prerequisites for this are timely medical treatment, compliance with the guidelines developed and a good ability to recognize early warning signals from the body. In most cases, the chances of recovery improve further as soon as the current living conditions are redesigned and optimized. The natural needs of the organism must be taken into account and the way of life must be adapted to them. The offer of psychotherapeutic support helps to further improve the prognosisat. Stressors are recognized more quickly and the possibilities of dealing with them better are promoted.
If the patient refuses medical treatment and therapeutic care, the risk of premature death increases. In certain situations, many of those affected are unable to react adequately to the individual requirements of the organism. It comes to a mental and physical overload and an acute and life-threatening condition develops.
Prevention
Prophylaxis against hypertensive heart disease is based on a balanced alternation between periods of stress and recovery, regular physical activity, lowering of cholesterol and blood sugar levels and smoking cessation.
A low-fat diet, foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and products containing vitamins can help prevent CVD. In connection with the processing of negative stress, special methods and relaxation techniques can be helpful in order to take conscious action against hypertensive heart disease.
Particular risk factors such as physical obesity, medications that cause high blood pressure, and a balanced sleep are also to be mentioned as prevention against CVD.
Aftercare
The risk of hypertensive heart disease can be reduced with a health-conscious lifestyle. Therefore, follow-up care also focuses on reducing risk factors. Being overweight and taking excessive medication should therefore be avoided. A balanced alternation of activity and rest helps patients to get fit again.
These include regular exercise, lowering blood sugar and cholesterol levels and avoiding nicotine and alcohol. Low-fat, vitamin-rich foods and a sufficient intake of omega-3 fatty acids improve the immune system. In addition, those affected have special relaxation methods available with which they can prevent or at least limit the usual symptoms of heart disease.
Conscious, gentle sports such as hiking, yoga and swimming do not put too much strain on the body and still ensure sufficient exercise. With a change in lifestyle, the prospect of better health improves. Even if the patients often do not fully recover, the symptoms decrease drastically.
With medical care and also with physiotherapy, the patients learn to live more consciously and to pay attention to their body signals. The preventive measures also have a positive influence on self-esteem and improve the quality of life in many ways.
You can do that yourself
Anyone suffering from hypertensive heart disease should consider important self-help measures. After all, the heart is the engine of the body and hypertensive heart disease affects the entire heart muscle.
Since the symptom also affects the functioning of other organs, it is advisable for those affected to refrain from smoking, excessive alcohol consumption and high-fat food. All these components unnecessarily burden the cardiovascular system. In addition, the feeling of pressure and tightness in the chest and neck, states of freezing, exhaustion and the feeling of heavy limbs are counteracted. For everyday life, it means avoiding stress and extreme physical strain and allowing yourself sufficient recovery phases. Self-help groups and therapists help to cope with everyday life with hypertensive heart disease, especially if dietary measures have been introduced at the same time.
Furthermore, those affected can regularly check their cholesterol and blood sugar levels themselves and switch to a diet rich in vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids. Gentle exercise such as yoga, swimming or hiking keeps the body fit. Anyone who is affected by the symptom or heart failure should make sensible changes to their lifestyle, otherwise there is a risk of angina pectoris or sudden cardiac death.
If, nevertheless, unexpected circulatory and cardiac arrhythmias occur, as well as inexplicable states of restlessness, you must take a resting position as a self-help measure and the immediate clarification by the medical emergency service must take place.
