Although the medical fraternities are still debating the actual role of inflammation of heart in attacks or strokes, they all accept in unison for the fact – it is present in both the cases. Before learning about the inflammatory heart disease, we should know in the first place, what is inflammation? Inflammation is nothing but a reaction of the body in which tissue swells around an injury or an infection. This usually speeds up the process of healing, but the trouble starts when it sometimes back fires and damages the healthy tissues. When bacterial, or viral or fungi infections occur in the heart or plaques get deposited in the artery walls, the immune system fights back and in the process, causes inflammation of heart. Doctors at Poona Preventive Cardiology Centre, explains that though inflammatory heart diseases are quite dangerous, they can be effectively treated.
It is of foremost importance to learn the types of inflammatory heart diseases before learning the precautions and their treatment procedures.
Types
Atherosclerosis
The thickening and stiffening of artery walls due to the deposition of fatty acids called plaques leads to atherosclerosis. Due to this, the passage available for blood flow reduces and hence gets restricted.
Myocarditis
Myocardium, the heart muscle carries out the job of contracting and relaxing to pump and receive the blood throughout the body. When Inflammation happens in myocardium, it is called Myocarditis. Due to this inflammation, efficient pumping of blood gets disturbed and causes breathlessness and irregular beats.
Pericarditis
Heart is encased by a tough membrane or sac called pericardium. Inflation of pericardium is called Pericarditis and it is caused by bacterial, viral or fungi infections, autoimmune diseases and various other reasons. Depending upon the cause of inflammation, pericarditis may either be acute or chronic.
Precautions:
- Healthy life style is the key word to prevent atherosclerosis. Smoking, consumption of alcohol, high cholesterol, obesity, diabetics, and high blood pressure are some of the main root causes. A balanced diet coupled with good exercise regime and healthy lifestyle is the best precaution to be adopted.
- Proper immunization against Myocarditis causing agents such as Rubella, Tetanus, Diphtheria.
Treatment methodologies
Considering the lifestyle, stress, and unhealthy food habits, atherosclerosis poses a great threat to the present day generation. Severity of this condition may necessitate severe medication or surgery. In many instance, in spite of these medications, problems such chest pain or burning sensation still persists and causes extreme discomfort. Drugs can provide relief only to certain extent and all other invasive procedures such as bypass surgery, angioplasty, and stent placement have several risk factors associated with it. Moreover, the blood flow regulated through invasive surgeries may again become retarded. Having said all these aspects, it is quite natural for the following questions to arise in your mind.
Is there any better solution?
Is there any alternative treatment for heart blockage?
The answer is very simple and it is ‘YES!’
Enhanced External Counter Pulsation (EECP), a non-invasive procedure increases the blood flow through alternate paths and paves way to reduce angina. What more, EECP treatment for heart block is approved by United States Food and Drugs Administration (USFDA), a stringent regulative authority. Numerous published reports and case studies conducted at various medical centers have illustrated the importance of the EECP treatment for heart block, which includes:
- Improvement in situation of complete elimination of angina
- Reduction or elimination of further medication for angina
- Increased blood flow that leads to higher endurance, stamina, and well being
- Increased ability to carry out activities which were not possible earlier
- Better quality of life
How EECP works?
In a collateral circulation, tiny blood vessels get formed and detours the blocked arteries. Formation of collateral circulation is a very slow process and its rate is not common for everyone. Thanks to EECP, collateral circulation gets accelerated and becomes a permanent feature. Evidence suggests that EECP stimulates the release of nitric oxide and thereby induces the formation of collateral vessels in the coronary artery tree. The effect of EECP starts to surface only after completing half of the therapeutic sessions.
EECP provides new vessels to smoothly carry the blood flow. Post EECP, an unhealthy lifestyle is bound to spoil the newly formed vessels too; hence it is absolutely necessary to follow healthy life style habits, reduce obesity, and consume balanced heart friendly diet. A regular follow up with the doctor to reduce cholesterol, blood pressure, and diabetes is also highly recommended.
The alternative line of treatment EECP is a boon to a patient who does not wish or qualify for invasive procedures. In fact, doctors of Poona Preventive Cardiology Centre (PPCC), Pune have successfully performed EECP for the patients who were still feeling the angina even after several invasive procedures. No wonder, this alternative line of treatment is fast gaining popularity and creating a better quality of life.