By Malisa Keefe, RN
Home Care

Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men, women, and people of most racial and ethnic groups in the United States? About 697,000 people died from heart disease in the U.S. in 2020. That is about one in every five deaths. One person dies every 34 seconds in the U.S. from cardiovascular disease. In 2020, about two in 10 deaths from coronary artery disease happened in adults less than 65 years old.

There are numerous types of cardiovascular disease with multiple levels of severity. Each disease can have its own unique symptoms and can affect different functions of the cardiovascular system. It can seem overwhelming when trying to tackle cardiovascular disease in general. It can be more efficient to focus on the particular disease you are trying to manage.

Here are some common cardiovascular disease diagnoses and their definitions:

– Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) – Damage or disease in the heart’s major blood vessels.
– High Blood Pressure/Hypertension (HTN) – A condition in which force of blood against artery walls is too high.
– Cardiac Arrest – Sudden unexpected loss of heart function, breathing, and consciousness.
– Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) – A chronic condition in which the heart does not pump blood as well as it should.
– Arrhythmia – Improper beating of the heart, whether irregular, too fast (Tachycardia), or too slow (Bradycardia).
– Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) – A circulatory condition in which narrowed blood vessels reduce blood flow to limbs.
– Stroke/Cerebral Vascular Accident (CVA) – Damage to the brain from interruption of its blood supply.
– Congenital Heart Disease – An abnormality in the heart that develops before birth.

Warning Signs
Most people imagine that a cardiac event is when someone is having a sharp chest pain radiating down their arm and then leading to loss of consciousness. While this may be similar to what cardiac arrest might look like, there are many different warning signs of cardiovascular disease that happen more gradually. If these signs can be recognized at an early stage in the disease process, it can prevent major disease or a more traumatic event from happening.

Some of these warning signs are:

– Sudden increase in weight
– Increase in shortness of breath
– Fatigue
– Restlessness or inability to sleep
– Headaches
– Dizziness
– Difficulties finding the right word to say
– Difficulties speaking or slurred speech
– Facial drooping
– Increase in lower extremity edema/swelling
– Chest pain/pressure, heart palpitations

Recognizing symptoms
The secret to managing cardiovascular health is to recognize what symptoms are “not normal” for your body. Once recognized, act quickly to report symptoms of concern to your medical team. Most cardiovascular diseases can be managed with medications, diet, or exercise. Some simple lifestyle changes can increase your quality and length of life. Once a doctor can identify your specific diagnoses, a path to manage that disease will open up and you can learn how to prevent symptoms and exacerbations from occurring. Each person is different so ask your doctor about your “normal.” Some “normal” vital sign ranges (per John Hopkins University) are

– Heart rate between 60-100
– Systolic (top number) blood pressure between 100-120, diastolic (bottom number) blood pressure between 60-80
– Elevated systolic blood pressure is between 120-129
– Stage 1 high systolic blood pressure is between 130-139
– Stage 2 high systolic blood pressure is 140 or higher with diastolic blood pressure of 90 or higher.

Granite VNA is utilizing a home Telemonitoring Program. Team members install telemonitoring equipment and teach patients how to take their daily vital signs. Results are recorded and sent to a telemonitoring nurse who will respond to any abnormal results by calling a patient, performing an over the phone assessment, and then reaching out to the doctor with an update on patient status. A result log can also be sent to the doctor for evaluation of trends and to assess patient response to medications as ordered. Patients also learn about medication compliance, following a healthy diet, and recognizing and reporting adverse symptoms related to their chronic illness. This will ensure better communication, quality of care, and that a patient is responding well to the current regimen.

When it comes to cardiovascular health, the best piece of advice a nurse can give is “do not procrastinate.” Cardiovascular disease will not discriminate against age, sex, religion, or cultural differences. It affects us all. The best way to look out for ourselves and our loved ones is to know the signs to look out for, respond quickly by speaking to your medical team and follow instructions, medications, and treatments as ordered.  Most cardiovascular diseases are manageable from home. Listen to your body and most importantly, listen to your heart!

References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National center for health statistics. About multiple cause of death, 1999-2020. CDC wonder online database website. Atlanta GA; CDC and Prevention; 2022.

Tsao CW, Aday AW, Amarzooq ZI, Benton AZ, Bittencourt MS, Boehme AK, et al.Heart disease and Stroke statistics 2022. Update: A report from the American Heart Association Circulation. 2022; 145 (8): e153-e639

Agency for healthcare research and quality. Medical expenditure panel survey (MEPS) household component summary tables: Medical Conditions, United States.