Heart in Diabetes - A Significant Link

Introduction

Diabetes is a long-term chronic condition that affects how body converts food into energy. Diabetes is classified into three types:

1. Type 1 (insulin dependent).

2. Type 2 (insulin-independent).

3. Gestational diabetes (diabetes while pregnant).

Diabetes-related high blood glucose levels can harm the blood vessels as well as the nerves that control the heart and blood vessels. This damage can eventually lead to heart disease. Diabetes patients are more likely than non-diabetics to acquire heart disease at an earlier age. People with diabetes are approximately twice as likely as nondiabetic adults to get heart disease or stroke.

Heart failure indicates that the heart is unable to pump blood adequately. This can cause swelling in the legs and fluid buildup in the lungs, making breathing difficult. Heart failure worsens with time, although early diagnosis and treatment can help ease symptoms and prevent or postpone the condition from worsening.

Which Conditions Increase the Risk of Heart Disease in Diabetes?

High blood sugar levels can damage blood vessels and the nerves that control the heart over time. Diabetes patients are also more likely to have the following conditions, which increase their risk of heart disease:

• Elevated Cholesterol Levels: When the cholesterol levels are too high, additional fat in the blood adheres to the walls of the blood vessels. This fat hardens over time and comes to be known as plaque. Hard plaque can clog blood vessels, making them narrower and leaving less room for blood to flow.

• Arteriosclerosis: Also known as atherosclerosis is the most prevalent cause of a heart attack. Flow of blood to the restricted region slows down, causing some blood cells to clump together and clot. If a blood clot breaks free, it will move through the arteries and veins until it finds a segment that is too narrow to pass through, partially or fully blocking it. This can deprive the heart of oxygen and nourishment, resulting in a heart attack.

• High Blood Pressure: Atherosclerosis causes the walls of the blood vessels to become harder and less elastic with time. This can either cause or worsen high blood pressure also known as hypertension. High blood pressure also puts an additional load on the blood vessels. This is on top of the stress caused by excessive cholesterol and blood sugar levels. Blood vessel narrowing can also affect other parts of the body, such as the legs and feet. It is known as a peripheral vascular disease (PVD), and if left untreated, it can result in amputation.

Why Is Diabetes Associated With an Increased Risk of Heart Disease?

High blood sugar levels for an extended length of time, because the blood vessels can become damaged over a period of time, leading to major heart issues. When the body cannot adequately utilize all of this sugar, it starts to adhere to the red blood cells and accumulate sugar in the blood. This buildup can clog and damage the blood vessels that carry blood to and from the heart. This leads to depriving the heart of oxygen and nutrition.

What Are the Signs and Symptoms of Heart Disease in Diabetes?

The signs and symptoms of heart disease in diabetes are as follows:

• Angina or chest discomfort, is characterized by feelings of tightness or pressure in the chest.

• Breathing difficulty.

• Near-fainting or fainting.

• Fluttering of heart.

• Arm aches in one or both arms.

• Rapid heartbeat that is not caused by an increase in physical exertion.

• Vomiting and nausea.

• Dizzy or lightheadedness.

• Numbness or weakness of legs.

• Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, back, or upper abdomen.

• Severe exhaustion.

What Are the Factors That Increase the Risk of Heart Disease in People With Diabetes?

The following variables can also increase the risk of developing heart disease:

• Smoking.

• Insufficient physical exercise.

• Excessive alcohol consumption.

• Obesity and being overweight.

• Consuming a high-fat, trans-fat, cholesterol, and sodium-rich diet (salt).

What Are Silent Attacks?

A silent heart attack may go unrecognized because the symptoms are modest or may appear to be from other, less significant health problems, such as indigestion, heartburn, the flu, fatigue, or an aching muscle.

Those who have had a silent heart attack are more likely to miss out on emergency care, such as rapid therapy with methods that open blocked arteries in the heart, which can save heart muscle during a heart attack.

Those with diabetes are more at risk for silent heart attacks. Issues with cholesterol, high blood pressure, and blood sugar all raise the risk of suffering a heart attack, but nerve damage can cause warning signals of an attack.

Diabetes patients may have a distorted perception of chest pain, a critical symptom that prompts people to seek medical attention.

How Is Heart Disease Managed in Diabetes?

There are numerous other factors one may do to lower the risk of heart disease.

• The HbA1c, cholesterol, and blood pressure levels should be checked at least once a year; with proper guidance and support from the healthcare team to keep the blood sugar within the goal range.

• Seek aid to quit smoking. Smoking makes it more difficult for the blood to circulate throughout the body, particularly to the heart.

• To keep the heart healthy, eat a well-balanced diet.

• Be physically active and exercise on a regular basis.

• Obese or overweight individuals need to reduce weight because even a minor loss can make a significant impact.

• Take the medication exactly as directed as certain medications protect the heart by lowering high blood pressure or blood fats.

• Also, if there is any chest pain or trouble when walking, these symptoms could indicate a heart attack, and contact the hospital immediately.

Conclusion

Atherosclerosis increases the force of blood flowing through the arteries, which can damage the arterial walls. Having both high blood pressure and diabetes increases the risk of heart disease significantly. Excess low-density lipoprotein in the bloodstream can cause plaque to form on damaged artery walls. High triglycerides (blood fat) and low HDL (high-density lipoprotein) good cholesterol or high LDL cholesterol lead to artery hardening. Thus, keeping the blood sugar levels as close to the target as possible will help protect the blood vessels and, as a result, the heart. Even moderately elevated blood sugar levels can put the heart at risk over time.