There is no need to mention that the heart is one of the most important parts of our body. When this heart is weak it leads to heart failure. Weak heart means weak heart muscles and that is referred to by the medical term – Cardiomyopathy. In this condition the heart is unable to circulate blood throughout the body. There are some reasons behind these weakened heart muscles and they are as follows:

• Causes of weak heart muscles:

There are many possible conditions which may lead to weak heart muscles. The main reason is that when blood flow is too slow then it causes more pressure on the heart. This slow blood circulation provides insufficient amount of oxygen and nutrients in the body cells, (which are required for them to function normally.) And when this pressure increases it starts thickening the chambers of the heart, or in order to hold more blood the heart starts expanding. In such conditions the muscles of the heart are weakened.

There are mainly two types of Cardiomyopathy: first is dilated Cardiomyopathy and the other is hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. We are going to talk about both of them one by one.

• Dilated Cardiomyopathy:

Dilated Cardiomyopathy takes place when one of the ventricles (mostly the left one) gets dilated and results in weakening the muscles. This condition causes the pumping action to weaken; that means the blood pumped in each heart beat is low in quantity and this leads to inadequate supply of blood to the body’s organs.

• Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy:

This type of weakness in the heart muscles is generally caused by genetics that run through families. In hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy the ventricular muscles tend to become thick and ultimately result in stiffness. Thus it weakens the function of the heart and leads to serious heart conditions.

• Symptoms of weak heart muscles:

It is easy to recognize the symptoms of weak heart muscles. The body cells which do not receive an adequate amount of blood gradually stop functioning due to lack of oxygen and nutrients. As this happens, the fluid that is in the blood vessels starts seeping into the surrounding tissues. This causes swelling in the legs as well as in the ankles and also it causes water to be retained in the body.  Excessive fluids can accumulate in the digestive track or lungs which will show up as troubled breathing and decreased appetite. As the heart becomes unable to circulate sufficient amounts of blood in the body; you may face fatigue, tiredness and weakness and this will make your daily tasks harder.

In some severe cases symptoms of ‘weak heart muscles’ can result in an enlarged heart, cough with blood, shortness of breath and also irregular heartbeats.

In some people there no symptoms and they might not even know that they are suffering from Cardiomyopathy until it is too late.

In today’s hectic and dynamic world we have no time to even think about our heart. How can we survive without the heart? We need to take special efforts and care to make our heart strong so that we would be able to see this beautiful world for a longer time. If you want to take care of your heart the first thing you need to do is keep your blood pressure under control. Hypertension causes damage to your heart so to avoid this here are a few tips which are easy to follow.
•    Take a healthy diet
If you truly love your heart, think about your heart while eating. You need to keep in mind a few things while eating – balanced diet, less salt and sodium and diet to maintain your weight. Eating without need will lead to increasing your weight which is harmful for your heart. Take a balanced diet with vegetables and fruits. Make sure to have food which is low in salt and sodium. These things will help in preventing hypertension.

•    Regular exercise
Exercise plays a vital role in making your heart strong and healthy. Make an effort to plan out your exercise schedule and follow it diligently. Physical activities increase blood circulation and help you to have a healthy heart. Those who need to sit in the office for hours together need to take this seriously. Do not let your job take over your heart. Take some time to think about it and do work for your heart. You can plan for at least half an hour schedule of exercise.

•    Take proper rest
Proper rest and relaxation of body, heart and mind is very essential in preventing high blood pressure; that is hypertension. You should not stress yourself at work and should not be stressed out on a regular basis. Spend time with your family, go for holidays with family or friends, go shopping, play your favorite sport and do things in which you find pleasure. Reading good books will also be helpful in relaxing your mind. You can also watch some comedy movies. Avoid anything that would be negative, or will impact your thinking, such as horror movies or books. You can also get involved in prayer and meditation.

Do not let your health go far down that you would need to take help of medicines. It is easier to follow the tips rather than taking medicines for the rest of your life time. Make little efforts today to stay healthy. Make your heart so strong that blood pressure will have no impact on it. Take care of your heart.

If your health care provider is of the opinion that the possibility of you developing a heart disease is more than normal or if the problem of heart diseases runs in the family, then you need to be more than concerned. Heart diseases should not be taken lightly or ignored or postponed for another day lest it should be too late.

What is a Heart Disease?

Blood is the main requirement for all the muscles in the body to function properly. Through blood, the oxygen and nutrients are absorbed by the muscles and are utilized for their healthy functioning. Heart is also a muscle and its requirements are also the same. But, the heart is a much more important organ as it receives and supplies blood to all the parts of the body. This important function puts tremendous amount of pressure on the heart but a healthy heart is designed for such pressure work. If the heart is healthy, the blood flow will be smooth.

Trouble starts when the heart is in trouble due to various reasons. One of them is that the blood vessels which supply blood to the heart start narrowing due to the deposition of cholesterol. Initially, small amounts of cholesterol, called as plaques, start to accumulate on the inside walls of the blood vessels. This situation is the beginning of a serious complication. However, if corrective steps are taken to get rid of the plaque during this stage, then the danger is avoided. On the other hand, if the plaque continues to deposit, a time comes when the passage way of the blood vessels become small and allow less amount of blood to flow to the heart. This less supply of blood to the heart causes heart pain (angina). A step further and the cholesterol deposits may burst, leading to a blood clot and effectively stopping the blood flow at the point of blood clot. The part of the muscle, so deprived of blood, dies. This condition is called a heart attack.

Factors Leading to Heart Disease:

•    High blood pressure

•    High cholesterol

•    Smoking

•    Heredity

•    Diabetes

•    Obesity

•    Peripheral artery diseases

•    Sedentary lifestyle

•    Diet consisting of fatty foods

•    Excessive alcohol consumption

How to know that you have a Heart Disease?

•    Pain in the chest region

•    Difficulty in breathing

•    Sweating

•    Indigestion

•    Pain in upper abdominal region

•    Nausea

•    Back ache or shoulder ache

How to prevent Heart Diseases?

•    Regular blood pressure checks

•    Significant reduction in smoking

•    Taking corrective measures to reduce cholesterol levels

•    Keeping diabetes under control with exercise and proper medication

•    Incorporating a healthy exercise routine as a daily necessity to reduce weight

•    Modifying eating contents and habits

•    Taking meals at the proper time

•    Cutting down on fatty and oily food

•    Limiting sodium and sugar intake

•    Alcohol consumption to be cut down and stopped altogether gradually

•    Any other steps to be taken as advised by your health care professional

Tips for a Healthy Heart:

Your cholesterol levels should be regularly monitored by your health care professional. If your LDL cholesterol level is beyond the acceptable limits, then your physician may prescribe medications and recommend special diets. Along with this, an exercise routine may also be recommended to decrease the cholesterol levels and reduce the possibility of heart diseases.

Proper exercise and diet with the help of your health care professional will certainly take care of the extra flab. This routine will help build healthy muscles and put a smile on your face every time you get appreciative glances!