There seems to be no relationship between asthma, a respiratory disease, and heart diseases. But new research has proven that persons suffering from asthma may have twice the risk than a person suffering from only cardiovascular diseases and suffer from a cardiovascular event like heart attack, stroke or any other heart-related disease. Taking medicines daily for treating asthma can increase the chance of cardiovascular disease by up to 60% over a long time. Inhalers used by persons for getting instant relief from an asthma attack can severely damage our heart.
The relation between Asthma and Cardiac Diseases
Asthma affects our respiratory system, and heart diseases affect our cardiovascular system. The two are the worst diseases in our planet, and a majority of people suffering from asthma develop cardiovascular conditions like irregular heart beating, heart beating very fast etc. As asthma increases the chances of heart attack twice as much and the medications and the treatments for them are different patients need to take chest pain and other symptoms of a heart attack very seriously and look for proper treatment. You can also use limited manufactures Asthalin Inhaler for asthma treatment – visit arrowmeds.com for more details.
A group of scientists from Minnesota was studying the symptoms of 550 people who had suffered from a heart attack over a four-year-long period and compared that data to asthma status. The scientists found that the people suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases (COPD) have a significantly greater chance of heart attack who had symptoms of active asthma. In case where persons were not suffering from COPD also had an increased risk of heart problems where people were suffering from asthma. There is definite overlap between COPD and asthma.
In the second study, scientists looked at the people who took regular medications like inhalers and oral corticosteroids. Majority of these people showed signs of heart-related problems after prolonged periods of asthma medications. There is a similarity between the two diseases as well. Both asthma and heart diseases are associated with high levels of inflammation. Inflammation is the immune system ability to heal the damaged body tissues due to injury, infection and other damage which results in swelling up of the tissues. But acute inflammation in diseases like asthma can cause permanent damage to the tissues.
The symptoms of asthma and related heart diseases are similar. There are a variety of heart-related diseases that have symptoms similar to asthma-like-
- Myocardial Ischemia– A heart disease characterized by inadequate blood flow to the tissues of the heart. Symptoms include back pain chest pain and shortness of breath.
- Congestive Heart Failure- A heart disease where the heart does not pump out the blood, which leads to the build-up of fluid in the lungs. It can cause shortness of breath and intolerance to exercise. It is also known as cardiac asthma.
Cardiac Asthma
It is different from bronchial asthma, but the causes and the symptoms are similar. Bronchial asthma is triggered by allergies, exercise, pollutants, lung disease and stress. Irritation of smaller airways in the lungs causes them to swell up. This swelling up leads to coughing, shortness of breath and wheezing. Cardiac asthma is caused by the gradual build-up of fluid in the left ventricle of the heart. This gradual build-up of fluid is the result of the inability of the left ventricle to pump out the blood with the required amount of force or because of a leaky valve or due to any other heart defect.
The treatment of bronchial asthma and cardiac asthma is very different. Treatment of bronchial asthma is done by oral or inhaled medicines. Treatment of cardiac asthma depends upon the cause of the heart defect, which may be heart failure or leaky valve. It may also include medicines to control the blood pressure and removal of excess fluid and a proper diet.
What to Consume Daily if suffering from Asthma and Heart Diseases
- Oily fish like tuna, mackerel, sardines, and tuna are the fishes which contain omega-3 fatty acids good for both fighting against asthma and heart diseases. It improves blood vessel elasticity and lowers cholesterol and triglycerides in our body.
- Vegetable oils extracted from corn, soy and safflower contain omega-6 fatty acids and canola, and olive oil contain omega-3 fatty acids. All these oils are much better than saturated fats like butter, white oil and palm oil.
- Fruits and vegetables which are high in antioxidants are invaluable for improving asthma symptoms and heart health. Fruits like apple, banana and green leafy vegetables like spinach are very healthy food.
- Fibres obtained from foods like whole-grain cereals, some fruits and vegetables should be consumed daily.
- Legumes and soy protein lower cholesterol levels. Consume foods like whole-grain loaves of bread, cereals, and soy oil.
- Nut and seeds are also good for the treatment of asthma. A handful of groundnut and sunflower seeds should be consumed daily.
What to Drink
- You can drink green tea or roasted tea which contains antioxidants. Avoid milk tea. Use less sugar for making your tea.
- Drink plenty of water to stay hydrated.
- You may consume a little amount of red wine as well, although you should first consult your doctor in this regard. Red Wine has antioxidants and removes cholesterol. However excessive consumption may cause a rise in blood pressure and increase the number of triglycerides in our blood.
- Avoid drinking bottled fruit juices found in the market. They contain preservatives which may induce an asthma attack.
What to Avoid
Avoid fast food and processed or packed foods as both contain high levels of saturated fats and preservatives not good for both asthma and cardiac diseases. Reduce consumption of salt. Switch to low-fat dairy products and avoid consumption of red meat.
Include Physical Activity
Do some basic exercise like belly breathing and body stretching daily in the morning for 10 to 15 minutes. Do not indulge in a high metabolic activity like running, jogging, and workouts.
Conclusion
There are a lot of similarities between asthma and cardiac diseases. One disease may lead to another disease. Consult your doctor regularly and keep healthy eating habits and maintain hygiene.
