Diabetes and Heart Attack: How Diabetes Affects Heart Attack Symptoms?

A lot of people are aware of the fact that diabetes comes with an increased risk of CVDs. Diabetes affects heart attack symptoms in a number of ways, but it mostly starts with microvascular complications. Nearly 2/3rds of people have hypertension as a comorbid to diabetes. It can be a risk factor in driving a diabetic patient towards CADs (Coronary Artery diseases), macrovascular and microvascular complications. According to the American Diabetes Association, a good percentage of people are more likely to die of diabetes than any normal individual. Here’s how diabetes affects your heart attack symptoms:

But first, how are diabetes and infarcts interlinked?

This relationship ages back from the time the human started to have high blood glucose levels. With the passage of time, this blood glucose starts traveling in the blood and damages the vessels, making them hard and stiffened. It is due to a fatty substance that starts to accumulate in the arteries, a condition known as atherosclerosis. If it blocks the blood flow the main organs, here is where diabetes affects the heart attack symptoms and elevates it. Genetic predisposition is one of the other determining factors in diabetes and heart attack-affected, individual. 

How does diabetes affect heart attack symptoms?

1. Obesity

Obesity is the major hazard factor for cardiovascular diseases associated with diabetes. It also has a big association with insulin resistance. These in combination also initiate the chances of development of high blood pressure. This condition can be controlled by weight loss. In return, this will decrease the CVD risk, increase the sensitivity to insulin in the organs and lastly, decrease insulin concentration.

2. Hypertension

As mentioned before, this is a major risk state. These two conditions can be very lethal and increase the morbidity rates, if not avoided. It also adds to the insulin resistance that in turns determines the rate of development of CVDs.

3. Cholesterol and high TGs

Diabetes comes with a risk of high cholesterol and LDL (bad cholesterol) levels. At the same time, good cholesterol (HDL) is low, and triglycerides (TGs) are high. This triad of a poor lipid profile comes with premature Coronary Heart Disease. It is also distinguishable as a lipid disorder that comes with insulin resistance, known as atherogenic dyslipidemia (diabetic dyslipidemia). 

4. Poor control of blood sugars

Diabetes is a driving force that makes blood sugars rise to dangerous states. There are few injectables and oral medicines that can control such conditions. If these conditions are ignored, there are high chances for an individual to develop heart diseases. 

5. Physical fitness

Physical inactiveness is another reason for the development of cardiovascular diseases. Physical fitness and exercising can delay the complications of diabetes and heart attack. It is advised to practice any sort of physical activity in your daily routines. It might include a brisk walk or normal stretching, etc. Gardening and simple house chores are equally beneficial. According to the American Heart Association, you must practice a physical activity routine, as per your requirement. 

6. Smoking

Smoking is a driving factor for heart diseases. It is irrespective of the fact that an individual is diabetic or not. It is yet alone, successful in elevating the chances.

The control

It is well-understood that controlling this condition lies in the avoidance in the aforementioned risk states. The first thing that you’d need to take care of is fitness. Even if a time period of 30 minutes doesn’t fit your routine, break it in fragments of time and practice it after regular intervals. This is an improving factor in sugar control. 

Secondly, decrease your aspirin doses. The lower the aspirin doses, the lower are the chances for development of any severe heart disturbance. Before making such changes, consult your doctor. Seek their advice regarding this precaution then practice it according to the optimum requirement.

Look out for your diet 

You need to stop the consumption of all the saturated, trans, and excessively fatty items. Cut off cholesterol. Every man-made thing can increase the susceptibility to such diseases. It is better to consume healthy, organic foods, and white meat. High fiber intake, vegetables, fruits, and whole grains are advised. As both the diseases are interlinked, a diet that protects from heart diseases can automatically control your diabetes, and if you haven’t developed it, avoid it as well. 

Next thing you need to do is balance the weight. Obesity is a threat, and it drives all sorts of disorders towards you. Lowering the weight can automatically decrease blood sugar levels and blood pressure. 

Cholesterol comes next. When you get the reports of your lipid profile, make sure the ranges that you match yours with shouldn’t be very different. Try to get into those ranges and work towards achieving this target with full determination. The same goes for blood glucose. In HBA1C, make sure the revelation of the blood sugar should be satisfactory for your doctor and your own self as well. 

Lastly, be very keen about your habits and medications. If you continue to practice bad habits like smoking, alcohol, or betel nut chewing, you will invite more and more problems. At the same time, be very responsible about your medications. Your medications should be taken as prescribed without any controllable delays. The blood pressure should be in the ideal range. As these comorbid are interlinked, their control and precautions will automatically lower the risk of heart attacks and death ultimately. 

Verdict

If you have diabetes and you’re concerned about your cardiovascular system, take these necessary measures. If you don’t have any of these but have a family history of any of these conditions, you might as well be at the risk of developing them. Going with the flow is not the solution. The situations that are controllable should be taken under consideration before it’s too late to reserve basic steps. Keep a check on the symptoms of heart diseases. Keep your knowledge updated. If you develop any of those, seek professional help, immediately.