World Heart Day: 6 rules for a healthy heart and blood vessels

Vitamins for the heart (cardiotrophic drugs) are one of the most common groups of drugs in pediatric and adult cardiology. The mechanism of action of these drugs is very diverse and is aimed at different stages of the development of the disease.

Metabolic drugs, also known as vitamins for the heart, are used for various diseases, such as rheumatism, carditis, cardiomyopathy, coronary artery disease, myocardial dystrophy or secondary cardiopathy. They are also used in the treatment of cardiac arrhythmias, such as supraventricular and ventricular extrasystoles, Hiss bundle branch block, paroxysmal tachycardia, repolarization disorders, etc.

This group of drugs is also used in sports to correct cardiovascular system disorders caused by intense physical activity. These disorders often have their own name - “sports heart”.

The names of these diseases may seem unfamiliar to you, but they may know you. Diseases of the cardiovascular system rank first in terms of prevalence. From this it becomes clear that the prevalence of drugs for the treatment of heart and blood vessels is very high. Before moving on to the list of the best vitamins for the heart, you need to understand what they do and how they have a beneficial effect on the heart.

Heart medications are also used in sports to correct disorders of the cardiovascular system caused by intense physical activity.

How vitamins affect the heart

The mechanism of action of vitamins for the heart:

• Effect on the heart receiving a sufficient amount of energy (of particular interest among the drugs in this group are creatine phosphate, L-carnitine, coenzyme Q10).
• Impact on electrolyte metabolism (potassium, magnesium preparations).
• Protection against free radicals (i.e. antioxidant effect, these include: vitamins A, E, C, coenzyme Q10, selenium, oxypyridines).
• Anti-ischemic effect (anti-ischemic cytoprotectors, these include: mildronate, trimetazidine).

Factors that weaken blood vessels

The circulatory system is directly connected to all organs of the human body. It helps nourish every cell and at the same time remove waste products. Therefore, your overall health can also affect the degree of fragility.

Vessels can be weakened by:

• lack of vitamins;
• prolonged stress;
• bad habits;
• physical exhaustion;
• hormonal fluctuations;
• poisoning

It is easier to improve the situation and strengthen the walls on your own in such cases. A healthy lifestyle, vitamins, and folk remedies help solve the problem, not locally, but comprehensively. But first you should undergo an examination and make sure that a serious illness is not hidden behind the violation of the strength of the membranes.

Heart medications that can be considered the best

Many cardiotrophic drugs combine one or another of the mechanisms of action listed above.

And now you can familiarize yourself with the best cardiotrophic drugs (vitamins for the heart):

1. Cardonate is a combination drug, the effect of which is due to the synergistic effects of its constituent components: carnitine chloride, lysine hydrochloride, pyridoxal-5-phosphate (coenzyme B6), cocarboxylase (chloride) (coenzyme B1), cobamamide (dibencoside, coenzyme B12). It is worth noting that there are also contraindications that should be taken into account: malignant neoplasms, peptic ulcer of the stomach or duodenum in the active phase.
2. Cardionate is a drug that improves metabolism and energy supply to tissues, a synthetic analogue of gamma-butyrobetaine (active ingredient - meldonium). It should not be used if there is increased intracranial pressure or if you are under 18 years of age (efficacy and safety have not been established). The drug should be used with caution in case of liver and/or kidney diseases.
3. L-carnitine is a means for correcting metabolic processes. It has anabolic, antihypoxic and antithyroid effects, activates fat metabolism, stimulates regeneration, and increases appetite. Carnitine is a natural substance related to B vitamins. It is a cofactor in metabolic processes that maintain the activity of coenzyme A.
4. Kudesan is a cardiotonic non-glycoside structure containing ubidecarenone (ubiquinone, coenzyme Q10) - an antioxidant agent.
5. Magnelis B6 is a drug that replenishes magnesium deficiency. Magnesium is a vital element that is found in all tissues of the body and is necessary for the normal functioning of cells. Participates in most metabolic reactions, in the regulation of the transmission of nerve impulses and in muscle contraction, and has antispasmodic, antiarrhythmic and antiplatelet effects. The drug is contraindicated in patients with severe renal failure, those suffering from phenylketonuria and children under 6 years of age. The drug should be used with caution in patients with moderate renal failure.
6. Asparkam - refers to drugs that regulate metabolic processes. The mechanism of action is associated with the property of aspartates to transfer magnesium and potassium ions into the intracellular space and their participation in metabolic processes.
7. Riboxin is an anabolic drug that has antihypoxic and antiarrhythmic effects. Directly involved in glucose metabolism and promotes metabolism activation under hypoxic conditions and in the absence of ATP. The drug should not be used for gout or hyperuricemia.
8. Smart Omega - Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids - eicosapentaenoic acid and docosahexaenoic acid are essential fatty acids. They are not synthesized in the human body and must come from outside.

These drugs are prescribed in a course, most often for at least 1 month. In some cases, step therapy is used (switching from the intravenous or intramuscular route of drug administration to the usual administration in the form of tablets). The dosage regimen and duration of therapy are individual in each case and are prescribed by the attending physician taking into account examination data.

These drugs are prescribed in a course, most often for at least 1 month. Before use, consult a specialist.

How to understand that a person has weak blood vessels

In this case, we will not talk about the effectiveness or insufficiency of blood circulation. Although, when the organs do not receive oxygen, they also talk about the weakness of the system. We will focus on the fragility of capillaries - the tendency to damage their walls.

Bruises and subcutaneous bruises appear periodically for everyone. But for some people this happens too often. They don't have to hit - just touching with a little force is enough. This is not an individual characteristic of the body, but a pathological condition that needs to be combated.

A simple test is performed for diagnosis. A tourniquet or cuff is placed on the middle part of the shoulder to create pressure (as when drawing blood for analysis). If after 5-10 minutes a small hemorrhagic rash appears, you need to pay attention to this and try to improve the condition of the vascular walls. When performing this test, it is important not to leave the tourniquet in place for too long to avoid circulatory problems.

Take care of your heart

A person is an organism that consists of various systems. One of the most vulnerable is the cardiovascular system. The appearance of symptoms such as fatigue, lethargy, palpitations, shortness of breath, stabbing pain in the chest, pallor or cyanosis of the skin may indicate a pathology of the cardiovascular system and requires immediate consultation with a cardiologist.

Only after additional laboratory and instrumental research methods (ECG, EchoCG, Holter ECG, blood pressure; treadmill test, tilt test, etc.) is a final diagnosis made and treatment prescribed. Vitamins for the heart are only part of the treatment and are used as part of complex therapy to treat diseases.

What vessels are there in the human body

The circulatory system consists of the heart and several types of vessels. They differ in structure and inherent functions, and damage has different consequences.

Veins and arteries are not easily damaged. This requires a strong mechanical impact, leading to external or internal bleeding. We do not always notice capillary injuries, since they only cause subcutaneous hemorrhage. This manifests itself through hematomas (in other words, bruises).

Drink in moderation

Scientists are still undecided about how alcohol affects our hearts. Some studies suggest that alcohol may cause a slight increase in good cholesterol levels.

However, the argument is that you can get the same benefits from exercise and eating fruits and vegetables without the potential negative side effects that come with drinking alcohol.

Currently, it is recommended that men limit themselves to one or two glasses of low-alcohol drinks per day, and women - no more than one glass per day.

Eat more fiber

For most people, the biggest problem with nutrition is that it is quite difficult to plan out your diet and fill it with all the necessary ingredients. One of the most important of these ingredients is fiber.

Soluble fiber —the type found in oat bran, barley, nuts and seeds, beans, lentils, peas, and some fruits and vegetables—is associated with heart health because it helps lower blood cholesterol levels. Fiber also helps you feel full, making you less likely to overeat.

Women should aim for at least 20 grams of fiber per day, and men should get nearly twice as much, with an emphasis on plant-based foods rich in soluble fiber.

How to improve the condition of blood vessels using folk remedies

Folk remedies can become a measure to prevent fragility and have a strengthening effect. Common decoctions and tinctures are:

• from rose hips, motherwort herbs, dried herbs and meadowsweet;
• from heads of garlic and lemon;
• from barberry (you can take both branches and roots);
• from buckwheat flowers;
• from rosehip and hawthorn;
• from cranberries and garlic.

There are many options for preparing them (they mainly differ in proportions). The main thing is the ingredients.

If you don’t want to prepare an infusion, natural teas are enough. Green, anise or any other leafy one helps not only strengthen, but also cleanse blood vessels. Cabbage leaf compresses are also useful. It needs to be applied locally - to places where the capillaries are already damaged.

Get a furry friend

Bringing a dog into your home can actually benefit your heart health. For heart attack and stroke survivors in particular, dog ownership was soon associated with better heart health and longer life, according to a meta-analysis published in October 2021, Circulation: Cardiovascular Quality and Outcomes.

Dog owners are more likely to engage in heart-healthy activities, including increased exercise and a healthier diet. Owning a dog usually leads to more frequent walking or running, which can create a domino effect with other healthy lifestyle options.

Can't bear your own burden?

A high body mass index (BMI) has a negative effect on the heart. If your height to weight ratio is between 25 and 30, this will add one year to your estimated heart age. More than 30 - two years. True, excessive thinness does not rejuvenate the “fiery engine”. Thus, a body mass index of less than 18 adds one year to the actual age of the heart.

Concomitant diseases also affect the functioning of the heart muscle. The most significant are chronic kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, diabetes mellitus and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, which add 1-2 years to cardiac age.

Smoking depletes the heart. The longer and more a person smokes, the faster it wears out. Thus, smoking experience of more than 10 years and a pack of cigarettes smoked per day add two years to the biological age of the heart.

But the hardest effect on the performance of the “engine” is the lack of physical activity (the optimal dose of physical activity is considered to be 150 minutes of sports per week and 10 thousand steps per day, and one cannot replace the other). If a person does not fulfill this norm for a long time, there is no doubt that his heart muscle is exhausted.

High blood pressure (above 120), high levels of sugar (above 5.4 mmol/l) and cholesterol (above 4.9) in the blood wear out the myocardium.

Poverty is not a vice. Will high income protect against heart disease? More details

Move Every Day

Regular exercise such as walking, cycling, walking up and down stairs, swimming, jumping, dancing keeps your heart in shape and can help you lose weight or maintain a healthy weight.

How often should you exercise and for how long?

General recommendations are to get at least 30 minutes of moderate exercise per day, at least five days a week.

The most common cardiovascular complications after coronavirus

1. Arrhythmia. In addition to the direct cardiotoxic effect of COVID-19, cardiac arrhythmias are also caused by hyperthermia, electrolyte and metabolic disorders, and hypoxia. According to statistics, even with a mild course of the pathology, arrhythmia is noted in 14% of patients; in hospitalized patients this figure is about 55–60%.
2. Myocarditis and other myocardial pathologies caused by prolonged ischemia, damage to the heart muscle by cytokines released during inflammation, and impaired microcirculation.
3. Heart failure. The development of this syndrome is a predictor of severe viral disease and a strict indication for hospitalization.
4. Acute myocardial infarction due to increased blood viscosity, thrombus formation, and vascular damage. The danger of an attack remains even after discharge from the hospital and relief of the main symptoms of the pathology.

Content:

1. Causes of cardiovascular pathology after coronavirus
2. The most common cardiovascular complications after coronavirus
3. Diagnosis and risk assessment of cardiovascular disorders
4. How to restore blood vessels after coronavirus 4.1. Physiotherapeutic restoration of blood vessels after coronavirus 4.2. Diet 4.3. Medicinal restoration of blood vessels after coronavirus

To date, specialists have been able to partially systematize information about methods of transmission, features of the course of coronavirus infection, and risk factors for the development of severe, life-threatening symptoms. However, as data accumulated on the principles of treatment of COVID-19, doctors drew attention to numerous complications of the disease, the so-called post-Covid syndrome, which is often more severe than the viral infection itself. In addition to shortness of breath, hypoxia, and neurological disorders, there are multiple cardiovascular disorders that can significantly limit a person’s daily and professional life.