Conditions such as hypertension and coronary artery disease greatly affect the development of heart failure.
By: Maria Camila Sanchez
February 17, 2024
Heart failure is the main complication associated with neglected cardiovascular conditions, such as arrhythmias, hypertension, and cardiomyopathies. These conditions usually affect older adults and tend to affect men more than women. According to Dr. Rafael Rodríguez, a cardiologist specializing in heart failure and heart transplants, cardiovascular conditions such as hypertension and coronary artery disease are listed as main triggers of heart failure.
“To talk about coronary artery disease is to refer to the obstruction that may be evident through the large arteries of the heart, or the microvasculature,” explained Dr. Rodriguez. “If you, apart from these diseases, also smoke cigarettes, that adds more than 10% to the risk of you having a bad outcome.”
Additionally, high cholesterol levels or lack of exercise have a considerable impact on cardiovascular instability.
A large part of these diseases are highly preventable, and therefore, cardiology also emphasizes the need to raise awareness about adopting healthy lifestyle habits. Monitoring cardiovascular conditions or suspicion thereof is essential, as it allows individuals to reach a type of treatment that improves their quality of life.
It’s important to note that the diagnosis of cardiovascular conditions is far from fatal consequences. With technological advances and new research in this field, patients have a greater opportunity to follow a treatment that improves their quality of life and reduces complications to a minimum.