Heart failure is a disease in which the heart cannot efficiently pump blood into the lungs and other tissues. Therefore, the oxygen necessary for the normal functioning of the body is not obtained. In heart failure, the most frequent signs and symptoms can be: fluid retention in the legs and feet, and breathlessness. The heart fails to pump blood to the whole body, causing a drop in blood pressure, lowering the blood supply of vital organs, and losing strength and weight. There are many causes of heart failure, within which are coronary artery disease, heart valve diseases, hypertension and diabetes.
Cardiovascular
Nearly one third of all global deaths every year are due to heart disease. Heart diseases remain a serious and globally life-threatening issue, and for those who survive a myocardial infarction (heart attack), it is often the start of a journey into declining cardiovascular health.
Cardiovascular diseases include coronary artery disease caused by hypercholesterolaemia (high cholesterol), heart failure and acute coronary syndrome. Cardiovascular diseases are interconnected with diabetes and renal diseases as they share common risk factors. Our aim is to prevent and treat heart diseases through a holistic approach, and ultimately save lives.
Life
These shared risk factors of CVRM diseases can be diagnosed early through regular check-ups with your doctor. Cardiovascular diseases can be well managed through living a healthy lifestyle consisting of healthy diet and being active ... Read more
Cardiovascular
Cardiovascular disease is heightened through high cholesterol, high blood pressure, family history of cardiovascular diseases and contributing lifestyle factors like inactivity, poor diet and smoking ... Read more
Metabolism
Diabetes and being overweight are other risk factors that contribute to an increased risk of developing cardiovascular diseases, which is why we approach heart health through collaborative thinking, looking at the complete picture ... Read more
Renal
Chronic Kidney Disease may mean your body is unable to control levels of important minerals, such as potassium and sodium, which can lead to changes in your heart rhythm and increase your blood pressure leading to cardiovascular complications ... Read more
Spotlight on heart failure
High Cholesterol
(Hypercholesterolaemia)
High blood cholesterol is when the normal soft, fatty substance in your blood becomes elevated. If the amounts of cholesterol in the blood are too high, they can build up in the arteries, and can lead to coronary heart disease like a heart attack or stroke. High cholesterol is one of the most important risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
How Cholesterol causes heart disease
It is only when there is too much bad cholesterol in your blood…
How High Cholesterol is Diagnosed
High cholesterol itself does not cause any symptoms; so many people are unaware…
The difference between HDL (GOOD) & LDL (BAD) Cholesterols
Cholesterol is a fatty substance which means it does not dissolve in our…
High Cholesterol - Are you at risk
It’s the question on everyone’s mind as they get older and become aware of…
Common medications for cholesterol
Statins block the production of cholesterol in the liver itself. They lower LDL…
Heart Failure
Patients living with heart failure are up against startling statistics. Heart failure occurs when the heart does not pump blood efficiently around the body, and approximately 50% of patients will die within 5 years of diagnosis. The disease remains as deadly as some of the most common types of cancer in both men (prostate and bladder cancer) and women (breast cancer).
Heart failure is often complicated by having to manage interrelated diseases like Type 2 diabetes.
What is Heart Failure?
Heart failure is… a condition that happens when the heart can’t adequately…
What causes heart failure and how is it diagnosed?
What causes heart failure? Several conditions can increase the likelihood of…
My heart is failing – I am not
There are 64 million people in the world who have heart failure. But the more we…
Recognise the symptoms of heart failure
Heart failure can be difficult to recognise because the signs of the disease…
Take Care of you Heart
Learn how to change your path Certain lifestyle choices can increase the risk of…
Cardiovascular Health
Most heart diseases can be prevented by simply living a healthy lifestyle and treating the interlinked conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure, and managing blood cholesterol. Healthy lifestyle changes include a healthy diet, regular exercise, controlling weight, stopping smoking, managing stress and limiting alcohol consumption. Small changes can be good for your heart. Read more on how to improve your cardiovascular health through lifestyle.
Cholesterol food facts
Milk: Many of us have already made the switch from whole milk to some kind of…
How does dietary fibre lower cholesterol
Dietary fiber is found exclusively in plant foods. It serves as the structural…
Benefits of monounsaturated fat
Monounsaturated fats are healthy fats found in olive oil, avocados, and certain…
Cholesterol Lowering food
What are Plant Sterols and stanols? Plant sterols and stanols are…
Focus on oats fibre to lower cholesterol
Keeping your heart healthy requires a healthy blood cholesterol level. Research…
Getting started with daily exercise
Andrew Heilbrunn, head biokineticist (or clinical exercise specialist) at the…
Why we don’t exercise
We live in an age of quick fixes, rapid results and instant gratification, where…
Why we should exercise
Benefits of exercise for your heart and for your health in general:
How to get moving
The only way for an inactive, (or previously active person), to adopt a new…
The importance of exercise for CVRM
Have you taken your daily dosage of exercise? People who are active daily live…
Cholesterol in South Africa
A survey of high cholesterol levels in South Africa (total cholesterol greater…
How to increase HDL Cholesterol
If you are eager to increase high density lipoprotein, otherwise known as HDL…
How to make your kitchen a low-fat kitchen
Committing to a low-fat lifestyle means making some changes in our kitchens. But…
The cholesterol lowering effects of dietary fibre
Increasing dietary fibre has been recommended as a way to lower cholesterol…
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