Cardiac complications arise due improper functioning of the heart. The disabilities affecting the heart may be either structural or functional in nature. The heart is one of the most important organs in the human body. It pumps blood through the numerous blood vessels into all organs of the body. A blockage of the arteries and blood vessels that provide fresh oxygen to the heart, may lead to a dysfunctional heart resulting in a congestive heart failure. A study by the American Heart Association shows that about 13 million Americans show symptoms of coronary artery disease. Heart diseases occur due to clogging of the arteries. A number of other diseases also trigger arterial blockage. This limits the flow of fresh oxygen into the blood causing the heart to pump harder and ultimately results in heart complications. The clogging of arteries is usually caused by the deposition of cholesterol or other fatty substance, fibrous tissue, blood components and calcium. Some of the diseases posing major threat to the heart functioning are:

• Smoking
• Dietary imbalances
• Obesity
• Diabetes mellitus
• Hypertension

Heart complications can also be hereditary in origin. Children of heart patients are more likely to develop complications themselves. Interestingly, the complications of congestive heart failure are more common in men than in women. However, both men and women are liable to develop heart problems with advancement of age. People who smoke are prone to such problems too. High levels of blood cholesterol are a major factor for developing cardiac imperfections. Consumption of meat, dairy products, eggs as well as animal fat products influences the amount of cholesterol in the body besides age, exercises and heredity. High blood pressure also increases the risk of a heart attack. Obesity, high stress level, rmone replacement therapies are a few causes of heart ailments. Certain preventive measures can be taken in order to minimize the complications of heart failure. They are:

• Maintaining a balanced diet
• Regular exercising
• Maintaining a proper bodyweight
• Quitting smoking
• Drinking sparsely
• Avoiding stress
• Seeking professional help to treat and control hypertension

A balanced diet consisting of food, low in fat and cholesterol apart from being high in fiber is considered to be beneficial for the heart. Substituting saturated fat with unsaturated fat helps to avoid the complications of a congestive heart failure. Vitamin C and beta-carotene rich fruits and vegetables need to be incorporated into the diet. Certain complications of heart failure like ventricular arrhythmia and cardiac arrest are life threatening while other kind of complications can be relieved after ambulatory monitoring i.e. recording the electrical activity of the heart as one performs its regular activities. Ambulatory monitoring helps to diagnose the imperfect functioning of the heart. Every precaution needs to be taken in order to avoid such problems as the heart is the primary organ responsible for circulation of blood through out the body, Prevention has always been known to be better than cure and a little attention on the aforesaid points would help avert cardiac complications.

Useful Links: Arrhythmias | Cardiac Diseases | Kidney Functions | Problem in Atrial Fibrillation | Sudden cardiac death | Ventricular Fibrillation