HIV can also affect the heart muscle, ranging from an inflammation to weakening and dilation of the heart chambers.
Pulmonary hypertension (increased pressure in the lungs) may occur because HIV patients get a number of lung infections that lead to scarring and increased stiffness of the lungs.
Heart tumors are usually rare in the general population, but they happen at an increased frequency in HIV-infected people. Kaposi's sarcoma is a tumor that usually affects people with HIV infection. It may affect the heart itself or the sac of the heart. Infection and damage of the heart valves also might occur. However, with the presence of an impaired immune system, it is more difficult to treat.
HIV-infected people are sometimes treated with medications called protease inhibitors, which are effective but may sometimes lead to increased cholesterol and have also been linked to accelerated plaques in the arteries of the heart. It has been noted that people with HIV infection are more likely to develop heart attacks than healthy individuals, a problem that might be related to the disease itself or the medications used to treat it.
As for the blood vessels of the legs, it was found that HIV-infected people suffer from more frequent blood clots (venous thrombosis).
What are the effects of sleep apnea on the heart?
Sleep apnea occurs in 4% of men and 2% of women most commonly between the ages of 30 to 60 years. Common symptoms of sleep apnea include loud snoring, disrupted sleep, daytime sleepiness, repetitive awakening, mood disturbances, decreased drive to perform sex, morning headaches, poor memory, impaired concentration, night sweats, and morning dry mouth. Individuals with this problem are usually obese with a large neck circumference. However, not all these symptoms and signs are diagnostic for sleep apnea. The definitive test for sleep apnea is a sleep study. This condition is becoming more recognized to the extent that some teams in the NFL are screening their players and offering treatment to improve their performance.
Sleep apnea is a disease that is becoming more common because of the alarming increase in the percentage of overweight individuals.
Individuals suffering from sleep apnea experience repetitive changes in blood pressure and heart function during the night. It has long been noted that individuals with sleep apnea are likely to suffer from hypertension (high blood pressure). It is likely that they also have more plaque buildup in their arteries, leading to frequent chest pains or even heart attacks.
Heart rhythm problems are frequent. Commonly, individuals suffering with sleep apnea will experience slowness of the heart rate and even ventricular asystole (electrical silence of the heart). Electrical disturbances of the heart have been described with sleep apnea.
Recent reports have correlated sleep apnea with heart failure. Moreover, treatment of sleep apnea was shown to improve hypertension and overall well-being of people with this problem.
Treatment of sleep apnea includes weight reduction and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy to help with breathing problems and minimize harmful effects of reduced oxygenation on the body.
Can thyroid disease affect the heart?
The thyroid gland is a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck. It has 2 lobes, and it resides around the breathing pipe (trachea). The thyroid gland produces a hormone (thyroxine) that regulates the body's consumption of energy (metabolism). When the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroxine (hypothyroidism), there is generalized slowness of the body functions. This common condition is 5 to 10 times more common in females. Common presentations include cold intolerance, fatigue, weight gain, constipation, dry skin, muscle cramps, and increased menstrual bleeding. The effects of hypothyroidism on the heart include decreased heart rate (bradycardia), irregular heart rhythm, and heart failure. Hypothyroidism can also raise cholesterol and homocysteine levels, both linked to developing atherosclerotic plaques in the coronary arteries. Treatment of hypothyroidism consists of replacing the thyroid hormone in the form of a pill.
In contrast, increased secretion of thyroxine (hyperthyroidism) is a less common disorder. The usual presentations of this disorder include weight loss, increased appetite, heat intolerance, excessive sweating, flushing, restlessness, shakiness (tremors), and mood changes. The heart effects of hyperthyroidism include a fast heartbeat (palpitations), increased blood pressure, and irregular heartbeats. Individuals with established coronary artery disease might experience chest pains.Also,elderly individuals with hyperthyroidism might develop heart failure and an irregular heartbeat involving the top chambers of the heart (atrial fibrillation).
The treatment of hyperthyroidism is to surgically or pharmacologically remove the active areas of the thyroid gland that are hyperproducing the thyroid hormone.
How does obesity affect the heart?
Obesity is a growing health concern. In 1999, the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) estimated an alarming 61% of US adults were either overweight or obese. Being obese means that the individual's body fat is excessively high. Several methods exist to define the extent of obesity and to correlate it with increased risk. Common simple methods include BMI (body mass index), waist circumference, and waist-hip ratio. Other measurements also exist, and there are ways to measure the fat distribution by using radiological methods (x-ray). BMI measurement is a useful and simple method to find out if you are obese, overweight, or within the normal range. BMI can be calculated from the weight and height using a mathematical formula and can be easily done by accessing tables and calculators on the internet (http://nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm). Generally, if your BMI is 18.5 or lower, you are considered underweight; a normal BMI is within the range of 18.5-24.9; you are considered overweight if your BMI is 25.0-29.9; and if your BMI is 30.0 and higher, you are obese.
Obesity is an established risk factor for coronary disease (narrowing and blockages of the heart arteries leading to angina and heart attacks), hypertension (high blood pressure), sleep apnea, enlargement of the heart, and heart failure.
Obesity commonly affects the lipid profile (fat in the blood) by decreasing HDL (good cholesterol) and increasing triglycerides. It can also cause heart rhythm abnormalities.
C-reactive protein, an emerging risk factor of heart disease, is higher in obese individuals.
Studies have shown improvements in lipid profiles,blood pressure, symptoms of sleep apnea, heart failure, and life expectancy from weight loss. Weight loss is best achieved by a balanced diet and an exercise regimen.
If you are over 40 years of age, consult with your doctor to evaluate you for readiness to start an exercise program (psychological and physical). Also,your doctor and a qualified dietitian may help in choosing the right dietary regimen for you.
