Leg pain and calf pain are often mistaken for either bone and joint disease or neurological disease. Most people have referred these symptoms to the elderly’s condition caused by excessive walking.
The cause of non-accidental deaths among Thais is predominantly due to heart and vascular diseases, ranking second. There is a continuing upward trend in deaths due to heart and vascular diseases, especially coronary artery disease, which currently has the highest incidence rate among Thais and is among the leading causes of death in Thailand.
Heart Failure is a condition where the heart cannot function as well as it should. The weakened or declining strength of the heart (Heart Failure) makes activities that are normally easy become much more difficult. However, there are various ways in which patients and doctors can cooperate together to help improve the heart's function.
Coronary artery disease develops when inner layer of coronary arteries, major blood vessels that supply blood, oxygen and nutrients to the heart become damaged. The damage may be caused by various factors including smoking, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes and related lifestyles. Once the inner wall of an artery is injured, fatty deposits (known as atherosclerotic plaque) made of fat, cholesterol, calcium and other cellular substances tend to accumulate at the site of injury, called atherosclerosis.
During coronary artery bypass graft surgery, a blood vessel is removed or redirected from one area of the body and placed around the area or areas of narrowing to "bypass" the blockages and restore blood flow to the heart muscle.
Key heart diseases that you should be aware of include heart failure, coronary artery disease, arrhythmias, aneurysm of major arteries, congenital heart defects, and rheumatic heart disease.
Arrhythmia is a condition where the heart beats too fast or too slow compared to normal. It may result from abnormalities in the generation of electrical impulses in the heart, the conduction of electrical impulses in the heart, or both.
Heart failure is a condition where the heart cannot function as well as it should, meaning it becomes weak or loses strength, making tasks that are normally easy much more difficult. However, there are various methods that patients and doctors can collaborate on to help the heart function better.
Balloon Angioplasty is a popular method of widening the coronary arteries without the need for surgery.
A common venous disease in the legs is varicose veins. Treatment is not easy. For minor cases, wearing compression stockings may be used, but for severe cases, treatment involves targeted injections and surgery, depending on the specialist doctor's diagnosis.
Myocardial ischemia is a dangerous emergency condition because half of the patients might die immediately at the scene due to abnormal cardiac conduction, causing the heart to beat erratically without contracting. It is crucial to receive prompt medical treatment.
Arteriosclerosis is a condition caused by changes in the blood vessel walls, causing the inner layers of the vessel walls to progressively thicken. Fat then accumulates between the blood vessels until eventually, it leads to blocked arteries. Detecting it early, before symptoms show, can help in preventing and treating it promptly.