Are poor people more prone to heart disease?

 Why are poor people more susceptible to heart disease?

The common belief about heart disease and stroke used to be that it mostly affected the rich. The assumption was that these people probably ate a lot of meat and fatty foods.

However, in the past few years, reports and studies have emerged about the reasons for the increasing number of people suffering from heart disease and the prevalence of this disease in the poor, the most recent of which was conducted by the British University.

Oxford has revealed the changing trends and continuing challenges in heart disease over the past 20 years.

Researchers analyzed electronic health records of 22 million people. Of these, 16.5 million had at least one heart attack between 2000 and 2019. The average age of these people was 70.5 years, and 48 percent of them were women.

The study found that people living in poor areas were twice as likely to have heart disease as those living in wealthier areas.

Researchers analyzed electronic health records of 22 million people. Of these, 16.5 million had at least one heart attack between 2000 and 2019. The average age of these people was 70.5 years, and 48 percent of them were women.

The study found that people living in poor areas were twice as likely to have heart disease as those living in wealthier areas.

 

What is heart disease?

Heart disease, collectively known as cardiovascular disease (CVD), includes a group of conditions that affect the heart and blood vessels. Some of the most common types of heart disease are:

Coronary artery disease:

This is caused by a buildup of plaque in the arteries that supply blood to the heart and can cause chest pain (angina), shortness of breath, and heart attacks.

Heart attack (myocardial infarction):

This occurs when part of the heart muscle does not get the blood it needs.

Heart failure:

Also known as heart failure, this occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.

Erythema:

resulting symptoms include rapid heartbeat, dizziness, difficulty breathing, chest pain, and fainting.

Cardiomyopathy:

which makes it difficult for the heart to pump blood to the rest of the body, and can lead to heart failure.

Heart valve disease:

This is damage to one or more heart valves, which can disrupt the flow of blood through the heart.

Congenital heart defects:

These are structural problems of the heart that a person is born with, and they range from simple defects without symptoms to complex problems with severe life-threatening symptoms.

Aortic disease:

Conditions that affect the aorta. The aorta is a large artery that carries blood from the heart to the rest of the body.

Peripheral artery disease:

This is a condition in which the blood vessels narrow and blood flow to the limbs is reduced. This can result in leg pain when walking, numbness (loss of feeling), weakness in the legs, or coldness in the lower leg or foot.

Rheumatic heart disease:

This is damage to the heart valves and heart muscle due to inflammation and scarring caused by rheumatic fever. It is caused by the bacteria Streptococcus.

Understanding these types of heart diseases, their symptoms, and their effects on health can help in early detection, prevention, or treatment of heart disease.