Diabetic Heart Disease is a result of coronary atherosclerosis, metabolic syndrome, insulin resistance (in people with type 2 diabetes); and the interaction of coronary heart disease (CHD), high blood pressure, and diabetes. These complex processes are linked with Diabetic Heart Disease.
But studies are still being done to study these processes in details to reach to a conclusion. The following blog provides you brief information about the causes of Diabetic Heart Disease.
Till now the following have been listed as the major causes of Diabetic Heart Diseases.
Coronary Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis results into building of plaque inside the arteries. Although there is no clear evidence about atherosclerosis but as per studies it has been found as a slow and complex disease that starts in childhood and develops faster with age.
It starts when inner layers of the coronary (heart) arteries are damaged due to factors like:
• Smoking
• High amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar levels due to diabetes
Plaque first damages the arteries and the results into hardening and narrowing of the arteries. This lessens the oxygenated blood to the heart muscles.
This may result into rupturing of a part of plaque which causes platelets to stick to the site of the injury. This results into blood clotting. Blood clots can further worsen the situation by narrowing the coronary arteries and restrict blood flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart thereby causing angina or heart attack.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is the term used to describe group of risk factors that can raise the risk of both CHD and type 2 diabetes.
The following factors contribute to metabolic syndrome:
• A large waistline (35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for men).
• High triglyceride level
• Low HDL cholesterol level
• High blood pressure
• A high fasting blood sugar level
If you are obese then you are likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome. People with metabolic syndrome may undergo chronic inflammation (body's response to illness or injury). It also puts you at high risk of CHD and heart attack. Inflammation can further lead to worsening of metabolic syndrome.
But still the researches are being carried on to find about metabolic syndrome in detail and the factors causing it.
Insulin Resistance (People with Type 2 Diabetes)
Type 2 diabetes is caused due to insulin resistance. By insulin resistance we mean the inability of the body to use the insulin it makes.
People who suffer from type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance have higher amount of substances in the blood that can result into formation of blood clots. Blood clots are responsible for blockage of the coronary arteries and lead to heart attack or even death.
Coronary Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and Diabetes
Each of these factors alone has also been found to damage the heart and lead to heart attack. CHD can reduce the supply of oxygenated blood to your heart muscle. High blood pressure and diabetes can even affect the structure and functioning of the heart in an adverse manner.
Having all these health situations all at once can prove to be destructive to the heart and can permanently damage the heart muscle. This puts a lot of pressure on the heart and it has to work harder to function normally. This leads to weakening of the heart and the heart is not able to pump enough blood to meet the body’s requirements. Such a medical condition is called as heart failure.
Due to weakening of the heart proteins and other substances are released by the body into the blood. These substances can prove to be harmful and worsen heart failure.
But studies are still being done to study these processes in details to reach to a conclusion. The following blog provides you brief information about the causes of Diabetic Heart Disease.
Till now the following have been listed as the major causes of Diabetic Heart Diseases.
Coronary Atherosclerosis
Atherosclerosis results into building of plaque inside the arteries. Although there is no clear evidence about atherosclerosis but as per studies it has been found as a slow and complex disease that starts in childhood and develops faster with age.
It starts when inner layers of the coronary (heart) arteries are damaged due to factors like:
• Smoking
• High amounts of certain fats and cholesterol in the blood
• High blood pressure
• High blood sugar levels due to diabetes
Plaque first damages the arteries and the results into hardening and narrowing of the arteries. This lessens the oxygenated blood to the heart muscles.
This may result into rupturing of a part of plaque which causes platelets to stick to the site of the injury. This results into blood clotting. Blood clots can further worsen the situation by narrowing the coronary arteries and restrict blood flow of oxygen-rich blood to your heart thereby causing angina or heart attack.
Metabolic Syndrome
Metabolic syndrome is the term used to describe group of risk factors that can raise the risk of both CHD and type 2 diabetes.
The following factors contribute to metabolic syndrome:
• A large waistline (35 inches or more for women and 40 inches or more for men).
• High triglyceride level
• Low HDL cholesterol level
• High blood pressure
• A high fasting blood sugar level
If you are obese then you are likely to suffer from metabolic syndrome. People with metabolic syndrome may undergo chronic inflammation (body's response to illness or injury). It also puts you at high risk of CHD and heart attack. Inflammation can further lead to worsening of metabolic syndrome.
But still the researches are being carried on to find about metabolic syndrome in detail and the factors causing it.
Insulin Resistance (People with Type 2 Diabetes)
Type 2 diabetes is caused due to insulin resistance. By insulin resistance we mean the inability of the body to use the insulin it makes.
People who suffer from type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance have higher amount of substances in the blood that can result into formation of blood clots. Blood clots are responsible for blockage of the coronary arteries and lead to heart attack or even death.
Coronary Heart Disease, High Blood Pressure and Diabetes
Each of these factors alone has also been found to damage the heart and lead to heart attack. CHD can reduce the supply of oxygenated blood to your heart muscle. High blood pressure and diabetes can even affect the structure and functioning of the heart in an adverse manner.
Having all these health situations all at once can prove to be destructive to the heart and can permanently damage the heart muscle. This puts a lot of pressure on the heart and it has to work harder to function normally. This leads to weakening of the heart and the heart is not able to pump enough blood to meet the body’s requirements. Such a medical condition is called as heart failure.
Due to weakening of the heart proteins and other substances are released by the body into the blood. These substances can prove to be harmful and worsen heart failure.