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We present interactive seminars and demonstration-rich
workshops on systemic coaching, happiness, resolving family chaos and
relationship bonds. Email us if you are interested in a workshop in your area.
Living with Heart Disease
If you or a family member is diagnosed with heart disease, your
life will change. This page describes heart disease, and information about recognizing and treating common
psychological complications of heart disease with systemic coaching.
- Heart disease
- Arteriosclerosis
- Malignant heart disease
- Carcinogens and Carcinogenesis
- Prevention of heart disease
- Psychological Complications of heart disease
- Therapeutic Coaching
1. Heart Disease - Risk Factors
If your heart has problems ... your resulting symptoms are called
heart disease. Heart disease is a leading cause of death in most
countries, and is most common in adults over 45 years old; especially in
people who are overweight and/or physically inactive.
The high death rate from heart disease in industrial
countries is partly because hygiene, immunization and antibiotics prevent
deaths from other causes; and partly because people in industrialized countries
eat more meat and fatty food, and exercise less than people in developing countries. Also,
family and partnership relationships in industrial countries may be under
great stress.
Some relationship risk factors for heart disease are:
- family entanglements
- emotional incest (son with mother)
- emotional incest (daughter with father)
- promiscuous behavior (multiple sexual partners)
- abandonment or betrayal of past partners (guilt)
- power and victim "games" amongst partners (age
regression)
- consequences of abortions (guilt)
- sexually transmitted diseases (fear)
2. Arteriosclerosis
If the arteries that carry oxygen from your heart to your body
thicken and harden, your heart must work harder to pump blood.
Arteriosclerosis decreases your blood flow and oxygen to your body. This is commonly
called hardening of the arteries, which develops as you age. It is worsened by
relationship and work stress and/or by a high-fat diet.
3. Coronary Heart Disease
A common form of arteriosclerosis is coronary artery
disease. In this chronic illness, greasy deposits form on the inner
walls of arteries and partly block your blood flow. Scar
tissue develops, stiffening the walls of your arteries and blood clots may
form, called thrombosis, that can partially or totally
block an artery. Atherosclerosis can reduce the flow of blood to your heart,
brain, kidneys, and legs.
Coronary Heart Disease, If the vessels that supply
oxygen-carrying blood to your heart become narrowed, your heart's blood supply
is reduced, this has two main consequences: chest pain known as angina
pectoris, and heart attack, in which part of your heart dies because
of lack of oxygen. Coronary heart disease is a leading cause of death in
North America, causing nearly half-million deaths each year.
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Although heart attack
symptoms can vary greatly in
different people, a heart attack is often
described as an intense, crushing chest pain, usually on the
left side. This pain may radiate to the person’s neck, jaw and left arm.
The pain of a heart attack is usually more intense and
longer lasting than with angina. Other signs of a heart attack include
profuse sweating, nausea, and vomiting. |
4. Congestive Heart Failure
The final stage of heart disease is heart failure, or
congestive heart failure. The heart muscle weakens and cannot pump
enough blood to the body. In the early stages of heart failure, the heart muscle may
enlarge in an attempt to contract more vigorously, but his enlarged
muscle makes the heart inefficient and unable to deliver enough blood to body
tissues. A chronic decrease in the circulation of blood to your heart, unless
treated, leads to shock and death.
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Shock is characterized by apathy,
weakness, shallow breathing, rapid heartbeat, feeble pulse, low blood
pressure, and cold and clammy skin. Alertness may be diminished and a
person may also faint. |
5. Prevention of Heart Disease
Although heart disease is part of aging, many heart disease deaths are preventable. The key risks for coronary heart disease are high
blood pressure, cigarette smoking and high blood cholesterol. A healthy lifestyle
decreases the chance of heart
disease. Some lifestyle choices can greatly reduce the risk of developing
heart disease. Not smoking, a healthy diet, and daily exercise reduces heart
disease risk.
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Quitting smoking helps reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
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A low-fat diet is the next best way to lower the risk of
heart disease.
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A healthy weight and regular exercise lowers heart
disease risk.
5a. Treatment of Heart Disease
A low-fat diet is usually prescribed. Physicians may
advise you to stop smoking and to exercise regularly. Medications may
help blood flow more freely, and prevent blood clots from forming in
diseased arteries. Surgery can replace diseased blood vessels with grafts of
healthy arteries.
6. Relationship Coaching
The pharmaceutical and electronic wonders of modern medicine
have paced a decline in the emotional contact between helping
professionals and their patients or clients. Medical doctors often
refer to patients as their symptoms - e.g. "Nurse - the liver cancer in
room 6 is upset - go check it out". Soulwork coaching can unite
people with their world, while solving relationship conflicts,
planning problems and "sense of life" issues. (Read about Dr Patch
Adams)
- produces and supports healthy behaviors, such as diet and physical activity
- provides many possibilities for improving relationships
- helps people live full lives, promoting emotional well being and life
activities
- helps patients and family
members cope with emotional distress
NOTE: Consult a physician regarding the
applicability of any opinions or recommendations with respect to heart
disease, medical symptoms or medical conditions.
Do you want relationship coaching or systemic coach training? Do you want to coach people to resolve emotional and relationship challenges?
Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 2004 All rights reserved |
