Contributed by Ryan Peterson.
Considering their impact on the body, it’s hardly surprising that most physical complaints have some impact on our hearts. This is so much the case that even something as seemingly commonplace as a bout of the flu can increase our risks of having a heart attack by as much as six times. Those risks only escalate further when you consider heart health in light of more serious health issues like cancer.
Cancer draws our attention to the impacted part of the body which means signs or symptoms of the impact on heart health are overlooked. This historically leads to as many as 1 in 10 cancer patients dying not from their cancer itself, but secondary heart and blood vessel problems. The reasons for this do vary and depend a great deal on the type of cancer in question. For instance, neuroendocrine tumors can, by their very nature, cause a rare kind of heart disease known as carcinoid syndrome due to the secretions when located in the gastrointestinal tract or lungs. Far more commonly, however, links between heart disease and cancer tend to come down to the treatments offered.
Treatments including chemotherapy and radiation can be necessary in differing amounts for cancer survival and lengthened lifespans. However, experts have long noted links between these treatments and possible heart damage, especially during treatments for breast, prostate, or bladder cancer. It’s for this reason doctors test heart function before treatment. Even patients with healthy hearts are at increased risk during extreme treatment courses. It is beneficial for cancer patients to ensure their heart is as healthy as possible throughout cancer treatment using the following methods.
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