Heart Disease Explained: Signs, Symptoms and How to Lower Your Risk

Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. Anyone, including children, can develop heart disease. It affects both men and women and affects people of all racial and ethnic groups. Because it affects such a large percentage of the population, it's important for everyone to know the facts about heart disease and the signs and symptoms to look out for.

Types of heart disease

There are many types of heart disease, the causes of which range from genetic factors to lifestyle choices or health events that can affect the heart, such as damage from infection. Certain pre-existing conditions in the body can put a person at a higher risk of developing heart diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes. Whatever the cause, it's a good idea to be aware of the signs and symptoms of the different types of heart disease so that any potential problems can be detected early and treated appropriately. These are some of the most common types of heart disease.

Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease affects the blood vessels in the heart. Like the pipes in our homes, the arteries around the heart can develop a buildup of plaque that narrows the passage. This narrowing can sometimes cause a complete blockage that prevents blood flow to parts of the heart, which can lead to a heart attack. While coronary artery disease is often discovered after a person has had a heart attack, we need to be on the lookout for signs of coronary artery disease that can help with early diagnosis and treatment, as well as prevention.

The signs and symptoms of coronary artery disease include:

  • Chest pain, tightness, pressure or discomfort (also called angina pectoris)
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Pain in the neck, jaw, throat or back
  • Nausea (usually specific to women)
  • Extreme fatigue (usually specific to women)

Arrhythmias

Heart problems related to the speed and rhythm of the heartbeat are called arrhythmias. Arrhythmias can make your heartbeat too slow, too fast, or irregular. If the heart rate is "off," it can prevent the heart from having enough strength to send blood to the rest of the body.

Signs and symptoms of arrhythmias include:

  • A feeling of "floating" in the chest
  • Rapid heartbeat (tachycardia)
  • Slow heart rate (bradycardia)
  • Chest pain or discomfort
  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Feeling dizzy or dizzy
  • Fainting or loss of consciousness

Heart valve and structural heart disease

The heart has four valves that help it to pump efficiently; Structural heart disease includes conditions that affect these valves or the heart tissue. Many structural heart diseases are congenital, which means they were present at birth. Some structural heart disease can develop later in life. When the heart's valves or tissues are not working properly, blood cannot flow through the heart and to the rest of the body. For example, blood can "get stuck" in the chambers of the heart and start to clot, putting a person at risk for stroke.

Signs and symptoms of heart valves and structural heart disease include:

  • Tired
  • Difficulty breathing, especially with activity or when lying down
  • Arrhythmia
  • Swollen feet or ankles
  • Fainting
  • Abnormal sound (heart murmur) when listened to with a stethoscope

Regardless of the symptoms, if you think you are suffering from any of the above symptoms, it is a good idea to be seen by a healthcare professional early for diagnosis and treatment.

Heart failure

Heart failure is a condition in which your heart cannot pump enough blood to meet your body's needs. This is usually because the heart muscle is too weak to “push out” enough blood with each beat. But heart failure can also occur when the heart becomes stiff and cannot effectively fill with blood between each beat.

Heart failure most often affects older people, but it can happen to anyone at any age. It is a serious disease, and also quite common. Many people with heart failure continue to lead full, active lives for many years after their diagnosis.

In many cases of heart failure, the initial damage weakens the heart muscle. To compensate, your heart beats faster and gets bigger (stretched or thickened) as shown in the image below. Over time, the heart muscle begins to wear down.

Symptoms of heart failure vary depending on the type of heart failure you have. Common symptoms include:

  • Difficulty in breathing
  • Cough
  • Feeling very tired and weak
  • Weight gain (due to fluid build-up)
  • Swollen ankles, feet, abdomen, lower back, and toes
  • Swelling or swelling around the eyes
  • Difficulty concentrating or remembering

The main cause of heart failure (damage and weakness of the heart muscle) cannot be cured, but the symptoms can be well controlled. The right treatment and personal care can help prevent your symptoms from getting worse.

Treatment options for heart disease

Treatment for your heart disease varies by type, but generally, treatment can include lifestyle changes, medication, and possibly surgery or surgery. TIB Pharmacy care experts work with patients to create a comprehensive, individualized treatment program that may include:

Lifestyle changes

  • Change your diet to include plenty of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables, and limit your intake of fats, sugars, and processed foods.
  • Regular exercise helps keep your heart toned and healthy, lowers blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, and helps lower blood sugar.
  • Stop smoking: Smoking puts us at risk for all kinds of illnesses and is a major risk factor for heart disease. If you smoke, quit.

Medications

In many types of heart disease, drugs can be extremely useful therapeutic resources. Medicines may be prescribed for:

  • Helps control a pre-existing condition such as high blood pressure or high cholesterol
  • Avoid the formation of blood clots

Surgery

Surgery for heart disease is very specific to the condition of the heart and may be recommended to help improve heart function or repair damage. They range from minimally invasive procedures that can be performed in a cardiac catheterization lab to complex open heart surgeries.

If you have a family history of heart disease or suffer from heart disease, never hesitate to speak to your healthcare professional about any questions or concerns you have.

Prevention of heart disease

Whatever your health history, there are things you can do today to help prevent the development of heart disease. Decades of scientific research have shown the importance of simple lifestyle changes. Examples include:

  • Recent research has shown that a plant-based diet can have huge benefits for our overall health.
  • Regular exercise
  • Do not smoke/vape or quit smoking
  • Manage pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes
  • keep a healthy weight
  • Manage stress and anxiety and don't be afraid to talk to your doctor
  • Meditation is a hot topic these days, and for good reason! It has been shown to have a profound impact on our overall health.

Is COVID-19 Affecting Your Heart?

The global COVID-19 pandemic has affected all aspects of our lives, including our basic healthcare needs.

People with heart disease are at increased risk for serious complications from COVID-19, including increased hospitalizations and deaths. Any serious viral infection puts extra strain on your heart. Fever makes your heart beat faster, and lung infections can limit the oxygen supply to the heart.

In addition to those who are currently suffering from heart disease, recent studies show a clear link between heart disease and COVID-19, although the long-term implications are still largely unknown at this time.

In addition to the health impacts of COVID-19, many other health issues go unchecked due to delayed care, as many may fear that visiting a hospital or clinic puts them at greater risk of infection. . But don't delay getting the care you need. Hospitals are safe places and have strict COVID-19 protocols in place to keep patients and caregivers safe. Today more than ever, it is important to be aware of our health.

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