February 14 isn’t only a celebration of romantic love; it’s also a reminder to care for your own heart. This Heart Health Day, let’s prioritize simple lifestyle habits that reduce the risk of heart disease and support long-term wellness.
Up to 80% of premature deaths from cardiovascular disease (CVD) are preventable. By making small changes to our daily habits, what we eat and drink, how much we exercise, and how we manage stress, we can significantly improve our heart health and reduce the burden of CVD.
Being aware of the symptoms of CVD and knowing how to respond can save lives. Prompt treatment is often crucial in preventing permanent damage to the heart and other vital organs.
In this article, we will guide you through the most common cardiovascular diseases, their risk factors, and their warning signs.
Understanding Heart Disease
Heart disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. It encompasses a range of conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and strokes.
Coronary Artery Disease (CAD):
Coronary artery disease (CAD) develops if the large blood vessels that supply the heart with oxygen (the coronary arteries) become too narrow. This happens if deposits (called “plaques”) build up in the arteries over time. Coronary microvascular disease occurs when there is damage to the inner walls of the heart’s small blood vessels. CAD is also known as coronary heart disease (CHD).
CAD can be acute or chronic. Acute CAD leads to a heart attack because one or more coronary arteries are blocked by a blood clot. As a result, part of the heart doesn’t get any oxygen. It is important to act quickly because otherwise that part might die. Heart attacks are often treated with a catheter (a thin, flexible tube) to quickly open the blocked artery again.
In chronic (“stable”) CAD, a coronary artery is permanently too narrow. As a result, less blood flows to the heart muscle. The heart is then no longer able to beat more strongly during physical activity because it doesn’t have enough oxygen. That can cause symptoms such as shortness of breath and a tight feeling in the chest. The symptoms go away again after resting for a few minutes or after taking medicine. Long time shortage of blood supply to the heart may also cause heart muscle cells die and result in heart failure.
For most people, coronary heart disease is preventable with a heart-healthy lifestyle and medications.
Possible Signs of Coronary Heart Disease
Possible symptoms of CAD include chest pain. Some people describe the pain as dull, pressing, constricting, or burning. Others may feel more like they have a large knot in their chest or throat, or as if they have a heavy weight on their chest. These kinds of symptoms, called angina (or angina pectoris), can make patients feel anxious or scared.
The pain often spreads into the arms, neck, back, upper belly, or jaw. This may be accompanied by shortness of breath, nausea, dizziness, and general weakness, sweating, or cold sweats.
Chest tightness is a less common CAD symptom in women, older people, and people with diabetes or heart failure. They are then more likely to have symptoms such as shortness of breath, upper abdominal pain, and palpitations.
Heart attacks can even go unnoticed (silent heart attack) in people with diabetes-related nerve damage.
For people who are experiencing CAD symptoms for the first time, it’s difficult to tell whether the symptoms are caused by stable CAD following exertion or by a heart attack. So, it’s important to know the possible signs of a heart attack and know what to do in an emergency.
Heart Attacks:
A heart attack happens when the blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked for a long enough time that part of the heart muscle is damaged or dies. Emergency signs include chest discomfort, pain in other areas of the upper body, shortness of breath, cold sweats, nausea, and light-headedness.
Some heart attacks are sudden and intense, but most of them start slowly, with mild pain or discomfort.
Possible Signs of a Heart Attack
The typical signs of a heart attack are:
- A strong feeling of tightness or pressure in the chest
- A stabbing, burning, or heavy pain behind the breastbone
- Pain spreads to the left or right arm, the back, neck, or upper abdomen (belly) as well
- Pain or numbness in the upper body that may spread to the shoulder blades, the front or back of the neck, and the jaw
The symptoms often start suddenly but can also be more gradual. The pain lasts for more than five minutes and doesn’t get better when the person rests.
Other possible symptoms include:
- Shortness of breath
- Nausea, vomiting
- Sweating or cold sweats
- Paleness
- Weakness, dizziness, loss of consciousness
- Intense anxiety or fear of death
Heart Failure:
In people with heart failure, the heart isn’t able to pump enough blood around their body. As a result, their organs, muscles, and other types of tissue do not get enough oxygen, and blood collects near the heart. Heart failure is also sometimes referred to as congestive heart failure (CHF).
Heart failure is usually caused by another health problem that damages the heart muscle or the blood vessels. These are the most common causes:
- Coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart attack
- High blood pressure
- Heart valve problems
- Abnormal heartbeat
Heart failure can occur suddenly, like after a heart attack, or it may develop over time, for example, due to constant high blood pressure.
Mild heart failure may go unnoticed or only cause minor symptoms. It greatly affects physical fitness in people who have advanced heart failure, and they find it hard to carry out typical everyday activities. Various treatments can relieve the symptoms and help you live longer.
Possible Signs of Heart Failure
Heart failure can cause various symptoms. The most common symptoms are:
Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
Tiredness and exhaustion
Build-up of fluid in the feet, ankles, or legs, or – less commonly – in the genital area or abdomen (belly)
Weight gain caused by the build-up of fluid
Other possible symptoms include a rapid heartbeat, urinating often at night, difficulties concentrating, and a cough.
Arrhythmias:
Arrhythmias are irregular heartbeats that can be too fast, too slow, or erratic. They can cause symptoms like palpitations, dizziness, and fainting. Some arrhythmias can increase the risk of stroke or heart failure.
Many of these conditions are linked to many risk factors Such World Heart DayDayas:
Age: The risk of heart disease increases with age due to the potential for damaged and narrowed arteries and a weakened or thickened heart muscle.
Sex: Men generally have a higher risk of heart disease, though the risk for women increases after menopause.
Family History: A family history of heart disease, particularly if a parent developed it early (before age 55 for men and 65 for women), increases the risk.
Smoking: Smoking damages the arteries and significantly increases the risk of heart attacks. Quitting smoking is crucial for heart health.
Unhealthy Diet: Diets high in fat, salt, sugar, and cholesterol are linked to heart disease.
High Blood Pressure: Uncontrolled high blood pressure can harden and thicken the arteries, altering blood flow to the heart and body.
High Cholesterol: High cholesterol levels increase the risk of atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attacks and strokes.
Diabetes: Diabetes increases the risk of heart disease, with obesity and high blood pressure further elevating this risk.
Obesity: Excess weight exacerbates other heart disease risk factors.
Lack of Exercise: Physical inactivity is associated with many forms of heart disease and its risk factors.
Stress: Emotional stress can damage the arteries and worsen other heart disease risk factors.
Poor Dental Health: Unhealthy teeth and gums can allow germs to enter the bloodstream and reach the heart, causing infections like endocarditis. Regular brushing, flossing, and dental checkups are essential.
Diagnosis of Heart Disease:
Diagnosing heart disease involves a combination of physical exams, medical history, and various tests:
Blood Tests: Check for heart proteins, cholesterol, and blood sugar levels.
Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG): Records the electrical signals in the heart to detect irregularities.
Echocardiogram: Uses sound waves to create images of the heart in motion.
Stress Tests: Monitor the heart’s response to physical activity.
Cardiac Catheterisation: Detects blockages in the heart arteries using a catheter and dye.
Heart CT Scan and MRI: Provide detailed images of the heart and chest.
Treatment of Heart Disease & Prevention:
Treatment for heart disease depends on the cause and type of heart damage. It may include:
Lifestyle Changes: Eating a diet low in salt and saturated fat, getting more exercise, and not smoking.
Medications: To control symptoms and prevent complications.
Heart Procedures: Such as angioplasty or stent placement.
Heart Surgery: Including bypass surgery or valve repair.
Risks to Our Heart and Vessels – How to Reduce:
Did you know that your heart is the size of your fist and the strongest muscle in your body? It started beating about three weeks after you were conceived. If you live to be 70, it will have beaten two and a half billion times.
However, although impressive and strong, our heart can also become vulnerable from habitual risk factors like smoking, diabetes, cholesterol, low physical activity, eating an unhealthy diet, or living with high blood pressure.
Lifestyle Changes for a Healthy Heart:
Healthy Eating: Incorporate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins into your diet. Avoid processed foods, excessive salt, and sugary beverages.
Regular Exercise: Aim for at least 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity each week. Activities like walking, cycling, and swimming can significantly improve heart health.
Quit Smoking: Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. Quitting smoking can improve your heart health almost immediately.
Limit Alcohol: Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to high blood pressure and heart disease.
Manage Stress: Chronic stress can negatively impact your heart. Practices like meditation, yoga, and deep breathing can help manage stress levels.
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