Heart Disease
What is Heart Disease?
Heart Disease is more formally known as cardiovascular disease. It involves both the heart and blood vessels. It can cause:
- Atherosclerosis: A condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This narrows the arteries and makes it harder for blood to flow. If a clot forms it will stop blood flow all together and could cause a heart attack or stroke.
- Heart Attacks: Occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked by a blood clot. Part of the heart muscle may begin to die with restricted blood flow.
- Ischemic Stroke: when a blood vessel that supplies the brain gets blocked by a blood clot. Brain cells will begin to die with restricted blood flow (Can cause permanent brain damage).
- Heart Failure: (congestive heart failure) When the heart isn't pumping blood efficiently.
- Arrhythmia: Abnormal rhythm of heart, either too fast, or too slow. It affects how well the heart works in the body
- Heart Value problems: The heart valves don't open enough to allow blood through, or they don't close properly, which allows leaking blood into, or our of heart.
- Atherosclerosis: A condition that develops when a substance called plaque builds up in the walls of the arteries. This narrows the arteries and makes it harder for blood to flow. If a clot forms it will stop blood flow all together and could cause a heart attack or stroke.
- Heart Attacks: Occurs when blood flow to a part of the heart is blocked by a blood clot. Part of the heart muscle may begin to die with restricted blood flow.
- Ischemic Stroke: when a blood vessel that supplies the brain gets blocked by a blood clot. Brain cells will begin to die with restricted blood flow (Can cause permanent brain damage).
- Heart Failure: (congestive heart failure) When the heart isn't pumping blood efficiently.
- Arrhythmia: Abnormal rhythm of heart, either too fast, or too slow. It affects how well the heart works in the body
- Heart Value problems: The heart valves don't open enough to allow blood through, or they don't close properly, which allows leaking blood into, or our of heart.
What causes Heart Disease?
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What are the Symptoms?
You might not be diagnosed with cardiovascular disease until you have a heart attack, stroke, or heart failure. It's important to watch for cardiovascular symptoms and discuss concerns with your doctor. Cardiovascular disease can sometimes be found early with regular exams. Here are some common symptoms of cardiovascular disease and arrhythmia:
- Chest pain
- Shortness of breath
- Pain, numbness, weakness or coldness in your legs or arms if the blood vessels in those parts of your body are narrowed
- Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back
- Fluttering in your chest
- Racing heartbeat (tachycardia)
- Slow heartbeat (bradycardia)
- Chest pain or discomfort
- Shortness of breath
- Lightheadedness
- Dizziness
- Fainting
Is there is any Treatment?
There are various treatments options available for different symptoms of heart disease, but there is no cure to reverse the damaging effects. Most treatments, however require lifetime medications, surgery, or dramatic lifestyle changes.