What’s Heart Disease?
Mention heart disease, and most people picture a heart attack. But the term covers several conditions that can hurt your ticker and keep it from doing its job. These include coronary artery disease, arrhythmia, cardiomyopathy, and heart failure. Learn the warning signs of each and how to react.
Clogged Arteries
A buildup of sticky plaque (fat and cholesterol) can narrow your heart’s arteries, making it harder for blood to pass through. Many people don’t even know there’s a problem until an artery is clogged and they have a heart attack. But there are warning signs of coronary artery disease, like frequent chest pain called angina
Inside a Heart Attack
Plaque is hard on the outside and mushy on the inside. Sometimes that hard outer shell cracks. When this happens, a blood clot forms. If it completely blocks your artery, it cuts off the blood supply to part of your heart. Blood carries oxygen, and a shortage of that can quickly damage the organ and possibly kill you. The attack is sudden, and it’s important to get medical help right
What Does a Heart Attack Feel Like?
You might have:
- Pain or pressure in the chest
- Discomfort spreading to the back, jaw, throat, or arm
- Nausea, indigestion, or heartburn
- Weakness, anxiety, or shortness of breath
- Fast or irregular heartbeats
It’s an emergency even when your symptoms are mild.
Symptoms in Women
Women don’t always feel chest pain. Compared to men, they’re more likely to have heartburn or heart flutters, lose their appetite, cough, or feel tired or weak. Don’t ignore these symptoms. The longer you wait to get treatment, the more damage can be done.
Irregular Heart Beat: Arrhythmia
Your heart beats because of electrical impulses, and they can get off rhythm. Arrhythmias can make your heart race, slow down, or quiver. They’re often harmless and pass quickly, but some types can affect your blood flow and take a serious toll on your body. Tell your doctor if you notice anything unusual.
Living With Heart Disease
Most types are long-lasting. At first, symptoms can be hard to spot and may not disturb your daily life. But left alone and ignored, they get worse.
If your heart starts to fail, you might be short of breath or feel tired. Keep an eye out for swelling in your belly, ankles, feet, or legs. In many cases, long-term treatment can help keep things under control. You can fight heart failure with medication, lifestyle changes, surgery, or a transplant.
Things You Can Control
These daily habits can lower your chances of heart disease:
- Exercise regularly (30 minutes most days).
- Stay at a healthy weight.
- Eat a balanced diet.
- Limit how much alcohol you drink (one drink a day for women, two a day for men).
- Don’t smoke.
If you have diabetes, it’s important to manage your blood sugar levels. And if you have high cholesterol and high blood pressure, do everything you can to get them in check.
source:webmed.
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