Symptoms of heart disease and its various causes

Maybe you've thought the symptoms of heart disease are the same as those of a heart attack, heart rhythm disturbances, or heart failure. In fact, this is not the case. So, what are the possible characteristics of heart disease at a young or advanced age? Then, what are the causes of heart disease? Check out more information in the following review.

Recognize the symptoms or characteristics of heart disease

Heart disease (cardiovascular disease) can cause death if not treated immediately with proper care.

Heart disease consists of various types, from heart attacks to heart failure. Each type shows different symptoms. However, you can recognize the common symptoms of heart disease that sufferers often complain about, as follows:

1. Chest pain

Chest pain or angina is an early symptom of heart disease which is quite worrisome because it is chest pain and discomfort. Usually this symptom occurs when the heart muscles don't get enough oxygen-rich blood.

Signs of heart disease are almost found in common types of heart disease, such as coronary heart disease, heart muscle infection (myocarditis), heart lining infection (pericarditis), and damaged heart valves.

This pain can last for days or weeks. However, the severity of pain can vary depending on how much plaque has accumulated in the coronary arteries of the heart.

Chest pain usually occurs when the heart has to work harder, for example, when exercising or walking long distances. Therefore, exercise for heart disease patients must be adapted to their conditions.

So that you can distinguish chest pain due to heart disease from other medical conditions, pay attention to the following characteristics.

Happened over and over with the same sensation.
Depending on the severity, pain can be felt from 5 minutes to more than 10 minutes.
The pain can usually be relieved by rest or medication.
The pain can radiate down the neck to the arms or back with a cold sweat.
Usually the pain is described as a squeezing of the chest or a feeling of being under a heavy weight.

Symptoms of heart disease in women are described as discomfort, tightness and pressure, pain, numbness, or a burning sensation in the chest. These characteristics of heart disease are more common in women with coronary heart disease than men.

2. Irregular heartbeat

An irregular heartbeat is a very common symptom, but it can also signal an early symptom of heart disease. Many people who experience palpitations feel that their heartbeat stops briefly, but then resumes with a strong rhythm.

Most people who experience heart palpitations have arrhythmias or abnormal heartbeats. This depends on the type of arrhythmia you have.

If an irregular heartbeat does lead to heart disease, it will usually be accompanied by other characteristics. This includes symptoms of dizziness, chest pain, shortness of breath, until the body feels shaky.

3. Shortness of breath

Apart from occurring in lung disease, shortness of breath is a symptom that also often occurs as an early sign of heart disease. The reason is, the abnormal function of the heart organ can have an impact on the smooth flow of your blood. This poor blood flow will be prone to causing a lack of oxygen and triggering shortness of breath.

In heart failure patients, the symptoms will often appear while lying down. Sufferers can also wake up suddenly at night due to shortness of breath. In medical terms this condition is called paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea.

Other heart problems, such as heart valve disease and coronary heart disease, are also characterized by shortness of breath.

This characteristic of heart disease usually occurs together with chest pain. So it can be said that shortness of breath is one of the medical signs that cannot be taken lightly and requires immediate treatment from a doctor.

4. Dizziness

Dizziness is a condition that a person feels when he is attacked by sensations such as fainting, the head feels heavy (or even floats), body weakness, and blurred vision.

Sometimes dizziness is related to the early symptoms of heart disease. For example, heart arrhythmia, heart failure, coronary heart disease, and so on.

That is why, you are advised not to underestimate the dizziness you experience. Especially if this condition occurs for a long time. It's good to immediately do a follow-up examination with your doctor.

5. Sudden loss of consciousness

Source: Family Doctor

Sudden loss of consciousness or also known as fainting is one of the most common symptoms of heart disease. Usually, fainting does not indicate a serious medical problem.

However, in some conditions accompanied by the appearance of other abnormal symptoms, fainting can indicate a dangerous and threatening health condition for the body. So it's important to find out what caused your sudden loss of consciousness.

If the cause of these symptoms is heart disease, you should seek medical attention immediately.

6. Body limp

Limps is the body's inability to perform its normal functions and duties. People with this condition are encouraged to get plenty of sleep and rest to restore their energy.

However, under unusual conditions, fatigue can also be an early symptom of heart disease or indicate abnormalities in other organ systems.

Sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome, and insomnia can be some of the common risk factors and disorders that lead to heart disease. Just like dizziness, fatigue that occurs for a long time requires a medical examination to immediately determine the cause.

Symptoms of heart disease that need to be checked by a doctor immediately

Both men and women, if you experience one or more of the signs and symptoms of heart disease that have been mentioned above, do not take them for granted. Do not delay to immediately consult a doctor to make sure the condition is caused by cardiovascular disease or is caused by other conditions.

You should see a doctor immediately if you experience the following symptoms of heart disease:

Chest pain.
Hard to breathe.
Feelings of wanting to pass out or lose consciousness.

The sooner you receive medical care, the better your health will be. This will facilitate the handling and treatment process that you will later do.

Also identify the causes and risks of heart disease

Common causes of heart disease are blockage, inflammation, damage to the heart and surrounding blood vessels or abnormalities in the heart.

The blockage is usually caused by plaque in the blood vessels in the heart, which builds up, hardens, and ultimately narrows blood flow to the heart. While inflammation, it can be caused by a bacterial, viral, or fungal infection that can cause annoying symptoms and eventually damage the heart.

Inflammation, blockage, and damage to the heart can result from an accumulation of various risk factors, including:

1. Age

The risk of heart disease increases with age, in men after 45 years and women after 55 (or menopause).

As they age, the arteries may narrow and a build-up of plaque will occur. Blood clots that form can block blood flow in the arteries. This condition is what ultimately causes heart disease in elderly people.

2. Total cholesterol levels

Total cholesterol level (the amount of all cholesterol in the blood) is a risk factor for heart disease. Remember because cholesterol can form plaque that can build up in the arteries.

The more cholesterol in the blood, the more plaque is formed and builds up. So, it can be concluded that the higher the total cholesterol level, the higher the risk of heart disease. High cholesterol levels are usually marked in the range 240 mg / dL and above.

3. Smoking habits

Smoking can be a cause of increased risk of heart disease, in addition to triggering other health problems. The nicotine and other chemicals in cigarettes harm the heart and blood vessels, increasing the risk of atherosclerosis (narrowing of the arteries).

Heart disease patients who still smoke can pose a danger, in which symptoms get worse and become life-threatening. Fortunately, however much or how long you have been smoking, quitting smoking will benefit your heart.

4. The condition of hypertension or diabetes

Having hypertension or diabetes can be the cause of a person's high risk of heart disease. This is because hypertension (high blood pressure) can increase artery stiffness and plaque buildup.

The effect on the heart and blood vessels around the heart does not differ much in diabetes patients. Therefore, heart disease is touted as a complication of diabetes.

5. Gum disease

Gum disease can increase the risk of heart disease, not just causing problems with the mouth. The reason is because the bacteria in the gums can cause inflammation or swelling in the gum area, which can eventually spread to the arteries around the heart.

In addition, this disease also worsens blood pressure, allowing plaque to form in the arteries. This causes the arteries (blood vessels that carry blood from the heart) to become thickened due to plaque buildup (atherosclerosis). People with this heart disease usually experience symptoms of shortness of breath and chest pain.

6. Shoulder pain

You never would have thought that shoulder pain was one of the causes of an increased risk of heart disease.

A deep research Journal of Occupational and Environmental MedicinePeople who have risk factors for heart disease, including high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes, are more likely to experience shoulder pain or rotator cuff injury.

The relationship between the two is still uncertain, but researchers say that treating high blood pressure and other risk factors can also help relieve shoulder pain.

Previous research has also found that people with carpal tunnel syndrome, Achilles tendonitis, and tennis elbow also have an increased risk of heart disease.

7. Have gore

People who have thick blood have a higher risk of having a heart attack or stroke. Thick blood itself is blood containing more red blood cells.

Not only red blood cells, Harvard Health Publishing states that blood thickness (blood viscosity) is also influenced by high levels of fat in the blood and chronic inflammation in the body.

So you see, normal blood will flow smoothly through the blood vessels and up to the heart. This blood is likened to water flowing in a tube.

Meanwhile, thick blood runs the risk of flowing slower through the blood vessels and heart. In an analogy, this thick blood is like honey passing through a water hose.

When the slow blood flow moves, the risk of deposition increases. In the end, many lumps were formed.

8. Loneliness and stress

Feeling lonely is often associated with high blood pressure and other effects of stress. If not addressed, in the long run it will get worse, reduce overall health and can cause a high risk of heart disease.

Stress does not only occur due to loneliness, but can also arise due to frequent overtime. People who work at least 55 hours per week are more at risk of developing heart disease than people who work 35-40 hours per week.

Researchers explain working overtime makes a person spend more time at the office. This makes a person more stressed due to high work demands or exposure to noise and other chemicals.

9. Number of children owned

Women who are pregnant more than once or have many children have an increased risk of heart disease, including an increased risk of atrial fibrillation, also known as AF. This is a condition of an irregular heartbeat, which can lead to the formation of blood clots in the heart that lead to stroke, and other complications.

One study reported that women who were pregnant four times or more had a 30-50 percent increase in having AF compared with women who had never been pregnant.

During pregnancy, the heart gets bigger, the hormones are out of balance, and the immune system improves. This is considered to be a trigger for heart disease. However, further research is still needed to understand the relationship between the two.

10. Watch tv too long

There is nothing wrong with watching TV while resting and relaxing at home. However, watching TV for too long can be a cause of heart disease. If you are just hours in front of the TV snacking and in the same position, this can increase your risk of having heart disease.

The American Heart Association reports that standing still or sitting in the same position for long periods of time is a risk factor for heart attacks and strokes.

An inactive body is generally bad for your overall health, especially your heart. This makes you prone to blood clots.

On the other hand, when watching tv while overeating, you are more likely to choosejunk foodas a snack. It will also increase your risk for heart disease.