Unveiling the Hidden Killers: Understanding the Types of Heart Disease
Heart Conditions
Do you know that there are a lot of heart conditions or heart problems? We call them heart disease. You need to have knowledge about heart conditions because it is very confusing and scary to be diagnosed with a heart disease. It can be very scary if you have never heard of it before.
Don’t worry. We help you to have a good understanding about heart conditions. In this section you will be able to find more information on heart problems and that will help you to feel less worried.
1. High Blood Pressure
What is high blood pressure? It is when the force of the blood flowing through your blood vessels is consistently too high, this also known as hypertension. Most people have to have a blood pressure below 140/90mmHg(or 130/80mmHg if you have diabetes). If a consistent blood pressure reading of 140/90mmHg or Higher is considered high blood pressure and requires medical attention.
Why should you be worried about High Blood Pressure? It is a sign that the heart and blood vessels are being overworked which in turn increases your risk of having heart attack or stroke. It can lead to other conditions such as heart failure, problems with vision and kidney failure.
What causes High blood pressure?
- Smoking
- Family history
- High intake salt in your diet
- High intake of alcohol
- Being overweight
What are the signs and symptoms of High blood pressure? This is sometimes called a “silent Killer” because there aren’t usually any symptoms and it can go Undiagnosed. You can have a regular check by a doctor or nurse to reduce the likelihood of having a heart attack or stroke.
2.Heart Failure
What is Heart Failure? This occurs when the heart is unable to pump blood around the body as well as it should. It doesn’t mean your heart stopped working, it means that the body is not getting the oxygen and nutrients that it needs to function normally. Because heart failure is a serious medical condition, following a medical treatment plan closely and making positive lifestyle changes can help you manage the condition.
What causes Heart Failure?
- Coronary heart disease
- Heart Attack
- High blood pressure
- Faulty heart valves
- Inherited heart problems
What are the symptoms of Heart Failure?
- Coughing/ Wheezing
- Extreme tiredness or no energy
- Loss of appetite
- Rapid heartbeat or palpitations
- Shortness of breath, even when lying down.
- Weight gain over a short period of time (>2kg over 2 days)
3. Heart Valve Disease
What is heart valve disease? It is when one or more of the valves in your heart become diseased or damaged, preventing them from opening or closing properly. This can affect the ability of your heart to pump blood effectively.
1 in 40 adults in the general population are affected and this rises to over 1 in 10 in those over the age of 75 years. Which means that heart valve disease is as common as heart failure.
What happens in your heart when you have heart valve disease? Diseased or damaged valves can affect the flow of blood in 2 ways.
- Valve stenosis :- Valve area can become narrowed, not opening fully and causing an obstruction or blockage to the flow of blood. Then your heart has to pump harder to force the blood past the narrowing.
- Valve regurgitation :- Allowing blood to flow backwards in the wrong direction. Then your heart has to pump harder to get the necessary amount of blood through your heart.
What causes Heart Valve Disease?
- A previous infection
- Rheumatic fever ( an inflammatory reaction on the heart valves that can occur after a “strep throat”)
- Cardiomyopathy - a disease of heart muscle which enlarges the heart chambers
- Damage to the heart muscle from coronary heart disease and a heart attack
- Ageing (wear and tear)
What are the symptoms of Heart Valve Disease? Sometimes heart valve disease will experience no symptoms for many years.
- Shortness of breath, particularly after physical activity or when lying down.
- Swelling of the ankles and feet
- Feeling excessively tired
- Dizziness or fainting
- Irregular heart beat
- Chest pain or tightness
4. Heart Attack
What is a Heart Attack? It is a life-threatening event that occurs when the coronary artery is suddenly blocked. Heart muscles don't get the oxygen it needs and become damaged, if it is not treated, the heart muscle will begin to die.
How to recognise a Heart Attack and Symptoms? This may vary from person to person. It is important to get treatment fast to limit damage to your heart.
- Pain & discomfort in your chest which means that it is being crushed or squeezed tightly.
- Spreading pain may spread to your left or right arm.
- Upper body pain also spreads to your neck, jaw, back or shoulders and you may have a choking feeling in your throat.
- Shortness of breath
- Anxiety
What are the risk factors for heart attack?
- High blood pressure
- High blood cholesterol
- Smoking
- Lack of Physical Activity
- Being Overweight/Obese
- Diabetes
5. ASCVD - Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease
What is ASCVD? It is an umbrella term used to describe a variety of cardiovascular diseases that are caused by buildup of fatty deposits in the lining of arterial walls resulting in blocked arteries. ASCVD is the outstanding reason behind heart attacks and strokes.
How does ASCVD affect the body? Many people do not experience any symptoms until the plaque in the arteries unexpectedly ruptures. If this happens, the damaged artery can begin to bleed, causing blood clots that travel to different parts of the body. Then this may lead to heart attack or stroke.
Supplements for Heart Health
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It is a high quality fish oil supplement that provides a source of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 fatty acid that is essential for brain, eye, and heart health.
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It is a dietary supplement, which stimulates nitric oxide, a compound involved in circulatory function.
- Support heart health by improving blood flow and reducing blood pressure.
- Support wound healing.
Magnesium supports hundreds of chemical reactions inside your body.
- Alleviate occasional Anxiety & stress
- Support heart health
- Support bone health
- Maintain cellular energy levels.
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Conclusion
Having a good knowledge about the heart conditions is a must. Heart conditions are a very critical disease. Do not waste time getting necessary treatments. A Healthy heart is viral for overall well-being and longevity.