Heart Disease:
Heart disease is a broad term used to describe a range of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels. These diseases vary according to how they occur; some of which are caused by a blockage in blood vessels, leading to a heart attack, angina, or stroke, while some affect the heart muscle, such as congestive heart failure.
Some types of heart diseases:
Arteriosclerosis
Coronary artery disease
Angina
Heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Cardiomyopathy
Myocarditis
Congestive heart failure
Heart failure
Arrhythmias
Stroke
Causes: The causes of heart diseases differ depending on the type of it.
Symptoms: The symptoms of heart diseases differ depending on the type of it. For example:
Cardiovascular diseases:
Chest pain
Severe shortness of breath
Cold limbs
Weakness and fatigue
Irregular heartbeat:
Palpitations or slow heart rate
Chest pain
Shortness of breath
Dizziness
Enlarged heart:
Shortness of breath, whether with or without effort
Leg and foot swelling
Fatigue
Myocarditis:
High temperature
Breathing difficulty
Stress
Rash
Symptoms of heart attack or stroke:
Discomfort or pain in the center of the chest, between the breasts or behind the breastbone.
This discomfort can spread to other areas, such as back, neck, jaw, or stomach.
Shortness of breath.
Fatigue, anxiety, tension, indigestion, nausea, or vomiting.
Sudden weakness of the arm, face, or leg, often one side of the body.
Sudden trouble in walking, dizziness, loss of balance.
Severe headache with no known cause.
Warning: If you experience such symptoms rush to the Emergency Room to avoid complications.
Heart disease risk factors:
Age
Sex; Men are also much more prone to heart problems than women
Family medical history
Smoking
Diet rich in salt and/or saturated fat
High blood pressure
Diabetes
High cholesterol
Obesity
Lack of physical activity
Nervous tension
Diagnosis
Blood tests
Chest X-ray
Electrocardiogram (ECG)
Echocardiogram
Cardiac catheterization
Myocardial biopsy
Computed tomography (CT scan) of the heart
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
Treatment: Heart disease treatment depends on the type of the disease and its causes. Generally, the treatment plan includes:
A better way of life for patients
Medications according to the type of disease
Surgical intervention, if necessary
Prevention: Heart diseases are preventable by improving lifestyle:
Quitting smoking
Controlling blood pressure
Controlling diabetes
Following-up with cholesterol levels
Maintaining an ideal weight
Eating healthy
Exercising
Keeping tensions away
Reference: Ministry of Health.
Date of access: 29.04.2022
Comments