{"id":2982,"date":"2022-09-07T13:49:30","date_gmt":"2022-09-07T08:19:30","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.myhealthvectors.com\/?p=2982"},"modified":"2025-04-11T16:56:38","modified_gmt":"2025-04-11T11:26:38","slug":"all-you-need-to-know-heart-disease","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/all-you-need-to-know-heart-disease\/","title":{"rendered":"All you need to know- Heart Disease"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

What is heart disease?\u200b <\/strong>
Heart disease encompasses a wide range of cardiovascular\u00a0problems. Several diseases and conditions fall under the\u00a0umbrella of heart disease. Types of heart disease include:
Arrhythmia.<\/strong>\u00a0An\u00a0arrhythmia\u00a0is a heart rhythm abnormality.
Atherosclerosis.<\/strong>\u00a0Atherosclerosis\u00a0is a hardening of the arteries.
Cardiomyopathy.\u00a0<\/strong>This condition causes the heart\u2019s muscles\u00a0to\u00a0harden or grow weak.
Congenital heart defects.<\/strong>\u00a0Congenital heart defects\u00a0are heart\u00a0abnormalities that are present at birth.
Coronary artery disease (CAD).<\/strong>\u00a0CAD\u00a0is caused by the buildup of\u00a0plaque in the heart\u2019s arteries. It is also called ischemic heart\u00a0disease.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Clogged Arteries <\/strong> A buildup of sticky plaque (fat and cholesterol) can narrow your heart's arteries, making it harder for blood to pass through. \u200b
Many people don't even know there's a problem until an artery is clogged by a blood clot and they have a heart attack.\u00a0
But there may be warning signs of coronary artery disease, like frequent chest pain called angina.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"AThis pain of heart is unbearable<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What does a heart attack feel like? <\/strong>
The major symptoms of a heart attack are
Chest pain or discomfort.<\/strong>\u00a0Most heart attacks involve\u00a0discomfort in the center or left side of the chest that lasts for\u00a0more than a few minutes or that goes away and comes back.\u00a0The discomfort can feel like uncomfortable pressure,\u00a0squeezing, fullness, or pain.
Feeling weak, light-headed, or faint.<\/strong> You may also break out into a cold sweat.
Pain or discomfort in the jaw, neck, or back. <\/strong>
Pain or discomfort in one or both arms or shoulders. <\/strong>
Shortness of breath.<\/strong>\u00a0This often comes along with chest\u00a0discomfort, but shortness of breath also can happen before\u00a0chest discomfort.
Other symptoms of a heart attack could include unusual or\u00a0unexplained tiredness and nausea or vomiting.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Symptoms of heart attack in women <\/strong>
Symptoms of heart attack in women can include;
*Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes or goes away and comes back.
*Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.
*Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.
*Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.
*As with men, women\u2019s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience some of the other common symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea\/vomiting and back or jaw pain.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

\"An<\/p>\r\n\r\n

Act Fast <\/strong>
*If you think you're having a heart attack, get to an emergency right away, even if you're not sure.\u00a0
*Don't wait to see if you feel better.\u00a0
*And don't drive yourself to the hospital.\u00a0
*Call for an ambulance and the emergency medical team will come to you and start work right away.
*A fast response can save your life.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Irregular Heartbeat: Arrhythmia <\/strong>
*A heart arrhythmia (uh-RITH-me-uh) is an irregular heartbeat.\u00a0
*Heart rhythm problems (heart arrhythmias) occur when the electrical signals that coordinate the heart's beats don't work properly.\u00a0
*The faulty signaling causes the heart to beat too fast (tachycardia), too slow (bradycardia) or irregularly.
*They're often harmless and pass quickly, but some types can affect your blood flow and can kill a person in minutes if help is not provided.
*Tell your doctor if you notice anything unusual.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Heart Muscle Disease: Cardiomyopathy\u200b<\/strong>
Abnormal heart muscle, or\u00a0cardiomyopathy, makes it hard\u00a0to pump and carry blood to the\u00a0rest of your body.\u00a0
Over time, health problems such\u00a0as high blood pressure, obesity,\u00a0and diabetes can cause this\u00a0serious condition, which can\u00a0lead to heart failure<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Heart Failure<\/strong>
This doesn't mean your heart stops\u00a0working. It means the organ can't pump\u00a0enough blood to meet your body's needs.\u00a0
So over time, it gets bigger and pumps\u00a0faster.\u00a0
This weakens the muscle and lowers the\u00a0amount of blood flowing out even more,\u00a0which adds to the problem.\u00a0
Most cases of heart failure are the result\u00a0of coronary artery disease and heart\u00a0attacks.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Congenital Heart Defect <\/strong>
A congenital heart defect is\u00a0a problem\u00a0with the structure of the heart.
It is present at birth.\u00a0
Congenital heart defects are the most\u00a0common type of birth defect.\u00a0
The defects can involve the walls of the\u00a0heart, the valves of the heart, and the\u00a0arteries and veins near the heart.\u00a0
Not all need treatment, but some\u00a0require medicine or surgery.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Electrocardiogram (ECG) <\/strong>
An electrocardiogram (ECG) test is\u00a0a simple, painless procedure that\u00a0measures electrical signals in your\u00a0heart.\u00a0
Each time your heart beats, an\u00a0electrical signal travels through the\u00a0heart.\u00a0
An ECG can show if your heart is\u00a0beating at a normal rate and\u00a0strength.\u00a0
An abnormal ECG can be a sign of heart disease or damage.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cardiac Stress Test <\/strong>
A cardiac stress test shows how your\u00a0heart works during physical activity.\u00a0
It\u00a0can reveal problems with blood flow\u00a0within your heart.\u00a0
A stress test usually involves walking on\u00a0a treadmill or riding a stationary bike\u00a0while your heart rhythm, blood pressure\u00a0and breathing are monitored.\u00a0
Your doctor may recommend a stress test\u00a0if you have signs or symptoms of\u00a0coronary artery disease or an abnormal\u00a0heart rhythm (arrhythmia).<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Holter Monitor <\/strong>
The Holter monitor is a type of portable\u00a0electrocardiogram (ECG).\u00a0
It records the electrical activity of the heart\u00a0continuously over 24-48\u00a0 hours or longer while you are\u00a0away from the doctor's clinic or hospital
A standard or \"resting\" ECG is one of the simplest and\u00a0fastest tests used to evaluate the heart.\u00a0
Electrodes (small, plastic patches that stick to the skin)\u00a0are placed at certain points on the chest and\u00a0abdomen
The electrodes are connected to an ECG machine by\u00a0wires.\u00a0
Then, the electrical activity of the heart can be\u00a0measured, recorded, and printed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Chest X Ray <\/strong>
Chest x-ray uses a very small dose of ionizing radiation to produce pictures of the inside of the chest.
It is used to evaluate the lungs, heart and chest\u00a0wall and may be used to help diagnose\u00a0shortness of breath, persistent cough, fever,\u00a0chest pain or injury.\u00a0
It also may be used to help diagnose and\u00a0monitor treatment for a variety of lung\u00a0conditions such as pneumonia, emphysema and\u00a0cancer.\u00a0
Because chest x-ray is fast and easy, it is\u00a0particularly useful in emergency diagnosis and\u00a0treatment.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Echocardiography\u200b <\/strong>
Echocardiography is a test that uses sound waves to produce live images of your heart. This test allows your doctor to monitor how your heart and its valves are functioning.\u200b
The images can help them get information about the size of your heart, any clots in the chambers, any fluid around the heart, problems with the function of the heart valves etc.
An echocardiogram is key in determining the health of the heart\u00a0muscle, especially after a heart attack. It can also reveal heart\u00a0defects, or irregularities, in unborn babies.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cardiac CT <\/strong>
Cardiac computerized\u00a0tomography takes detailed X-rays of your heart and its\u00a0blood vessels.\u00a0
A computer then stacks the\u00a0images to create a 3-D\u00a0picture.\u00a0
Doctors use it to look for\u00a0buildups of plaque or calcium\u00a0in your coronary arteries, as\u00a0well as valve problems and\u00a0other types of heart disease.\u200b<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Cardiac Catheterization \/ Angiography <\/strong>
In this procedure, your doctor guides a narrow\u00a0tube, called a catheter, through a blood vessel in\u00a0your arm or leg until it reaches your heart.\u00a0
Your doctor can guide the catheter into the\u00a0coronary arteries and inject contrast dye to\u00a0check blood flow through them.
The picture shows any blockages and how bad\u00a0they are.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Living with Heart Disease <\/strong>
At first, symptoms can be hard to spot and\u00a0may not disturb your daily life.\u00a0
But left alone and ignored, they get worse.\u00a0
If your heart starts to fail, you might be\u00a0short of breath or feel tired. Keep an eye\u00a0out for swelling in your belly, ankles, feet,\u00a0or legs.\u00a0
In many cases, long-term treatment can\u00a0help keep things under control.\u00a0
You can fight heart failure with medication,\u00a0lifestyle changes, surgery, or a transplant.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n

\"An<\/p>\r\n

 <\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Medicines\u200b <\/strong>
It's\u00a0important to keep your appointments\u00a0with your doctor and any specialist\u00a0medical doctors.\u00a0
Medications can help your recovery and\u00a0reduce the risk of a serious heart event.\u00a0
Do not\u00a0vary or stop taking your\u00a0medication without consulting your\u00a0doctor.
Follow-up appointments are important so\u00a0your doctor can check your progress.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Angioplasty\u200b <\/strong>
Angioplasty is a procedure used to open blocked\u00a0coronary arteries caused by coronary artery disease.\u00a0
It restores blood flow to the heart muscle without\u00a0open-heart surgery
Angioplasty can be done in an emergency setting such\u00a0as a heart attack.
Your doctor guides a thin catheter with a balloon on\u00a0the end into your artery.\u00a0
When the balloon reaches the blockage, the doctor fills\u00a0it with air.\u00a0
This inflates your artery and allows blood to move\u00a0freely.\u00a0
They may also put in a small mesh tube called a stent\u00a0to keep it open.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Bypass\/ Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) surgery <\/strong>
Your doctor might suggest this\u00a0operation if you have one or more\u00a0arteries that are too narrow or\u00a0blocked.\u00a0
They first remove\u00a0a blood vessel from\u00a0an area of your body, such as your\u00a0chest, belly, legs, or arms, and then\u00a0attach\u00a0it to a healthy artery in your\u00a0heart.
Your blood is guided around the\u00a0problem area, \"bypassing\" it.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

Who gets heart disease? <\/strong>
Men are more likely to have a heart\u00a0attack than women, and at an earlier\u00a0age.\u00a0
But heart disease is still the No. 1\u00a0killer of both genders.\u00a0
People with a family history of it\u00a0also have a higher risk.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

What can you do to delay\/ avoid heart disease <\/strong>
These daily habits can lower your chances of heart\u00a0disease:
*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\u00a0your blood sugar levels. And if you have high\u00a0cholesterol and high blood pressure, do\u00a0everything you can to get them in check.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Disclaimer:\u00a0<\/strong>The advice\u00a0provided is intended for informational purpose\u00a0only\u00a0and\u00a0does\u00a0not\u00a0substitute\u00a0for professional medical\u00a0advice.\u00a0\u00a0Consult\u00a0with\u00a0your\u00a0doctor\u00a0if\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0seeking\u00a0medical advice, diagnoses,\u00a0or\u00a0treatment.\u200b<\/td>\r\n<\/tr>\r\n<\/tbody>\r\n<\/table>\r\n\r\n

 <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What is heart disease?\u200b Heart disease encompasses a wide range of cardiovascular\u00a0problems. Several diseases and conditions fall under the\u00a0umbrella of heart disease. Types of heart disease include: Arrhythmia.\u00a0An\u00a0arrhythmia\u00a0is a heart rhythm abnormality. Atherosclerosis.\u00a0Atherosclerosis\u00a0is a hardening of the arteries. Cardiomyopathy.\u00a0This condition causes the heart\u2019s muscles\u00a0to\u00a0harden or grow weak. Congenital heart defects.\u00a0Congenital heart defects\u00a0are heart\u00a0abnormalities that are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":5224,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2982","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2982"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6548,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2982\/revisions\/6548"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5224"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2982"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2982"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.healthvectors.ai\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2982"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}