Heart Diseases Causes and Symptoms to Watch Out For!

How can you tell if you have Heart disease? What are the signs, symptoms, and causes of heart disease?

The AHA estimates that more than 785,000 Americans die of heart disease each year. The condition can lead to serious complications such as stroke and heart attack.

If you notice any heart diseases causes and symptoms, don’t ignore them – see your doctor right away to figure out what’s wrong!

This post discusses the most common triggers, symptoms and tips to manage heart diseases.

What is Heart Disease?

Heart disease is an umbrella term that refers to any problem with your heart muscle or blood vessels. It can be caused by diseases, such as coronary artery disease, or by injuries like a heart attack or rheumatic fever.

Different Kinds of Heart Diseases Causes and Symptoms

There are several different kinds of` heart disease—the most common include

1. High blood pressure

This is the most common cardiovascular disease, affecting about one in three adults in the United States. It can raise your risk for heart attack, stroke, and other conditions.

2. Valvular heart disease. 

Valves that are not properly formed or damaged by disease can cause blood to leak backward through them. This may cause a heart murmur or other symptoms.

3. Cardiomyopathy

This condition causes the heart muscle to become enlarged and stiff, reducing its ability to pump blood through the body effectively.

Cardiomyopathy is often inherited but can also be caused by high levels of alcohol consumption or exposure to toxins such as carbon monoxide or heavy metals such as lead.

4. Atrial fibrillation (AFib). 

AFib is a type of irregular heartbeat that occurs when electrical impulses in the heart go awry and begin firing out of sync with one another. This causes the upper chambers of your heart (the atria) to contract at an irregular rate instead of beating together in a coordinated fashion as they normally do.

The result is that instead of pumping blood smoothly from chamber to chamber, your heart begins beating chaotically.

5. Arrhythmias

These are abnormal heart rhythms that can cause irregular and fast beating or a slow heart rate. Some arrhythmias are harmless, but others can be life-threatening.

6. Congestive heart failure (CHF). 

This occurs when the heart cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs, causing fluid to build up in the lungs, ankles, or legs. CHF can lead to shortness of breath, fatigue and swelling in the extremities.

7. Coronary artery disease (CAD). 

CAD is the narrowing of the arteries that supply blood to your heart muscle. The condition often causes chest pain during physical activity or stress.

8. Heart attack (myocardial infarction). 

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to part of your heart muscle is suddenly blocked by a clot or plaque rupture, which results in permanent damage to the area supplied by the blocked artery.

Heart Diseases Causes and Symptoms: What Causes Heart Diseases?

As you might have suspected, there are many different causes of heart disease– and they include:

1. Smoking

Smoking is one of the most important risk factors for heart disease. Tobacco smoke contains carbon monoxide and many other substances that can damage your heart and blood vessels.

2. High blood pressure (hypertension). 

High blood pressure increases the force on your artery walls, which may lead to atherosclerosis and an increased risk of heart attack or stroke.

3. Obesity and lack of exercise. 

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of developing heart disease. Weight loss improves blood fats and decreases blood pressure, both of which reduce the risk of heart disease.

Regular physical activity reduces the risk of heart disease in people who are overweight or obese, but it also helps prevent weight gain in people who are not overweight or obese

4. Diabetes mellitus (diabetes). 

People with diabetes have a higher risk of coronary artery disease than do people without diabetes because they have high levels of sugar (glucose) in their blood due to poor control of their blood sugar levels over time.

5. Genetic predispositions

Genetic predispositions is one of the most common causes of heart disease.

Yes, heart disease can also be hereditary. So if you have family members with heart disease, you may be at an increased risk as well.

A combination of several factors may also influence whether or not you’ll develop heart disease; for example, if your mom has it and you smoke in your 30s, you could be at a much higher risk than someone whose parents don’t have it but who smokes regularly.

6. Cholesterol problems (high LDL cholesterol, low HDL cholesterol)

When there’s too much LDL cholesterol in the blood, it can build up in the walls of arteries and cause them to become narrowed and stiffer over time.

This makes it harder for blood to flow through them — especially during exercise when your heart needs more oxygen-rich blood to keep working properly.

A high level of LDL cholesterol isn’t always bad news if it’s accompanied by a high level of HDL cholesterol — this ratio is an important indicator of heart health. If you have high levels of both LDL and HDL cholesterol, your risk for heart disease is less than someone with just one high number.

Fortunately, there are many signs you can watch out for to help detect heart disease early on. Read on to discover more about heart diseases causes and symptoms.

8 Warning Signs You May Have Heart Disease

Heart disease affects millions of people worldwide, but heart attacks can often be subtle. The good news is that there are some warning signs you should look out for, which could help save your life. Here are some signs you may have heart disease.

1. Chest Pain 

If you experience any chest pain or discomfort, even if it feels like indigestion or heartburn, seek medical attention immediately. Chest pain could be a sign of heart disease, including angina (chest pain caused by inadequate blood flow) or a heart attack (also known as myocardial infarction).

2. Shortness of Breath 

If you’re having trouble breathing because your lungs aren’t getting enough oxygen, it’s important to see a doctor right away. Your doctor will need to determine whether it’s heart-related shortness of breath or not—and get you started on treatment right away if it is.

3. Unexplained Weight Loss 

Weight loss isn’t always something to worry about. However, unexplained weight loss in combination with other symptoms such as fatigue and changes in mood could indicate heart disease.

4. Fatigue 

Heart disease makes it harder for your heart to pump blood throughout your body, so when you exercise or do other activities that require extra effort from your heart, you might feel tired more quickly than usual.

5. Dizziness/Fainting 

Dizziness or fainting spells can also be an indication of heart problems; if they happen without an obvious cause (such as standing up too quickly), talk with your doctor about what might be causing them and how they can be treated.

6. Changes in Mood 

Heart disease can affect your mental health, leading to depression or anxiety. If you notice yourself feeling unusually sad or anxious, make sure to tell your doctor about it.

7. Changes in Vision 

Changes in vision, such as blurry vision or seeing spots before your eyes, could mean heart disease is affecting your optic nerve.

8. Difficulty Breathing 

When you have heart failure, fluid builds up around your heart and causes difficulty breathing due to swelling of the lung tissue surrounding the heart muscle itself.

Heart Diseases Causes and Symptoms: Symptoms of Heart Disease: 

• Chest pain or shortness of breath;
• Calf pain that worsens while walking;
• Leg swelling
• Unusual fatigue/tiredness;
• Purple toes/fingers;
• Sudden weight gain/swelling around waistline;
• An arm injury that doesn’t heal.

Some of these symptoms can be associated with other problems.

Your doctor may conduct blood tests and imaging studies like ultrasounds to diagnose heart disease causes and symptoms that may be associated with different disorders, not just heart disease (e.g., angina).

Talk with your healthcare provider for more information about how you should manage your condition.

6 Ways to Lower Your Risk

While there’s no guarantee you won’t get heart disease, by taking some practical steps to lower your risk, you can greatly reduce your chances.

We’ve outlined seven ways that are simple, effective ways to cut back on high-risk behaviors like smoking and overeating.

Consider making lifestyle changes if you want to lower your risk of developing heart disease.  Here are seven ways to lower risks:

1. Monitor your blood pressure

Your heart’s muscle activity determines your blood pressure. Checking yours regularly is a good way to identify problems early. If you notice a deviation from the normal, discuss it with your doctor so you can start taking corrective measures.

2. Manage your diabetes

Diabetes is a risk factor for heart disease. If you have diabetes, managing it correctly can reduce your chances of developing heart disease.

3. Maintain a healthy weight

Maintaining a healthy weight is important, as too much weight puts an added strain on your heart. Try eating right, taking part in physical activity, or using medication if you need help with maintaining a healthy weight.

4. Get flu/pneumonia vaccinations

Although they’re not necessary for lowering risks, getting vaccinations against influenza (flu) and pneumonia every year may also lower your chances of developing heart disease by reducing inflammation.

5. Consider cardiac-friendly exercises.

Try establishing routines that include cardiovascular activity as well: some moderate exercise every day can do wonders for your health! It may seem hard at first but with time you’ll get into it!

6. Quit smoking cigarettes. 

Smoking is linked to an increased risk of cardiac-related health problems. If you quit cigarettes, you may reduce its deadly effects and minimize heart disease risks.

Heart Disease Diagnosis: Heart Diseases Causes and Symptoms

If you are over 40 years old, have any of these symptoms (angina, chest pain), or if you’ve been told that you have heart disease risk factors (family history of heart disease, smoking, high blood pressure), see your doctor right away.

If you are diagnosed with heart disease, start taking action immediately. Identifying and addressing risk factors is critical in preventing a first heart attack or stroke.

Also important is finding ways to prevent future attacks or strokes. If you have symptoms of heart disease that seem unusual for your age, see your doctor right away. A doctor will want to rule out other possible causes of chest pain (such as indigestion) before making a diagnosis of heart disease.

How doctors check for heart disease

An electrocardiogram, stress test, and coronary angiography can all be used to diagnose coronary artery disease. While coronary angiography provides an X-ray image of your arteries allowing doctors to evaluate blockages, stress tests measure how well your heart works during exercise.

An electrocardiogram records electrical activity from different parts of your heart during exercise so that doctors can assess the damage caused by blood clots or excessive calcium buildup.

The most common type of heart attack is an ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI). STEMI causes severe chest pain due to a lack of oxygen reaching your heart muscle.

It occurs when there is a complete blockage in one or more of your coronary arteries. The symptoms are usually sudden and intense with a feeling like you are having a heart attack.

However, unlike a typical heart attack, which occurs without warning, STEMI patients often have premonitory symptoms such as fatigue, shortness of breath, and pain in other areas besides their chest (such as their jaw or back).

If you experience these symptoms along with severe chest pain it could mean you are having a STEMI.

Heart Disease Complications

Many heart-related complications can affect how you live. While there isn’t a cure for most forms of heart disease, you can take steps to lower your risk of developing it in the first place.

Your health condition, treatments, and any adjustments you make because of your condition can have an impact on other areas of your life too.

The good news is that these challenges don’t have to limit your lifestyle or change who you are. Doctors, caregivers, family members, and friends can help you adjust to new challenges so that a heart disease diagnosis doesn’t mean a different life—it just means having one that’s healthier.

Here are some ways people affected by heart disease manage their conditions.

Dealing with heart disease complications

Managing heart disease usually includes lifestyle changes, treatment of conditions that lead to cardiac illnesses, such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and medications to control symptoms.

Also, eating right, staying active, and maintaining a healthy weight may not only improve your overall health but also reduce your risk for coronary artery disease (CAD).

When it comes to preventing CAD, here are five steps to keep in mind:

(1) Eat healthy foods—fruits, vegetables, whole grains and fish instead of red meat—and exercise regularly. Regular physical activity may lower your blood pressure slightly.

(2) Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day;

(3) Control blood pressure; Always monitor your blood pressure and discuss deviations with your doctor.

4) Avoid tobacco products. If you smoke, you can reduce your risk of heart attack or stroke by quitting.

(5) Maintain a healthy weight. If you’re overweight or obese, losing even a few pounds can help lower your blood pressure or prevent diabetes.

(6) Use medication (as prescribed by a doctor) to manage your condition.

And remember: To help lower your risk for CAD as much as possible, make sure these habits become part of your daily routine.

Managing Heart Diseases Causes and Symptoms With Medications

Medications can help manage heart disease.

Some medications can help you to:

• Reduce blood pressure and cholesterol levels
• Stop or slow the progression of coronary artery disease
• Prevent angina and heart attacks
• Reduce the risk of stroke in people with heart disease
• Control diabetes, which increases the risk of heart disease
• Other medications are used to treat the symptoms of heart failure or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia).

If you have heart disease, it’s important to take any medication as prescribed. If you don’t take your medicine as directed, it may not work as well — or even make things worse.

Some medications have side effects that may make it difficult for you to live your daily life. You may need to make changes in how you eat and exercise to reduce some of these side effects. But if the benefits outweigh the risks, ask your doctor about other possible options for treating your condition.

Antihypertensive drugs

Antihypertensive drugs lower blood pressure by blocking the action of certain chemicals in your body that cause blood vessels to tighten and constrict when you stand up (orthostatic hypotension).

Lowering high blood pressure reduces stress on your arteries, which decreases the risk of developing atherosclerosis and its complications such as heart attack and stroke.

Your doctor may prescribe one or more different types of antihypertensive medications depending on your individual needs.

Heart Diseases Facts & Stats

• heart disease is one of the leading causes of death in America
• 75% of Americans will have some form of heart disease by age 70
• Over 300,000 Americans die from heart disease every year
• Women are just as susceptible to heart disease as men are
• CPR training  through online BLS courses can help save more heart attack and sudden cardiac arrest victims.

And did you know that it’s often a silent killer, with symptoms appearing long after serious damage has been done? If any of these statistics about heart disease sound familiar, perhaps it’s time for a checkup.

Heart Disease Can Take a Toll on Your Normal Life

To find out how heart disease affects your normal life, WebMD asked two women who’ve battled heart problems:

Gina Pincus’s story

Gina Pincus, 59, of Charlotte, North Carolina, has had several heart attacks and had open-heart surgery for a valve replacement. She also has diabetes. She says she knows what it’s like to live with heart disease every day because she is closely monitored by her cardiologist and endocrinologist.

Her husband, who had never had any health problems before he retired from his job as an accountant three years ago, was diagnosed with congestive heart failure six months ago.

He takes medication and goes to physical therapy three times a week at his local hospital’s cardiac rehabilitation program — but his condition still limits him in many ways: “We can’t go on long walks together anymore,” Pincus says

Tamika’s story

“I’m a 46-year-old female with a family history of heart disease,” says Tamika. “My father had a triple bypass when I was 10 years old, and my mother had one at age 47. I have been told that I have an enlarged heart valve, which causes my heart to beat faster than it should.”

Tamika has been diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse, which is when the valves inside the heart don’t close properly. The condition can cause shortness of breath and fatigue.

“I feel like my chest hurts all the time,” she says. “It’s hard for me to get through my day without stopping several times to rest.”

Tamika is trying to manage her symptoms by taking medication — but she’s still having trouble doing things like walking upstairs or going on long walks with her family.

“I feel like a burden on my family because they’re always worrying about me,” she says. “They tell me not to worry about anything anymore because they’ll take care of everything.”

Last Word on Heart Diseases Causes and Symptoms

“Heart disease can range from an irregular heartbeat to congestive heart failure,” says Dr. William Cooper, director of the cardiovascular research center at Vanderbilt University School of Medicine in Nashville. “It can be silent or symptomatic.”

If you have heart disease, you may have trouble with daily activities like walking upstairs or carrying groceries — but you can still live a normal life. It all depends on your specific condition and treatment plan.

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