Features of Heart Disease to Pay Attention to

INFONAS.ID|LIFE STYLE - It is important that you know the characteristics of heart disease. The reason is that this disease can strike anyone and sometimes cause no symptoms at all.

By knowing the characteristics of heart disease, treatment can be taken immediately before it causes life-threatening complications.

Heart disease is a condition in which the heart is weakened and doesn't work properly.

These disorders can be different and are treated in different ways. The characteristics of heart diseases are generally almost the same, although the types of diseases are different.

Characteristics of heart disease by type

Here are some types of heart disease and their accompanying signs and symptoms:

1. Heart attack

A heart attack occurs when blood flow to the heart muscle is obstructed by plaque or blockage in the heart's blood vessels. This condition disrupts the heart's function to circulate blood throughout the body.

A person with this condition will exhibit several signs of heart disease, such as:

A. Chest and arm pain spreading to the neck, jaw, shoulders and back

B. Dizziness, Nausea and Vomiting

C. Difficulty breathing

D. Pain in the upper abdomen or the solar plexus

E. Upper abdomen full or uncomfortable

F. lame

G. Cold sweat

H. Heart beats faster or pounding

Symptoms and severity can vary from person to person, and some may even be asymptomatic (undetected myocardial infarction).

However, the more signs of heart disease you have, the more likely you are to have a heart attack.

2. Coronary artery disease

Coronary artery disease occurs when the blood vessels that supply blood to the heart are blocked by plaque buildup or atherosclerosis.

Coronary heart disease is often characterized by discomfort, pain, or a feeling of pressure in the chest. In addition, coronary artery disease can also cause some other signs of heart disease, such as:

A. Weakness and dizziness

B. Cold sweat

C. Nausea

D. Difficulty breathing

3. Arrhythmia

Arrhythmia occurs when there is an disturbance in the heart rhythm. This condition causes the heart to beat irregularly, too slowly, or so fast that it cannot pump blood properly.

Arrhythmias are often accompanied by the following signs of heart disease:

A. Heart palpitations or palpitations

B. Chest pain

C. Dizziness

D. lame

E. Difficulty breathing

F. Loss of consciousness or fainting

4. Atrial fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is a type of arrhythmia that is characterized by a faster-than-normal heart rate.

A normal heart rate is 60 to 100 beats per minute. Meanwhile, in atrial fibrillation, the heart rate is above 100 beats/min.

Like a heart attack, atrial fibrillation is sometimes asymptomatic. However, there are some signs of heart disease or symptoms of atrial fibrillation that are common, including:

A. Heartbeat

B. Shortness of breath during normal activities

C. Sudden weakness and dizziness

Although not dangerous, atrial fibrillation still needs to be treated properly. The reason is that in addition to being uncomfortable for the sufferer, this heart disease can also lead to complications in the form of stroke and even heart failure.

5. Heart failure

Heart failure is a condition in which the heart cannot pump blood around the body smoothly. High blood pressure and coronary heart disease can weaken the heart muscle and lead to heart failure.

Heart failure symptoms can get worse over time or come on suddenly. Here are the symptoms of heart failure:

A. Shortness of breath when resting or lying down

B. Persistent cough, worse at night

C. Swelling in the abdomen

D. Dizzy

E. Tired and soft

F. Difficulty concentrating

G. Reduced appetite

6. Pericarditis

Pericarditis is an inflammation of the pericardium, the membrane that covers and protects the heart. This condition can be caused by viral, bacterial, and fungal infections or autoimmune diseases.

Pericarditis is often characterized by symptoms of fever, arrhythmia, weakness, and sharp or stabbing pain in the chest. The pain gets worse when the patient inhales, coughs, or lies down. If not treated immediately, pericarditis can lead to death.

7. Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy refers to disorders of the heart muscle known as heart failure. This condition causes thickening, enlargement, or stiffness of the heart muscle.

Some people with cardiomyopathy have no symptoms and can lead normal lives. However, many of them also develop symptoms that get worse as heart function declines. This condition has the following signs of heart disease:

A. Shortness of breath

B. Tired

C. Palpitations

D. Swelling in arms or ankles

E. Weak

8. Heart valve disease

The heart has four valves that work to maintain blood flow to and from the heart. However, in people with heart valve disease, one or more valves are damaged or altered.

As a result, the valves cannot open and close properly, disrupting the heart's pumping function. If the heart valves are dysfunctional, the affected person will show signs of heart disease in the form of:

A. Chest pain

B. Shortness of breath, especially with exertion or when lying down

C. Weakness and dizziness

D. Palpitations

How to diagnose heart disease?

To find out if the symptoms you're experiencing are signs of heart disease, seek immediate medical attention. This is especially important if you have risk factors for heart disease, such as being overweight and high blood pressure.

To determine the diagnosis and type of heart disease a patient has, the doctor will perform a physical exam and do additional tests, such as:

A. Electrocardiogram (ECG)

B. X-ray of the lungs

C. Echocardiography

D. Angiography

E. Heart enzyme test

To prevent heart disease, it is advisable to adopt a healthy lifestyle by consuming nutritious foods, limiting your fat and salt intake, quitting smoking, exercising regularly, and managing stress well.

If you have risk factors for heart disease or feel signs of heart disease, see your doctor for an examination and appropriate treatment.

Reviewed by : dr. Sienny Agustin

Editor: Fito