HomeHealthHeart disease – Symptoms, causes, and risk factors
Heart disease – Symptoms, causes, and risk factors
Several diseases are included under the umbrella term of heart diseases and are also called cardiovascular diseases. They lead to the blood vessels becoming narrow or getting blocked, which, in turn, can result in a heart attack or stroke or cause pain in the chest. Other heart conditions affect the heart’s muscle, rhythm, or valve.
Symptoms The symptoms vary according to the condition diagnosed. The symptoms of common cardiovascular diseases are discussed below.
Symptoms of atherosclerotic disease
Pain in the chest or feeling a sense of tightness or discomfort in the area
Shortness of breath
Limbs feeling numb or severely cold if the blood vessels have narrowed in the area, as it affects blood circulation
Pain in the jaw, back, upper abdomen, or neck
Symptoms of abnormality in the heartbeat or arrhythmia
Fluttering sensation in the chest
Racing or slow heartbeat
Discomfort or pain in the chest
Feeling dizzy or fainting
Light-headedness
Symptoms of heart defects or related conditions
Skin color turning blue or pale gray
Abdominal swelling or swelling in the area surrounding the eyes
Shortness of breath while feedings in case of an infant
Symptoms of dilated cardiomyopathy
Breathlessness
Swelling in the legs, feet, and ankles
Feeling a sense of fatigue and dizziness
Irregular heartbeat
Symptoms related to heart infections
Fever
Shortness of breath
Feeling weak
Change in the heart rhythm
Persistent cough
Skin rashes
Causes The causes vary depending on the type of heart disease one is affected with. The common causes include an accumulation of fatty plaques in the arteries as a result of following an unhealthy diet and not being physically active, being overweight or obese, and smoking. Read on to learn more about the causes of commonly diagnosed heart diseases:
Heart arrhythmia This can be a result of heart defects since birth, high blood pressure or diabetes, smoking, excessive alcohol or caffeine intake, or stress. Additionally, certain medications and dietary supplements can also increase the risk.
Heart infection These may be caused by bacteria, parasites, or viruses.
Valvular heart disease Rheumatic fever and connective tissue disorders are among the most common causes.
Risk factors
Age With increasing age, the risk of developing narrow arteries or suffering damage to the arteries increases. As one grows older, the heart muscles also thicken up and can lead to heart diseases.
Family history If there is a history of people in one’s family suffering from heart-related diseases, there is a high chance that the individual may develop heart disease as well.
Radiation therapy or chemotherapy Undergoing radiation therapy or taking chemotherapy medications increases one’s risk of suffering from heart disease manifold.
High cholesterol High cholesterol levels add to the risk of the development of plaques in the arteries, which affect blood circulation and elevate the risk of stroke or heart attack.
High blood pressure High blood pressure leads to the arteries thickening up or hardening, which leads to the narrowing of the vessels through which the blood flows.
Poor hygiene Adhering to good hygiene standards is a must if one wants to stay away from heart diseases. Not washing hands properly before eating and maintaining poor oral hygiene can add to the risk of cardiovascular diseases, as they increase the chances of infections that can affect heart health.