The heart is the body's blood pump and the "maestro" of the work of the organs. The appearance of any symptom of heart disease hinders its work and neglecting it threatens life.
What are the symptoms of heart disease?
And how to prevent it?
Doctors stress the need not to neglect any symptom of heart disease when it appears. Despite the advances in medicine and treatment methods, heart disease is still the leading cause of death worldwide.
Heart disease is the number one cause of death globally
In 2019, the average lifespan of a person increased by 6 years more than it was in 2000. In the past 20 years, the average lifespan of a person has increased from approximately 67 to 73 years.
But on average, people are healthy in just 5 of those extra years.
For the World Health Organization, heart disease, diabetes, stroke, lung cancer and COPD combined account for an additional 100 million years of healthy life lost in 2019 compared to 2000.
The high number of deaths from heart disease
According to the World Health Organization, heart disease remains the leading cause of death globally, accounting for 16% of all deaths from all causes.
It kills more people today than ever before, with the number of deaths from heart disease rising by more than 2 million since 2000, reaching nearly 9 million in 2019.
More than half of the additional deaths (2 million) were concentrated in the Western Pacific Region.
Conversely, Europe has seen a relative decline in heart disease, with deaths from heart disease dropping by 15%.
Thus, early detection of heart disease symptoms is necessary to avoid exacerbation of the disease and its seriousness, up to death.
Before talking about the symptoms of heart disease, it is necessary to know the function of the heart in the human body.
What is the heart?
The heart is a muscular organ, located in the rib cage slightly to the left, behind the sternum.
The length of the adult human heart ranges between 10-15 cm (usually 12-13 cm). A woman's heart weighs between 250-300 grams, and a man's heart weighs between 300-350 grams.
The heart pumps about 7,600 liters of blood per day (5 to 30 liters per minute) through blood vessels up to 100,000 km in length.
The heart consists of two parts, left and right, with a thick wall between them. Each segment contains two chambers, the atria, and the ventricle, which are connected by a valve.
What is the function of the heart?
The heart acts as a pump that pushes blood throughout the body, thanks to its regular contractions and contractions, which ensure that the whole body is supplied with oxygen.
The heart has 4 valves, located between the atria and the ventricles on the one hand, and at the exit of the ventricles on the other hand. The closing and opening of the valves result in the sound known as the heartbeat.
During each beat the heart contracts and relaxes. First, the atria contract and push blood into the ventricles, which send blood to the aorta and pulmonary artery.
The human heart never stops working. But sometimes it rests during the moment of relaxation between two contractions, and the duration of one pulse is 0.4 part of a second.
Regulating the work of the heart
The work of the heart regulates the endocrine system and the nervous system. The nervous system increases or decreases the number and strength of impulses, and this is what the endocrine glands do when sadness, joy, or nervous shock.
Heart cells do not regenerate, meaning that the muscle tissue of the heart is not regenerative after any part of it is damaged. Thus it is necessary to preserve the heart.
To maintain the heart and for the heart to function properly and well, it must be provided with the necessary materials to nourish it, especially those that contain magnesium and potassium, which are essential for the heart and blood vessels.
When measuring blood pressure, two numbers appear that reflect the boundaries between the largest and smallest amount of blood pressure during each heartbeat.
The larger number is the upper limit of the pressure, and the smaller number is the lower limit, that is when the heart muscle is relaxed.
Heart and circulatory system
Deoxygenated (deoxygenated) blood comes from all parts of the body, into the right atrium, which contracts, and out into the right ventricle.
The valve between these two parts is closed. The right ventricle contracts and pumps blood into the pulmonary trunk.
The valve at the base of the pulmonary trunk closes. The blood is sent to the lungs where it is enriched with oxygen.
Oxygenated blood from the lungs is collected by the left atrium, which contracts and pushes the blood into the left ventricle.
The valve between these two parts is closed. The left ventricle contracts and pumps blood into the aorta. The valve at the beginning of the aorta closes. To distribute blood to all parts of the body.
The coronary arteries, fed by the aorta, ensure the heart's supply of oxygenated blood.
Cardiac contractions occur in parallel in the right and left parts of the heart.
Heart disease symptoms?
Not all heart problems are accompanied by obvious warning signs. Even some heart disease symptoms do not occur in the chest, and it is not always easy to find out what causes them.
Charles Chambers, director of the Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory at Penn State Institute, says, "If a person is not sure of the cause of these symptoms, they should consult a doctor immediately."
"The more risk factors a person has, the greater the concern that any symptom is heart-related," says American Heart Association spokesman Dr. Vincent Bufalino.
and risk factors, mainly in 60-year-olds And above, are overweight, diabetes, high cholesterol, or high blood pressure.
What are the symptoms of heart disease?
Symptoms of heart disease are multiple and sometimes misleading, and they are:
1. Discomfort and pain in the chest
It is the most common symptom of heart disease. If you have a blocked artery or have had a heart attack, you may feel pain, tightness, or pressure in your chest.
"Everyone has a different word for this feeling," Chambers says. "Some people say it's like an elephant perching on their chest. Others say it's like a pinch or a fire."
The feeling usually lasts for more than a few minutes. It may occur while resting or during physical exertion.
If the period of pain is very short and transient, or if the pain occurs after touching or pressing on that area, it may not be a symptom of heart disease, Chambers says.
If the pain is more severe and lasts more than a few minutes, then you should call an emergency ambulance service.
warning:
You can have heart problems, even a heart attack, without chest pain. This situation is particularly common among women.
2. Discomfort in the digestive system:
Nausea, indigestion, heartburn, and stomach pain are symptoms of heart disease, and some people may experience these symptoms during a heart attack. Some people vomit sometimes.
These types of heart disease symptoms are more likely to occur in women than in men.
Of course, these symptoms may be caused by stomach upsets for many reasons, such as eating improper food, and they have nothing to do with the heart.
But beware of it because it can also happen during a heart attack.
So if you have these symptoms and are at risk of heart disease, let your doctor find out what's going on, especially if you have one of the other heart disease symptoms on this list.
3. Pain in the arm and shoulder
A classic symptom of heart disease and a heart attack is pain that spreads down the left side of the arm. The pain always begins in the chest and moves outward toward the shoulder.
4. Vertigo or dizziness
Many things can cause you to lose balance or faint for a moment, such as being hungry, deficient in certain vitamins, or standing up too quickly.
But if you suddenly feel unsteady and also have chest tightness or shortness of breath, contact your doctor immediately.
Because that means the blood pressure is down because the heart is not able to pump in the right way.
5. Throat or jaw pain
Throat or jaw pain may not be a symptom of heart disease. Sometimes it is caused by a problem in the jaw muscles or a symptom of a cold, a cold, or a sinus problem.
But if pain or pressure develops in the center of the chest and reaches the throat or jaw, it could be a sign of a heart attack. Medical attention should be sought immediately to ensure that all is well.
6. Sudden and rapid fatigue
If you suddenly feel tired or after doing a little or usual effort that was not a problem before, you should contact your doctor immediately. Because this fatigue may be a symptom of heart disease.
These kinds of changes are more important to doctors than any small aches and pains the patient may feel.
Extreme tiredness or unexplained weakness, sometimes for days, can be a symptom of heart disease, especially in women.
7. Sweating
Cold sweats for no apparent reason may be a symptom of heart disease and indicate a heart attack. If this occurs with any of the other symptoms, call 911 immediately. If you feel this symptom while driving, you must stop driving immediately and call an ambulance.
8. A cough that doesn't stop
In most cases, this is not a sign of a heart problem. But if you have heart disease or know you're at risk, be especially aware of this possibility.
If the cough is prolonged and produces white or pink mucus, this could be a symptom of heart disease, specifically heart failure.
This happens when the heart can't keep up with the body's demands, causing blood to leak into the lungs.
When this type of cough, you should consult a doctor immediately to verify the cause of the cough.
9. Swollen feet and ankles
Swollen feet and ankles may be a symptom of heart disease, and it occurs when the heart cannot pump blood effectively.
When the heart can't pump blood as quickly as it should, the blood backs up in the veins and causes swelling.
Heart failure can also hinder the kidneys from removing excess water and sodium from the body, causing water retention and thus bloating.
10. Irregular heartbeat
It is normal for the heartbeat to accelerate when nervous or excited, but if the heartbeat occurs, for no reason, for more than a few seconds, or if it is frequent, a doctor must be consulted immediately.
In most cases, this acceleration is caused by too much caffeine or too little sleep, for example.
But sometimes, it can be a symptom of heart disease, a condition called atrial fibrillation that needs treatment.
What is a heart attack?
When one or more symptoms of heart disease appear and are exacerbated by not treating it or not adhering to the instructions of the attending physician, a heart attack occurs, which is also called a myocardial infarction.
A heart attack is a very urgent and life-threatening condition that requires emergency assistance.
How does a heart attack happen?
A heart attack, or myocardial infarction, occurs due to a blockage in the coronary artery that supplies the heart with blood and therefore oxygen. Because it is deprived of oxygen, Heart muscle cell death.
This leads to problems with the contraction of the heart muscle, which manifests itself in arrhythmias, heart failure, and even heart failure.
The only solution is to open the artery blockage (a tilt or catheter) as soon as these symptoms appear.
Rapid intervention reduces mortality and complications associated with myocardial infarction.
What is the difference between heart attack and cardiac arrest?
A heart attack does not necessarily occur when a heart attack occurs, and a heart attack does not always lead to cardiac arrest.
The consequences of myocardial infarction are, more or less serious, depending on the extent of damage to the strangulated area and the speed of the heart's pumping rate.
If the damage is very severe or severe, the heart may stop beating immediately, because the muscles are no longer filled with blood. Cardiac arrest can then occur.
Symptoms of heart disease in women
About half of women under the age of 60 who have had a heart attack do not have the typical symptoms of heart disease, such as chest pain that radiates to the left arm and jaw.
Women are rather affected by 3 atypical symptoms of heart disease:
1 Feeling tired
2 Shortness of breath on exertion
3 Nausea.
Women should monitor their health, especially if there is at least one risk factor for cardiovascular diseases, such as:
Smoking, psychological stress, stress, depression, cholesterol, high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, and other factors.
Why do women recover from a heart attack so hard?
Women tend to underestimate their pain and are often in denial about their heart disease symptoms, which is a real waste of luck.
It is not easy for women to recover from a heart attack. Because the arteries of women are finer and more fragile than the arteries of men.
Why is the incidence of heart attacks increasing among young women?
Before menopause, women are 4 times less likely to have a heart attack than men. However, the proportion of young women today who are victims of myocardial infarction tends to
increase, for many reasons, their lifestyle has changed over the past 30 years and has become similar to that of men.
Women are now adopting the same risky behaviors as men, such as:
Smoking, drinking alcohol, stress, and irregular eating, all of which increase the risk of a heart attack.
Symptoms of heart disease in young people
Contrary to popular belief, a heart attack occurs before the age of 45 for 50% of people who have symptoms of heart disease, have cardiac risk factors, and/or are drug users.
In the United States of America, for example, the total number of heart attacks decreased in the elderly, while symptoms of heart disease and the incidence of heart attacks increased in young people under the age of 40, including those in their twenties and thirties.
The incidence of heart disease symptoms in young adults and the incidence of heart attacks among patients between the ages of 20 and 30 years.
Between 2000 and 2016, the rate of heart attacks in young adults in their twenties or early thirties rose by 2% each year in this young age group.
Patients who have had a heart attack in their twenties or thirties face the same risks as older patients.
Once the first heart attack occurs, the risk of dying from a second major heart attack or stroke is higher, regardless of age.
Why do symptoms of heart disease appear in young people?
Several causes lead to the emergence of symptoms of heart disease in young people, including behavioral and health, most notably:
1- Diabetes
Diabetes is considered to be one of the most serious factors leading to heart disease symptoms in young people and, consequently, an early heart attack.
Young people with diabetes are 2 to 4 times more likely to die from heart disease than adults without diabetes.
The problem develops when the necessary sugar level is not controlled. High blood sugar damages blood vessels, which increases the buildup of fat in the arteries and causes atherosclerosis.
People with diabetes are also more likely to have other chronic health conditions that significantly increase the risk of heart attack, including high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
2- high blood pressure
High blood pressure is one of the biggest risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Just like heart attacks, the incidence of high blood pressure rises faster in young people than in older adults.
High blood pressure causes the heart muscles to enlarge and damages blood vessels, increasing the risk of a heart attack.
3- Overweight and obesity
Being overweight contributes to the risk of a heart attack for several reasons. Excess weight is a burden on the heart's necessary function. Obesity alone makes a young patient more likely to have a heart attack, even if he is otherwise healthy.
Patients who are overweight or obese often have other health problems that detract from their heart health, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, and high cholesterol.
4- Smoking and electronic cigarettes
Smoking of all kinds and even electronic cigarettes (vaping) is one of the highest risk factors among all the factors that contribute to heart attacks in young people.
The risk of a heart attack increases in direct proportion to the number of cigarettes smoked. Smoking one packet a day more than doubles the risk of heart attack compared to non-smokers.
Also, the danger of e-cigarettes (vaping) is not much lower than that of regular cigarettes. E-cigarettes contain nicotine and other toxic compounds, which speed up the heart rate and raise blood pressure.
A recent study found that vaping makes its users 34% more likely to have a heart attack, compared to a non-smoker.
5- drug abuse
Experts have proven that cocaine increases the heart rate, raises blood pressure, and damages blood vessels, thus increasing the risk of a heart attack.
Drugs of all kinds increase the heart rate and increase the risk of a heart attack.
What are the symptoms of heart disease in young people?
When the symptoms of heart disease appear in young people, it means that the possibility of a heart attack is high.
A major sign of infarction is severe pain in the middle of the chest, often spreading to the shoulders, left arm, and jaw. The patient may feel:
Myocardial infarction is often very painful, but not always. Even though some cases of infarction are silent, about a quarter of cases of myocardial infarction are not accompanied
by typical signs. It also happens that a subsequent heart attack is detected, due to complications.
warning:
Any severe or moderate chest pain should be considered a heart attack, and you should call your doctor or emergency medical care.