Did you know that every 36 seconds, one person dies from cardiovascular disease in the US? Heart conditions are the leading cause of death. This statistic is startling and underscores the need to understand the symptoms of heart disease.
The sooner you can detect and treat a heart condition, the less likely it is to be fatal. Keeping heart conditions at bay is all about catching them early.
If you want to know about some of the most common heart conditions and their signs and symptoms, read on!
1. Arrhythmia
If you have an arrhythmia, it means your heart is beating at an abnormal tempo. It could be too fast, too slow, or missing a beat. Without a regular heart rate, your heart won’t work as well and will struggle to function.
You might notice that your heart feels like it’s fluttering or that it’s skipped a beat. You could also feel like your heart is racing. A heart doctor can help detect an irregular heartbeat.
2. Arterial Fibrillation
Atrial fibrillation is a heart condition where the heart rate is abnormally fast. Having atrial fibrillation often feels like dizziness, shortness of breath, and fatigue. You will also notice a fluttering feeling in your chest.
If you have a heart rate monitor, you’ll be able to visualize your heart racing.
3. Stroke
A stroke is only partially related to the heart. Although caused by blood flow, a stroke occurs in the brain.
Most strokes are caused by a blockage in a blood vessel. This causes the brain to miss blood and oxygen, risking damage and death.
Symptoms of stroke are numbness, confusion, and trouble seeing or walking. Strokes are urgent and require immediate medical care.
4. Ventricular Septal Defect
VSD is also known as a hole in the heart. This is where a hole opens up in the walls between the pumping chambers of the heart.
Some cases have no symptoms and cause no issues, but some present with clear signs. Some common signs are shortness of breath, fatigue, swollen legs, stroke, and a heart murmur.
5. Heart Attack
A heart attack is one of the most common heart anomalies. A heart attack happens when the blood flow to the heart is cut off. This is usually due to plaque, fat, and cholesterol build-up in the arteries.
Blockages in the arteries result in blood clots, stopping the flow of blood to the heart.
A heart attack starts with pain in an arm or shoulder, in addition to pain in the chest. There is also a feeling of lightheadedness and shortness of breath.
Keep an Eye Out for These Heart Conditions
Heart conditions are very serious. Although a healthy lifestyle can help, you can’t always prevent them. It’s important to remain vigilant for signs of heart disease so you can treat it as soon as possible.
Quick detection and treatment are key to remaining healthy and active long term.
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