Heart Diseases and Symptoms

When there is any health-related problem, the heart may be affected. These problems can reach levels that endanger human life.

Heart Health

The work of the heart takes place thanks to the harmony of three main structures. These; cardiovascular system, coronary arteries and neural network.
It pumps the blood in the human body to the whole body with the help of arteries and veins called the cardiovascular system. Coronary arteries are vessels that run along the surface of the heart and carry oxygen-rich blood to the heart muscle. There is a neural network that manages the contraction and relaxation of the heart with signals. Thus, throughout a person's life, the heart pumps blood.
Heart health is an issue that needs attention. Since the deterioration of heart health will lead to irreversible consequences, every person should be aware of the problems that may be related to his heart.
Knowing the symptoms of a heart disease that can be serious is important in terms of giving doctors an idea about early diagnosis and treatment. Because there are many heart diseases, the sooner it can be treated, the more likely it is that the heart will recover.

What are Heart Diseases?

Heart disease is a term that covers any disorder that occurs in the heart and affects the heart. Under the heading of heart disease, blood vessel diseases such as coronary artery disease, heart rhythm problems (arrhythmias) and congenital heart defects are included in addition to these diseases. The term heart disease is often used interchangeably with the term cardiovascular disease.

What are the Causes of Heart Diseases?

It is possible to classify heart diseases in general according to the underlying causes.

• Atherosclerotic (caused by calcification and obstruction in the heart vessels) heart diseases, high blood pressure, high blood fat and diabetes (diabetes) chronic diseases that concern all body systems (metabolic) prepares.
• Heart beat (rhythm) disorders develop as a result of conduction disorders in the neural network (atrial fibrillation, nerve blocks between the atria and ventricles), which play an important role in the work of the heart.
• Congenital heart disease On the other hand, stasis is seen due to causes such as disorders in the localization of arteries and veins, heart valve hole, which are common in newborns.
• Cardiovascular problems such as dilated cardiomyopathy caused by weak heart muscles also constitute a separate group.
• Infections in the heart such as endocarditis,
• Stenosis or insufficiency in the valves of the heart and the main vessels exiting and entering the heart, such as mitral valve stenosis or failure, are known as heart valve diseases. (You can find detailed information about heart valve diseases at What are Heart Valve Diseases?)

In addition to these; There are many factors that trigger heart diseases. Especially the lifestyle that people adopt plays an important role in the development of heart diseases.

• Failure to control high blood pressure and cholesterol leads to damage to the heart over time, resulting in heart diseases.
• Smoking, overweight and obesity also negatively affect cardiovascular health.
• Consuming packaged foods and staying sedentary in advanced ages also trigger heart diseases.
• Preeclampsia, which causes sudden increases in blood pressure during pregnancy, has also been proven to cause heart diseases.
• On the other hand, there is no individual fault in heart diseases that occur genetically. Because these diseases can sometimes occur even in the womb. However, there is a possibility that it can be kept under control by keeping the lifestyle regularly and having the necessary examinations done regularly.

What are the Symptoms of Heart Diseases in Women?

In our country, heart diseases are more common in women than in men. In particular, uncontrolled high blood pressure and rheumatic diseases are more common in women, causing damage to the heart over time. As a result, women are more likely to have heart problems. In addition;

• Extreme weakness,
• Nausea,
• Pain in the neck, jaw or arm is more common.

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  Heart Diseases� What are the Symptoms?

  The symptoms of heart disease vary depending on which heart disease it is related to.

  • Heart disease can be congenital.
  • Disorders of heart rhythm may develop.
  • Coronary artery disease,
  • Dilated (enlargement of the heart ventricles) cardiomyopathy,
  • Myocardial infarction, which means the lack of oxygen in the muscle layer of the heart
  • Heart heart failure is one of the most common heart diseases.
  Heart diseases can show different symptoms in men and women. But in general there are many symptoms that are common. Often the symptoms are continuous and there is no spontaneous improvement. The most common symptoms include:
  • Chest pain, chest tightness, chest pressure and chest discomfort,
  • Dyspnea after short activities or for no apparent reason,
  • Pain, numbness or weakness in the legs and arms as a result of hardening or narrowing of blood vessels,
  • Pain in the neck, jaw, throat, upper abdomen or back,
  • Dizziness or even fainting,
  • Beating of the heart as if it were going to explode or, on the contrary, beating too slowly to be felt,
  • Pale gray or blue skin colour,
  • Swelling in the legs, abdomen or areas around the eyes,
  • Fever, dry and persistent cough,
  • Skin rashes or skin eruptions are included.

  How to Diagnose Heart Disease

Tests to diagnose heart disease will vary depending on what heart disease the doctor thinks the patient has. Regardless of what type of heart disease is present, a physical examination is performed first and the patient's medical history is learned.
In addition to blood count and imaging methods in heart diseases, non-invasive (non-invasive) and interventional (invasive) tests are performed. Non-interventional examinations are echocardiography (ECO; also known as cardiac ultrasound among the people), electrocardiography (ECG) and nuclear medicine examinations. .

Holte r monitoring test: It is continuous ECG recording for 24-72 hours.

In some cases, the work of the heart is closely monitored during exercise; This method is called an exercise ECG. Apart from the aforementioned tests, computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) can also be used to test for heart diseases.

What are the Treatment Methods for Heart Disease?

The treatment to be applied in heart diseases varies according to which heart disease the patient has.

• An antibiotic treatment will be administered if the patient has a heart infection.
• In addition, one of the general treatments used in the treatment of heart diseases is drugs.
• Often the primary treatment method is lifestyle change. First of all, it is aimed to treat heart disease by changing the patient's daily routines.
• Consuming low-sodium (reducing salt) foods and low-fat foods are the primary considerations. Intense sodium and saturated fat consumption can cause clogging of the heart vessels.
• It is recommended to do 30-minute exercises every day to protect heart health. Regular exercise can keep the heart vessels and rhythm regular. (You can find detailed information about heart health and exercise at How to Exercise for Heart Health?)
• Smoking patients quit smoking or patients working under heavy cigarette smoke prevent this,
• Alcohol intake should be limited or even terminated.

This kind of lifestyle helps maintain heart health. If lifestyle changes are not sufficient, drug treatment is applied according to the type of heart disease. In cases where drug treatment is not sufficient, surgical treatments can be applied. Again, surgical interventions vary according to the type of heart disease and damage to the heart. If the treatments are successful, the patient can lead a healthy life. However, the lifestyle should be healthier and regular as recommended by the doctor.

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